Apples and skiing and glasses

School has started. Mothers are back to their normal routines. Spring break is over so friends get together and chat over coffee.

An apple. Skiing. Dropping your glasses. What do all these have in common? I heard all these comments just last week. And they all related to the same thing... The answer? Entering school.

One thing I've noticed that is very Japanese, is how wary people are of approaching delicate subjects and how unsure they are of what to say in certain situations. What I'm getting at is that last month was the month of entrance exams for high schools and for college. First the tests. A few days later the graduation ceremonies. A day or so later the results for the tests are posted. A couple of weeks of spring vacation are left. Last week all the kids start going to their respective schools and FINALLY parents are telling their friends what school their son or daughter was accepted to.

I mean we all know that so-and-so's child is a certain age and will be going on to high school (or college.) We all know that results were posted. But does anyone call and say,

"Hey! Did your child get accepted?"

Okay, that's a little direct. How about

"And what school is your child going to from April?"

But this is a touchy subject. If the child passed his exams then the news will quickly go along the grape vine.

"Did you hear that so-and-so was accepted to the high school of his choice?"

and then the next time you run into the mother at the supermarket you can say

"I hear congratulations are in order."

and the mother will smile shyly and say that she is so surprised because her son is not at all that smart and it was all good luck. On the other hand, if the grapevine holds no news of a student and more and more days pass, then probably the student "failed" his exams. I hate that word. No one calls to give condolences (it's not like someone died) but no one really knows what to do until the mother makes the first move. If she is taking a stiff-upperlip approach then she'll get over her disappointment in a few days or week (that's why spring vacation is good. You don't have to meet anyone if you don't want to) and may say

"Well, I knew he wouldn't get accepted. He never studied as much as I knew he should."

and then the rest of us will say things like

"A disappointment early in life is good for building character. He will be very happy for this failure someday in his future. It will make him strong."

For some mothers, the disappointment is a real blow and it may take weeks of avoiding people until the child has started something else that gives hope for his future.

So last week's coffee time conversations revolved around students who had failed their tests. Who had not been accepted. Who had "fallen" and "been dropped" and "slipped". These are all taboo words in this testing season. So the conversation went

"I even bought an apple that hadn't fallen from a tree for good luck." (In Japan, you fall from successful entrance to school.)


"Well, we sealed his fate when we went skiing that weekend. We were slipping (skiing) all over the place." (You slip from the school of your choice to a lesser school.)

"I knew when I dropped my glasses that bad luck was coming." (a drop in grades)

I'm not saying that my friends are superstitious. All this is said in fun, and humor is a good way to relieve disappointments.


Just a side of parenting and education that you don't see in the States.... (pictures from the Internet. Except for my glasses.)

Tsurushibina

Last week Tetsu noticed an announcement of a craft exhibition in our town so as a surprise he took me over to enjoy and snap pictures for my blog! This type of Japanese craft is called Tsurushibina and it means "Hanging dolls display." In other parts of Japan, Tsurushibina are seen instead of the doll's displays that are traditional on March 3rd (Girls' Day) but I haven't seen this custom so much in my area. I talked with one of the ladies and she said it was just a group of nine ladies and they have been meeting for the past 4 years to make the little dolls. Most of the little figures are made of Chirimen, a type if Japanese fabric that I think is actually rayon (though it means "gathered cotton") and some of the flowers and balls have been made from recycled kimonos.



Each of the little figures are supposed to mean something, for example the the little triangles are supposed to be traditional medicine pouches. These are charms for protection from sickness. The turtles are charms for long life. Maybe the cranes for peace etc. I'll have to find somebody who knows a bit more about them. Then all the little figures are attached to paper umbrellas that are covered by more kimono cloth and the finished display is supposed to be hung out on March 3rd. (I don't know why they were being displayed this week.)



One of my acquaintances told me that she had just recently started doing the Tsurushibina handwork and she was making the easiest decoration of flowers sewn to a ball. She had only gotten as far as making the flowers and hadn't learned how to attach them to a ball, but I took a picture anyway. These are made from the same Chirimen and it will be a colorful decoration when she is done. She suggested I try it too but I think I'll stick to patchwork.

Kindergarten entrance ceremonies

Yesterday was the entrance ceremony at the kindergarten. It was a Saturday so all the fathers and brothers and sisters and grandparents attended too. Entrance ceremonies and graduations are always big events in Japan.




I remember one year a foreign family was enrolling their child in the kindergarten and when the mother brought the little boy for the first day she was wearing jeans and a sweat shirt or something while all the other mothers were in formal suits with corsages and their hair piled high and all around extra fancy. I felt a little sorry for the foreign mother because no one had told her that this was going to be a formal event. I probably should have warned her but I'd completely forgotten to mention that Japan thinks of the first day of kindergarten as a MAJOR event in a child's life and that mothers will get dressed to the T. Of course the kids are dressed up like little dolls and yesterday most of the little three year olds were wearing little short pants suits or frilly dresses. I was also interested to see that all of the kindergarten teachers wore beige or white dress suits whereas at the graduation ceremony last month almost every person attending wore black. (By the way I wore the outfit I bought for Leiya's graduation last year... Third time I've worn it. I would have preferred to go in jeans and a sweat shirt.)


But I've been asked not to take pictures of the kindergarten kids so you'll have to miss out on everyones' finery. Instead, how about a glance around the kindergarten?


Mifumi Kindergarten (Mifumi means "Word of God") is surrounded by lovely cherry blossoms (as are most schools and kindergartens) and the cherry trees were in full bloom. As we were leaving, the blossoms were just beginning to flutter to the ground in the breeze and it looked like a lovely spring snow fall! Wouldn't you love to be a child and be making mudpies and swinging on the swings under those trees everyday?

Doggie friends

Last weekend Tetsu and I discovered another dog run that isn't too far from us so I tried it out with Choco yesterday.

I don't think I understand what a dog run is all about. This one was privately owned and the very nice man in charge has cut timber from his land and put in water and gates and leash holders and sun umbrellas. When we arrived Choco and I were the only ones there and after taking her off her leash she ran around about 5 minutes. (Another dollar a minute run!) Then she sat down next to me and panted.

"Run! You silly dog! Run!"

Choco doesn't seem to know what to do with her freedom. I threw balls for her but she doesn't know what to do with a ball either...

Pretty soon a young man came with his three miniature Poodles. But he went into the section for smaller dogs and Choco just looked at the Poodles through the fence. Oh well, I got out my book and read awhile and Choco sat under my chair.

A little bit later a lady came with her medium size Shiba dog. She came into Choco's area so I put Choco back on her leash and we went over and introduced ourselves. (Good dog manners.) The two dogs sniffed at each other and then we all walked around the pen together. Good, good. It looks like the dogs will get along so we both let our dogs off the leashes. The Shiba gave a half hearted jog and Choco went chasing after her. That startled the Shiba and she ran a little faster and Choco started chasing. The other lady and I stood there nervously thinking "Is this a game? If Choco catches the Shiba is this going to develop into a fight? " I tried to catch Choco but she's much too fast and the other lady was getting worried about her dog and finally scooped it up in her arms. Choco comes barreling in and jumps up scaring the poor lady and the Shiba. The lady quickly took her dog to the small dog pen apologizing that her dog wasn't used to other dogs. Mine neither. I'm apologizing too. In the other pen, all the Poodles and the Shiba did about the same thing and the Shiba cowered at her owner's side.

The Shiba leaves and in a few minutes a Papillon came in, the owner taking one look at Choco and making a u-turn for the Poodles. The Poodles were happy to have another friend and they gathered around barking and the Papillon owner couldn't even put her dog down. The Poodle owner gathered his dogs in a corner allowing the Papillon to be put on the grass but the Poodles rushed over again and started a new chase game. Choco and I decided to go home just as the Papillon owner was getting hysterical that the Poodles were attacking her Papillon.

Was this a successful dog run day? I don't know. The purpose was to give Choco some freedom (which she didn't really take advantage of) and to get her used to other dogs and people. Except for the Poodle owner, I think the rest of us were way too nervous about our dogs. It reminded me of nannies around their precious charges, fawning over them, talking baby talk, making excuses for their behavior etc. And the dogs? They reminded me of children who play solitary computer games all day and when pushed into a group of children don't know HOW to play. None of those dogs (except for the poodles) even knew what the word "PLAY" meant. And we owners were too nervous to let the dogs be dogs...

In some ways, Choco has come a long way. I mean when she first joined our household I wouldn't let ANYONE near her because she would attack. I used to worry that she'd bite people who reached out to pet her. She's gotten better about people but she still hates any dogs that walk by her yard. So the encounter with the Shiba was good for Choco just because it never developed into a fight...

Any dog owners with opinions? Should Choco be visiting dog runs and meeting other dogs and owners or is it just better for everyones' peace of mind to try not to make "doggie" friends?

She sure looks bored though just sitting at home.

Patchwork Thursday

Yesterday was a patchwork day with my friends. One of the most exciting parts of the day was going through the packages that our Australian friend Lorraine, had sent us. Lorraine had sent us a package last month also filled with patterns and magazines and pamphlets about machine quilting and techniques. This month Lorraine sent us TWO more packages this time filled with kits, books, more patterns, DVDs and tools.







Lorraine had done the wonderful FAUX APPLIQUE that the Australian quilt designer, Helen Stubbings had developed, and she showed it to us in January. My Japanese friends and I were amazed at the techniques and the effect of using colored pencils and embroidery and we really raved and exclaimed over the Lorraine's beautiful quilt. So Lorraine sent us a whole BOM KIT! And everything that might be needed to make a whole QUILT! And she even sent us a hot-off-the-press book about FAUX APPLIQUE by Ms. Stubbings. Mrs. Furui was so excited to have the book because she had seen it advertised in a catalog and had circled it for later purchase! Now my job is to absorb the information and then maybe teach a "class" on FAUX APPLIQUE to my friends. Hah! I guess I'd better see if I can do it myself. If all goes well, we'd like to use the kit to make NEXT year's bazaar quilt. (Don't you think that is positive thinking, as we have yet to open the packages or try the technique.)

NEXT year's bazaar quilt? We are still playing around with THIS year's quilt! But all the blocks have been made and Mrs. Furui spent the day sewing them together. It is a little small but we've decide to put a colorful border around this. You know how things get more complicated as one goes along? Well, we pulled out a few applique border patterns and exchanged opinions.

"No, no. This one is too cutesy. That one is too sparse. This one doesn't match."

"How about more of the teardrop applique like in the blocks?"

"Great! Even though it may be a bit more work let's do it."

"Okay, trace the stem line. How many teardrops are we going to need?" (two of the ladies worked frantically tracing teardrops on freezer paper).

"150? Okay, doable."

"Wait a minute. They're too far and in between. Should we add extra?"

"What? Think of all the work!"

"Yes, but if YOU win the quilt wouldn't YOU want the extra work in there?" (That's how we decide a lot of things. If it is going to be MY quilt then do the extra.)

"Okay, if you put it that way then yes, let's put in more teardrops." (Easy to say and trace by pencil, a lot more work to sew.)

"That's over 200 teardrops ladies! It's going to be a busy month!!!"

Gardening

We've been doing some minimal gardening around here. Actually I buy the plants and Tetsu plants them. He doesn't really care how they are planted or where, so the garden only looks nice the first week or so after planting and then gets forgotten. I think it is the excitement of winter being over that makes me enthusiastic about seeing flowers in the garden but I too am not so interested in the upkeep.

It is still a little early for planting so we are taking our chances but this is what our yard looks like this morning. A few planters here and there. Some flowers along the front of the house. I came across some knick-knacks that were being ignored on the bookshelf so I thought they would be appropriate for the planters this month. Sort of a fairy tale sort of front door display.



Now let's hope there isn't a sudden freeze one of these nights. (We had hail the night we planted these though! I went out and rescued the planters!)

Welcome spring! Welcome friends!

Unagi Pie

I've written about some of the odd foods I've come across in Japan. I thought I'd introduce this delicacy.

One of my students brought me some cookies from her college town. These are very famous cookies/biscuits that are absolutely delicious and a bit pricey. In Japanese they are called Unagi Pie. They are very, very light, buttery, sweet, crispy cookies and they are made of eel. Yes! Eel! The long slimy things that swim in the sea!

It seems the town is famous for eel (which I swear is also delicious) and they had all these eel bones left over so someone got the great idea of pulverizing them, making them into powder and adding them to cookies. One of the strangest ideas in Japan I think, but actually there must only be a trace of eel powder in there because there is not a hint that these pastries are anything but elegant tea time snacks. My friends and I enjoyed them yesterday and we commented as always about the lack of eel taste. Reading the back of the package one of us noticed that among the ingredients there was also listed garlic. What? There is not a trace of garlic in this cookie! (We had to have another bite to check.) Nope absolutely delicious.

I think of these as tea time cookies but please notice the English on the packaging. Do I even want to go any further with this? Eel is supposed to give a person stamina in the long hot exhausting days of summer... Nights? Maybe another reason these are so popular.

Quilt rescue

Yesterday was the last day of spring vacation for us in Nikko and I had planned to do quilty things like practice machine quilting. Make a bag. Start a new prayer quilt. I still did quilty things but not what I had lined up.

A couple of days ago my neighbor was visiting and she said because of family circumstances (divorce) she wanted to give me back the quilt she started a long time ago and that she wouldn't be able to finish. I had to pick my brain to remember what quilt we were talking about. Yes, maybe 10 or more years ago my neighbor had shown an interest in my quilting and I had offered to teach her. She didn't own any fabric so she thumbed through my scraps and decided on making a quilt in pink. I don't remember if she pieced by hand but I think she must have... I remember her thinking about a border fabric, again from my stash and I must have helped her trace the quilting pattern. That's it. My neighbor went back to work and that's the last I ever heard of the quilt. I asked a couple times in the early years but she said it was in the back of her closet and hadn't been touched.

When I saw my neighbor this week she said she'd discovered the quilt wadded at the bottom of the closet but it was stained and her kids had tried to use it as a dog blanket. She wanted to know if she should give it to the dog, or throw it out, but because all the fabric had been mine she felt a little guilty. I told her to hang on to it and someday she'd find time and be able to pass it on to her daughter. She looked at me doubtfully, and I could envision the dog getting the quilt eventually.

This is one reason why I don't really like teaching patchwork. So many of the projects get left by the wayside when people get busy with other things and yet I feel responsible for the started quilt. Often the people have spent money for tools (rotary cutters, cutting mats, quilting hoops) and of course for the fabric. I don't know if it is my advice to piece a certain pattern or quilt a certain design that throws them off but quite often the quilt gets forgotten. I thought about the neighbor's quilt. Am I responsible? If she finished it, wouldn't it mean more to her daughter than if I finished it? But it probably wouldn't get finished. Oh, phoo. Just get it and do it for her! She's been a very nice neighbor.

So yesterday I saw the neighbor's son and asked him if he knew where his mother's quilt was and he telephoned her and finally rooted it out of the bottom of the closet. Stained? Yes! Stiff and dirty? Yes! Cat and dog fur? Yes! It was much smaller than I remembered it but all the fabrics brought back memories of past quilts and quilt stores where I had bought them... The center had already been stitch-in-the-ditch quilted and there were quilting lines faintly visible in some parts of the border and corners though gone in others. My neighbor had planned to make a very nice little wall hanging but I could see how she might look at it and think it an impossible goal these many years later.

I retraced the quilting design and had to guess in some places. Then I spent a very nice day just quilting. The whole day through!!! And last night I gave it a wash and though some of the stains didn't come out I think it is a respectable quilt to hang on the wall or put at the foot of a bed. I've called my neighbor and she'll come and get it today. I hope she'll use it to brighten up her new apartment.

I'm glad I rescued a quilt.

Shoes

This weekend Tetsu bought me some new shoes. I hate buying shoes. I'm not so fond of shopping to begin with but I especially don't like trying on shoes. I can't seem to think fashion when in comes to shoes and I can go through a whole season with just one pair of walking shoes and a pair of black dress shoes (for funerals).

So the soles of the shoes I bought in October were wearing down so much I felt like I was walking on a slant (I do a lot of walking so I am hard on shoes). Someone even commented that I needed to buy some new ones so you know they were getting pretty bad. Tetsu was so surprised when I suggested we visit the shoe store on Saturday.

"YOU?! You want to buy shoes?!"

Shoes have to have some support because of all the walking I do. They can't hurt because I've already got bunions. They should be black or brown so that they won't show the dirt when Choco steps on my feet. They also have to be easy to get on and off because we live in a Japanese house where we are removing shoes every time we enter a building. (Yes, not only houses. We all remove our shoes when we enter a school or the kindergarten or wherever.)

I don't buy shoes in America either but I have a feeling shoes are a little different. What do you think? I looked at some shoes (but didn't buy them) that have soft backs at the heel area. I considered these because I have a TERRIBLE habit of stepping on the backs of my shoes when I get into them. I think most Japanese do this and that is why these types of shoes are becoming popular. The back of the shoe is soft so that you can pull it up around your heel, or if you are in a hurry you can smash them down like mules. Mules are VERY popular shoes in Japan for just this reason.

What I ended up with are MAROON colored walking shoes. (Tetsu chose the color for me). They've got the reflectors on the back of the heel for walking at night, and they have a good arch for walking. Best of all they have zippers on the sides. Do shoes elsewhere have zippers? If I'm going to buy shoes I look for some with velcro or zippers so that I can get in and out of them quickly. I just can't be bothered to sit down on the entry way step and tie or untie tennis shoes every time I go in or out of the house.

I'm ready for a lot of spring walking!

How the nightingale got her song

"Pi-pi-pi-pi-pi Ho-o ho-o kekyo!"

In the past few days Tetsu and I have been greeted by this bird call when we go for a walk in the mornings. This is the call of the Japanese nightingale and he always heralds the arrival of spring. The Japanese nightingale is a small bird and though I hear him when I am outside I rarely get a glimpse of him. Far off in the trees I think I can see a small brown bird and it is amazing how far and clearly the nightingale's voice carries over the fields and forests. Tetsu will sometimes whistle back and the nightingale will answer with a long warbling voice that ends in the familiar "Ho-o ho-o kekyo!" (picture from the Internet)

Do you know this story? It was always one of Leiya's favorites when she was a child and each spring when the nightingale's song could be heard, she'd ask me to repeat it.

One morning God sent out word to the birds in His world that He had planned something special for them and that they were all supposed to gather at a certain time and He would give them a present. Birds from all over the earth flew to God's side and He pulled out a huge box of paints.

"Today I am going to paint each of you and give you whatever colors you want. You are to go out in the world and brighten your place!"

The birds were very excited and started lining up in front of God and talking about what colors and feathers they wanted.

The cardinal declared that he wanted to be RED. As bright as possible! And God painted him in a brilliant vermilion.

The gentle swan gracefully came to God and said she wanted to be pure white so that the sun would reflect on her wings.

The peacock wanted each of his feathers painted in detail and it took God a long time to paint the sparkling designs on each long feather. The peacock strutted off proudly displaying God's amazing artwork.

The parrot was a bit of a joker anyway and he said he wanted every color that God had to be splashed on him. And then the toucan, not to be outdone, said that he wanted that strange looking beak at the bottom of the box and the brightest yellow available to spice up his shimmering black coat. The other birds giggled and thought the parrot and the toucan had overdone it but God smiled indulgently and the two birds chattered about who would be the brightest in the jungle.

The sweet little robin came up to God shyly and asked only for a soft red on her breast that she could look down at and admire alone.

All the birds got the colors of their choice and God spent a wonderful day painting and choosing the colors that were just right for each bird's personality. When evening drew near and all the birds were happily on their way home, God started to pack away His paintbox. It had been a busy day and all His wonderful paints had been used to their fullest.

But just then a small drab nightingale came fluttering in all in a panic.

"God! God! I just heard that You'd called all the birds together today! I live in the far off mountains and I didn't get the message! I have just come! God! Please paint me too!"

But God looked into His paintbox and then looked sadly at the nightingale.

"I'm so sorry. All the paints are gone... I used them all up and there is no color left for you my little nightingale."

The poor little nightingale looked so forlorn and so sad that God took another look in the box and at the far corner He noticed one tiny drop of gold.

"Little nightingale, open your beak wide and I think I can give you the best present of all."

So the nightingale opened her beak wide and God took one of His paintbrushes and placed the drop of gold at the back of the nightingale's throat.

The nightingale started to thank God and when she opened her mouth the most wonderful melody flowed forth! She could trill and warble and for miles around her golden voice could be heard over the hills and fields! All the other birds in the world were envious of the nightingale's beautiful song!

Although the nightingale stayed a brown little bird, God had given her the most beautiful voice in all the earth, and she spread her joy whenever she sang her thanks.

Friends

Yesterday my friend Masako-san and I took a drive to the southern part of the prefecture to visit another friend, Heidi. Masako-san and I are definitely directionally challenged. At the first corner we looked at the directions that Heidi had given us and couldn't decide if we were supposed to go north or south. We wanted to pick up some cakes so we headed in the direction of a bakery but got stopped at another corner and had another discussion about whether we were supposed to go left or right. However, between Heidi's directions, a prefecture map and Masako-san's built in GPS we did finally find our way.

Masako-san had originally been Heidi's Japanese teacher a few years ago and since Heidi was new in Japan and had married a Japanese, Masako-san introduced us.

"Heidi, I know someone just like you (American and married to a Japanese) and she has been here nearly 30 years." (and managed to survive!)

Well, Heidi has a lot more energy than I do (she's younger yes, but overall she's just bubbly. I'm sort of a simmer) and over the past five years we've shared stories and talked about the different challenges facing foreigners in Japan. Yesterday Masako-san and I got to meet some of Heidi's new friends and neighbors and play a bit with her little "evangelist". Baby Luke is a friendly toddler and people flock to him giving Heidi and Luke a chance to spread the gospel in their daily lives. Masako-san and I went home happy to have seen how Luke is growing and how Heidi is shining her light!

Japanese 101

How about a Japanese lesson today?

I thought I'd teach you a couple of common phrases heard daily. Actually all three sort of apply to me...

The first. "Neko jita" Literally "Cat's tongue". I have a cat's tongue. This means that I huff and puff when I'm served something very hot (temperature-wise). My friends know that I can't drink the steaming hot tea that they serve me and that I don't mind having my cooled coffee topped off rather than start with a fresh and very hot cup. I guess cats are known for not liking to drink hot milk or something.

If I say, "I think I'll let this cool a bit. I have a cat's tongue." everybody knows what I mean and they smile indulgently. (Children often have a cat's tongue).

How about "Nekoze". This is literally "Cat's back" and it means that the person has rounded shoulders or a slight stoop. I was looking in the mirror the other day and realized how I need to work on my posture a bit more.

Mothers will say "Stand up straight. You are getting a cat's back."

Looks good on the cat, not so good on me.

And a last one. "Neko ni koban". This is translated
"giving a cat a gold coin"
and is similar to the English phrase
"throwing pearls to swine".
Cats won't appreciate what treasures you give them so it is waste of money to ply them with riches. Me too. I'm sort of a recycle shop sort of person and don't have the slightest idea what is good or bad quality, what has cost someone a lot of money or not.

"No sense taking Tanya to that expensive restaurant. It's like giving a cat a gold coin. She doesn't know the difference."

Please review the information. However no test will be given.

More cooking

Hmmm. I am running around today so this will have to be short.

I had a great time for my last class with my two jr. high students. (You met Tetsuhiro-kun last week.) One boy is moving away and Tetsuhiro-kun will be busier with school clubs so he is "graduating" too. I will miss both boys. They have been coming since 1st grade and actually got very good at comprehending and they weren't afraid to string English words together to communicate. For their last class we made dinner. Same menu as last week. (But a lot more fun!) The boys were joking and moving around and tasting things and even making suggestions about what might be good additions. (If you want to know what's with all the peace signs check out this old blog post.)

Okay. Here is the recipe for Cherokee Casserole from my childhood.

1 pound ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic
1 can of tomatoes
1 can of mushroom soup
1 cup (or more) of cooked cold rice
6 stuffed green olives chopped
shredded cheese

Brown meat in oil.
Add onions and garlic and cook until tender.
Stir in ingredients in order given (except cheese)
Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.
Sprinkle with cheese and broil.

My recipe card is sepia colored and torn and splattered with who knows what. I think my mother typed it up for me when I got married (29 years ago!) This is an old stand-by recipe in our house and Tetsu calls it "American Ojiya" which means rice gruel. Actually I can't get mushroom soup in Japan but I used canned white sauce or sometimes gratin sauce (for any Japanese blog visitors.) I also can't often get stuffed olives so what do you think I use instead? You know how when you think of those pickled green olives how your mouth starts salivating? Well, the same thing happens (Pavlov's dogs?) when I think about Japanese pickled plums so I tried chopping up some Umeboshi (pickled plums) and my Cherokee Casserole turns out great! Japanese think that is a horrible thing to do to pickled plums but even Tetsu agrees that it is a good substitute! Delicious!

My SIL

I just spent about an hour chatting with my mom and sister-in-law in California. My sister-in-law makes me cry! Almost every time I talk to her! Do you want to hear some of the things she says,

"Tanya, I just love your mother...."

"I just thank the good Lord for what we have and know He's in control..."

"Takumi is such a good kid. I just love him to pieces and he and I really can talk and joke around. He's such a great kid!"

"We want Leiya to spend the summer with us... Tell us how we can help get her to California."

"Keion (my brother) is so strong and dependable. He doesn't stress out about things..."

"You have to visit this summer, Tanya. We'll ask Grandma to help out with finances. You are FAMILY. I look forward to seeing you every year and that's part of what makes the summer fun..."

I hate to ask my family to take care of me and my family and extended things like airplane costs and tuition. But the reality is that Grandma is willing and I am needing. And Marcy and Keion don't begrudge that extra care even though they have little kids with an uncertain future (as is true with all of us.) They are always so welcoming, so generous and so loving. My heart and eyes overflow everytime I talk with them.

Marcy blesses me with her expressions of love for all of us.