Christmas 2011 is Coming . . .

Our Christmas tree went up on December 4 - the day after the last of 12 packages was mailed! Hooray!


After a couple of weeks, you can see we've got a few more presents underneath, and Sachi is very interested, but we're still waiting for all those packages from the US to arrive . . .


So once our packages were shipped and the tree was decorated - let the baking begin!


A forest of tiny Christmas trees . . .


CHIGERIE CLASS 12/16
I'm looking out the 2nd floor window from my chigerie class. This is the last class of the year. They're tearing up the street outside & today's the day I was hauling lots of stuff from my car. . . that's it down the street behind all the equipment. Oh, well - good exercise. When I return to class in mid-January, this work will be complete and you will never be able to tell where anything ever happened!


Our class has grown smaller since all the other Americans left & several of the older Japanese ladies have had health issues, which keep them from attending. Each week after climbing the stairs to the second floor, we set up the tables & chairs we need, open the drapes to control the sun, and when finished, the process is reversed. Then the floors are swept & vacuumed - all ready for whoever uses this room next. This is a nearby neighborhood community building.


At teatime today, I brought coffee & homemade cookies and treats, as well as a small present for each of my Japanese friends. They are so generous all year long to share their fruits and vegetables. They appreciated my small gesture of thanks. From left: Mrs Yamamoto, Mrs Okazaki, Mrs Jo, Sensei, Mrs Murakami.


In this photo, Mrs Murakami took my place so I could be in the photo. These are such sweet ladies!


Sensei Fujii-san is hard at work. She's helping me with a cute dragon I'm making for 2012 - Year of the Dragon. Other members are making a much more difficult one, but mine is easier - yay!