Christmas Rose Festival in 2016

The poster shows that the Christmas Rose Event will be held from Feb. 20 to Mar. 13, 2016 at Tegarayama Botanical Garden, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture.

My husband is one of the Christmas Rose collectors, and he is currently growing more than 500 pots in our garden.

He wanted to display some from his collections at the event so he chose more than 100 pots from our garden two days ago.  One of the staff members at the municipal garden drove his truck to our house to pick up 100 pots of Christmas roses for their three-week--event.  

My husband and I drove to the place to prepare our floral display yesterday.  I had brought some rugs from our kitchen so that we can clean up dirt on the flower pots there.  We also wrote down the variety's name on each plate, and placed them on the long tables they had prepared.

We started the preparation after 11:00 a.m. and ended after 3:00 p.m.

My husband looked happy after finishing the arrangement.

More than 3 years have passed since he set up a group called "Himeji Christmas Rose Fan Club."  There seems to be approximately 20 members, most of whom are in their 60s.  Some of them are retired from their work.  The members' flowers are being displayed at the event.  However, none of them appeared at the site to help us yesterday.  Obviously, the members don't agree with my husband's policies for the group.

Some of his policies are as follows:

"The members can sell their flowers in local shops or online stores, but should not include the phrase, "I belong to Himeji Christmas Rose Fan Club."

"A member can donate his/her flowers to another member of the club but must not sell them."

Last year, he found out that some members had violated these policies and he dismissed them from the group.  My husband who majored in agriculture in a national university has been very particular about his thesis for flowers.

I don't really agree with my husband's policies for the group and I have got these ideas:

We should be grateful for the members that they have joined us.  Most of them are over their 60s who depend on their pension.  Some of them work part time because they still want some income.  They still have energy to grow their flowers.  In my opinion, growing their flowers in their garden and selling them would be more attractive.  If they plant flowers, there may have more chances of finding new varieties.  If they are beautiful, they will be sold at higher prices.  This could make them more motivated to live.  The club should act like a venue that provides new information for the trend and the popular color for the season. It may offer chances  to exchange opinions among its members.   He also should give other members the chance to express their ideas.  Setting up a bulletin board on the Internet exclusively to the members could be one option. If they make money from the club, it could be a group effort.  Make another project out of the profit.

I know if I bring up the issue to my husband, we may end up arguing seriously, so I'd rather not talk about it with him.  Growing Christmas rose is not my cup of tea because I don't like to water them, which take more than 3 hours or so in one time.  We have to water them at least twice a week in summer and once a week in winter season.  The maximum number of flowers I can take care of would be 5 or 6 pots only.

What I can only do is to help him one day out of 365 days, and that was yesterday.

Anyway, I was totally tired after the long hours of volunteer work.  I still hope that they will have many visitors in the botanical garden during the event.

Feb. 3 - Setsubun

February 3 was Setsubun, the new year eve from the old Chinese calendar, so we celebrated the day like the way Japanese people traditionally do. 

Some of the Japanese people eat dried soy beans on Setsubun.  The number of soy beans we can eat depends on our age.  For example, my husband ate 63 pcs. because he turned 63 years old two weeks ago.   If we follow that tradition, it is said that we won't catch a cold and will be healthy for the whole year.  

To drive out devils and attract Gods of fortune, Japanese people throw dried soy beans both indoors and outdoors while shouting, "Get out devils!  Come in Gods of fortune!"  It's called bean-scattering ceremony in Japan.  It's sad that some people in nowadays are getting too busy to do the tradition anymore. 

When I lived in the Eastern part of Japan ten years ago, I didn't know anything about "Ehomaki" or fortune suchi rolls tradition which people in the Western part of Japan eat as a Setsubun's supper.  In the recent 5 years or so, the tradition became known to all across Japan. 

Many grocery stores sold "Ehomaki" yesterday.  We bought the Ehomaki or fortune sushi roll at the grocery store yesterday.

Two rolls of Ehomaki

One for my husband and the other for myself

They are about 20 centimeters long.

The sweetened egg was tasty. 

Anago or conger-eel is our area's speciality. 

The fresh cucumber was crispy. 

According to the old Chinese calendar, good fortune comes from south south east for 2016.  So my husband checked the direction with his compass while I was preparing for the hot green tea.  As soon as the tea was prepared we both sat down looking at south south east and started to eat the rolls.  We also followed the tradition which is said that that we must not say a word before finishing the roll.  The quiet moment continued as long as 20 minutes because the roll was heavy to my stomach.  It took me so much time to finish it.  It sounded strange to us because we usually chat while we are eating together.

If you buy a package of dried soybeans at grocery stores in this season, they may give you a devil's mask on your request.  Japanese young fathers wear this mask so that small kids enjoy throwing beans at the devils.  You may also enjoy the ceremony if you visit famous shrines.   

The colorful crochet cap

I went to the Daiso, the 100 yen shop, and bought 6 pcs. of yarn with different colors. 

I feel chilly around my ears when I go outside these days so I wanted to make a cap for myself.

They are 100 % wool so I thought they are warm.  Even if the temperature reaches  5 degrees Celsius here in the middle of the day in February, I stay in parks for as long as 4 hours.

At first I crocheted  [kroh-shey-ed] 80 chains and made it into a circle.  It was about 56 centimeters circumference in size.

I made double crochet (or naga-ami) and made a long tube. 

It took me one hour to finish one colored crochet.  
I had six different colors, so it took me around six hours in total. 

colored (adj)  red, green, blue, etc. rather than transparent or black or white

Twist the middle.
The middle will be the top of cap.

Divide it in two. 
Leave the inside part longer than the outer part. 

Fold the inside part outward so that the bottom part will be three layers.

The picture shows:

(1) the brown goes inside 

(2) the green goes in the middle
(3) the yellow goes outside

(outward (Adv) away from the center of something, or toward the outside of it)

Now, you can see it as a cap. 
The pink color would be nice for girls.

It has three layers of 100 % wool in my ear part
because I feel colder around my ears.

I can also enjoy the varieties of color combination.

I put yellow, or the bottom part, outside.

This time I put the bottom part inside then the green appear. 

   

This way the pink color doesn't appear.
It may be suitable for boys.

   Very important :  The yarn itches. 
Please be careful for choosing yarns when you want to make a cap. 

The yarn itches. (verb) The yarn cause itchiness. (noun)
itch (verb) if a piece of clothing itches, it gives you an unpleasant feeling that makes you want to scratch your skin

I chose these colors which Japanese people call them "earth colors."
I like going to parks and forests for birdwatching.  I find many birdwatchers use earth colors for their clothes and bags as they try not to to be noticible to wild birds.    

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I am filled with these ideas now.  Field activities for birdwatching and handmade crafts indoors are keeping me busy this winter season. 

The warmer belt

I feel so cold especially when I enjoy taking photos of wild birds outside these days.  Even if the temperature reaches 5 degrees Celsius here in the middle of the day in February,  I stay in parks for as long as 4 hours.

My doctor recommends that I should stay at home so I can keep myself warm.  However, it is the best season to see different wild birds now, so it is very hard for me to stay indoors day after day.  Luckily, I came up with the idea of knitting a warm belt for myself last week and I was able to finish crocheting it this week.  I would like to share it to you here.

 

The waist size is adjustable because I made 5 lines for buttons. 

 

For the narrowest, the waist size would be around 70 centimeters. 

For the largest, the waist size would be around 78 centimeters. 

There are two pockets for handy warmers.

The regular size warmer (approx. 132mm x 100 mm) can be kept in the pockets. 

One for my belly and the other one for my back. 

For the pocket parts, I intentionally made holes so my abdomen and

my back would get more heat from the warmers.

At first, I went to the Seria, the 100 yen shop, and bought 4 rolls of yarns.

I used my crochet needle No. 6.

I needed these 3 buttons so I bought this at the home center.

I needed another two smaller buttons.  I had them in my sewing box.

How I made it?  It was easy. 

I crocheted 22 chains.

Then, I did the double crochet (or naga-ami) until it became 80 centimeters long.

The Drawing of the Main part

I am not good at sketching, but I drew the design.

If you are interested, pleases click on the photo to zoom.

* * * * * * * * * *

Then, I made two pockets.

The drawing of the pocket

Sew each pocket to the main part.

Attach the buttons by sewing needle and thread.

I sent the similar one to my sister.  I haven't met her for ten years, so I don't know her waist size.  For her, I made ten button lines instead of five for the belt so that it coul be adjusted from 66 centimeters to 84 centimeters long.

I feel comfortable with this belt since I have crocheted it, so I cannot go without it these days.  I had been looking for these kinds of items on the local stores or online shops, but I couldn't find any.  It took me six hours to make one belt  and that's why I shared the pattern.

As I live in Hyogo Prefecture, I cannot make a bussiness out of this.  According to the law in our prefecture,  employers must pay its employees 800 yen or 8 dollars at least for its labor per hour.   Six hours of crocheting is worth 4,800 yen.  Another 432 yen for the yarns plus 162 yen for bottuns.  Total is 5,394 yen.  

I guess no one would be interested to buy this item for 5,394 yen.  We're tired of working peanuts.  That's why Chinese items are rampant here and there nowadays. 

Jan. 31

My husband and I went to the Ichi-no-ike park, Takasago city, Hyogo Prefecture last Jan. 31.

I was very happy that I was able to take pictures of birds there.

My husband, who turned 63 year-old last week, has asthma since his childhood.  He always wears a mask so that he doesn't breathe in cold wind.  He covered most of his face with knit cap and the mask. 

 Kingfisher or Kawasemi

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Great Egret or Daisagi 

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Two pictures of Long-tailed Tit or Enaga  

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Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker or Kogera 

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Varied Tit or Yamagara

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Three pictures of Hawfinch or Shime

I was especially happy that day because I saw the Hawfinch for the first time in five years. 
I was even able to take pictures of them. 

My husband and I were both satisfied to be back to the parking lot.

He was also able to take good pictures there.

Jan. 30

I sent my handmade goods to my sister who lives in the Eastern part of Japan.  I moved to the Western part of Japan ten years ago, and I haven't met her since then.  Anyway she took care of our mother for the ten years before our mother passed away last summer.  I was thinking that I wanted to show my gratitude to my sister since then.  I hope my sister would like the four items I enclosed in the package last Jan. 30. 

The four items are below:

1.  one patchwork pouch

the front

 the back

inside

2.  The Daiso teddy bear with my handmade dress

3.  Adjustable belly and back warmer belt (waist size: 70 to 85 centimeters)

 My sister likes blue or dark colors, so I used the dark blue yarns. 

I didn't take a picture of this, but I made one to myself with pink color.  

4.  Room shoes - Black one only

I left the red color for my own usage.  My sister doesn't like the red color.