High Kotatsu cover

Okay here it is.  The final quilting done and the edges hemmed up too.  I always wanted a high kotatsu so I wouldn't have to sit on the floor and still get the benefit of the heater.  One problem is this is the only place in our house I can put it!  When my granddaughter and her mother come next week, they will sleep on this hideabed so where will I put the Kotatsu?  I also took the quilt off to save it so it will be completely clean for them to sleep under while they are here.  Below you can see it spread out on my bed.

Steps to make a quilt

Here you can see the trouble I had getting this huge kotatsu quilt stretched out on my small frames!  The size was 7 and 1/2 feet square.  I had to cut a bamboo pole to use on two ends as my frames weren't that long.  Then the bamboo poles would twist and it was hard to get them under the clamps.  Finally after getting the base stretched and sewed on I put on the filling.  I used only a single layer which cost over 10 dollars for just the filling.
The four corners were held up all differently.  2 were put into the bookshelves and the outside 2  were put on a color box and the old empty tv case.  Then I had to get a ladder to hold up the one side that wouldn't stay in the bookcase, so it was quite a chore.
Here the top pieced layer is put on.  That needed to be pinned down first and then stitched.  In the second photo above you can see the 100 yen thread I bought for stitching it.  While stiching below, a terrible thing happened.  The one old bamboo pole broke and I had to take it out and take the two shorter frames and clamp them together to get it long enough to substitute it for the bamboo pole!  Finally it was okay and I finished.  Tomorrow I'll show you the end result.

another cow

Wow what a cow!   

Year of the Cow

I was looking for a good Cow cartoon photo to put on our New Years Greetings Post Card. In Japan they use the Chinese system of having an animal depict that year.  2009 will be the year of the cow.   I thought this one would be the best; however my husband had a strong veto!  So thought I'd shrare it with you here.  I may never be able to eat a chocolate soft ice cream again!

Hachima Sponges

These long green veggies were nice to eat when they were the size of cukes, but the ones that get too long you just let grow and then MIL made some natural veggie sponges with them.

First you soak them in water for several days until you can peal off the skin (below)
When the skin is off  and they dry (below)then you have these natural sponge like things.  I took one in and tied a string on it to use in the bath.  It worked okay, but I prefer my synthetic soft nylon scratcher washer.  These have a tendency to leave droppings and the seeds inside come out and make kind of a mess.  I think I will pass on going green with these!

family comes for Kaki

Jack's brother and his family came from Ibaragi Prefecture to pick some Kaki (persimmons).  This has been a fantastic year with lots of persimmons.  Above are Jack's parents with his middle brother and his wife and their younger son and his fiance who is holding the vases Jack gave her from his studio.  Below they are using bamboo poles that have been split on the small end to catch the stem or small limbs and twist--breaking the branch and then you can bring the kaki down without needing a ladder.  Kaki trees are very easy to break so we can't climb the trees except for the major branches at the bottom.   

Grandma Joanie

Here is Grandma Joanie with Nami.  She loves taking walks in the stroller and she also loves being held.  She is also learning to use her hands in a more useful way.  Here she is taking a swipe at Grandma Joanie's face and thinking it is fun!    Not bad for a 2 month old!