Coming Soon!!

Hang in there folks!
I promise to post bunches of lovely photos very soon. I've been swamped with Halloween Partying, etc. and haven't been able to do much except catch a cold. However, tomorrow is National Culture Day and I don't have to work.

Winter is definitely in the air, now. Last week we were overrun with "Yuki Mushi" (Snow Bugs). These little gnat-like bugs have fuzzy white abdomens and therefore look like snow falling. They come out as winter approaches and temperatures drop. As the air fills with them, it's difficult to not eat a few as you bicycle down the road! Not only do they resemble snowflakes, so great is their number, but also they are said to indicate snow will fall soon. So, everyone is preparing their gardens and outdoor play equipment (for example, the pre-school has removed the swings and stored them for the winter). If I have time this weekend, I'll take some photos of outdoor winter preparations. I had intended to last year, but didn't manage to do it before it snowed.

Today was my Halloween-themed beginner adult English class. We didn't cook this time but instead decorated cookies. I mixed up some royal icing and turned the ladies loose on some sugar cookies I had had prepared on Monday. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera. The ladies really got into the spirit of the thing! Several of them took two small bamboo skewers and used them as hashi (chopsticks), which they then used to pick up the small decorating candies. You know those little bitty silver balls and small sugar shapes (hearts, flowers, etc) that you can use to decorate cupcakes? They used their improvised hashi (with tiny tips) to help them place these small things on individually. It was amazing to watch. Hopefully I can get some folks to give me copies of their pictures.

So, check back sometime on Friday or Saturday (American time) and hopefully I'll have some pictures for you.