Category: Great Stuff (Page 3 of 5)

An Early Christmas Gift

November 28, 2010 / vanalee / 2 Comments

My sister has been busy sewing and crafting again. She is so talented! I cannot think of anything that she cannot make or do. While I was in Utah last weekend she was busy finishing up my Christmas gift so I could bring it home with me. It is called a pinkeep. She went all over looking for a brass candle stick for the base and couldn’t find one until she went to the local charity shop. It is made from felted wool and she made the rabbit herself. The toile stork scissors are darling. I love it! It makes me want to turn my desk into a permanent sewing space.

The Worth of a Soul

November 11, 2010 / vanalee / 3 Comments

“Remember the worth ofÂ souls is great in the sight of God.”Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Doctrine and Covenants 18:10

A couple of years ago I was drawn into the Repartee Gallery in Bountiful, Utah.Â I was letting my mom have a nap before I went back to spend more time with her.Â I scanned the shop and was instantly drawn to a Liz Lemon Swindle painting of Christ holding a young African boy.Â As I read the story of the painting , my eyes filled with tears. You see, Liz Lemon Swindle had been to Zambia. I was so touched because Zambia is where my baby served most of his mission and there is something deep in my soul that tells me that we might serve in Africa, too. That day I wanted to buy a large framed print for Alex. I settled for a matted 5″X7″ and found a frame at Target. For me, I purchased a small card with the print on one side and the story on the other. It has had a permanent place in my scriptures ever since. Each time I looked at it I longed for a larger one for my home.

In May, I decided I that I couldn’t wait any longer. I ordered a print and finally took it to be framed. I got it back today and it is gorgeous. Now, I just have to decide where to hang it. I want to be able to see it often.

P.S. Alex, are you jealous?

Persimmons again…

November 4, 2010 / vanalee / 0 Comments

One year after I moved to Japan I started taking shodo lessons (Japanese calligraphy) with Michelle. I lasted for a few months until I decided I was finished with this cultural experience. I wasn’t good at it. Several of my friends have taken sumie painting lessons from the same teacher and they are good. This week a friend brought me this painting of persimmons done by the sensei (teacher). He is very talented and I think there is just a touch of whimsy in his work. He probably wouldn’t like to hear that since he is very serious about his art.

What?????

October 28, 2010 / vanalee / 2 Comments

I saw this sign in the stall in a restroom the other day. Toto is a brand of toilet. The sign is showing that the wall unit will play music. What I love is the picture of the fully clothed woman sitting on the toilet with an open book and turning on the music. I definitely should do a post on the features of the Japanese toilet.

Isawaonsen and persimmons

October 24, 2010 / vanalee / 0 Comments

Yesterday Rick and I took the fast train (90 minutes) back to Isawaonsen to visit his former missionary companion at the rehabilitation hospital.Â As we got close to Isawaonsen I noticed persimmon trees loaded with yellow-orange fruit. I ate my first persimmon in January of this year and they are delicious. It is my new favorite fruit. I expected to see orchards, there were a few trees together in some places, but mostly there many places where each house just had one tree in the yard. We did see peach orchards and vineyards.

Persimmons

Ashikaga-san was looking good. We had a wonderful hour with him and as we were leaving he followed us out and showed us how he can jump rope. We were impressed.

Rick and Ashikaga

Cycling accessories

October 22, 2010 / vanalee / 2 Comments

My new basket

Four of my five children would consider themselves to be cyclists. Two of the four like to have all the cool gear that goes along with being a cyclist. The other two make do with what they have or is handed down to them by their brothers. I consider myself to be a bit of a cyclist since I ride everyday. I am of the make do and wear hand me downs philosophy. I don’t have a lot of gear. Just a great bike, old helmet and a seat bag for my spare tubes.

I ride early most mornings and lately I have have been riding my bike to do errands during the day.Â The big drawback has been my inability to carry much. My friend Jo has a neat basket for her bike that doubles as a tote. I finally went to the shop and bought one today. It is perfect!Â I can unclip it, take it in the store and then clip it back on my bike. It reminds me of the cool and handy “market tote” that my daughter-in-law uses to get stuff between the house and the car. My boys wouldn’t be caught with this accessory attached to their bikes, but I love it! Next accessory a kickstand. The boys won’t approve of that either!

P.S. My basket is from Germany.

Date Night

October 16, 2010 / vanalee / 0 Comments

This morning I asked Rick what his plans were for the day. Temple, haircut and working on his talk for Sunday. I thought we would be staying close to home so I just started working on things around the house. About 3:30 PM he was ready to get out of the house. I made the comment that I needed to go to Ikea sometime soon and he was ready to go today. We took the train and first went to visit a huge (over 250 stores) mall near Ikea. We walked around to get an idea of what was there and then walked over to Ikea. The first stop was the restaurant for dinner. Rick had roast beef and of course I had Swedish meatballs. It was good. The market place was then next stop for a few things I needed. We bought some packets of gravy, some black salt licorice and had a 50 yen ice cream cone on the way out.

I like Ikea! Sometimes I get overwhelmed by being a foreigner and being foreign is more obvious here. In London, I could blend in as long as I didn’t talk.Â It helps me if I can go somewhere that isn’t so foreign. Since I don’t ever frequent McDonalds Ikea fits the bill.

Madsen Cycles

October 15, 2010 / vanalee / 0 Comments

I think this bike is really cool. They are having a contest to win one between now and November 17, 2010. Click on the photo to go to their website to enter.

Saturday laughs

September 18, 2010 / vanalee / 0 Comments

Today we had tickets to see Katsuru Kaishi perform Rakugo. Rakugo is Japanese comedy. A performer sits on a large pillow and is allowed two props a fan and a Japanese towel. The he acts out a joke. Rick and I have attended Rakugo in English before, but some of the performers were hard to understand and we rarely go the punchline. Kaishi is very good and has performed all over the United States. It was a fun afternoon.

Sumo Time

September 17, 2010 / vanalee / 0 Comments

Today we had sumo tickets again. It’s a bit boring now that there is only one yokozuna, Hakuho. He has absolutely no competition and is having a great run. It looks like sometime in the near future he will break the record for the most consecutive wins. the record of 69consecutive wins was set in 1939Â and after today he has won 53 times. Unless someone really improves he will probably set a record that will last a long time.