Finally... Word for 2019

Last year I thought about the word LEARNING but that didn't seem to fully encompass what I wanted for this year. So, in my usual fashion, I let it drift until something better found me.

Then I went to Japan (check my INSTAGRAM for those photos since I didn't manage to write any blogs about that trip), came back, was sick for most of February (bronchitis from Japan, then a crazy upset of GERD and asthma problems which sort of sucked the life out of me for a couple of weeks). Recovering now and have been thinking about this word thing...

And the one that I throw out and keeps coming back is... EXPLORE.

I went to Japan in January to explore doing indigo and shibori dyeing on Shikoku as well as to go to the big International Quilt Show. Upon my return I have been exploring how to do some things in/with my life, including getting back to some massive clean ups and the old WTF am I doing with myself in retirement. It will be 5 years in May now!

And then I see posts from new places to check out in my area and I just want to go there... so it just seemed a fait accompli that my word for the year would be EXPLORE.

And the flowers? One of my intentions for this year is to get back to my garden. Andy has the veggies and herbs part pretty taken care of, but I need more flowers in my life. So we went to Green Acres the other day and got some flowers... and now it has not stopped raining enough to get anything planted! Stay tuned for this one...

Going to Japan in January...

I may have mentioned it before but if not, I am going back to Japan in January for another visit. Yes it will be cold in January, but nothing I haven't experienced before.

This time I plan to go to Tokushima (on Shikuko) for some indigo dyeing (aizome) experiences, then to Kyoto for more shibori, then on to Tokyo to go to the (huge) famous Tokyo International Quilt Show and some amazing fabric shops. I have wanted to go to the quilt show for many years and I finally decided to just do it! It is held at the Tokyo Dome (a baseball stadium) and is so large that everyone suggests going for 2 days! I can't wait.  And of course between all this, shopping for fabrics and cute sewing/stationary things and eating!!

I also look forward to getting another goshuincho (the book for the red temple and shrine stamps as seen above) and going to a lot of temples and shrines I have not yet been to. Out of thousands in Japan, finding 20 or so to fill my book will be easy!

If you have been to the Tokyo quilt show, please tell me how it was for you in the comments below!

Getting ready for 2018

A couple of weeks ago I finally got around to planting more daffodil and narcissus bulbs. These flowers were from a couple of years ago. I had 2 big planters that were screaming for some flowers and I happened to be at a home improvement shop that had bulbs, so I bought some more. Not sure if it was too late to plant them or not but we shall see...

And now it is almost 2018. Already.
Yes, I know, where did the last year go? And what did I do last year? Well not a whole lot of anything which is what is bringing me back to this blog. If nothing else, it is/was a way for me to note what I have been doing. Granted I did post a lot on Facebook but this blog is a better way for me to really see what I have been up to, rather than what posts from other people I shared and then tons of travel photos.

WHICH, by the way... are on my Instagram account HERE. I went back to Japan in September last year. Didn't blog about it but posted a ton of photos on my Insta.

So now what?  Well, it is nearly time for me to choose my word for the year again.

Last year I wrote a rather introspective blogpost (HERE) and explained all that went behind the word for the year. I don't have so much to say this year (although we did get the living room cleaned up, bought a sofa, and started making it a comfy room again...

ok I guess that is a lot to say)... but about the word, I am not sure what is speaking to me now at the end of the year.

Good thing I have a couple more days to think about it.