so, my newest project (because, you know, working tommy's birth announcement isn't enough cross stitch...) which i actually started more than ten years ago (because i started this *before* i came to japan), the green and brown bits. i then misplaced the floss and only just recently found it. it's a christmas thing so maybe i can get it done for this year. the cloth is 18 count, though, and i am finding it a bit small....

my quilting is on hold because i am waiting for a foot for my machine (had to order one). i was lucky on sunday when i was in my local AEON because the sewing machine lady was there. that's where i bought my machine, and she actually remembered me and was able to find what i needed. also, she could tell me where i can lower my feed dogs so i think i'm that much closer to trying free motion quilting. i'm a little scared....

yoshi had to work on saturday and monday. on saturday he left the house at about 9 (i think, i can't really remember that far back) and got back after seven (yes, in the evening.) *sigh* better than midnight i guess but i am certainly getting burned out. on sunday yoshi stayed home, but he invited his parents over and i got lots of free time. i kinda blew it, though, because when i was at AEON getting ingredients for nabe (and inquiring about sewing machines) i got something frozen and had to go home. i did get out again but just before i arrived home, yoshi got a phone call about a local meeting he had to go to (he is going to be 'president' starting in april. what with me being more involved with AFWJ starting in april and sasha starting school in april....oh goodness me.) so i had to get back early enough to get dinner prepared and on the table so we could eat before he had to go (the meeting started at six). we had duck nabe, if you're interested (organic(?) free-range duck, broth i made from the duck carcass included and then flavored with homemade miso it was almost a shame we didn't have any home-grown veggies for the nabe!!) poor yoshi got home after ten--and he hadn't really had dinner with us earlier because he remembered last minute he had stuff to get at the dry-cleaner's. what a busy guy.

right now he has lots of extra work because someone quit. so, he worked yesterday, leaving at about 11 because he over slept, and got home at around seven. tonight he will be very late and i am really hoping that new people will be hired in april and he'll not have so much overtime.

today we went to the kindy to get sasha's uniform, bag and other bits and bobs for school. i don't know if she's actually ready, but she is excited about her uniform, trying everything on this evening. let's just see what happens in april....