Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas, and I wish you the best for the New Year!

Love, Fujiyamamama

Mochitsuki

Mochitsuki or making mochi. 

A traditional Japanese New Year's activity and food.

Mochi has gained in popularity due to mochi ice cream. The mochi is the glutinous rice covering the ice cream. The rice is a special variety - not just your basic Uncle Ben's but a special glutinous and very sticky rice - 

that's why my friend S. compares eating mochi to what eating glue sticks would be like.

This is how mochi is traditionally made:

Steamed rice is placed in the mortar and smashed in. The rice is really hot - see all the steam? 

More smashing, more steam.

Once the rice is ready, and can handle the swinging of the pestles without flying out of the mortar
the real smashing begins!

Each group establishes a rhythm for pounding efficiently - and hopefully no one gets hurt!

Finished and formed mochi, some of it filled with anko - sweet bean paste.

Mochi  photobomb!

I Used to be Cool, Who?

Yep. I used to be cool.

I have been to hundreds of concerts, and had lots of fun and some amazing experiences. 

I had a chance to experience it again recently, it made me nostalgic

and allowed me to reminisce fondly.

The Who
Quadrophenia tour

Stage right set up for tea. The chamomile is for Roger Daltrey.

Roger Daltrey & Simon Townshend's guitars. I sat on the taller of the 2 stools for the show.

A closer look at some of the guitars...

A view from stage right during the sound check.

Simon and Roger onstage, the show is starting...

Show time!

Can't not show Pete Townshend's guitars!

Another view of Pete Townshend's guitars, including the acoustic guitars.

Entrelac Hat Class

I took a class with the Windy City Knitting Guild on making an Entrelac hat. A technique that I never thought I might try. I am technically challenged, I kind of follow patterns as long as it looks okay

...but counting is usually not my friend. 

Well, here it is in progress, not bad, but I hope that by the time I pick it up again

I will not have forgotten how to do it!

This is also my first time using Noro Kureyon, I like the scratchy wooly-ness about it. 

We'll see how much I enjoy it as a hat though!