Hikari School -- November 22, 2011

Today's workshop was furoshiki wrapping. Colorful furoshiki
of many sizes were brought over. We wrapped boxes, balls,
and wine bottles with furoshiki. The laies were surprized
to see them wrapped nicely with furoshiki.
We also enjoyed making hojicha (roasted green tea).
Next lesson will be on January 24, Tuesday.

Ikebana -- November 15, 2011

Four ladies enjoyed ikebana lesson today.
Lily was really beautiful with many blossoms
and buds. It was quite hard to cut off some of
them to get good lines of red dogwood.

Cooking -- November 8, 2011

We really had a fun cooking today. Five ladies joined and after
the teacher explained how to cook each dish,everyone worked
actively. Two curries not based on curry roux blocks were delicious.
They loved gobo( burdock) salad, too. Burdock is one of the new
vegetables for them For dessert we made 'sweet potato'.

Ikebana -- October 27, 2011

Four members attended Ikebana class today.
One lady cancelled the lesson because of her daughter's
fever. These days temperature is changeable so that it's
no wonder a small child gets out of condition.
Flowers today are red eye willow, lily and aster which
give beautiful colour combination. Making curves with
willow branches is a main point today.

Cooking -- October 20, 2011

We had the first cooking class after the summer break.
Ten people joined us. It was a bit difficult for all
to work together in the kitchen, but we enjoyed making
tofu quiche, nashi and cucumber salad, and fried fig.
Quiche au tofu was unique and delicious and did not
taste like tofu.

Hikari School -- October 11, 2011

Three ladies enjoyed Hikari School today. The workshop was
Japanese sachet making. First we sewed small bags of kimono
cloth by hand. Then mixed several incense in a small bottle
and put them in the bags. Have a look at the photos of cute
sachets below. Before the tea ceremony lesson one lady wore
yukata and had pictures taken.

Ikebana -- September 29, 2011

One newcomer joined us for Ikebana lesson today. The flowers were
sekka-yanagi, dahlia, and rindo. Ladies loved sekka-yanagi's
beautiful branches and tried hard to bend them to make nice curve.
The new members follwed the basic rule very carefully.
The arrangement they made were fantastic!!

Ikebana -- September 15, 2011

Ikebana class has also started with 5 participants.
For three ladies, it was a second stage where they will
learn more and deeper about seasonal flowers and customs.
For two ladies, we are happy to know they were interested
in Ikebana and would like to continue the lessons. Flowers
were susuki (pampas grass),kiku (mums), rindo (gentian), and
waremoko (burnet). Arrangement today was specially for moon
viewing.

Hikari School -- September 6, 2011

Hikari School started again after a summer break.
Two ladies could not join us due to their children's
illness, but we welcomed a newcomer from Finland.
First we made chrysanthemum-shaped Asian knot straps
and then enjoyed making iced green tea.

Ikebana -- June 23, 2011

We had the final Ikebana lesson before a summer break.
Five ladies took a test today and received a certificate
of completion for the beginner's course for Ikebana.
Everyone did a good job using different flowers.
It's a sad thing that two ladies will be moving
back to Finland in July. We wll surely miss them!

Ikebana -- June 21, 2011

Three ladies gathered for taking lessons which they missed.
Today they finished all the lessons of this course and were
ready for a test. At the test, they have to judge which style is
suitable for the prepared set of flowers without teacher's
advice. And certainly they will arrange them by themselves.

Ikebana -- June 16, 2011

Luckily we had no rain in the daytime today.
The theme of the lesson was to use various kenzan.
Flowers the teacher prepared for the class were golden bells,
gladiolus and statice. Red of the gladiolus was so vivid and
attractive.

Cooking -- June 7, 2011

Maybe the last lesson before a summer break -- we had a fun
cooking lesson today. We made tofu lasagna, white fish salad,
white soup of spring onion, mizuna salad,and tomato dessert.
Tofu lasagna was new to them. Delicious and very healthy dish.
The tomato dessert was very interesting.

Cooking -- May 24, 2011

The other group met for cooking today. The menu was a little
different; yakitori, onigiri, miso soup,and ichigo daifuku.
It was fun to put pieces of chicken and vegetables on skewers.
We grilled them in the oven. Nice set lunch was ready with
onigiri and miso soup.

Ikebana -- May 19, 2011

Today’s theme was an arrangement with leaves. Ladies were getting
more relaxed and confident. It was a lively class as usual with
6 members and one guest from Finland. Flowers were Dracaena,
Solomon’s seal, yellow lily and Statice. The teacher prepared a
lovely set of vase and material for the guest. So it must be a
good opportunity to try ikebana for her.

Cooking -- May 12, 2011

The first group met for cooking lesson. We welcomed a gurest from
Finland. Started with dessert, we worked hard making yakitori,
temakizushi, and chawanmushi. Yakitori grilled nicely in the
oven was really delicious. It was fun making hand-rolled sushi too.

Ikebana -- April 21, 2011

Three enthusiastic participants of Ikebana program
tried arrangements for a deep vase and a small container.
Flowers today were white Chrysanthemum, pale pink statice
and lime green bupleurum. Sometimes they hesitated to cut
or not to cut the stems, and if cut which stem.

Cooking -- April 15, 2011

We had never thought we could start culture programs again
so soon after the Tohoku Earthquake. But Finnish ladies
came back from Finland and we met for cooking. The menu
was tempura udon noodles, bamboo shoot salad, and
grapefruit jelly. It was fun to make noodles from wheat
flour. Tempura udon was delicious and grapefruit jelly
was refreshing.

Cooking -- March 11, 2011

Six ladies met for cooking lesson. We made several dishes

including temarizushi, lettuce spring rolls, and black sesame

ice cream. A lot of temarizushi were made beautifully by ladies.

Colorful and cute, perfect for the party food. Spring rolls of lettuce

and fish cake are crispy and delicious. We enjoyed black sesame

ice cream as well.

Ikebana -- March 10, 2011

We had quite a lively class today with 8 ladies, 4 lovely babies,

and 2 visitors from Finland. It was not easy to arrange flowers

for 8 participants at one table as branches touch each other,

but ladies shared space and enjoyed colors of spring flowers.

Ikebana -- February 10, 2011

Today 6 ladies had the third lesson of the 8 round course of
Ikebana. Before the teacher arrived they prepared neatly the
vases with water and the flower scissors on the table.
Their works were just lovely with a scent of spring.
Each arrangement was different though the materials were
the same.

Cooking -- February 8, 2011

Four ladies joined us for cooking today. After some preparation of
washing and cutting vegetables, we had fun making gyoza.
Other dishes we made are fried rice with dried baby sardines and
lettuce, tomato and egg soup, and steamed vegetables. The dessert
was coffee jello.

Ikebana -- February 1, 2011

Seven ladies attended 2nd Ikebana lesson, though it was the first
lesson for two ladies. They learned standing style, arranging
dogwood twigs,snapdragon flowers and spraymums. They were really
enthusiastic and we had a fun lesson.

Ikebana -- January 18, 2011

Ikebana class started today. Six ladies joined us for the first lesson.
Started with explanation about ikebana techniques, ladies
started arranging sakura twigs, daffodils, and spray chrysanthemum.
They learned how to fix them in the vase and cut the unwanted leaves.
Look at the lovely works completed by them!