16 days into the new year already, not written a single post, 627 unread posts of you on my Bloglines, unanswered emails piling up, unwritten posts about my craftings, too... There will be no big resolutions regarding me getting a better (organised) person this year as I really am not the kind of girl that sticks to any great plans, so I guess the best thing to do is to start just somewhere.
On New Year's Day we went, just like last year (love traditions!), to a nearby shrine to exchange Dagny's Hamaya, a lucky charm in form of an arrow (sold at the shrine for 1500 Yen) that is supposed to ward off all evil and attract good luck during the year. Not so easy to break with such a new found tradition... one wouldn't risk misfortune by not getting a new arrow, right?
We love going to that shrine on New Year's Day because there is a little, very informal matsuri going on. Lots of food, games for the children (like catching fish with a paper net - which we don't do but it's adding to the good mood at those festivals anyway), cotton candy, people sitting by the fire, eating and drinking.
More photos here.
By the number of posts you all have been writing already I assume you had a great start into the new year and are bursting with crafty energy?!
Silently I have been doing some knitting and sewing, too, I'll do my best to get this tired old blog updated so you can all see how I spent my (not so much) time during the holidays.
Time to catch up.
Take care!