Mini Spring Garden Basket

the mini spring garden basket

I wanted the kids classes to do a schoolyear-end activity last week.  Some of the students would no longer be coming back to classes from April.  For various reasons, they chose not to continue .  So I wanted a special, fun, creative yet not expensive activity for them.  I browsed several websites for ideas, and came across some pretty mini Easter baskets on Pinterest.  

I went to Daiso to look for materials, and gladly found a pretty, flowery and  small  pound cake  molder which I could use as a basket.  Now , what to put in there?  What things does one see in a spring garden?  Grass, small trees, rocks, pebbles, flowers, etc. etc. 

Now, I wanted the students to create their own spring gardens with edible stuff like marshmallows, biscuits, gummies, candies, chocolates.  Except for the green grass ( a bento plastic divider), everything in it, they could eat and share with their siblings/family.

I bought the Swedish thin almond-flavored biscuits which are shaped like flowers.  Then I melted white chocolates and spread it on the biscuit then placed one colored M&M on it, so it would look like flowers.

Since it's nearly Easter time, I bought miniature choco balls  in Easter bunny wrappers for them to put in their spring baskets.   

Here's what my spring basket looked like: Can you spot the froggy gummy??

Here are the students' creations: 

They could hardly resist digging into their yummy spring gardens while working on this activity.  It was fun, but what's more important is that they were able to use their imaginations and creative talents on this one.  

Good job, everyone!

Sadly, in my busy-ness and excitement, I forgot to take pics of the elem kiddie classes.  Sayang :(( 

Shining Moments part 2

Can I have a BIBLE, please?
(March 21, 2015)

Yesterday was the last day for all the Friday classes (2014-2015). Mixed emotions. EXCITEMENT for the coming spring break. SADNESS for the students who will not be continuing (for varied reasons, that includes me being a boring teacher ). GRATITUDE to God for His guidance and faithfulness. PRIDE for the amazing bunch of class chaplains this year (how they've been able to put up with a class buddy like me through these years is beyond me ) HAPPINESS especially for the 7pm High School class, who recently graduated and will all be going to their chosen universities from April .They have been with the Church School for years (one of them since 2004) and will no longer be able to continue . Absolute JOY knowing that 2 of these teenagers, when asked by their class chaplain what gift would they want from him, they replied , "a BIBLE"!!! smile emoticon

Shining Moments in March

God Sees Us All The Time ( March 26, 2015)

Invited a dear Japanese friend tonight for dinner of lumpia and pancit sotanghon ( her request , she loves lumpia very much smile emoticon )... She'll soon move to another city in Japan, where she hardly knows anyone. Huge concern and top on her prayer list is her transition. Over dinner, we talked about our personal struggles and anxieties. 
Before we said our goodbyes, we shared prayer concerns, then she said, "I'll be all right, Meriam. Our God sees us all the time and watches over us. Even if I live in a cave, He still can see me. Also, I see how our God has been with you here in Japan. This is not your home country, yet He has sustained you. How much more for me. So I know God will be with me, too."
I wanted to dance when I heard her say that. In 1994, my first year in Japan, I used to tell her that God is with me all the time, so I will be okay here. She was not a Christian then. She attended one of our evening classes for working ladies. Several years later she committed her life to Christ. She goes to another church now and we seldom see each other.
I'm praising our Lord now for what He's done in her life and I'm telling Him, "oh how far she's come!"

Light-Bulb Moments (March 25, 2015) 

Last meeting for the HS Wed 7pm class today. In the middle of our schoolyear-end activity, suddenly one of the boys asked me, "Teacher, what is Easter?" So I wanted to tell the class about the usual Easter tradition ( dyed eggs, egg hunting, Easter bunny, etc) but then in a split-second realized this could be a great opportunity to talk about our Lord's Resurrection. Thankful that the class chaplain came early today, so I wrapped up the activity so Iguchi-san would have a lot of time to include it in their Bible time today.
Have you ever seen the face of a person who is so engrossed and amazed? You know, when he has that so-called "light bulb moment"? Well, I saw not just one of those expressions today , but FIVE!!! (There are 5 high school students in this class) It's like the room suddenly became so bright and warm with lots of those "light bulbs" flashing tonight. smile emoticon

Pet Shop Shock @ COOP Livin

COOP Livin down on Route 2 has always been a favorite haunt .  This is where I buy pretty home products like sheets, pillow cases, table runners, etc.  at affordable prices.  I can definitely spend an entire afternoon browsing from corner to corner of its second floor displays.

Its first floor houses the grocery, drugstore, bathroom, stationery and the pet section.  Seldom do I go to the pet section because I cannot keep a pet here for obvious reasons.  But one afternoon, I heard a loud yelping that got me curious.  Sure enough there were veeery cute puppies and a couple of kittens in separate cages.  But what gave me a jolt was the board display above the cages.

This is the price for these kittens.

I looked to the other side and sure enough another board :

this is the price for these puppies below

What do you say?

Add the cost of dog/cat food per week, the necessary visits to the vet , vaccinations, vitamins and fur maintenance care, cages, carriers, feeding trays and water bottles, beds, blankets, winter wraps....wow!!!  

I love dogs and cats...but for now, I'd just be content on enjoying them through pet shop windows....this one's definitely fun and ...FREE !!! 

It's Definitely Spring

I love spring.  This is my favorite season.  I love the blooms and fresh buds that spring brings.  It's like the world is coming to life again after the dreary, cold and grey winter season.  I love the feelings of excitement, hope and joy it signifies.

You know that spring has surely come when you see a huge potted cherry blossoms in Santica, of all places ! This week, I went down to Santica basement shopping area to get some candies and chocolate for my classes.  Imagine my pleasant surprise when I saw this at the Santica circle :

This is like a "giant" bonsai of a cherry tree variety.

I love the white petals - so dainty ,  delicate and pure ! 

the soft pink hues of the buds

Random

I'd like to have a window such as this if I were to build my own house. Aside from a potted plant, I'd put a couple or more figurines on the sill. 

This is my favorite pillowcase.  I bought this at COOP Livin years ago. 

A vegetable salad for me with lots of yellow paprika 

For Your Eyes Only.   The price for each is about P180 .  I'd be crazy to buy it. 

The Hula Dance

Last Sunday afternoon, I went to Harborland to walk around and do some window shopping.

On my way back to the main entrance of the Umie Mall,  I heard strains of hula music.  I craned my neck as to where that lovely sound was coming from.  From a distance, I saw a small crowd gathered  in front of a makeshift stage where young, college-age girls were dancing the hula.  I went near to get a good look . I think it was a mini recital of a college hula dance club that those girls were in.

I have always been fascinated with hula dances since my elementary days.  The first hula dance I saw was in a school program where my school mates danced to the tune of Pearly Shells, a popular hula song in the '70s.  Then, many young showbiz stars were also into the hula.  I remember watching on TV , stars like Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, etc. donning a long Hawaiian dress complete with the leis and singing "Lovely Hula Hands", " My Little Grass Shack", etc. Of course, there was also the Tahitian dance by the Aldeguer Sisters which I enjoyed watching immensely. 

I like to dance and if ever I'd have a chance to take some dance classes , I'd choose the hula.  I love the soothing and romantic music, also the hand movements.  I think I'd like this over the Zumba for an exercise.  I heard the hula moves will improve posture, and give a lady smaller waists and well-formed butts. Plus, the flowers in the hair and those blooms hanged in leis ...oh, I'd certainly love that on me !  

Convenience Store Finds

Often , I stop by convenience stores to get something in a dash.  There are a lot of those stores near where I stay.  We have 7-11, Lawson and  Family Mart in just a couple of blocks away from each other.

Recently, I went to the convenience store at JR Sumiyoshi station to get a small bottle of water.  It was such a delight to find these in there:

These are boxed chocolates for White Day - when the boys/men will give to their special ladies in their lives sweets and treats to reciprocate what they have been given during Valentine's Day

The cheesecake flavor of KitKat

The yummy mango pudding - there were 3 cups in this pack

Wish This Were Mine

The church has lent me a quilt to use as a bed cover while I'm here.  This has been my favorite piece of applique handwork, so far.  I wonder how much time did it take for this to be done.  I'm grateful that I get to use a very pretty work of art.

What makes this bed cover interesting is that there are different designs for each block, all with the same material and color.  It takes a lot of ingenuity, creativeness, patience and perseverance to be able to finish a thing such as this. 

I don't exactly know the name of the lady missionary who did this and left this with the church here.  But I think it was very brilliant of her to make a signature block among the pretty ones .  It has her initials and a year.  I guess this was the year she made or completed this artwork. I don't know where she is now, but I'm glad that she left such a precious treasure. 

Osakajokoen

Osakajokoen is the name of the station that is on Osaka Loop Line.  This is where to get off if you want to go to Osaka Castle and its grounds.  It's the next stop from Kyobashi station, whichever way you go on the Loop.

The interior of the station is very interesting.  These are what greet the eyes of the visitors going through the Osakajokoen station.

'Tis the Plum Season

Last Monday of February, I had to go to the Philippine Consulate in Osaka to renew my passport.  Surprisingly, it took me roughly 30 minutes to finish everything!  

Since it was a Monday (my day off), I decided to stop by the Osaka Castle grounds on my way back to check out its Plum Grove.  I expected the plum trees to be in full bloom.  However, to my disappointment, only a few trees were blossoming.  

I imagine how pretty the grove must be when all the trees were blooming.  Anyway, I strolled around with a few who were also there and took these photos. 

What made my day even happier was this chubby cat sitting under one of the plum trees, oblivious of the amused stares of people and photo lenses of cameras in front of him!