I wnder how the year 2013 is like.

The year 2013 has just started.

 One of the big events in my family this 2013 is our son's high school

entrance exam which he will be taking by the end of January.
I wish he could pass it with flying colours

 

 

 Here is a picture of  Sansevieria or the Mother-in-law's Tongue  ,houseplant.

 I've grown it several years now.
This plant needs low maintenance. I seldom water it and place fertilizer

throughout the year and it can already delight our eyes.

 

 

 

It  snowed heavily a few days ago . Everything that were covered with

snow looked beautiful.  White world is fantastic.

 

 

 

I went to see the renovated red-brick building, Tokyo station which was opened

in last October with my daughter during New Year's Holidays.
There was a crowd of people in around the station.　

 The domes on both sides of the building was amazingly lovely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After   hanging around two stylish big shopping centers near Tokyo Station, we took a walk around the imperial palace and went to another shopping center with my daughter.

 

 

This soft ice cream was taste-GOOD.

When we were in shopping center,  luckyly meeted "Sisimai( Lion dance)" which was performed around the new Year by one or two lions accompanied by bamboo flutes and drums. It was performed as a prayer for household safety and health and a good harvest.

 

 I and my family visited my parents to greet them a happy new year during New Year's Holidays.
 I feel very happy that I and my family got another healthy year again. But there were a lot of demands on my purse at this time. Because, in Japan, adults are supposed to give money to their children or relative's children as  New Year's Gift .

 

  We went to a big Temple nearby to pray our happiness and health.

 

 

 

My daughter  bought her first false eyelashes.   She  tried them on

but we were not able to put them properly. We were not used to putting it on.

 

My father who started doing magic about 20 years ago, taught me

some ways how to do magic   such as shifting a knot of handkerchief

from a red handkerchief to a yellow  one , showing a handkerchief on my

 hand instantl ,restoring torn paper by hands to its original size , restoring a bill

with a hole to its original condition and separating a red ring tied together with

a white rope.   It was quite difficult to  do such magics well. I have to

 practice them again and again to master.

 

 

 

I went to Haiji village(　ハイジの村）　with my family. It was freezing,

but we were impresed by the fantastic ilumination.

 

 

I'm hoping that a lot of people around the world will be happy this year.