This Time of Year

journal page, collage papers, image of my mother's wooden paddle

My Ishibashi grandparents lived with us in East Los Angeles when I was a child.  Grandma Ishibashi  busied herself the week before the new year by cleaning out the whole house, inside and out.  She sewed a new outfit to wear on the first day of the year.  Festive symbolic Japanese delicacies were prepared 

by Iwataki and Ishibashi grandmothers from their magical kitchens.

journal page, acrylic paint, stencil, scrapbook paper, photo of my great grandfather

We visited our relatives all day on January 1, driving from home to home, 

eating the special food that they prepared, playing with cousins,

listening to stories told by wise grandparents.

I have never missed a New Year Celebration with my family.

journal page, acrylic paint, magazine images, rub on

I have become the proud bearer of the family tradition, 

cleaning and chopping

before each new year.

Happy New Year 

to you

and yours.

I am grateful for your visit

these first six months of my blog.

xxo