"A Happy New Year" to my friends♪

Hatuhinode(the first sun rise) picture from here 

A Happy New Year everyone!

I DO wish the year 2014 will be a prosperous and healthy one for all of you♪♪♪

*New year flower arrangement*

The first new year flower arrangement is the one I did last year end for this year. Second one is from a year before. I could not use the pine you might guess why and arranged it or used a bit quiet color. We Normally decorate them inside of the front door or Tokonoma (alcove; we don't have it in my house). 

You can see gorgeous arrangements from this link.

  I put a little horse ornament we were given, which is
   this year's animal symbols of Oriental Zodiac Sign.

*Year-Crossing Soba-Noodles 

My husband made Soba-noodle for 16 people this year (gave them neighbors etc).

We have a custom eating year-crossing soba-noodles 「年越し蕎麦」 for new year's eve dinner.  For most Japanese families, having this soba-noodle with family member quietly at home means to greet a happy next year. There are several theories for how this custom started like the link explains, but the most popular one would be "wishing to have a thin long happy life" year-crossing noodles ←(link) 

                            You can see how he makes Soba-noodle through my link page from my side-bar.

 My Kake-Soba (with soup type and different from the one in my soba link)

(Mine is with cooked beef, mushroom and processed-fish and so on are on top)

*Osechi (New Year Dish)

Osechi-ryōri ←(link) (御節料理 or お節料理) is traditional Japanese New Year Dish. The food are put into special boxes called jūbako (重箱). There are various BEAUTIFUL ones. Although pictures (from pc) are rather gorgeous than my late Mom's old-day's home-made one, I DO remember my Mom making these dish and helping her; enjoyed nibbling while cooked, haha. And after she passed away, my late bro bought rather expensive one and brought to us with father and ate all together. These are my precious family memories, p;)

So sorry that my old friends may be already familiar with this topic(^^;)  Thank you very much for reading♡♡♡  From this year I will be able to be more faithful to you!!!   

    I'm linking this post to "Our World Tuesday"