February 4, 1998

Today is "Risshunn", or the first day of spring. I try to feel spring by my skin, but it is still cold actually. I got a call from my son who will marry 10 days after. He asked me to prepare hand-made cookies to deliver the guest who would kindly attend the wedding ceremony. It is really a big job for me. As I haven't enough time, I soon baked a trial product. I have consulted with my close friend how to design the cookie. Following to her suggestion, I went out to get the wrapping material and other small items like lovely ribbons and lace paper for making the cookie. There were a lot of beautiful decorations of Valentine Day in the town.

February 7, 1998

Today, I have prepared the cookie for the wedding ceremony. Just after the breakfast, I started my work. First, I weigh all the material, beat the butter completely until its yellowish color turns to pure white, and knead further. This is the most important process. Then I add fragmented walnut and wheat flour to make a paste. The paste is wrapped with vinyl and laid in the refrigerator for a while. I can bake 80 pieces of "Russian cookie" at a time in the oven. With the help of my husband, I finally baked them eight times before the evening. Looking over the product, we enjoyed an afternoon tea. The cookies will be packed tomorrow.

February 8, 1998

Today, I packed the Russian cookies I prepared yesterday. My husband cooperated with me. It was a hard work indeed, but we appreciate my son who asked us to make the cookie. This will be a good present to the young couple. All cookie bags were tied up with pretty ribbons, then put into lovely paper bags, containing 11 cookie bags each. We were very happy to see the completion of the whole sets of the cookies.

February 15, 1998

Today, we will have the wedding ceremony of our son. Last evening, we checked in Hotel Okura, one of the best hotels in Tokyo, in which the ceremony is to be held. When I opened the window of the room this morning, I was surprised to find an unexpected snowfall, but it seemed to be a fresh start of the young couple. In the afternoon, the young couple arrived the hotel for dress-up. Relatives also came together in twos and threes to the lobby. Now, the ceremony has started. Many friends, boss of the office, and relatives were very happy to attend the ceremony arranged by the couple themselves. After the opening speech of the groom's uncle, all the participants enjoyed the pleasant party. My son looked like a little bit of in tension, and hard to control his delightful atmosphere. The bride Yasuyo was shinning in beauty in her highest brightness. We were very happy to have a chance to attend such a nice ceremony.

February 28, 1998

Today, we had "The 16th Concert: Chorus Canens Cantum Gregorianum" at Oita central Catholic church, conducted by Shigemi Takei. She is a professor of Miyazaki University who often give us wonderful musics in Yufuin Music Festival. This time's program was held in commemoration of the 450th anniversary of the birth of Victoria, a famed Spanish composer. We enjoyed the harmony of the chorus together with many audiences ranging from young students to elder couples under the wonderful conduct and easy explanation of Ms. Takei.