The first Tea of the year!

So much has been happening I havent had time to write so this will be at least double post!

Today I went to class, Lynn expected that it being the first tea of the year class would be busy and that Sensei would not have time for dressing etc., so I left my kit in the car. As it turned out this was not the case, however, I do think it best I didn't wade in to today's craziness.Today seemed to be a gifting day with Lynn and lucia having made cookies, miso, and mini books. Sensei also gifted me a pair of extra long koshi-himo ties for dressing.

First the two senior tea students practiced God Tea, which is an offering tea rather than a drinking tea. As with all teas it has it's own particular set of movements etc. After that practice tea was served which was wonderful. Lucia had come as she is in town on vacation which was wonderful. We got to chat and it was fun. One of the other students had their young daughter with them who was dressed up and full of beans. This of course made for a very entertaining tea.

Also at the class were two kimono students, they were both lovely Japanese ladies. and both quite further advanced than I in their studies. One studies shamisen and is studying kimono as she needs to wear kimono for her practice. The other lady is younger and very nice and helpful. Needless to say, there was a lot of Japanese spoken and that always makes my head swim a bit, however, I learned a lot through watching the obi's going on and coming off multiple times. I am going to have to get used to the waves of Japanese language as this will be going on all month, next week I am just going to need to dive in and enjoy class, but I an quite glad I didn't have my kimono with me this week.

New Years sounds like it was a blast, there was a fashion show in Little Tokyo that I didn't hear about until it was too late., but everyone had a blast, here is a picture of the obi tying demonstration...

Sensei is in the middle explaining the finer points of tying a fukuro obi. I really wish I had made that one.

And now for the final part of this post. For the holidays this year I was gifted a variety of wonderful kimono gifts from my famiy. 

irst my dad bought me a wonderful kimono... 

 It was unlined but my dad covered that too. 

Here's a detail...

My husband very kindly chipped in with me to buy an okiro heater...

It is Omotesenke style as that is where our school traces it's roots back to.

This gift of course was to go with my moms gift to me, an okiro...

Mom also gifted me a beautiful kimono... 

It reminds me of the night sky...

Here is a closer detail...

I am now completely set up for tea. I may set up for practice and I plan to make tea this weekend.

Wish me luck!