And so, when I said on Friday to "come back tomorrow for a contest", I really meant to come back on Sunday...(that's just the way I roll sometimes)

to celebrate.......

The clear blue sky on a warm afternoon

Saying "hello" to a pair of old friends I haven't seen for a few months

(the sandals AND the unsocked feet!)

Sitting in the garden, drinking juice with my favorite little boys

Being barefooted on a warm afternoon

Flowers that are blooming in the garden right now

Debbie's birthday week

(We thought a "birthday MONTH" might be a bit too much!!)

Clean clothes hanging on the line that dry in just a few hours

And just for the fact that.....

We are having a contest.



Last year, a friend gave me a pair of handmade zori (slippers). They are made of cotton scraps, some from old kimonos. At first, when I saw them, I thought, "No way are my large,

size 9 1/2, foreign feet going to fit into those."

But, my friend assured me that if I wore them every day, in 3 weeks, they would fit.

So I did....for 3 weeks...I wore those slippers around the house. Oh...they were not the most comfortable things I have ever worn, but.....3 weeks I could do.

Funny thing about these slippers....they get really soft....and they sort of smoosh out to fit the feet that wear them. If you put them in the washing machine, they will not only get clean (because I have been known to use them to wipe up spilled water or tea!!), but they also get softer!!! They are wonderful....and I wear them around the house...

all...

the...

time.

And so, I have.....2 pairs of these lovely handmade slippers to give away.... to 2 very lucky people!!
This is the easy part....All you have to do is leave a comment on this post....or any other post I may write.....until Thursday morning (Japan time, yo...maybe your Wednesday!!). So, today is Sunday....and I'm sure I'll post a couple more times....You'll have a post or two more that you can write comments!!

And because I'm going to be a total "comment ho" about this....

you leave one comment...you get one chance.

You leave 3 comments....you get 3 chances.

We will have the drawing on Thursday morning and post the winners soon after.

Who knows....there might be a few "extras" along with the sandals (small and light extras!)....I might be feeling really generous by the time Thursday rolls around!! :-D

So...there you go....

Leave a comment (or two...it's your call!).

Then go have a really great day.