{Our Euonymus japonicus 'Ovatus Aureus' (Golden Euonymus)}

• One more garden gem I want to share with you today. There are several things to show right now but this is a very special form of Euonymus japonicus 'Ovatus Aureus' (Golden Euonymus) that bears pinkish fruits in winter. The young leaves are such pretty golden right now; let's have a look.

• The flower buds are already being formed. This picture is from Monday the beginning of spring and also very much the beginning of the 'pollen season' as you can see on its leaves. But the sun created such a nice striking light in the late afternoon, that I had to capture it. 

• This photo was taken five years ago when Pieter did get it here at a local nursery in exchange for some exotic plants that he had grown. It is a shrub and will not grow very tall.

• Pieter took this photo a week ago, you get an idea about its size and you also can see that the new growth of this evergreen shrub is really golden; hence it's name 'Golden Euonymus'

• This photo also was taken by Pieter a week ago. And below you can see the fruits that it bears in winter.

• Those older leaves are no longer golden. They are loaded with the pollen of today. That only gets washed off with a heavy rain. But that's just the time of the year now. 
• Cars and everything gets 'yellow' and we also have yellow cats...

• Such light at 5:40 PM (17:40) it makes one really happy that spring is in the land.

• If you're in the area, stop by and have a Garden Tour with tea in the gazebo afterwards. Check to Book an Event.

{ROSES by Celestina Marie Design + GIVEAWAY}

Our dear friend Rebecca had a birthday and I'd ordered by Celestina Marie Design some special artwork, involving yellow roses. It came in the mail inside the same parcel of which I did a blog on March 4; {Celestina Marie Design Send a Parcel}... Now I can reveal this artwork to you as well. Remember, Celestina Marie has been the artist that made Christmas ornaments for the White House's Blue Room Christmas tree in 1998 and 2004. See also below for a very special GIVEAWAY by Celestina Marie Designs...

'FAMILY the center of life's meaning FAMILY'

That was a perfect and very meaningful text for this purpose. Our dear friends have adopted us into their family. That is so warm and touching and we've shared our ups and downs, being there for one another at times of sorrow and joy. Since both of us have no kins here in the USA it feels so warm to have family now on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Celestina Marie Designs did take great care in wrapping it in a pale green tissue paper with an organdy bow. Please do visit her blog as she's having a great giveaway hand painted Easter bunny by her; see below.

Celestina Marie Designs not only gift wraps the art work in a fabulous way, but look at the enclosed Thank You card with Celestina Marie's own art work...! Who would not want to receive such a special gift! Of course, if two First Ladies received her artwork; why can't we?

Even the back of her artwork is adorned by a special label with yet another of her famous roses...

You better hurry over to her blog: Celestina Marie Design right now to participate in this lovely drawing and maybe win this sweet Easter bunny, done by Celestina Marie Designs.

{News from Our Sister-City Osaki in JAPAN + Join NISSAN with Donation!}

• It was with great joy to receive an email in the morning from our YKK contact person who finally got through to the little town of Sanbongi, part of Osaki City. 
• In July of 2007 I had the honor being one of two chaperons with six students from Dublin, Georgia to Japan. 
• We have already contact since October 1998 and every other year we send students there or we receive students form our sister city Osaki. 
• It is such a great cultural exchange and after a stay in Tokyo we went to the north east for a stay with our host families. 
• That is so unique, far different from a hotel stay. 
• We did lots of sight seeing in the north east area, visiting gardens, shrines etc. etc. 
• The usual things one can enjoy in this great country. 
• Their courtesy and respect for others, for nature and for life in general is something we all can learn from. 
• They are an example to the world. Some negative news by the leftist media in regard to nuclear power plants should be put to rest too. 
• If all those people that talk about it and help spread those rumors, would do their own homework, they would soon learn that those levels are not life threatening. 
• On a transatlantic flight you get quite some radiation and nobody talks about that.  
• Nuclear energy is still by far the cleanest and safest energy there is! 

• This is the Miyagi Prefecture (State) with Sendai being the hardest hit. 
• Our stay was in Osaki, more inland and that's precisely why there was not much damage compared to the areas near the coast. 
• They did not have electricity for one week; that's why they couldn't send or receive emails prior to yesterday.

• View from the Tokyo Tower where we first went on our city tour and harbor cruise. It was rather hazy that day but nevertheless quite impressive.

• Here I am in front of Tokyo's Hard Rock Cafe, with a lady from YKK research. 
• We had dinner there and the group had a blast.

• On the roof  of the YKK research center in Tokyo before departure by train to the north to our host families. 

• Reading from Romaji and my co-chaperon doing the English version, that's how I presented the gifts for the mayor, the chairman of their International Association and later to the manager of the Tohoku YKK plant. 
• A dear friend who has worked and lived in Japan, provided me with this text and he did over-hear me before I went to Japan. 
• As I'm used to speaking for groups, having been an international consultant and giving training seminars, I didn't need a microphone.

• Here I present the gifts, that I'd purchased at our flagship department store Neiman Marcus. 
• They did provide me with their signature gift boxes as well. 
• Japanese do appreciate high quality items.

• Meeting my host. By the way, I got introduced as an energetic Mama...

• The Chef from a traditional Japanese restaurant in Furukuwa. I ate whale for the very first time. 
• With our boss, my husband and I have eaten several times Japanese at Sumire Restaurant in the Grand Hyatt Jakarta Hotel in Indonesia.
• We both love it very much. 
• Eating with chopsticks is no problem for me either as I did that for years in Indonesia, while doing consulting work and living there for about 3 years. 
• Japanese chopsticks are only shorter.

• Each of us had to say something about our stay and our experiences, or highlights, at the Sayonara party. 
• Also the host family got to say something about their guest(s) as some had two students and even three.

• One last photo with my host family and off we went in the morning, by train back to Tokyo. 
• Another adventure was that a Typhoon was striking Japan and our Delta flight was delayed by one day and the hotels in Tokyo were overbooked, so we had to split up our group. 
• During the train ride I made up my mind though, that we would depart that very day instead. 
• Delta airlines handled it great as we got it done over the phone and by mentioning that I had to get my six minors back home safely. 
• The problem was that there were two holidays in Japan, thus flights already overbooked. 
• Also the fact that the group would be split up was not something I liked. 
• We got out, running to the gate and having to skip lunch but that was okay. 
• The Typhoon hit and there was an earthquake with a mini Tsunami. 
• Nothing compared with this monster Tsunami... but who would know in advance? 
• Parents were all pleased to see their son/daughter back safe. 
• I'd emailed my husband Pieter and our YKK contact person who organized everything in the US as far as informing the families. 
• My last email read: 'If you don't hear from me anymore; that means we are in the air' and also forwarding our flight numbers to them...

• Back home in Dublin I could present our mayor with the new flag from Osaki as several towns had merged into Osaki City.

• Only one year later, in 2008, we could welcome a Japanese delegation back to Dublin. Under Police escort they are being met at the Interstate (Autobahn/Autostrada) and a big welcome sign is on the overpass.

• Here we are with our house guest; one of the chaperons.

• Together with two other members of the International Committee I did join these Japanese students  on a trip to Savannah and to the beach... HAPPY TIMES!

• Let me end this post with this nobel act by Nissan as they donated $ 1,000,000 and will match again the next $ 500,000 in contributions. Here is (was) the link for donating and I hope that many of you will join me! Thank you! ありがとうございます on behalf of our Japanese friends that need us more than ever...