When I lived in Japan, there was this kids song I learned - a round song, somewhat equivalent to English’s “Row Row Row Your Boat.” It’s called “Kaeru no Uta” - the Frog Song.

I learned it one afternoon when I was visiting my friend Alison. After lunch, we were gathered around their kitchen table, and her host mother taught us the song. After she’d taught us the lyrics and the tune, the three of us started rounding it, and that eventually devolved into a fit of giggles as we kept tripping up.

For some reason, this song has been running through my head non-stop all day now. It takes me back to that afternoon, and many others like it. Sometimes I really miss living there. I mean, it wasn’t all frog-songs and giggles - some of it was very difficult. But it was a really great experience, and sometimes I just get really nostalgic about it.

Perhaps what brought the song to mind was the spiffy package I received from my Secret Pal, Adia^**, today. (I’ll explain why a little further down.) I have to say this: my secret pal is 100 times more awesome than your secret pal. Seriously. She rocks.

The package contained the following: 3 skeins of Cascade 220 (2 black and 1 cornflower-ish blue), a Noni pattern for a felted bag, 2 bars of delicious-looking chocolate (I’ve resisted temptation so far), 2 candles (blueberry muffin and birthday cake), a bar of Kiss My Face soap, the most adorable sheep cards, a Chibi darning needle case, a sample size pouch of Eucalan, and 2 very adorable little tissue packets. Want close-ups? Guess what. I deliver, ’cause I’m awesome like that.

A bar of Kiss My Face soap - I absolutely love this stuff

Candle Tins - I bet Adia had no idea that birthday cake ice cream is my favorite flavor of ice cream from the Marble Slab Creamery! Mmm… they smell so good.

Ridiculously cute tissue packets - they’re Japanese, and I think this is possibly what got “Kaeru no Uta” stuck in my head this afternoon

Two bars of very yummy-looking Cloud Nine chocolate (raspberry and coffee flavored), a Chibi darning needle case (which is perfect, because I’m constantly losing my darning needles!), and some Eucalan

Sheep cards - so cute!

And of course, the beautiful yarn. I do so love Cascade 220. It’s such a good solid yarn, and it comes in such lovely colors!

Thank you, Adia! You are seriously the most awesome secret pal ever!

And in other random news, I let the cats out on the porch with me while I was writing this tonight. The minute I did, a rogue injured bumblebee landed the porch and proceeded to flop about everywhere, buzzing loudly in a very angry tone. Gambit was completely freaked out, and the minute the bee got near him, he ran faster than I’ve ever seen him run over to the other side of the porch and jumped up about 4 feet onto the ledge, crying pitifully. I picked him up and carried him back inside (his claws dug into me - the poor baby was really scared!). Seymour, on the other hand, would not be corralled back inside - he was far too intent on figuring out whether or not this thing was edible.

I finally just smooshed the bee, because frankly, I’m not so keen on the idea of my Seymour getting himself stung. And so now that this entry is truly come to an end, my friends (I promise, no more pictures tonight), it’s time to go in and knit on a sock. Adieu!

** Adia is just the nickname I’ve given her and is not her real name, unless by some strange coincidence, her real name actually is Adia. But that’s doubtful.