The Japan Chronicles - Part 2

Part of what is making this time in Japan so delightful to me, are lots of little details.  Just the simple everyday things we do, but with some delightful twists.  Our son arranged for us to stay in a really nice hotel.

  

The room is very spacious, and there is even a kitchenette, so we can make our own breakfast and snacks if we wish.  It's great to be able to have coffee whenever I want, and here's one of those little details I mentioned.

This is a hot water pot.. All Japanese homes and most hotel rooms have one of these.  You fill the inner container with water, and it keeps it just below boiling, an instant hot water source.  Perfect for tea, coffee, or ramen noodles.   I'm a bit of a snob about coffee, won't drink instant.  Look at this brilliant solution that I've never seen in the States.

Mon Cafe, one serving, individually packaged.  All you need is your cup and hot water.

Fold up the little cardboard wings, hook them over the rim of your cup, and add hot water to the ground coffee.

Really good tasting, fresh coffee, without any special machine to produce it.  So clever.

Here is another different touch, and one that I wish I could take back home with me. This is the bath room in our hotel room, and it's designed for that specifically. bathing.  It's enclosed in glass, and has a tile floor with a drain in it.  There is a flexible shower, plus a wonderful deep tub, which allows you to soak up to your shoulders.

Before you soak in the tub, you scrub and shower off, so that you are already clean when you enter the tub.

Wouldn't this be great to warm up in on a cold winter night?  Of course this is a hotel version, but most homes in Japan have a similar arrangement.

Next installment, food adventures!  

The Japan Chronicles - Part One

While the Dog waits patiently at home, Mr. Brown Dog and I are visiting our family in Japan. This is my third trip here, and #5 for Mr. BD.   Our son has lived here for 22 years, since graduating from UCLA, and presently lives in Fukuoka, which is on an island at the southwestern side of Japan, almost directly across from South Korea.  Fukuoka is a fairly large city, with over a million in population, and very cosmopolitan, a big change from life on the farm.  

This is the view from our hotel room, on the twelfth floor.  The wonderful barrel roofed building is a big fire station, which includes ambulance services as well.  To the left, you can see part of a school, with the playing field for baseball and soccer.  You can get a bit of the feeling of the city in the background.

This is a great place for walking, and on the first morning here, we walked around the block and found this walkway and bridge across one of the inlets from the sea.  The trees are cherry, which are just beginning to flower, and the building is the Fukuoka Dome, home to the local baseball team, the Fukuoka Soft Bank Hawks. 

  
 Cherry trees are planted all around the city, and this is the perfect time to enjoy them.


The big reason for the trip this time is the arrival of our new Grandson, who was born in early January.

This is one of our first looks at him in person.  Such a good, quiet boy, and so wonderful to hold him in our arms.  He has a traditional Japanese first name, Kanade.  His family call him Kana.


On the day after we arrived, there was a traditional ceremony to mark his 100th day of life.  They were kind enough to plan this during the time of our visit, so that we could share with the family.  It was held at a Shabu-shabu restaurant, with low tables and floor seating. 

Here is part of the family around the table, with me holding the honored baby, along side his Uncle and Aunt.  Shabu-shabu is a kind of hot pot cooking, and thin sliced meats and vegetables are cooked in a broth which is simmering in the center of the table.  

Here is more of the family, including Kana's Japanese Grandmother, his wonderful Cousin, and his lovely Mother.

These are the ceremonial foods that are presented to the Baby, and they include several kinds of vegetables, Tofu, seafood, and rice.  They are offered with the special chopsticks shown at the left of the tray.

The food is offered to the baby, and touched to his lips, but he does not really eat the food.  The rock on the tray is touched to his lips as well, to give him strong teeth.  

We are so proud of our Japanese family, and so thrilled to have been able to be with them for this very special time.

Early Spring

We're having a very early Spring, this year.  Everything is blooming, including the things we usually don't see until April or early May. 

My Wisteria will be finished blooming in a few days more, and the Forsythia is already leafing out.  The Redbuds are blazing all around, and the Dogwoods are blooming.  I can't believe we aren't still in for another freeze, but with temps in the 70's, it's hard to imagine.

We leave tomorrow for a trip to visit our first Grandchild.  He lives in Fukuoka, Japan, so this will be a big adventure for us.  Our son moved to Japan when he graduated from UCLA, and has lived there for the last 22 years.  He and his wife, who is Japanese, welcomed a baby boy in January.  It's hard having family so far away, so this will be a joyful visit, with the big plus of a baby to meet and cuddle.


I'll be available by email during our travels, and keeping an eye on my Etsy shop, which will stay open for business.  I hope to have some fun photos to share along the way.  We return April 9.


Happy Spring, from the Dog and me.

The Mailman Honks Twice

Living in the country as we do, when the mail carrier drives up and honks, it's an exciting event.  It almost always means a package that won't fit in our mailbox, and my little heart beats faster. Could it be my quilt fabric, or that book I ordered?  Anticipation!  But when I know I haven't ordered anything, and something unexpected shows up, that's a big day!  Thanks to my BFF Pam, from Goldieloo Woodworks, I had a big day.

Look what came to my door yesterday!

Pam makes wonderful Gameboards and Signs, and I have a growing collection of her work.  This charming little Checkerboard is one of Pam's newest offerings, and it goes just wonderfully with a couple of others that I have hanging in my dining room. It was such a sweet and generous thing for her to send it to me. Thank you, Pam!  I really love it.

You can see Pam's work at her website, Goldieloo Woodworks, or at her Etsy shop.  They are great Primitive accents for any home, and make wonderful gifts.

Thanks again, Pam, from the Dog and me.

Apologies for the extended silence, but even though I haven't posted, I have been working away.

"Me and My Dog" is a new set of digital images based on Vintage photos.

I had a lot of fun with this one. There are 8 different images, on two 8.5" x 11" sheets, ready for you to print and use in your projects.  Available at Digita l Antiques on Etsy.

Here's something else I made, and this is for  TDIPT Mercantile.  

Available tomorrow night on my TDIPT page, Big Brown Dog Primitives.

Be sure to check out the wonderful  work from all the other artists on the site, while you're visiting.

Have a great week, from the Dog and me.