eek

The other day as I was coming back from the market, I saw this "moving" in the azalea bushes of our apartment complex.

Which of course, startled me.

Then I took a closer look and realized it was a furry neck warmer thingy...whew!

Whenever someone drops something like a glove, people hang it from the fence or in this case the wall where they found the lost item.

If you've dropped something and retrace your steps you might be able to find your lost item on a fence or wall.

Cool yeah?!

Have a nice weekend.

pagong x hello kitty

Over the past 8 years or so, I have enjoyed wearing Pagong's tops.

Recently they came out with a new print, in collaboration with Hello Kitty's 40th Anniversary.

Before moving to Japan I wasn't too much of a Hello Kitty fan, but once here, I found that she was everywhere and couldn't help but fall in love with her.

Anyway, the scenery is called Horai-zu which is based on a Chinese myth about Mount Penglai, you can read more about it here. It is supposed to be a magical world.

Unfortunately, the Japanese version of the myth is not "happy".

Still, Hello Kitty is scattered throughout this print and according to the description card that came with my top, it says that "happy things" may come to you as you look for Hello Kitty.

It is the beginning of July, with all the crazy weather going on here in Japan and around the world, I hope your summer is going well.

keep calm & carry on

I had seen this motto in Japan when they were having a British themed sale at an import shop.

Apparently this motto was thought up during WWII as a way to "cheer" on the Brits.

Before they could use it though, the war ended, so most of these posters were destroyed.

Then 60 years later, a bookseller named Stuart Manley, found this among some old books. And even more recently, more posters were found and auctioned.

The company, Keep Calm and Carry On was able to purchase one and used it for posters, t-shirts and other knick-knacks.

According to some, the motto sends a comforting and reassuring message.

I think it's pretty cool.

dress code

Most times in Hawaii, there isn't a dress code for men.

You can go "out" in t-shirt and shorts.

If the event is "fancy", then some dress in aloha wear or maybe a polo shirt. Suits or jackets are rarely worn here.

A lot of our t-shirts have local sayings on the back or front. Some may be funny to locals but not necessarily so to "foreigners".

Anyway, I recently saw this group of grandpas outside of the market, chatting away and people watching.

I loved the saying on the back of this one guy's shirt..."old guys rule", thought it summed up the gist of their group...

wha??

People watching especially on the trains can be entertaining. Sometimes though I get irritated by the lack of manners some have...

If you ride the train in Japan, one thing you should try to do is keep your packages on your lap or on the rack up above and not on the seat next to you.

Even if you've bought a lot, there are others that probably would like to sit down.

Plus, sitting is safer than standing.

If you ride the train in Japan, please put your "face" on before boarding the train. I know we Americans do this while driving in our cars during morning rush hour, but when you're on public transportation...we're face to face.

Though it is pretty interesting to watch you use 4 different types of mascara during a 15 minute ride and I often wonder how long it will take you to take all the mascara off at the end of the day.

Or the guy who concentrates on zhooshing his hair, which no matter how much he touches it, still looks like he's just woken up.

Sometimes while people watching, you come across some interesting fashion choices...

If you're a guy, I think you should know that M.C. Hammer went out with the 90's....so why would you want to dress like him now??

I just can't understand how comfortable it is to have your crotch hang by your knees.

And even if plaid is in, why would you want to wear all of them together??

Oh and leggings and skirts are apparently in for guys too...

(this skirt photo is from the internet).

While I don't knock men who wear kilts, when your "skirts" are from a shop called "cross gender" but you profess that you aren't...

I caught this guy crossing his legs on the train and could only think of one thing....ow!

People watching....fun, yeah??

crochet & other stuff

Today was my crochet class. These are my last projects. Starting in two weeks, I'll begin a bead stitch class. Bead stitch has been popular in the U.S. for some time now and is only starting to pick up in Japan. This frilly necklace was the last project needed in order to receive a certificate which allows you to teach bead crochet.

This other project was made by fusing all the loose silver wire that gets leftover after making projects (you can't throw anything away when using sterling silver wire!) to make a long wire. Then, with a perfectly good wire and semi-precious beads and pearls, crocheting the two together to make this necklace.

The retro look is coming back in style here. A company in Kyoto called Pagong makes these cute tank tops, camisoles and aloha shirts with traditional yuzen prints. Yuzen is a style of dyeing for kimono--the traditional Japanese dress.


At a department store, they were having a Hokkaido Gourmet Fair. This is when the department store brings in vendors from Hokkaido to sell their wares--mostly food items. Since Hokkaido is often known for their seafood, Satoshi was drawn to this bento. Look at all that seafood! Not bad for $16, huh?

Recently, the Candied Quince sent me her recipe for Lavender Pound Cake. I finally got all the ingredients together and tried it this morning...can I just say, that I really need MORE counterspace and a really BIG mixer (like a KitchenAid, maybe?)

Plus, I should have cut the recipe in half (I had originally envisioned baking them in muffin cups, but at the last moment put the batter into my one and only loaf pan--since I don't own a bundt/tube pan)...The aroma while baking was heavenly!

We had a couple slices for breakfast and it was great! (Thanks for sharing, Tania!)

Lavender Pound Cake
Adapted from:
The Herbal Kitchen: Cooking with Fragrance and Flavor by Jerry Traunfeld

2 tbsp lavender buds, fresh or dried
2 ½ cups sugar, preferably superfine
1 ½ cups butter (3 sticks)
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp fine salt
5 large eggs, at room temperature
3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
¾ cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 350F. Heavily butter a 10-inch tube pan, coat it with flour, and knock out the excess. Whirl the lavender and ¼ cup of the sugar in a spice grinder, mini food processor, or blender until very finely ground.

Put the butter, the remaining 2 ¼ cups sugar, the lavender sugar, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle. Turn to medium high and beat for 4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat another minute. It will be fluffy and nearly white. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating the batter well before adding another. Alternately add the flour and sour cream (1/3 of the flour, ½ the sour cream, another 1/3 of the flour, the rest of the sour cream, and finally the remaining flour), beating each addition into the batter completely before you add the next. Scrape down the sides of the bowl a couple of times during the whole process.

Scoop the batter into the prepared pan as evenly as you can and gently whack the pan on the counter a couple of times to expel air pockets. Bake the cake for 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 35 minutes, or until it is golden brown and springs back when pressed, and a wooden skewer emerges dry after being inserted into the center. Let the cake cool in the pan on a rack for about 15 minutes, then turn it out onto the rack. Once it’s completely cool, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. It will be best the second day and still moist after about 4 days.

Makes 16 to 20 slices.

Enjoy!
Hang in there, one more day until the weekend!