Friday, April 24, 2009

More house pictures

yes, we have bears.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

News of the New

We have begun the process of moving in to the new house. For the time being we are concentrating on nonessentials such as winter clothes and old books. Our goal is to be finished by the end of golden week.

I am really excited about our yard. The olive trees are in and looking healthy, and the japanese maple i didnt even realize we had is beautiful. Ive got an herb garden in the works and there is talk of a screen porch. Ahhh...

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Some of the Shodoshima sights.

'tis a lovely place. Funny thing tho...the theme played on the ferry as it pulls into port is a karaoke version of the Pointer Sisters' "Jump". Could it be because life on Shodoshima is about 20 years behind the times?

Come sail away

On the ferry to the little island where K's grandmother lives...our annual spring pilgrimage. The island, Shodoshima, is famous (in Japan) for its olive groves. We are planning to pick up an olive tree to plant in the front yard of the house we just bought...

Thursday, April 09, 2009

field trip!

No classes for me today...instead I went with the younger kids on a cherry blossom viewing excursion. Beautiful weather and a natural hot spring foot bath made for a fine time. They were all over me in freeze tag tho...

Saturday, April 04, 2009

Wedding 2.0

Yesterday was K and my second wedding anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, we decided to stay home and have a nice dinner and a relaxing evening. To that end, I prepared a very nice, yet simple, repast. Yellowtail steaks with a sesame/wasabi/black pepper crust, asparagus, and some lovely french bread. Accompanying the food was a very nice Reisling we picked up in the Finger Lakes last summer. If you ever head up that way, be sure to stop in at Lamoreaux Landing, excellent white wines!
She was impressed as was I, having never really cooked with fish before. If you want to try it, I recommend soaking the fish in sake for about 30 minutes prior to applying the crust...helps cut the fishiness and adds some sweetness to the fish. Nice.
There was cake and questionable champagne afterwards, then we curled up in front of the TV and promptly fell asleep. A good evening all around.
Today we are off to look at cherry blossoms with the Captain, then the family anniversary party this evening. Glad we took it easy last night!