Friday, July 31, 2009

Tiny vegetable gardening







Orange, Lemon, and Apple trees along with the many flowers of the season, to say nothing of the herbs, outline our vegetable garden of tomato, eggplant, cucumber and lettuce. On a break from working in the garden, I will have homemade marmalade jam on a scone with herb tea [from my garden]; later I will be harvesting tomatoes and lettuce for the tonight’s dinner salad …
This is my dream, to have a useful and fruitful garden, because when we eventually buy a house we will need, at the very least, a lemon tree, herbs, tomatoes and green onions. These, for us, are indispensable as our daily cooking requires them. Additionally, I definitely desire to have peony and hydrangea flowers!
Meanwhile, while day dreaming, I am pruning the tomatoes and basil on our balcony. The tomato plant is from my father in law. Since it has been growing bigger and bigger recently, it is my daily task to enjoy watching their growth every day. The other tomatoes we have are cherry tomatoes that we acquired a half year ago. It has been a while since they bore three fruits, which we quickly enjoyed by themselves raw. Recently, though, it has started to bear a couple more fruit again; they are taking their time growing slowly as they bathe in the full-summer sun.
The basil, which I bought on impulse, from Trader Joe’s, was finally transplanted the other day. My concern is whether the basil can withstand the intense Southern California summer sunlight though basil is supposed to love full sun. On the other hand, however, another basil that we have been [trying] to take care of from the beginning of this year is on the verge on death with its thin leaves and long thin stalks.
Our lemon-thyme and oregano that used to be lively before have dried out now and are now a mere shadow of their former selves…I realized now that unless one is taking care of plant with LOVE, like that of children, they will not meet your expectations. Besides watching them grow everyday little by little, I’m enjoying the summer with memories of school homework I once had when I was younger of plant observation in elementary school.


オレンジ、レモン、リンゴの木と季節折々の花、それからハーブはもちろん、トマトにナスにキュウリとレタスのミニ野菜庭園。庭仕事で疲れてちょっと一休みに、自家製ののマーマレードジャムに手作りスコーンと、庭で収穫したハーブでティーでブレイク。トマトやレタスは今晩のサラダのために捥いで。。。なんて、いつかそんな庭を持つのが夢。庭付き一軒屋を持ったら、全部とまでは言わないが、最低でも、レモンの木と料理には欠かせないハーブとトマトグリーンオニオンなどちょっとした野菜。それからピオニーとアジサイは絶対欲しい!そんな日を夢みながら、今はバルコニーで小ぢんまりとトマトとバジルを栽培しております。一つは義理父かから頂いたトマト(名前は不明)。最近徐々に大きくなってきて、毎日成長を楽しく観察するのが日課。もう一つは半年前に我が家に来たプチトマトで数ヶ月前三つ実がなり、既においしくいただきました。が、最近また二つ実を付けて、真夏の太陽の日差しを浴びてすくすく育ってまいます。さらに、バジルは2週間前にTrader Joe’sで衝動買いし、先日やっと鉢に植え替えました。バジルは太陽の光が大好きっていうけど、この真夏のカンカン照りに耐えられるかどうか心配。一方、今年の始めから育てていたバジルは瀕死の状態で葉もまばら。。その他に、以前はレモンタイムとオレガノも生き生きしてたのが、今はすっかり干乾びてしまいかわいそうな姿へ。植物も子供と同じように愛情を持って育ててあげないと期待に答えてくれないのが身にしみてわかり、毎日トマトとバジルの生長を見守りながら、小学校の頃夏休みの宿題だった観察日記を思い出したりして、夏を満喫してます。

Go Green

The Self Sufficient-Ish Bible: An Eco-living Guide for the 21st Century



Are you Eco-friendly person or DIY person? If you are, this book;" The Self Sufficient-Ish Bible" is must read!

British twins
Andy and Dave Hamilton provide an inspiring blueprint for Eco-living in this elegantly styled guide. They roll out hundreds of suggestions in four general areas (home, garden, food and lifestyle) to help readers live more harmoniously with Mother Earth.





Monday, July 27, 2009

Whiling away afternoon







The Library is the perfect place to kill time; the still space, the numberless books, and the shelter that is cooled with AC helps a lot to cool down especially on a hot summer day. (But because of my sensitivity to the cold I won’t be able to stay here long…) Starting this month, my husband is taking a project management class at a school in Pasadena; twice a month, every other Saturday (totaling 10 classes). This last Saturday, I went to Pasadena to have a lunch with him and did some quick shopping after he went back to class. (I know I’m supposed to save money…) and I stopped by a library while I waited for my husband to finish class. This small library has old wooden desks and chairs and the inside entrance as well as the lighting fixtures are the remains of arts and crafts. It was so cozy and comfortable inside that I started to fall asleep within the gentle sunlight of the afternoon. Oops, I had a call from Na that tells me he finished class. How time flies!

図書館。時間をつぶすにはパーフェクトな場所。静寂に包まれたこの空間、数え切れないほどのたくさんの本、そして、特に真夏の暑い日にはクーラーで良く冷えきったシェルターはとても助かる。(たた、冷え性の私にとってはこの涼しさは長時間はムリかな。)今月から旦那がパサデナの学校でプロジェクトマネージメントのクラスを受け始めた。毎月2回(合計10回)、先週の土曜日は2回目のクラス。そんな訳で、ランチを一緒にする為にパサデナまでドライブし、彼がクラスに戻ってからは軽くショッピング。(節約しないといけないのは分かっています。。。)そして、クラスが終わるまで図書館で暇つぶし。この小さな図書館、中に入ると古い木製の机と椅子が並び、アーツ&クラフト調のエントランスに照明、なんだか懐かしく居心地が良くって、午後に日差しでうとうと。。あら、ネイから電話が!クラスが終わったんだ。もうそんな時間!?

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Claremont



One of my favorite cities, Claremont is located 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. This old city has historic buildings, cute cafes, patisseries, restaurants, a lot of tiny shops, and college campuses also. Driving around on the tree-lined streets, and seeing 100 years old houses, makes me feel calm and nostalgic. This picture is my favorite spot. There is a restaurant Viva Madrid!Viva Madrid! is a Spanish Tapas Bar & Restaurant and food is awesome!! The sangria is a must try too! But don't tell anybody, this is between ourselves... and Japanese antique shop in the dimly lit hallway and a bagel shop on the corner. Once one is walking in this corridor it is pleasantly cool especially during a day that the sun is glaring down. BTW

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Mona Lisa in Greece




Hi, All. Finally I started my blog and here is the first topic.




My husband brought these chocolates from work yesterday.

His co-worker who is from Greece went to his country
and This is the souvenir from Greece.
However why is it Mona Lisa....?