Summer cottons

It's almost summer and the cutest cotton handkerchiefs arrive in all the shops.  From the fancy designer names in high end dept stores to the corner conbi (convenience) shop.

These nigiri themed ones were found in Tokyo Station.  There is no other station like this one-it's a city in the middle of Tokyo.  There are 3floors, I think.  Got a little lost but found our way to the street/outside level.  Couldn't buy them all, so must go back. Seasonal prints and fabrics...always changing!

Fresh from Tokyo May 2013

Despite all my efforts to divorce myself from fabric, textiles, etc.  I guess there still is lint in my blood after all these years.  A life spent with fabric cannot be undone.  Color, texture and all things fabric still catch my eye and I have learned to enjoy the experience and even appreciate it, now...

As seen in Tokyo:

Wonderful, bold, graphic summer colors on furoshiki tote bags.  These triangular ones (hanging) are shoulder totes, made of 2 pieces sewn together.  The folded pieces below are handkerchiefs and tenugui (hand towels).  They are made of light summer weight cotton and are ubiquitous in the spring/summer.  I love how there are seasonal prints.  My eyes are happy to see changing colors with changing seasons.  Things look fresh and different and I never get tired of seeing new design motifs and textile art.

This is "Japanese Marrimekko" to me.  Flat, bold shapes of color in cheerful combinations.

For Mother's Day, these little planter jars were on display.  Filled with glass or plastic marbles, what appears to be a recycled jar makes a great little desk top or table top gift.  Japan is great with keeping things from being super-sized.  So things always look "cute".  By the way, this is a living plant. 

Other small plants.....

Calming Collars

I ran across a magazine ad for this product--Calming Collars, and thought it was a great idea!  New Year's Eve in Honolulu is a very noisy night with firecrackers exploding everywhere.  Needless to say, the dogs (and cats) are terrified.  After years of tranquilizers, which I hate to give to my dogs, I thought this collar was a wonderful, natural and less invasive idea.
Has anyone tried one?   Here is the link to their website:  Calming Collars.  They are also on Facebook.

Winter in Hawaii

Yes, winter does come to Hawaii too. This year has been cold, wet and windy.  Well, cold by tropical standards. I hate wet feet, so invested in a cute pair of plastic rain boots so I can go slogging about in the rain.
This photo is looking toward Punchbowl crater.  The streets are slick and the drizzle steady. The wind has been so strong it's breaking tree branches, causing traffic messes!  Power outages, damaged roofs all over the state.  And you thought we had no "winter"?

Vintage Recipes

Recently a friend was talking about using her mother's recipe for Chinese Almond Cookies and not getting the result she remembered as a child.  Of course not, when you use sugar substitutes, butter substitutes, fat substitutes, what do you expect?  Aren't these un-natural?  I think so!  And they taste funny too.

Back in the day when all the foods we ate were "sourced locally", we'd never heard of the word, organic, or natural in relation to food.  I grew up baking and always used butter.  Now when am asked, "do you use butter?"  I always answer with indignation, "of course! what else?" 

In sorting through my mother's kitchen, I found some really old cookbooks that she had from way before I was born.  That is a very, very long time ago, last century.  Perusing them, I was happy to see no substitutes for lard, sugar, butter, eggs, etc.  What else can there be but the real thing?

Yes, I ate all those things and am still around so I figure they can be all bad...at my age,  ok, doctor, in moderation.

So, I decided to share some of the vintage recipes I've found.  No substitutions please....

Best Shoes for Roaming Boomers

I get stopped and asked by other aging boomers, "are those shoes comfortable?"  I always answer, "YES!, they're not pretty but my feet and back are very happy travelers!"

I discovered MBT by accident.  Went into a shoe store(popular with aging boomers like me)  with aching feet after a long day at work, walking the concrete halls of the State Capitol.  A nice lady was trying on the MBT Kaya -- a mary jane style shoe.  The shoes looked clunky and heavy and bulky.  But the rocker sole intrigued me.  I asked her, "How do they feel?"  She said, "I'm getting them."  Ok, that did it, I tried on the same style and got them! 

Have since gotten a new sandal style every summer, another mary jane style, and the athletic shoe (lace up) style.  Since I am on my feet a lot at work and like to walk, these provide the best support and posture of any shoe I've worn.  And I am a life long fan of Dansko Professional Clogs.  Also wear those a lot.  Some of the MBTs required orthotics for my feet, but this only made the fit and support superior! 

These MBTs have logged many miles in the capitol, and on summer and fall vacations.  I find I don't have to alternate shoes every other day, when sightseeing. 

Try them, not pretty but your feet with thank you

Victorinox Swiss Army Knife--mini size

There are so many handy dandy travel items available today.  My oldest and favorite is the mini size Victorinox Swiss Army knife.  No, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of big brother but sure has come in handy on the road, in the office and in general. 

It is lightweight enough to carry on a key chain.  Has a little scissors, very handy for snipping pesky threads, cutting out itchy labels from clothing, knife blade, nail file, flathead screwdriver, mini tweezers and even a toothpick!

By the way, TSA (airport security) doesn't agree with me.  To date, I have lost/given up 3 little knives in various airports in the US.  Now I make sure the little guy goes into my suitcase before I check in!

They also come in fun colors too, not just red.  check out www.swissarmy.com  The one I have loved and lost is the Pocket knife.  They now come in fun colors and prints!  Retail around $20.00.