tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51403944062662564072012-02-16T19:41:12.893-05:00Thoughts from New England and the RoadDKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.comBlogger1881100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-80006457410277691382011-11-20T14:11:00.001-05:002011-11-20T14:11:58.255-05:00

I'm here on business and had Sunday to explore the city. After visiting a local LDS church, I walked over to the Recoleta district. This area has been quite affluent for over 100 years. Wealthy families are buried in the Recoleta cemetery. As you enter the cemetery, you quickly see that it is almost like a small European city in miniature. There are blocks of narrow walkways with above ground

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-17131663181208731692011-10-09T00:10:00.000-04:002011-10-09T00:10:26.511-04:00

On March 11, the Sugiura family was in the middle of a typical day. Mrs. Sugiura was taking care of her one year old son, their 7 year old daughter was at the local elementary school, and Mr. Sugiura was at work at a firestation in a neighboring town. It snowed that morning, and Mrs. Sugiura decided that it would be good to go pick up her daughter at school. She bundled up her son in his

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-38979092113275468472011-10-08T21:01:00.001-04:002011-10-08T21:01:41.252-04:00

We joined with the Mormon Helping Hands to go to Onagawa, a town that was devastated by the earthquake and tsunami. The group had gone up right after the tsunami to work, and Onagawa's mayor had extended the invitation for us to come back and do a cultural exchange day. The plan was to spend the day with people who are living in shelters, doing American style games, and provide American food.We

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-34286791729347921452011-09-11T02:47:00.001-04:002011-09-11T02:49:28.990-04:00

Our neighborhood came alive yesterday and today with a Fall Festival (Matsuri). There are several neighborhood associations who set up portable stations to get ready for the carrying of Mikoshi (a portable Shinto Shrine). The picture above is the group closest to our apartment.This is Kaela standing next to one of the portable shrines. They are carried on long poles with the first stop the

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-58995694664458217952011-09-03T19:46:00.001-04:002011-09-03T19:46:29.224-04:00

A typhoon was supposed to hit Tokyo on Friday or Saturday. Luckily, it changed directions and mostly effected the Osaka area. For us, it meant that the day was very windy with occasional rain.We decided to do some grocery shopping in the neighborhood and then try a different onsen. The picture above is a Tanuki, a kind a Japanese raccoon. There are statues of them in front of stores. I think

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-89057418266651750312011-08-27T19:19:00.001-04:002011-08-27T19:19:27.787-04:00

We decided that we need to do things on Saturday to take advantage of the time here in Tokyo. And with the weather slightly cooler, we opted to try going to an Onsen.Onsen, or Hot Springs, are located all over the country. There is even one in the suburbs of Tokyo. Sanga no Yu is located a short walk (we took a taxi) from Futago Tamagawa station. Here is the link to the onsen. http://

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-51993201912945103332011-08-25T06:50:00.000-04:002011-08-25T06:50:16.228-04:00

We are getting used to our neighborhood here.  The picture above is Azabu Juban subway station.  This entrance marks the start of Azabu Juban Dori (a great shopping street).  I'll be writing about the shops and restaurants soon.  In the meantime, here is a picture of Tommy next to a small square.  The red shop in the background is a great French bistro. We went to a small Japanese place the

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-24692084048133458082011-08-21T08:11:00.001-04:002011-08-21T08:11:06.647-04:00

Yesterday we ventured out to one of the nicer shopping areas in Tokyo, Omotesando. A good friend of mine showed me a great gyoza place there a few years ago. And my son wanted to get gyoza for lunch. My daughter was going to meet up with a friend she met over the summer who happened to be in Tokyo.Next to Omotesando is Harajuku. It is mostly known for being a teenager hangout, and for the

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-13972415282060335192011-08-18T17:08:00.001-04:002011-08-18T17:08:30.476-04:00

With a long layover in JFK, we decided to head into Manhattan and get lunch. We debated what kind of food to get since we would be leaving for Japan in a few hours, and this would be our last "American" meal. So of course we decided on French food.Many years ago when I worked in NY, a friend stumbled on La Bonne Soup. It is a cozy French Bistro located on 55th street between 5th and 6th. They

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-40957748928130160382011-08-11T17:34:00.000-04:002011-08-11T17:34:58.334-04:00

I like the image of a mother cat carrying her kitten which is the logo for the friendly guys at Yamato Transport. The movers from Yamato arrived this AM and packed up our things.  Our biggest concern was not to take too much stuff.  And it was liberating to decide what things you need and what we are content to leave behind.   We are moving from our 1740s farmhouse in Massachusetts to a 3

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-33051336159427486042011-08-06T21:42:00.001-04:002011-08-06T21:42:37.010-04:00

I decided to go fly fishing this morning. It will be the last time I fish in Mass before moving to Tokyo. I started off the morning catching a nice rainbow. It was about 12-13" with beautiful color. I took this picture and then unhooked him. I'm a "catch and release" person. So I did what I always do. I let the fish go back in the river. I should mention that I was standing in the river

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-77978251502535617122011-08-03T22:09:00.001-04:002011-08-03T22:09:36.282-04:00

Hydrangea always makes me think of summer. This plant is in my front yard, and for years it wouldn't bloom. A friend of mine suggested that I cut it back all the way. I wasn't sure about that approach because I know that hydrangea bloom on prior year's growth. But I took a chance and cut it to the ground. Sure enough it grew back in year one. And now it has blooms all over. - Posted from my

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-90915031818686361712011-07-26T20:35:00.000-04:002011-07-26T20:35:03.916-04:00

We are moving Tokyo. And in a breathtaking act of procrastination I'm writing in this old blog instead of taking care of the myriad of details associated with the move. I spent a long time today trying to figure out where to go to get our gaijin (foreigner) registration cards when we arrive in Japan. Every website I could find gave specific information about how important it is to get these

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-62162383631172659722010-01-16T02:52:00.005-05:002010-01-16T03:09:11.872-05:00

I had a free day on Saturday as I waited for my flight back from Japan. During the week, I asked around the office for some ideas of things to do.A friend of mine came up with a great suggestion. He told me that there was an Onsen (hot springs) only 30 minutes from the office. It is called Sayanoyu.I had to take a train and subway to get there, but I did arrive in about 40 minutes. I really

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-48930984498950532102009-12-16T11:14:00.002-05:002009-12-16T11:16:39.211-05:00

I've decided to take up fly fishing. My uncle is a master fly fisherman; the kind of guy who ties all his own flies. He just sent me a nice fly box with a bunch of trout and salmon flies. I wish it was spring, and I could try them out.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-13677601794076806432009-12-01T09:39:00.003-05:002009-12-01T09:44:06.079-05:00

It has been a busy fall. So, my blogging has suffered. But, time to catch up. During my last trip to Japan, I stayed in a traditional Japanese hotel. The picture above was my room. You can see that it was very simple but comfortable. Below is a picture I took of a temple in Matsuyama. I have always liked how these roofs are made.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-77373086665996923912009-11-12T14:19:00.002-05:002009-11-12T14:23:17.821-05:00

I went to Denver this week for a meeting. It is rare that I go there. And in fact, I think I've only been there on business twice in the last 8 years. But, I visited my parents and my wife's grandmother. My wife's grandmother is a real good cook. She can do just about anything with a cast iron skillet. I had breakfast at her house and was full until dinner.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-82916483999110469402009-10-23T04:19:00.001-04:002009-10-23T04:22:29.192-04:00

While I was in Matsuyama, I had a variation of the "boil an egg in a paper cup" trick I learned in Boy Scouts. In this version, the paper was folded nicely with some broth in the bottom. The waitress came by and lit the burner. She told us to put the sliced meat in first and then the vegetables. In a few minutes, we had a nice soup. And, the paper never caught on fire.Of course, what would

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-76485879197246850752009-10-22T16:36:00.003-04:002009-10-22T16:39:58.167-04:00

I went to Matsuyama this week for some meetings. I arrived and dropped off my bag at the hotel. On my way to the train station, I passed a wedding party in the middle of getting their picture taken. I had to snap a photo myself.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-79332255543454709972009-10-19T17:46:00.003-04:002009-10-19T17:48:52.843-04:00

I arrived in Tokyo last night and went over to Queen's Isaten, a local super market. The store is located inside the Shinagawa train station and has a great selection of "Bento" lunch boxes.I wandered around and decided on the one above. It was great.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-50226091203714703602009-10-17T10:44:00.004-04:002009-10-17T10:52:10.788-04:00

My parents were in town last week and wanted to see some fall foliage. We took them to the Old North Bridge in Concord where the leaves were just turning.Then, we drove past Walden Pond and over to the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park. As we were exploring, I noticed this wall covered in ivy.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-27664942541686833872009-09-29T20:10:00.002-04:002009-09-29T20:15:01.641-04:00

I recently visited San Francisco on a business trip. New England is entering fall and the summer flowers are dying away. I am always amazed when I go to the Bay Area and see the flowers. I saw this small planting and really liked the blue flowers.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-60395039872525045812009-09-12T11:24:00.003-04:002009-09-12T11:41:25.636-04:00

Last night, I went to a great sushi place in Bellevue, WA. I Love Sushi is a very authentic sushi restaurant. We tried oysters (see above) and a variety of sashimi. I like most kinds of raw fish, but I draw the line at fish eggs and sea urchin. The funny thing is that sea urchin is a very expensive sushi, so there is always someone who is willing to eat mine.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-24067133903661754692009-09-02T19:29:00.000-04:002009-09-02T19:29:00.207-04:00

We arrived in Lenox and only had a short time before we needed to be at Tanglewood. I hadn't done any research on places to eat, so we decided to ask at the hotel. My wife found a listing of several places in the lobby and picked one out. The person at the front desk said that they send a lot of people there. Prime Italian Restaurant is located in historic Lenox and is only a few miles away

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-33088987340696099952009-08-30T07:01:00.001-04:002009-08-31T14:43:24.586-04:00

We went to Tanglewood this weekend. We made the trip out to the Birkshires to see James Taylor perform. He does concerts there every year. But this time as a fundraiser, he performed with Sheryl Crow and Yo Yo Ma. Actually, it was only through a bit of luck that we got tickets. Some friends of ours had a pair of tickets and then found out they couldn't go. They put word out that the

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-71931109226805965592009-08-27T19:01:00.000-04:002009-08-27T19:01:00.742-04:00

While we were in Colorado, we spent some time in Colorado Springs. My wife's father and his wife took us to an authentic cattle ranch for dinner. The Flying W Ranch is located near the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. They serve a Chuck Wagon style dinner and are able to feed over a 1000 people in under 20 minutes. Everyone gets a tin plate with a choice of BBQ Beef or Chicken, cowboy

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-51816342393593032952009-08-24T21:56:00.003-04:002009-08-24T22:02:45.527-04:00

For the second half of our vacation, we visited family in Colorado. We took a day and visited Brainard Lake. At 10,000+ feet, I ran out of breath just strolling around the lake.I brought fishing gear and did some fishing with my dad and son. We had fun but didn't catch anything. While we were there, we saw people walking lamas. I'd never seen a lama close up before.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-746856568180997962009-08-19T20:11:00.004-04:002009-08-19T20:11:00.517-04:00

Here are some final pictures from the New Hampshire part of our vacation. We drove to the top of Cathedral Ledge just outside of Conway. You can park near the top and look out over the White Mountains. There were a few climbers who were going up the rock face.The picture below is near Emerald Pool. The sun was shining through the woods, and the water level was higher than normal because of all

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-36547547051030529342009-08-16T20:53:00.005-04:002009-08-16T21:07:01.266-04:00

It is time to catch up on my blogging. I have lots of pictures from our vacation that I need to write about. While in New Hampshire, we visited North Conway. We found a place to park on the street and took a walk past the local stores.I like the small shops more than the outlets which are closer to Conway. There were New Hampshire gifts and a "Five and Dime" with lots of candy options.There

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-57017523411575812772009-08-09T18:16:00.005-04:002009-08-09T18:23:08.862-04:00

This week, I really felt like fishing. I tried in the morning and in the evening. My son and I went out on the canoe at dusk and fished until dark. There was a full moon, and the lake was very still. We passed some loons but didn't get any bites. I had dreams of catching a brown or rainbow trout. But, I only caught little fish like the one below. Maybe next time...

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-8315344494195084012009-08-03T17:28:00.007-04:002009-08-03T17:40:17.514-04:00

We decided to take a little hike today and visit the Emerald Pool. You reach the pool by taking the Baldface Circle trail located on 113 north of Fryeberg, ME. The pool is surrounded by granite walls and is so deep that you can't touch the bottom. My son was the first one in the water. I followed and waded in. The water was frigid. I took a deep breath and dove in. When I came up, I

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-44708817835160882802009-08-01T19:13:00.005-04:002009-08-02T08:14:03.828-04:00

We left this morning for New Hampshire and our annual lake housevacation.After a quick drive, we arrived and set up the house. Then afterdinner, my son and I went for a swim.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-40685309911121248092009-08-01T08:10:00.004-04:002009-08-01T08:21:06.085-04:00

While I was in Kobe, I kept seeing statues that I thought were interesting. Here they are in order of smallest to biggest. The picture above was from Sumadera Temple. It looks like a kind of dog that is guarding something.The picture below must represent a religious teaching about how the world is suspended. I need to do some research about that. This statue was also at Sumadera Temple.Next

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-63401455424307975552009-07-28T19:36:00.004-04:002009-07-28T19:43:18.877-04:00

Sumadera is also known for being a location that Matsuo Basho, the famous Haiku poet, wrote about. Here is an example of his haiku.to the flute's tonethe waves also approachautumn in Sumafue no ne ni | nami mo yorikitaru | Suma no akiMatsuo Basho (1644-1694)

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-53299237770293080832009-07-21T08:26:00.006-04:002009-07-21T09:18:29.894-04:00

When I was in Kobe, I took a slight detour before my meeting to visit Sumadera Temple. The temple was originally built in 886. I visited this temple when I lived in Kobe 24 years ago and wanted to see it again.The temple is famous for its proximity to a famous Heike battle and the location of an episode from the Tale of the Heike, a classic example of Japanese medieval literature.In 1184,

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-34122233639014618432009-07-16T23:42:00.006-04:002009-07-17T04:08:27.382-04:00

This week, I took the Bullet Train from Tokyo to Kobe. It was the first time I had traveled that far by train in Japan.I started off the morning by picking up some sushi to eat during the journey. I am a fan of Convenience Store sushi; it makes a great breakfast on the go.I settled in and watched the scenery as we rushed by. I saw Mt. Fuji in the distance but couldn't get a picture in time.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-25753895768252472852009-07-15T09:42:00.005-04:002009-07-15T09:50:53.104-04:00

Last night, I went to dinner with some people from work. We went to a place that gets fish flown in from Matsuyama every day. The sashimi was quite good.But, the highlight of the evening was a dish called Tai Meshi. The dish is pieces of Tai (sea bream) placed over uncooked rice and steamed with seasonings. This is the pot they used to steam the rice.And, here is a picture when the rice was

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-20906160687212363592009-07-13T23:50:00.005-04:002009-07-14T00:08:07.312-04:00

Japan in July is like a giant steam bath. I arrived in Tokyo on Sunday and have been sweating ever since.After work yesterday, I took the train to Ginza to look for a present for my son. He has a birthday coming up, and I wanted to get him something here.I had a map but couldn't figure out how it matched up with the myriad of streets. After walking around in circles for 40 minutes, I finally

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-86844576321960737692009-07-11T09:57:00.005-04:002009-07-11T10:10:14.139-04:00

Last night, I took my son to a game at Fenway Park. It was our annual Father and Son evening. We arrived early and sat down. I turned around and saw these original wooden seats in the evening sun. They filled up a few minutes later.I love to eat peanuts at the ballpark. My son likes fried dough.It was a great game with Dustin Pedroia hitting a double in the 8th to drive in the winning run.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-60584927447556823042009-07-09T18:05:00.005-04:002009-07-09T18:30:55.948-04:00

I left the house this morning at 6am to drop my daughters off at a church Youth Conference. The theme this year is a pioneer re-enactment.Everyone was supposed to dress in 19th century pioneer clothing. The picture above is one of our friends and a "Ma" on the trip. She and her husband took time off work to lead a group of 10 kids on the adventure. When I dropped off my girls, they saw what

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-55106380839179706432009-07-05T18:42:00.003-04:002009-07-05T18:49:12.192-04:00

Late last week, we had reached our limit with the cold, rainy weather. I heard on the news that in the month of June, Boston only got 28% of the total available sunshine. And on July 1st, it was 62deg and rainy in our town.So, in our own effort to try to bring the sun back, we decided we had to take some action. The obvious thing to do was to go ahead and celebrate Thanksgiving. After a funny

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-48620378428239199562009-07-02T14:35:00.004-04:002009-07-02T14:53:13.134-04:00

Last weekend, we went to the Wellesley Summer Theatre production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Our kids have seen the movie version and were willing to go along to see the play.This production was performed in a small intimate theatre with an accomplished cast. I thought "Jack" had the strongest performance. At the end of the 3rd act, Jack is about to discover his real name, when someone

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-8159351463655878622009-06-23T07:56:00.005-04:002009-06-23T08:03:06.361-04:00

We have had 16 days below normal temperature here in June. And we have had plenty of rain. The problem is that there hasn't been much sun. With the lack of sunshine, my tomatoes are slowly, slowly growing.The lettuce is coming along nicely. Next year I think I'll try and start some seeds indoors or maybe make a cold frame for the lettuce. I had to start so late this year.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-20392036562589067512009-06-17T19:33:00.000-04:002009-06-18T08:55:43.104-04:00

There are so many flowers blooming right now that I decided to fill a vase for my wife. I am notoriously bad at buying flowers for her. So, I thought it would be nice to cut some.My mistake was taking a picture for the blog before I gave them to her. She teased me that I only picked the flowers to have something to put up on the blog. Oops!

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-84932831542605375292009-06-14T20:52:00.004-04:002009-06-14T21:06:41.885-04:00

We made our annual trek into Boston to celebrate our daughter's birthday.She went back and forth on where to go to eat. At first, she thought she wanted to go to Faneuil Hall. Then, she mentioned going to the North End for Italian food.But, in the end, she decided to stick with tradition and go to Durgin-Park. She got her lobster, and I got to help her finish it.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-78314286609164014962009-06-09T19:32:00.003-04:002009-06-09T19:38:41.785-04:00

After work, I had to run an errand in Concord. Most people know Concord, Mass for Walden Pond, the Old North Bridge, and Louisa May Alcott.But, in addition to its rich history, Concord has a fantastic village center with several small shops. I took the picture above of the Market Cafe. The picture below is a nice planting of hostas.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-66050271776445664902009-06-05T12:32:00.001-04:002009-06-05T12:32:00.215-04:00

This morning, I checked the weather. Rain is coming this afternoon and all night. Then, when I walked outside, I saw that the peonies are just starting to bloom.I love peonies, but once they bloom, a hard rain will knock them all down. I quickly took some pictures and am hoping they will be around tomorrow.My tree peony (see below) also bloomed.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-56910053467817447582009-06-02T19:02:00.002-04:002009-06-02T19:06:16.230-04:00

I'm still catching up on pictures I took a while ago. When we went to the Marginal Way, we parked in the center of Ogunquit. There is a parking lot right before the bridge that goes to the beach. And, across the street from that parking lot is a great little store. My kids loved the samples of jellies and jams. I tried some Blueberry jam that was amazing.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-49320083822824336662009-05-30T20:02:00.000-04:002009-05-30T20:02:00.488-04:00

While I was in Matsuyama, I walked to the Dogo Onsen Main Building. On the side of the building was a large stone surrounded by a gate. It had a sign that said, "Tama no Ishi" (Precious Stone). When I returned to the hotel, I saw a painting with a description of the stone.According to legend, two Shinto gods were visiting the hot springs. Suku na hikona, a small god, became sick. The grand

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-32294294073202357442009-05-27T18:00:00.000-04:002009-05-27T18:00:00.851-04:00

While in Japan last week, I had Singapore Chicken for the first time. The restaurant was located down the street from the Azabu-Juban Subway station. My college buddy picked out the place. He has been to Singapore before and thought this place does a good Singapore Chicken. When we sat down, we noticed the helpful place mat with instructions. A) With a spoon, dab some sauce on top of steamed

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-64758014243460824182009-05-25T19:53:00.006-04:002009-05-27T12:59:09.733-04:00

Happy Memorial Day!I arrived back from Japan and spent a perfect Memorial Day weekend. On Saturday, we decided to drive to Maine and visit Ogunquit. From our house, it takes about one and a half hours to drive to Maine.We like Ogunquit because it has a great walk called The Marginal Way.The pathway goes a little over a mile from Ogunquit beach to Perkins Cove. Along the way, you can climb down

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-9124671150258608552009-05-21T03:59:00.005-04:002009-05-21T04:20:49.053-04:00

When I was in Matsuyama, I stayed at a Ryokan type hotel that had its own Onsen (hot springs bath). I have written about Japanese Baths before, but I've never had a chance to take a picture. This time, I got up early and found myself alone in the onsen. So, I rushed back to my room, picked up my camera, and took some pictures. Here is my version of how you go to an Onsen.First, you have to

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-88911018597041295322009-05-19T22:06:00.000-04:002009-05-19T22:06:00.267-04:00

I tried a new dish in Matsuyama. It is called Moyashi-kun or Mr. Bean Sprouts. It was cooked at our table in a pot on a portable burner. They put a miso based broth in the pot, added thinly sliced meat, and placed a huge mountain of bean sprouts on the top. As we talked and ate other dishes, the bean sprouts cooked down. It was very tasty.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-66756248624655052342009-05-18T18:12:00.004-04:002009-05-18T18:22:18.374-04:00

I flew to Matsuyama yesterday for some meetings. After work, I checked into my hotel and found out that there was a small Noh Theatre inside. My colleague from Matsuyama suggested that we go by and see it.We were just in time to catch a few minutes of a demonstration. I didn't understand any of the song - neither did my colleague. But, it was really interesting to see. Click on the video

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-89222500085294966822009-05-17T04:07:00.004-04:002009-05-17T04:38:58.441-04:00

Japan is taking extraordinary measures to control the spread of Swine Flu. I got on my flight in JFK and was handed a form to complete. It included questions about flu symptoms and where to find you in Japan.Not wanting to have an extended quarantine stay in Japan, I wanted to fill out the form correctly. But, it started with what seemed like a possible trick question: "Please check any

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-24465036666699893662009-05-16T09:55:00.008-04:002009-05-16T10:17:55.586-04:00

Over the past month and a half, I've been spending my spare time making a garden. It seemed like an easy project at first but was complicated by things I kept digging up.After getting the sod dug and the rocks out, I started working on a simple fence. I made a gate from some pickets and put in the posts. Actually, before putting them in position, I used the 4x4 posts as levers to move the

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-85478376003116537282009-05-14T20:16:00.003-04:002009-05-14T20:24:45.589-04:00

Years ago we lived outside New York City. We rented part of a house that had wisteria growing on the side. Every summer, the owner would come out and hack away at the vines. At first, I thought he was crazy with the amount he would prune. But, he knew what he was doing, and his wisteria bloomed every year.I've followed his example with the wisteria we have in our yard. I prune it after it

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-8716180428070059132009-05-12T09:15:00.002-04:002009-05-12T09:22:19.776-04:00

Our trees have bloomed. In the yard, we have a couple of crab-apple trees that bloom every spring. They fill the air with a light, blossomy fragrance. It makes working in the garden even better.I'm trying to help a weeping cherry tree get healthy again. It looked pretty weak when we moved into this house three years ago. But, now it is doing ok. I've decided that I have to think of things in

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-44826486389837624052009-05-07T12:20:00.001-04:002009-05-07T12:20:00.290-04:00

Yesterday, I got an early morning email with an offer to go to the Red Sox game last night. The seats were at home plate - front row. I wasted no time accepting the offer.When we got to our seats, we were sitting just a couple of feet outside of the home plate TV shot. Since our neighbors hadn't arrived yet, we moved over so I could see myself behind the batter on the TV monitors built into

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-29912152465629520302009-05-05T09:51:00.003-04:002009-05-05T10:07:48.524-04:00

On Sunday, we decided to grill some chicken. I have a recipe for a soy sauce based marinade that my kids call "Dad's Secret Recipe". The truth is I made up the marinade using several ingredients in the fridge.The basic recipe is soy sauce (I use Kikkoman), cooking sherry, garlic, and fresh ginger. I add a couple of other ingredients that are my secret. But, it's worth trying the base and

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-1782035234768740492009-05-01T22:16:00.003-04:002009-05-01T22:26:33.232-04:00

I am amazed at how fast the Bleeding Heart plant in my yard is growing. One week ago, it was just starting to develop new shoots. This week, it is over 2' high. We've had a few days of summer-like heat that probably made the difference. I'm glad winter is over but not really ready for summer heat.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-44665181749731349962009-04-29T14:16:00.002-04:002009-04-29T14:20:35.580-04:00

When I was looking at the neighborhood garden in San Francisco, I took this picture of the Bay Bridge. The Golden Gate Bridge gets most of the tourist attention in San Francisco, but the Bay Bridge looked pretty impressive to me from this vantage point.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-68071504080273227672009-04-27T12:20:00.003-04:002009-04-27T12:23:51.171-04:00

Last week, I took this picture of a t-shirt in a Boston store. It turns out, it was a prediction of the Red Sox / Yankees series this weekend.Go Sox!

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-51741876157503512072009-04-22T19:53:00.003-04:002009-04-22T20:04:13.941-04:00

I found a great place for pizza in San Francisco. North Beach Pizza is on the corner of Union and Grant in the middle of North Beach. Even though it was hot outside, I ventured in and tried the pizza.I picked out a personal sized pie and loaded it up with pepperoni, sausage, and mushrooms. The crust was crusty with just the right amount of chewiness. It was fantastic.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-60270996675150407052009-04-20T19:50:00.006-04:002009-04-20T20:23:46.740-04:00

I got on a plane yesterday and flew to San Francisco. When I left, it was cloudy and cool. The phrase "April showers brings May flowers" must have come from New England; we've had lots of rain and are waiting for our flowers. Here in San Francisco, it is a different story. After work, I drove to a small neighborhood to see a garden. I seemed like I had landed in an alternative universe. The

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-13006990339443993082009-04-16T08:52:00.006-04:002009-04-16T09:01:46.922-04:00

The days are gradually getting warmer, and that means the early spring bulbs are coming to life. We have a rock wall along the front yard with daffodils. And, in the perennial bed, there are some hyacinths that are starting to bloom!

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-73607179574977822072009-04-12T19:00:00.001-04:002009-04-12T19:00:00.336-04:00

The sun was bright this morning - a perfect day for Easter.We went to church in the morning and got ready for an Easter dinner at home. My wife's mother always made ham for Easter. And, we have followed that tradition.I like scalloped potatoes with ham. It takes time to make them but nothing tastes better to me.My wife was worried that they were too "cheesy". But, from my point of view, it

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-70099948581662738782009-04-11T15:00:00.001-04:002009-04-11T15:00:01.374-04:00

I decided a week or two ago that we should have a vegetable garden. I like the idea of growing fresh vegetables and some berries. We picked out a place in back yard that would be good for a garden. Then, I got the kids out and started digging up the grass. After a few minutes, we ran into a pretty good sized rock and dug it out (see above). After working some more, my shovel hit another rock -

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-58529347319892802722009-04-09T07:22:00.003-04:002009-04-09T07:27:48.531-04:00

My lemon tree has survived another New England winter. I haven't paid much attention to it since it bloomed a couple of months ago.I took a closer look and noticed that there are a few baby lemons and another set of blossoms. Maybe in June I'll be able to pick some ripe lemons.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-89709633142613967972009-04-05T15:35:00.004-04:002009-04-05T15:55:36.273-04:00

April is here, and Kimball's is open again. Notice the combination of snow, flowers, and hearty New Englanders lined up for ice cream.We stood in line and shivered. When you are cold and waiting in a slow moving line, you start to question the sanity of buying ice cream in April. But, my kids would not be deterred. Here is a picture of my son's "kiddie size" cone.While we were waiting in line,

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-848536853194942632009-04-02T09:04:00.003-04:002009-04-02T09:08:15.127-04:00

I was in Boston this week for some meetings and walked by this corner. I couldn't help noticing the sign with the person sleeping. Then I looked over and saw an ad for the Boston Marathon.I'm afraid I'm more likely to be the one asleep than the person running.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-70571076638497547432009-03-30T19:26:00.004-04:002009-03-30T20:22:36.048-04:00

Last fall, a couple we know had a beautiful baby boy. They had known for months that the baby would be born with severe birth defects and would not live long. Even so, they decided that she would carry the baby to term, and they would savor their time with him. He was born and lived just a short while. But, he was surrounded by loving parents his entire life. At the funeral, they gave out

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-59036068145884049502009-03-25T13:09:00.004-04:002009-03-25T13:43:30.578-04:00

I was walking in the yard and noticed a single crocus flower. We still have a bit of snow and ice behind the house and spring seems a long way off. But, the sight of a crocus gives me hope that warmer days will come.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-39110959907255229782009-03-23T18:23:00.000-04:002009-03-23T18:23:00.470-04:00

A few years ago, my brother and his family were living in Tokyo. I came on a business trip and met up with him. I was telling him about the "Tanuki", a raccoon dog found in Japan. The Tanuki is thought to be mischievous and to have the ability to change shape. I had remembered seeing little Tanuki statues around and wanted to show him.We wandered around for quite a while and never came across

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-71177494943830819132009-03-18T16:39:00.003-04:002009-03-18T16:46:01.656-04:00

I'm back from Tokyo but have a lot of pictures yet to post. While I was there, I rode the Yamanote train line everyday to get to the office. Between 8-9am, that train gets very crowded.One day, I hit the train at the exact wrong time. I was packed in so tightly I could have lifted my feet off the floor of the train and not moved.After that experience, I decided I had to take a quick video of

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-10001747308532919722009-03-13T03:32:00.002-04:002009-03-13T03:39:50.878-04:00

I'm waiting in Narita airport for my flight to go back to Boston and thought I post something.Last night, I joined some colleagues and went to a traditional Japanese restaurant in Tamachi. After we sat down, the waitress came by with a cart of fish. I have seen fish in a tank that you pick out. But, it was a first to have the selection come to the table.I always just let others order for me at

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-36477760022870051322009-03-11T18:37:00.004-04:002009-03-11T18:43:33.181-04:00

This week, I've come across 2 animal statues that I had to photograph. The one above was from a restaurant near Shiba Koen. It is a variation on a traditional Japanese good luck symbol, the Maneki Neko. A Maneki Neko is supposed to bring good luck to its owner. This one looks like it is completely strung out.And, walking around at lunch yesterday, I saw this pig fishing statue. It made me

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-70142922944624060792009-03-10T17:37:00.003-04:002009-03-10T17:55:38.782-04:00

I met up with my college buddy last night. We decided to have dinner at a small tonkatsu restaurant near his office in Nishi Azabu. I am always amazed at the number of restaurants in this city. It seems like there are interesting places around every corner.We were seated in an upstairs area that had 3 or 4 tables. The service was quite good and the tonkatsu was very tender.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-32867684273924742122009-03-09T18:43:00.004-04:002009-03-09T18:50:28.745-04:00

I was walking to the office yesterday when I came across this statue. I asked some people about it and learned that it is an O-Jizo Sama statue, an important figure in Buddhism.According to Buddhist tradition, Jizo is the protector of children. And there is an old story about a farmer who saw an O-Jizo Sama statue by the side of the road in winter. He thought that Jizo seemed cold and gave him

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-15107549258281552142009-03-08T18:58:00.004-04:002009-03-08T19:12:47.022-04:00

I arrived in Tokyo after the 14 hour flight and was ready to get to the hotel. At Narita Airport, the easiest way to get to downtown Tokyo is to take the "Friendly Airport Limousine" (which can best be descibed as "A Large Orange Bus"). It can take up to 2 hours from the Airport to Tokyo. And, a long bus ride can be deadly after a long flight. Here is what I did to pass the time on my 14 hour

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-7428300036545149772009-03-07T10:16:00.004-05:002009-03-07T10:25:03.975-05:00

I am on my way to Tokyo today. It will be a long, long day. 5:45am: Turn off the alarm clock and wish it was a regular Saturday6:15am: Final check of my luggage and out the door7:15am: Check in at Logan Airport8:00am: Board mini-plane to fly to JFK8:10am: Half listen to very perky flight attendant explain safety rules8:11am: Wonder how someone can be so energetic and thrilled about

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-49605031176319819092009-03-03T14:31:00.004-05:002009-03-03T14:39:50.759-05:00

We had enough of a warming spell over the past few weeks for the snow to melt in the yard. On Saturday, we could actually see some grass. But, it is too soon to think about spring.On Sunday night, we got the kind of storm they call a Nor'easter. A good Nor'easter builds up power as it moves up the east coast. We got over 12 inches of new snow.This morning, the storm is gone, and we woke up to

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-15419840222245839782009-02-27T10:48:00.003-05:002009-02-27T10:53:18.526-05:00

We got a Harry & David gift for Christmas. I had completely forgotten about it until a package of beautiful oranges showed up at our house. We are still in the middle of winter in Mass, and it was nice to see some colorful fruit.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-38785265052535909742009-02-24T07:01:00.004-05:002009-02-24T07:06:37.491-05:00

We heard about the ICA from a good friend and decided to take our kids there. The Institute of Contemporary Art is located in South Boston near the Children's Museum. Now that the Big Dig is finished, it is actually pretty easy to get there compared to other places in Boston.My oldest daughter loved the exhibits and the entire feel of the museum. My son liked the elevator that was the size of a

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-51900580412908891252009-02-20T11:57:00.004-05:002009-02-20T17:24:56.976-05:00

A couple of friends of mine just finished a book. They saw a need for a book about women in America that was geared towards Jr. High and Sr. High school students.They spent a significant amount of time doing research and finding examples and stories about how women shaped the United States. We just got a copy and were particularly impressed with both the book's content and its design.Congrats

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-84243738373113522642009-02-14T09:33:00.006-05:002009-02-14T09:57:07.611-05:00

Last night, we went to a dinner party at a friend's house. They have a long standing family tradition of celebrating Valentine's Day with a lovely dinner. But, 2 of their 3 children are grown up and out of the house. So, they invited several couples over to share their tradition.I really liked this creative vegetable heart dish. At first glance, it reminded me of sushi.The main dish, Beef

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-22142289356824219422009-02-12T08:59:00.002-05:002009-02-12T09:05:28.858-05:00

I happened by this store on my last day in Tokyo. It's not everyday that you get to see really "rair" chocolate.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-24892950168482675382009-02-08T19:30:00.005-05:002009-02-08T19:50:31.772-05:00

We had some warm weather this weekend in Massachusetts. It got into the high 40s this afternoon, and the ice actually started to melt a little in the driveway.The warmer air makes me hope that spring will someday come to New England. In that spirit, I am posting some pictures of flowers that I took in Japan. I have a feeling that spring will come sooner to Tokyo than Boston.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-10894435478483990562009-02-05T19:26:00.000-05:002009-02-05T19:27:05.014-05:00

During my trip, I discovered a place where you could get "lunch/dinner" type items for breakfast. The only catch is that you have to use those vending machines.These always make me nervous, even though I can read some Japanese. I'm afraid someone will come in after me and will stand patiently as I struggle to find the right button.This day, I found something I wanted and a red arrow to the

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-19481956032572180942009-02-03T09:19:00.005-05:002009-02-03T09:31:46.607-05:00

I am back from Japan now but have more to write about the trip. While I was in Matsuyama, I got up early in the AM and decided to explore the neighborhood. The sun was just coming up, and I walked over to the Dogo Hot Springs (Onsen) main building. I took the picture above of an enclosed garden area. Even in January, the garden looked great.Turning the opposite direction, I walked up a hill

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-27003063258164226812009-01-29T20:10:00.009-05:002009-01-30T04:38:11.838-05:00

I went to Matsuyama this week. When I arrived, I met up with some people for dinner at a local restaurant.Things started off fine with lots of small dishes with vegetables or raw fish (like the silvery stuff above). I'm a fan of sushi and even like raw fish by itself.But I wasn't prepared for the fish bowl.The waitress brought out a bowl that had fish, fresh fish, so fresh they were swimming.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-58663313447706582782009-01-27T16:19:00.004-05:002009-01-27T16:25:22.640-05:00

I met up with my old college buddy last night in Roppongi Hills, a high end shopping area in Tokyo. We drove over to an area called Omotesando and found a small gyoza place.The restaurant only serves gyoza with a couple of vegetable side dishes. We picked out some garlic and leek gyoza and tried them boiled and fried. Both were tasty, but I think I prefer the fried ones.After two nights in a

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-12007705843848642532009-01-26T06:36:00.003-05:002009-01-26T06:44:27.961-05:00

After work, I went with a couple of guys to Osaka Ohsho. I am a real gyoza fan and can't resist an opportunity to chow down on these dumplings whenever I can.I have plans to meet my college roommate tomorrow night for dinner, and I think we'll be going to a different gyoza place. So, I considered tonight my warm-up.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-83803659872945509432009-01-25T05:59:00.004-05:002009-01-25T06:13:40.665-05:00

I arrived in Tokyo after a 14 hour flight from New York's JFK airport. Then, the bus ride to the city and my hotel took 2 hours because of the afternoon traffic. When I finally walked into the hotel, there was a beautiful garden arrangement in the lobby. I snapped the picture above and went to get some food.Not wanting to sit in a restaurant, I decided to go to a supermarket in the Shinagawa

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-31857687026603417882009-01-22T08:06:00.003-05:002009-01-22T08:21:26.752-05:00

With the garden outside covered in snow, I have to savor some plants inside. I like forcing bulbs in winter. It doesn't take skill, and you get quick results. And several years ago, I got a Meyer Lemon tree when I ordered some plants. I keep it outside in the summer and bring it indoors in the winter. When it blooms, I get one of my kids to take a small brush and do the bees' pollinating job.

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-75124738374462329642009-01-17T10:07:00.005-05:002009-01-17T10:28:12.538-05:00

We are in the 3rd day of really cold weather here in Mass. Yesterday, the thermometer read -12 deg F in the morning. It got up to a balmy 9 deg F in the daytime.It is the kind of cold that makes the snow squeak when you walk on it, and our driveway has turned into a long sheet of ice.I walked around the yard this morning and took pictures of some trees. I like to see their shape and bark when

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-59940858177275715752009-01-14T08:46:00.004-05:002009-01-14T08:56:10.788-05:00

Our girls have started taking voice lessons. I dropped them off at the studio last night and was really surprised by the great little theatre/studio. The Cannon Theatre just opened in Littleton, Mass and is preparing for their first production of "A Little Princess". It is located in an old mill building in the center of Littleton, Mass. The mill was built in the mid 19th century for pressing

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-36154909947811733482009-01-11T19:37:00.006-05:002009-01-11T19:57:04.598-05:00

More snow this weekend. I stoked up the fire in the wood burning stove; my wife decided to bake.Not wanting to go to the store, she looked around the kitchen to see what was lying around. We had bananas that were getting over-ripe and cranberries left over from Christmas. The bananas became chocolate chip banana bread. The cranberries became muffins. Needless to say, I've been snacking on

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-35191677507143092632009-01-07T10:59:00.004-05:002009-01-07T11:10:20.639-05:00

In an attempt to celebrate New Years, we decided to make a Japanese dinner at home. I know that Tempura isn't really a traditional New Years dish, but it is something that our whole family enjoys.The dish is made by frying seafood and vegetables in a very light batter.Batter (Koromo)1 egg1 cup very cold water1 cup flour2 Tablespoons white wineIt works better if the batter stays chilled. So we

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5140394406266256407.post-30893703250366424262009-01-04T19:48:00.004-05:002009-01-04T19:59:28.206-05:00

We ended our day in NY by visiting the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Years ago, I worked in New York. My office was a block away from Rockefeller Center, and I walked past the tree every day. Even though it was after Christmas, there were tons of people looking at the tree. We snapped a picture and continued on. We started to walk up 5th Avenue to see the windows, but the crowds were

DKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13780172464219759598noreply@blogger.com0