Friday, May 29, 2009

インドネシア料理 Indonesian Cuisine


香港からじじばばが遊びにきています。家の中は広東語、北京語、日本語に英語とにぎやかです。義父母は料理が上手!今日は味噌風味チキンを作ってくれました。それから土曜日にバーベキューをするので、その準備でサテーを鶏、豚、牛でマリネ。楽しみです。本当に私は助かってます。感謝。

Grandpa and grandma are here from Hong Kong. Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese and English are lively spoken in the house. They are very good at cooking! Today, father-in-law made Miso flavored chicken for us. It was good! They marinaded satay meat (chicken, pork and beef) for the BBQ on Saturday. They've been helping me a lot in the kitchen and I am so grateful.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

プレッツェル Soft Pretzels



理輝君の料理上手はもう証明済みかと思います。この度はいつもの手際の良さでプレッツェルをあっという間に作ってくれました。レシピもご紹介します。今回は焼いた後にバターをぬって、塩とシナモンシュガーの入ったそれぞれ別の袋の中でシャカシャカ、2種類の味でいただきました。
I assume Riki's good cooking skill has been proved already. This time he made soft pretzel for us. He does things so quickly in an orderly manner and pretzel-making looks so easy. He put butter over the pretzel after baking and put them in seperate bags with salt or cinammon sugar and shaked.

SOFT PRETZELS

2 t. Dry Yeast
1/2 C. Lukewarm water
1/2 t. Salt
1 1/2 t. Sugar
1 1/2 C. Flour

1. Preheat oven to 425F (220C)
2. Soften yeast in water in medium mixing bowl.
3. Add salt and sugar.
4. Mix in flour and knead to make soft smooth dough.
5. Cut into small pieces.
6. Roll into thin ropes and twist into shapes.
7. Place on cookie sheet (covered in foil and dusted with flour).
8. Brush with egg or margarine(or butter) and top with salt or Cinnamon/sugar.

Bake 10-15 Minutes.

日本からの注文 Order from Japan


私の日本のブログファンから小さいピンクのチワワと魚を作ってという注文が入りました。まずは魚に挑戦。編み図もなく魚を頭に浮かべながらせっせと。。。ほぼ完成に近づきました。気に入ってもらえると良いけどな。。。
I got orders from my blog fan in Japan for a small pink Chihuahua and a fish. I started working on a fish first. I got no pattern for it, so I am picturing a fish as I chrochet. It's almost finished. Hope he'll like it.

Monday, May 25, 2009

素晴らしい一日 What a wonderful day

子供達と一緒に2時間ほどテニスを。家の前じゃあなくてテニスコートで。。Played tennis with boys for almost two hours. Not in front of the house, of course.
お琴の練習を1時間ほど。Practiced Koto for about an hour.
2時間ほど本に学び。Studied Kay Arthur for about two hours.

いつも怠慢なわたしが。。。今日はなんと素晴らしい充実した日を過ごした事か。
Totally not well disciplined lazy Akiko finally had a idealy-fully-lived DAY.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

ロック! Rock!


夕べお友達がロックコンサートに連れて行ってくれました。"2009 Can't Stop Rockin' tour- REO Speedwagon, Styx and 38 Special"知っていた曲は1,2曲。でもめちゃ楽しかった!!それから何が感動したかって彼らの年齢。バンドメンバーはほとんど50〜60歳。でも皆めちゃかっこよかった。ちょっと刺激された私はまずは体力作りからと、今日は2ヶ月ぶりにジムに行って走ってきた!決意新たにがんばるぞぉ〜〜!
My friend took me to a rock concert last night. "It's the 2009 Can't Stop Rockin' tour- REO Speedwagon, Styx and 38 Special I only knew few songs, but I really really enjoyed it. Something else that impressed me was their age. Most of the band members are between 50 to 60 years old, but they were COOL. I was so inspired and thought to myself, "I need to keep rocking, too!" So, I went back to the gym and run and walked for 30min. after being lazy for SO long. I'm gonna keep going!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

初めての Very First...



我が家の男4人が初めての剣道進級試験を先週受けました。みごと4人とも合格!黄色いベルトに進級です。日本と違って、級,段ではなく、ベルトの色で級位を分けるようです。もらったのはこの賞状。皆とてもご満悦。頑張りましたね。
Four boys of Chan family had the very first grading of Kendo last week. Congratulations to all of them. They all passed the test and got the certificate for the yellow belt. Here at this gym, they use different grading system. Anyway, they are very happy and I am proud of them.

Monday, May 18, 2009

折り紙で着物 Origami Kimono

From Kimono
折り紙で着物を折りましょう!写真をクリックしたらビデオが始まります。がんばってね。
Here is the gift for YOU, Miss. B., "Origami Kimono tutorial."
Click on the photo and let the tutorial begin!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

実験最終報告 Final report of my experiment

そろそろまたサンダルをはく季節になってきましたので、これが私の実験の最終報告になります。現在の足の日焼けあとはかなり薄くなりましたが、8ヶ月経った今もまだうっすらと残っています。実験を始めてから足にはほとんど日差しを浴びていません、とすると毎日紫外線を浴び続けている顔の日焼けダメージが消える事はあるのでしょうか? どれくらいで足の日焼けが消えるかという質問に。。ブルークさんが正解です。私の場合だいたい1年かかりますね。正解の景品はそのうち届きます。。。

The flip-flop season is here, so this will be the final report of my experiment. Though my tan on my feet faded away mostly but yet they are still there after all those eight months. My feet were hardly exposed to the sun at all during this period. Then, what would happen to those sun damage on my face which continue to receive the UV rays every day? Would they ever go away? I asked question when I started this experiment. Ms.Brooke, your guess was right. In my case, it probably takes about a year. You shall receive a prize soon.

醜い足の写真の後には、美しい緑の写真をどうぞ。これは庭にあるぶどうの木の写真です。
Presenting a fresh green photo after posting an ugly brown feet. It's the photo of grapevine in our back yard.

まさに! Exactly!


我が家の庭にきれいな赤色で咲いているこの花。前からこの花は、瓶を洗うブラシもしくはトイレ掃除のブラシに似ているなぁと思っていました。今日は名前をネットで調べてみようと思ったものの、何百もの花図鑑の写真の中からさがすのは時間がかかると思い。だめもとでbrush flower(ブラシの花)と英語で検索してみたら、なんと!その名を"Bottlebrush Flower"。大当たりでした。

Those pretty red flowers are in full bloom in our garden now. I've been thinking this flower looks just like the brush to wash the bottles or the toilet bowl. Today I decided to search the name on the internet. If I had to find this flower out of hundreds of flower pictures, how long is that going to take??? So, I made the wild geuss. Well, Iguess it's quite obvious... I typed "brush flower" and searched. Ta dah! I found it. It's called "Bottlebrush flower." What other name anyone could give, ha?!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

好みは? Your favorite?






この度また犬を作っているのですが。。いつも迷うのが目の位置。これによってすごく犬の印象が変わってしまうんです。まあ最終的にはその人の好みなのですが。。。。それで。。。どうでしょう?あなたなら何番目の犬が好み?

I am making a dog again. It's always the eyes... where to put them.... that stops my hand. The positions of the eyes really affect and change the impressions of the dogs. In the end, it's the matter of your personal preference.... SO, how about you? Which one is your favorite?

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

頑張ってます。 Keeping it up.

祭りのお店の日まであと3週間ほど。頑張って商品をつくらなくっちゃ!でも、なかなか進まないのが現実ですが。夕べはこれだけ作りました。髪留めです。あ〜〜ねむい。。。

It's only about 3 weeks 'till the Children's Matsuri. I must make more products but the production is not going as fast in reality. I made this much last night. It's hair clips. Yawning!!

Monday, May 11, 2009

母の日おめでとう! Happy Mother's Day!


今日は母の日でしたね。やっぱりやっぱりケビンは何かを用意してくれていましたよ。学校で作った母の日カード!!小学校の先生の気配りに感謝です。でもおそらく彼なら学校で何も作らなかったとしても、家で自分で何かを作った事でしょう。バレンタインの時のように。。。

Today was the Mother's Day. I knew my boy, Kevin would have something for me and he did in deed. A Mother's Day card he made at school. Thanks to the elementary school teacher for her consideration. If he didn't make anything at school, I am quite sure that he would have made something special at home just like he did for the Valentine's Day.

Friday, May 8, 2009

新商品 New Product

前回に続いて、こちらもイベント出店用の商品です。ケビンが制作いたしました。どうでしょう?おそらく70匹以上の魚を折り紙で折ったと思います。彼はこういう事には根気があるんだよね。この収益は彼のもとへ。いくらになるかな?

Those products are also for the event shop in June. Those were made by Kevin. What do you think? He probably made over 70 Origami Fish. He has such a good patience when it comes to those things. All the profit from those gift tags will go to him. Let's see how much he can make!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

どうかな? How about this?


6月6日にテメキュラで日本の文化を紹介する子供祭りがある。そこで友達数人と一緒にお店を出して、手作りのものを売る事にした。あと1ヶ月でどれくらいの作品が出来るかな?現在一生懸命試行錯誤しながら商品を製作中。今週はこの着物のデザインのカードを40枚ほど作りました。どうかな?皆好きかな?
There will be a children's Matsuri (Japanese cultural event) in Temecula on June 6th. Friends and I decided to set up a booth to sell the things we make. I am not sure how many things I can make in less than a month. I am now working hard trying to make different things. I finished about 40 greeting cards with Origami Kimono this week. What do you think? Hope people would like this design.

Monday, May 4, 2009

新しい趣味 New Hobby


チャン家の新しい趣味、クレー射撃。今週末初めて射撃練習場に行って、私も子供3人も初体験いたしました。経験者のたけちゃんの指導のもとに、ちょっと怖々トライ。普段から肩の痛い私は、打った時の衝撃が肩にきてさらに痛い!子供達はなんだか気に入った様子。お父さんのものより少し小さいジュニア用の散弾銃を購入するらしい。。射撃場には他にも父息子で来て射撃を楽しんでいる姿がありました。私は最近男性陣が魚釣り、剣道、射撃、バスケットボールといろいろなことに一緒に挑戦し楽しんでいる事をとても嬉しく思っています。

Trap Shooting is the Chans' latest hobby. We went to the shooting range this weekend. A bit fearfully, Kids and I tried the shooting for the first time under the supervision of T.K. who has previous experience. Ouch! It hurts! The shock from the shooting hurt my (already-got-pain) bad shoulder. Boys seemed to like it and they are checking into buying a junior shot gun. There are some other father-son couples there enjoying this activities together. I am very happy to see how boys(father and sons) are trying and enjoying the new activities together such as fishing, Kendo, shooting, basketball and so on..

雪だるま? Snowman?

 今頃こんな所で何やってるのー???😅🤣🤣🤣 What are you doing here now???? 😅🤣🤣🤣🤣