Japan: Exploring Tokyo

Nik and I went to Japan last year over Thanksgiving, and I have yet to say a peep about it!! The two week trip to Tokyo and Kyoto provided the perfect escape. We explored both cities to the point that we could barely stand at the end of each day only to repeat our torture the following day.

The vacation was somewhat impulsive in that we purchased our plane tickets just two months ahead of time, and made our final hotel reservation a week before we departed. We made very few concrete plans, and allowed ourselves to wander aimlessly through the cities (stopping frequently at convenient stores to stock up on snacks). Luckily, Nik did activate an international data plan on his phone so that we always knew where we were and could find restaurants while we were out and about. This batch of photos is hopefully the first of many I took, and if you want to see Nik’s account of the adventure on his brand-spanking-newly-designed website, click the link below:

Nik’s Blog: 10 Posts from Japan

 

A Thursday Picnic

Nik has been working nonstop since January 2, and has not had a single day off until yesterday. He spent the day at home relaxing and going stir crazy. But today, I had the day off as well, so we took a bike ride to Fort Cronkhite in the Marin Headlands. We rode through the Presidio, over the Golden Gate Bridge, and along the tunnel route out to the ocean. Our bags were packed with water, sandwiches and snacks so we perched above the beach with hopes of seeing whales or dolphins. As we ate, a large production crew filmed at the beach and several groups of middle school kids hiked along the path behind us. At least one kid in each group proclaimed, “I’M THE KING OF THE MOUNTAIN” as they stood behind us. We chuckled at their predictability!!

All told, we went about 20 miles, and we both needed the exercise because neither of us have been on our bikes regularly due to the cold weather and Nik’s schedule. It was a perfect first ride of the year, and I hope to do several more. Really, I want to rent a proper road bikes and do a super long ride up to Pt Reyes. Nik isn’t entirely convinced, but I think we would love it.

Grass is Green & Kitchen is Pink, Grey & Yellow

It is the rainy season here in San Francisco, and the park’s ground is covered vibrant green grass, new buds are poking out of the branches, and tiny blooms are filling the underbrush. On Saturday, Nik and I took a quick walk through Golden Gate Park to see the ducks and test out his new camera lens. The day was simple, but beautiful as we watched a flock of seagulls dodge the wrath of hawks at the lake while another hawk was being pestered by a pair of crows on 25th Avenue. I love that I live here with a man that enjoys the unexpected beauty as much as I do.

Meanwhile, we have been working on giving our favorite room at home, the kitchen, a little more life. To be fair, the “before” photos were taken before we moved into this apartment in 2010, so they have absolutely NO life!! But the changes we have made are simple enough that I think our landlord will approve, and they make the space so much cozier. Below is a list of what we have done:

1. Painted the counter nook dark grey
2. Removed layers and layers of white paint from the cabinet & drawer hardware revealing beautiful glass knobs and stainless latches
3. Removed layers of white paint from the edge of the pull-out cutting board
4. Took out one small drawer that couldn’t be used because the stove was in the way, and lined the opening with a wrapping paper
5. Painted the back of the buffet bench a matching dark grey
6. Replaced the bench cushions
7. Covered the wood ikea table that had been shottily covered with polyurethane so that the entire surface was sticky with a festive Mexican oil cloth

Now that I can hardly stay out of the kitchen, I baked a couple loaves of bread!! The only bread I have ever made was my grandmother’s rolls that we used to make at Thanksgiving. I never really understood the whole rising thing or paid attention to the dos and don’ts of break making, so this was all new to me. Luckily, Nik has an amazing book called The Tassajara Bread Book that was first published in 1970 by the priests at the San Francisco Zen Center. The book illustrates and describes every single step of the bread making process perfectly. Now I am not afraid of yeast, and will always have whole wheat flour on hand.