I had a blog here, but it is too difficult to continue with the pain I'm having.

Gyo no gyo daisu

Today I began learning Gyo no gyo daisu with Nakatani-sensei.  As this way takes much longer, we practice once and finish okeiko for the day.  Usually, tea students practice this way just once a month, but Nakatani-sensei said that it was okay to continue coming to okeiko every week.  (Yes!!)
We looked at her instructor's notes together, as this form is passed down from teacher to student, after oiemoto has given permission for the teaching to take place.  The transmission of teachings is supposed to be unwritten, so I can't write too much about it here.  Only that everything I've learned up to this point comes into play, along with some new manners and ways of handling utensils.
I enjoy practicing tea very much, but when asked about it, I can't pinpoint just why. Maybe is it the simplicity of the surroundings, or the focus required.  If I think about something other than what I am doing, I quickly lose my place and make mistakes.  I think it helps me to concentrate and regard every day objects in a new fashion.  For instance, can you recall the shape of your favorite pen? The color of ink it uses?  How long is it?  How does it feel in your hand?  If you did not have the pen in your hand, could you remember these things?  If you use it every day, it should be easy...right? 'It's just a pen', you might say. 'Nothing out of the ordinary'.  But if you use it every day, it should have importance to you--as a tool or a treasured object.  So "knowing" that pen can help you respect it a little more.

Like Ichiro and his bats.

“In Japan we take care of our instruments, our bats and our gloves,” Suzuki says in his interview with NYT. “We take care of them well because these things are very important.”

Tuesday, February 17 2015

This 4-day weekend was a busy one.  With Valentine's Day, DH's birthday and President's Day, I had a mini vacation from preparing lunch.  i had a lot of pain in the last four days as well, perhaps from running out of naproxen.  In any case, I'm feeling better today.

Tuesday -
                 Salad          :   Sweet pea and dill salad
                 Main Dish :   Japanese-style ginger pork
                 2nd Dish    :   Indo-mie BBQ Chicken Noodle with cabbage
                 Snack:        :   Olives
                 Topper:      :   None

Thursday, February 12 2015

I feel  a little "off" today.
Doc's office called and asked to reschedule my appointment as they had heard I was approved for a nerve conduction test. Cool.
I'm not that hopeful since the insurance company hasn't called me about it.  But we'll see.

Thursday -
                 Soup           :  None
                 Main Dish :   Mizithra and browned butter
                 2nd Dish    : ?
                 Snack:        : Artichoke dip and crackers
                 Topper:      :  PB&J

Wednesday, February 11 2015

The weather has been rainy, which is nice for the dry spell we're going through, but it also leads to problems with the stove and oven.  Something about that circuit throws the breaker when it is wet.  So, I thought I might make DH a batch of chicken karaage, but I ended up just doing BBQ chicken.  Perhaps he'll like it.  The spam musubi was a hit yesterday, but unfortunately it gave him heartburn.
I'll tell you what.
My heart burns for spam musubi. :)


Wednesday -
                 Soup           :  Onion mushroom
                 Main Dish :   BBQ chicken
                 2nd Dish    :  Chicken shawarma over saffron rice (my leftover luch, haha)
                 Snack:        : Olives and hummus
                 Topper:      :  None

Daisu koicha temae

Today I began using the daisu.  Nakatani-sensei says that first we'll do furo temae since it's a little easier than ro. We started with kocha temae using the daisu, probably to familiarize me with the sheer size of the thing!  Next week we'll start on daisu wairgeiko.
Nakatani-sensei said that there is a new lady starting tea.  Her husband passed away six months ago and she is living with her daugher in law (to be). Since I'm still off of work, I'm going to the chashitsu tomorrow to meet her, and nab a refresher on how to teach nyuumon warigeiko.

  

This is a picture of Nakatani-sensei in the chashitsu.   

Tuesday, February 10 2015

I made this lunch in the morning because of the spam musubi. It's just not that good if you have to reheat it.  DH poked his head into the kitchen and started 'helping' by throwing away some plastic wrappers and munching on leftovers! Thankfully I rescued some of the Spam and rice for my own breakfast.

My presentation needs a bit of work.  I don't think there is enough green in this lunch.

Tuesday -
                 Soup           :  Tilapia and cabbage
                 Main Dish :   Spam musubi
                 2nd Dish    :  Macaroni salad from Cookpad
                 Snack:        :  Rolled proscuitto and mozzarella, takuan (pickled radish)
                 Topper:      :  None

Monday, February 9 2015

I slept in and woke to find DH heating up the bento by himself.  I wanted to add some ginger to the main dish but he said that it was okay without it.
He made a Facebook post about it and said that he didn't miss eating out at all. His coworkers sound impressed that I just don't pack leftovers all the time.  Score!
The picture that he took wasn't so hot.  So, I'll try to be more on the ball tomorrow.

Monday -
                 Soup           :  Onion soup with mushroom
                 Main Dish :  Chicken yakitori, boiled quail eggs and spring peas
                 2nd Dish    : Apple pie with cheese
                 Snack:        :  Olives and soft cheese (I've got to find a replacement for olives)
                 Topper:      :  Bread and peanut butter (DH assembled)

Friday, February 6 2015

No bento today. DH is meeting K for lunch.
Weather is rainy and nice, but it's been so dry lately. Hopefully it won't all just run off.

This is just a start.

I'll take pictures of the bento that I fix for my husband.  The holidays were a bit rough, so we're saving a little money now.
Plus, I'm on disability leave. So it's time to enjoy some home cooking!

Since I'm starting on a Thursday, I'll recap the week so far.

Monday -
                 Soup         :   Bamboo shoot and mackerel from Cookpad
                 Main Dish :  Walnut chicken
                 2nd Dish    :  Gomoku-ni and small beef rolls from Cookpad
                 Snack:       :  Olives and hummus
                 Topper:     :  None

Tuesday -
                 Soup         :   Tomato bisque - he really liked it!
                 Main Dish :  Teriyaki salmon over rice
                 2nd Dish    :  Crackers and soft cheese
                 Snack:       :  Olives and hummus
                 Topper:     :  Bread and butter (by request, for the tomato soup)

Wednesday -
                 Soup         :   Cabbage and Tilapia in lobster stock
                 Main Dish :  Singapore noodles from Cookpad
                 2nd Dish    :  ?
                 Snack:       :  Olives and soft cheese
                 Topper:     :  Banana nut muffin from Sprouts

Thursday -
                 Soup         :   Cabbage and Tilapia in lobster stock
                 Main Dish :  Steak and mini baked potato (we had dinner for 1st wife's birthday
                 2nd Dish    :  Mizithra and browned butter spaghetti
                 Snack:       :  1/2 pizza bagel
                 Topper:     :  Pistachio muffin from Sprouts