hiking in the mountains

Today was beautifully clear.

Ms. Y and I decided to enjoy mountain-climbing.

We met at JR Takao Station at 9:00.

First we walked slowly and awkwardly to 小仏峠.





Oh, how happy I felt to see Mt. Fuji there!

(at 小仏峠)


When we reached the top of 小仏城山, we could see
Mt. Fuji again.

We had lunch at the top of 小仏城山.





Then we left 小仏城山 for 高尾山 and had a break at もみじ台.









Ms. and I decided to go down the mountain by Inariyama-trail.

We walked down to Takaosan-guchi Station on the Keio Line.

(on the way)


What a wonderful day!

I walked 25375 steps today.

kakinomoto

Have you ever heard of kakinomoto, かきのもと?

かきのもと means edible chrysanthemums.

I like かきのもと very much but I've never seen　
them sold in the supermarkets around here.

One of my neighbors in Niigata sent me a box of
かきのもと.

I boiled water, added some salt and vinegar and then
put かきのもと　in hot water--only for a very short time.

I enjoyed かきのもと with ポン酢　on.

Please read the following page if you want to know more
about かきのもと.

http://www.city.niigata.jp/info/shoku_hana/meisan/09kakinomoto.pdf
.

yellow leaves against the blue sky

What a crisp autumn morning!

What a relief!

Amaryllis Annual Autumn Concert was over last night!

My daughter and her husband belong to the band.

They played the saxophone--my daughter played
the alto sax and her husband the soprano sax.

The concert went well, I think.

This morning I walked around here and there
when I went to a supermarket.

On the way to the supermarket, I saw beautiful yellow leaves
against the blue sky.

What a wonderful world!

(Kodaira Danchi)

community open college (７)

I enjoyed talking about food in easy English
in the 7th English lesson at 'community open college 2010'.

First, we did pair work to get to know our classmates,
asking the following questions and answering them.

1. Do you prefer a Japanese-style or Western-style
breakfast?

2. What is your favorite food?
3. What kind of Japanese food do you dislike?
4. What are you good at making?
5. Do you plan to go out to eat tonight?
6. What is your favorite New Year's food?
7. What do you always have in your refrigerator?
8. What do you usually drink with dinner?
9. What did you have for dinner last night?

Next, we looked at 15 pictures, guessed what the cook
was doing and learned 15 verbs for cooking.

They were---cook, cut, chop, slice, grate, peel, stir,
beat, bake, boil, roast, fry, stir-fry（炒める）, steam,
microwave, (nukeチンする）.

Then, we listened to the tape and filled 26 blanks
in the articles about Chirashi zushi and Potstickers（餃子）.

Lastly, we enjoyed 'English puzzle' about Japanese food.
Can you guess what Japanese food they are?

1. A strong, spicy green horseradish-like condiment
2. Soy sauce
3. Grilled chicken on a skewer
4. Chicken, egg, and scallions on a bed of rice,
served in a large bowl

5. Soup made from fish stock and soybean paste
6. Thinly sliced meat or vegetables cooked
in a simmering broth at the table

7. Slices of raw fish
8. Traditional boxed meal, served in a lacquer
or plastic box with individual compartments for each food

9. Round or flat noodles often served in a hot broth
with a variety of meat, seafood, or vegetables

10. Cold boiled spinach with a ground sesame seed dressing
11. Cold bean curd served with grated ginger,
dried bonito flakes, scallions, and soy sauce

12. Fried dumplings with a pork filling
13. Cucumber roll made with small slivers of cucumber
14. Buckwheat noodles, served with a soy-based dipping sauce
15. Rice wine
16. Deep fried pork cutlet served with shredded cabbage

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わさび・しょうゆ・焼き鳥・親子丼・みそ汁・すき焼き・さしみ・
弁当・蕎麦・胡麻和え・冷やっこ・ぎょうざ・かっぱ巻・そば・
日本酒・とんかつ
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(tamagawa-josui, in front of my apartment)

Indian summer

What a beautiful day!

The sunlight through the trees makes me happy.

I should say I myself is now in the period of my life
called Indian summer.

---------------
The light in the kitchen had been flickering
and went out this morning.

Alas! I can't reach the light--I'm getting shorter!