Sumie - December 19, 2012

Six ladies joined sumie lesson. The teacher brought sumie
utensils to every one. They now have their own brush,
inkstone,and other stuff. They practiced circles at the
beginning as before, and then tried drawing bamboos
which seemed a bit difficult than grapes or eggplants.

Cooking -- November 29, 2012

The second session of evening cooking started at 4pm.
Today's menu was grilled yellow tail with grated radish,
pork salad, ingen string bean salad with sesame dressing,
fried burdock with sweetened soy sauce flavor, and
simmered pumpkin. The dessert was green tea pound
cake. Everyone enjoyed cooking together and the dinner
was ready by 6 pm. We surely had a lovely chat over food.

Sumie -- November 28, 2012

We had the second sumie lesson with 5 participants.
We welcomed one newcomer.
Today we had fun drawing eggplants. Each work is
different and so artistic!



 

Cooking --November 26, 2012

Responding to a request, we arranged a cooking class starting

from late afternoon twice this week.

The menu of the first lesson were tempura, nigiri-zushi,

 misoshiru and goma(sesame) ice-cream.

The participants of two couples were enthusiastically tried
those menu. They did very well and the taste was delicious.

They know the dishes go well with sake!

 

Ikebana -- November 6, 2012

Because of flu some usual members were not able to

join the class . But one participant brought her mother

who came to Japan to visit her daughter's family.

She enjoyed her first Ikebana with autumn flowers

such as yuyki-yanagi, mum and rindo.

 

 

 

Sumie -- October 24, 2012

Sumie lesson started today with five participants. Everyone was
excited to draw with calligraphy brush. They first practiced
drawing circles and then challenged to draw grapes.
The gradation of ink was fantastic when it dries.

 

Ikebana -- October 2, 2012

Four ladies enjoyed Ikebana with autumn flowers such as
rindo (gentian), keito ( cock's comb) and waremoko (burnet)。

Cooking -- October 1, 2012

Cooking class started again. Seven ladies joined us.
We made pretty many dishes; fresh harumaki, fried harumaki,
vegetables and codfish soup, eggplants with minced meat,
tuna & mizuna salad, and matcha pound cake.
Though it was a bit difficult to wrap fillings by rice paper,
everyone tried making one each.
It was a fun cooking again.

Ikebana -- September 18, 2012

It was still an unusually hot day.

Six ladies joined and enjoyed making mini-bonsai　

with a little pine-tree. Every material was so tiny.

 

 

Ikebana -- September 5, 2012

After the long summer holidays, Ikebana lesson in autumn
has started. Today we made kokedama (moss ball).

Lovely small bamboo and dark green moss match well.

 

 

 

Ikebana -- June 12, 2012

Five ladies joined Ikebana class in June.
The class started with our teacher's demonstration
today. We had a new participant who tried for the
first time and would like to continue. Another lady
had a finishing test for her basic course and
successfully passed! Flowers today were mock orange,
lily and sea-lavender.


 

Ikebana -- May 15, 2012

"Oh, peony!"
Ladies said when they saw the flowers for the lesson today.
Other materials are bupleurum and young fresh leaves of fatsia
(Yatsude). Teacher's explanation on Yatsude like a long-nosed
goblin's fan or beckoning fortune made them amused.

Cooking -- May 8, 2012

Five ladies met for cooking today. As requested we made okonomiyaki. We prepared seafood and pork meat,cabbage, green onion, etc. for filling. To our surprise they preferred seafood to pork. We also added cheese or kimchi to some. Everyone tried making her own okonomiyaki. The bamboo shoot salad was a seasonal dish. For dessert we made creme brulle which had been requested by one lady. Using gas equipment creme brulle was done beautifully.

May schedule

May 8(Tue)-Cooking at Elisa's(10:30am) May 15(Tue)-Ikebana at Ilse's(11:00am) May 22(Tue)-Hikari School at Mari's (10:30am) Newcomers are always welcome. Email to k-kawa@k04.itscom.net for more details.

Hikari School -- April 24, 2012

Four ladies enjoyed today's lesson. The workshop was origami. We made kabuto helmet as May 5th Children's Day is coming soon. The napkin origami in the shape of helmet would be nice for Children's Day's dinner.

Ikebana -- April 10, 2012

On a lovely spring day, we had an Ikebana lesson of April at a new place. Materials today were iriseｓ, small yellow chrysanthemums and a kind of willow branches. Sometimes a lady hesitated a little to cut lively stems shorter. A cup of coffee with snacks and a chat after the lesson was pleasant.

Cooking -- April 4, 2012

We enjoyed the fish menu today. Yellow tail sautee with
Balsamico sauce, sea bream salad, and short-necked
clam miso soup. As it was a beautiful day, we had
a lunch at the balcony. It was very relaxing and fun
time.

Hikari School -- March 27, 2012

Two newcomers joined us for today's lesson. The theme of the
lesson was 'sakura' cherry blossoms. Sakura symbolizes
Japanese spring. First we did paper cutouts and made
luncheon mats. Then we enjoyed sencha tea ceremony.
Hikaru sensei brought open-air tea ceremony sets.
The sakura-shaped tea cups were really nice.

Cooking -- March 23, 2012

Two visitors from Finland joined us and we had a
fun cooking today.
As requested we made tempura udon noodles, gyoza
dumplings,rape blossom salad,and hanami dango
dumplings. They were excited to make gyoza and
tempura noodles. As for the dessert,dumplings
tasted a bit strange to them, maybe due to the
texture. They loved tempura noodles and gyoza.

Ikebana -- March 13, 2012

Seven ladies attended Ikebana class in March.
As class in February was cancelled due to flu, every one seems
happy to see each other. Glad to have 2 newcomers and sad to say
good-by to a lady who will move from Tokyo. Flowers today were
sakura, stock and solidago.

Hikari School -- February 28, 2012

Four ladies joined March Hikari School. The theme of
the lesson is Hinamatsuri Doll's Festival. We first
made shell-shaped decoration(strap) using clam shells
and kimono cloth. Have a look at 'kawaii' straps.
Then we enjoyed green tea with kelp and plum flavor.

Hikari School -- January 24, 2012

We welcomed a newcomer from Finland who arrived here just two weeks ago.
The theme of the lesson was traditional games of the New Year
such as karuta(playing cards), sugoroku game, hanetsuki, etc.
For tea ceremony tea cups with a design of okame at the bottom
were used. We also learned how people enjoy setsubun event on
February 3rd.

Ikebana -- January 17, 2012

The first Ikebana lesson in 2012 was held on January 17th.
Many were still in their country on holidays, but four ladies
gathered with lovely children and enjoyed Ikebana for new
year.

Cooking -- January 12, 2012

We had the first cooking class this year. As some people are
still out of town, only three ladies joined us.
They first learned how to make 'dashi' with konbu
kelp and bonito flakes. Then we made udon noodles soup
and made tempura.The side dish was red and white salad
called namasu. We enjoyed 'tenmpura udon' and 'namasu' very
much. The dessert was Awayukikan.

Ikebana -- December 13, 2011

Six ladies joined the December ikebana class. This time of course
the theme is good for Christmas season. Please have a look at
the lovely work using 'masu' instead of a vase. Fine decorations
on a pinecone are very cute.