What I did for Thanksgiving

Penny played all day!

While the guys watched basketball and football, I cleaned and weeded out the dish cabinet.
It may look messy still, but to me it's neat (compared to before).

I also replaced two of the kitchen ceiling bulbs while watching James Bond reruns on tv.

Penny kept begging for food with her sad eyes and wasn't above sneaking around in the waste basket.

There are so many, many blessings to be thankful for and everyday I am grateful for them-  even the ability, on so many levels,  to do things like cleaning out the cabinets and changing bulbs.

We missed you M, especially Penny.
Happy Thanksgiving Day. 

Kristi Yamaguchi, lehua, and a heian lady

I was fortunate to have been in Bloomingdale's just when Kristi Yamaguchi was there for a promotion today.
She is so petite and attractive!  What resolve it must've taken to win a much deserved Gold Medal in an Olympics event and other figure skating championships.  

 

Just before entering Bloomingdale's I had enjoyed a chocolate cone at Pierre Marcolini, so I had to decline the promotion goodies of champagne and petite fours.
Hmm.  Now that I'm not as full,  they sound mighty good.

         Earlier today, on a walk with Penny around the block we    came across a big bush of Lehua blossoms.
         Maybe someone had picked a flower because it sure has been rainy lately.   (Legend says that Ohia, a handsome warrior, and Lehua, his love,  were put together so they could be united forever, so when someone plucks a lehua flower, it rains tears)

This morning I brought out a doll that we had put away carefully many years ago.  It was made by my cousin Evelyn when she was taking classes in washi dollmaking.
It is a 10th century Heian lady reading a letter.  Her many layered Junihitoe is beautifully made with green and purple hues.
Such talent- brought to mind today in both sports and handcrafting.

Singing lessons, Ewa Mall chocolatier, Magnolia Bakery, Little Sheep

   Today at our singing lessons at Shimizu Voice  we learned a new technique to augment our voice development.  It's great that we are exposed to these various methods;   and it is a challenge to try and apply them to our singing.  It is fun, though, and gradually we can see improvement (I hope!)
    
     After, we went to the Mall to see the new Ewa Wing.                                                                            

There is the new Bloomingdales as well as a number of new stores I was curious about.

There is a Pierre Marcolini,
a fine chocolate store.

Minimalist decor with expensive chocolates and cookies.

We tried the iced dark chocolate drinks.
Godiva has them too.
I remember in Tokyo, at the Wako Ginza Chocolate store, we used to love watching them make their hot chocolate drinks by melting chunks of chocolate, slowly stirring in the milk.  Great on a cold wintery day.

Of course, any bakery calls to me so we found Magnolia Bakery.  Luckily they have a little area where just cupcakes and dessert items for take out are sold.

The Bakery cafe is available for light meals all day.

Red Anthuriums!

     We decided to up our intake of vegetables and herbs by eating at the Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot at Ward's Center.

A variety of flavors to choose and mix for your dipping sauce.

And after boiling your ingredients in the herb broth - meats, veggies, tofu, seafood, mushrooms, you're left with a delicious and healthy soup which you can bring home.

Goji berries and red dates, ginseng and garlic come with the broth.

At home, we had our dessert - Magnolia bakery cupcakes.
Unfortunately, they weren't quite as moist and tasty as we expected, but the frosting was light and fluffy.
The apple turnover we'll have with breakfast tomorrow morning.

Remembering Grandma

Liz thoughtfully invited her mom's sisters  for a breakfast get together at grandma's favorite breakfast spot, House Without a Key. 

The buffet had new additions like fried rice and a variety of yogurts.

Colorful and tasty!
We also were brought a plateful of piping hot Hash Brown Potato Patties.  I guess they remembered Grandma, too.
We thankfully enjoyed the treat!

Hi Grandma.  We miss you.

The white anthuriums were in bloom in planters along the front of the Hotel.
I remember grandma liking the pure red ones and remarking how she doesn't see them much anymore.  Her father grew amazing specimens  so she knew quite a bit about them.

The breakfast kept me full until after a couple of needed hours at the gym and my hair appointment at the Prince, which is another Grandma place.
She had her weekly appointments at the Yamano Aiko Salon for decades before she passed away, because it reminded her of those in Tokyo. 
                       Then we had our Clam Chowder and shared Ahi Sashimi  at the Reef Lounge downstairs for supper.
The chowder, a specialty of the Prince Court restaurant, is made from milk and cream and fresh clams, we were once informed by the bartender who had watched it being made.

We'll miss  Liz and CL , but we'll see them again soon.

Ginger Mojitos at Nico's

We spent this evening at Nico's.
A big draw was their Ginger Mojito.

Their version uses real ginger slices.
Soo refreshing whether virgin or with the Rum.

Another draw was...Penny was welcome not only in the patio area but inside too.

We opted for outdoors because it was a nice evening and the lights were pretty.

Across the way was another favorite - Uncles.
We all opted for the Short Ribs which Nico's does so well, except CL who had fish.

Lucky Penny had short ribs too (don't tell her Vet) from her take home doggie bag.

Having spent all day at puppy day care, she didn't care if I had washed off all the gravy.   Her little aluminum bowl was sparkling clean in no time.
A nice Wednesday ending for her too.

Must stops with CL and Liz

Dracula's castle in the Carpathian Mountains?

Fields of dried grass in the Midwest?

Actually, Haleakala summit and the downslope of Haleakala past Hana visited by Liz, CL and M last weekend.

After lovely Maui,  on to Honolulu and our usual get together spot, House Without a Key.   Good to see Liz and CL again.

A beautiful evening.   Our well done Angus cheeseburgers were  not dried out and the music was relaxing, while we caught up on the latest.

 This evening, another favorite spot - Ginza Bairin, in Waikiki.

The new addition which we had when dining here with Daren and Lauren last month.  Old fashioned cooked rice in a "kama".

Happy diners with our Fillet Katsu .  Never fail tender pork fillet with a light and crispy coating.  The grind your own sesame sauce is delicious too.

We saved our dessert for the ice cream at the corner store down the street.

Mmmm.   Chocolate ice cream and Lilikoi sorbet.

Hurry!!  It's melting!
See you tomorrow for more eating.

KZOO Karaoke Festival

Penny's Post Grooming photo for November.
She always looks so unhappy, even with those pretty leis around her neck.

Today, Sunday was the 35th Annual KZOO Karaoke Festival at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.

Two past Grand Champions from Shimizu Voice posing with Yukie, our friend and contestant on the left.

Besides the talented contestants, there were two pro singers from Japan and even an Elvis Impersonator from a show in Waikiki.

The salmon teriyaki served for lunch was very good.
Wish I had taken more photos of the contestants, especially our fellow students of Shimizu Voice who were just great.

  

After the excitement of the contest,  even if I didn't participate,  it was great to relax with a Martini and  Bruschetta at Panya.
Mmmm.

Liking Rinka

        To  celebrate P's birthday, we went to Rinka, and had a very satisfying and delicious, very Japanese style dinner.  

          

We entered from the
Roger Dunn parking lot.

Pretty entry 

The separate Japanese style
room has a wall display of
kitchen knives.

May and I had the Rin Course, which was beautifully presented
with seasonal dishes

Our appetizer: beef tataki, spinach
and edamame.

R opted for the Hana Course($45)

Our sashimi course had added
scallops.  

P, who didn't order a Course dinner, had abalone croquette and buri shabu shabu (hot pot)

Rin course spinach soup was
delicious, with fish balls
and gold flakes floating
 on the surface.

R's Hana course 's eggplant and pepper dish.

Rin course: persimmon
filled with tofu

Hana course: salad

Hana course: oden

Rin course: tempura eel
and vegetables

Hana course: sashimi on nori and rice

Rin course: shabushabu (hot pot)
King crab and udon

Hana course: beef shabushabu

Quite a meal!
But of course, there is always room for
dessert.

Both courses came with Yuzu sherbet.
So refreshing.

P tried the French Toast with ice cream, which we all shared.

  And I didn't go to the gym today!