New Years

New Years Eve Day.
M and R had routine checkups at the doctor's so I decided to walk Penny around the Medical Center.
On a chance, we stopped in at Alice and Bob's home nearby and spent a wonderful half hour catching up.
We became friends when R and I joined a walking group at the Mall when we first returned from Japan.
Glad to see they are both healthy and happy!

What a fun dinner we had with Denise and Jay at Kincaid's.
The restaurant was full and lively and the food was good.

Crispy Calamari pupus.

Three of us had the Prime Ribs and Denise had the scallops.
It was a great end to 2015!

Ingrained custom from childhood resulted in eatng Toshikoshi Soba (Year crossing noodles, signifying health and long life).
Nothing fancy, just noodles and soup.

Here in Hawaii, the firecrackers are deafening around midnight.
This too is a custom to chase away evil and bad luck, but one that our families never adhered to.
Poor Penny was so scared she hid under the bed in R's room, which is farthest from street.  But first she guarded M's and our bedrooms for awhile.

A light New Year's Day brunch at home.
This always looks nice because of the pretty dishes that get taken out once a year.  Most of the traditional Japanese foods, like sweetened black beans, chestnuts, rolled egg, herring roe, fish cakes, vinegered daikon, fish and vegetables,  were bought at Nijiya, a Japanese market  here.

          On the second day of the new year, we went to the mall, just to walk around and had an early dinner at Manichi again.  This time we tried the gyoza and watercress salad, which were good.

M and I had the Black Garlic and Sesame oil ramen.

R opted for the yakitori chicken over rice.

We have been eating, but not exercising at the gym these past days.    Uhoh...warning sign for the rest of the year.

Happy Year of the Monkey.