Ala Moana blue claw crabs

  We took Penny walking late this afternoon at Ala Moana Park.  At the Ewa end we saw a crab fisherman catching blue claw crabs in the little canal.  He willingly showed us his catch.

The Ewa end of the
picnic area

Many small blue clawed
crabs, he called them,
in his bucket which he
stirred to show us.

His net, which he had dropped
from the bank.

Even a blue heron
was fishing.  There have
been periodic warnings
about eating anything
caught in those waters.

As we continued our walk
we looked down and saw
schools of fish.  Actually, the
water was clearer than we
expected.

This is what has been greeting us
lately as we drive into the
back
entrance of our Condo.
It's the back of a temporarily
parked maintenance
vehicle.  Too bad it
wasn't there for Halloween.

Kateigaho thoughts

                 Kateigaho is a Japanese magazine that I look forward to enjoying while at my hairdresser.  It was expensive when we first lived in Japan many years ago - about 900 yen ($9.00 at that time) but now I saw it on sale at Shirokiya for $36.
            It is full of glossy, beautiful photographs and articles about Japanese and international culture, fashion and people.

              For instance, February's issue featured the famous Onsens (hot springs) in the snow and the foods they serve in winter.  There were detailed articles and photos of Versailles,  a leading Kabuki actor, fashion, jewelry and of course food.  A feast for the eyes.
     

I couldn't resist taking a photo of this page.
Anyone who has been to Japan must have
noticed that even the foods are attuned to nature.
The camellia branch and Otafuku (chubby
lady) covered dish
are associated with winter and Setsubun (holly leaves)

  At Ukaitei, a restaurant in Tokyo, we had a beautiful dinner  several years ago.  It was autumn and there were pine needles
 and ginkgo leaves adorning the plates.  The sake came in a green bamboo stalk inside a bigger slice of old bamboo.
     But if all this dainty beauty gets to be a bit much, Japan can also serve up a big plate of tender Kobe Matsuzaka steak cooked to
perfection!

Relief from the VOG, YUZU

    We've been having such nice cool weather the past few days - northerly winds (no VOG),  blue skies, and cold nights (mid 60's).
Perfect for a walk around the block and a drive through Waikiki.

The Ala Wai Canal looked beautiful as it
made its way to the ocean.  Actually it's quite polluted, but in the past people fished for
 crabs and rowed boats in its waters.

The sun was setting and tourists were taking pictures or just
enjoying the sight.  The sky was a clear, gold red-not as spectacular as when there is VOG,  and the sun disappeared
quickly over the horizon.   The photo looks like
a black and white shot though.

We went to Yuzu (it's been
over a year) in the Ala
Moana Hotel since we learned
that Mrs. Kubota was back
from Japan.  She was also in Koolina
starting their branch there.
Before Yuzu, they had an organic restaurant
called Hale on Makaloa St.
It was a clever name because,
depending on the pronunciation
it could mean healthy in English,
clear skies in Japanese, or
house, in Hawaiian.

They're known for their Temari Sushi, which are round.

Penny demolishes her toy.
Roy went golfing today so I  did some early  Spring cleaning.

The restaurant at the Mililani Golf Course
has pork adobo(a bit salty) and nice macaroni salad which he
brought home for dinner. 

One of his golf friends brought tangerines from his garden.  They looked huge next to the store bought ones.  

After dinner playtime.
Penny can sniff out
her toys piled on
the cabinet.

What she considers fun is
having us throw her toys back
and forth so she can chase them.
Back and forth, back and forth...

New Years Resolution already broken

What happened to your New Years
Resolution about not putting
silly things on me?

Well, since it's from
Marisa..ok.

first meal

Ozoni (soup with mochi), and a very limited Osechi ryori.
Kamaboko, kurikinton (sweetened chestnut), kuromame (black beans), datemaki (sweetened egg and fish rolls), ginger and nishime were bought at a Japanese market.
The food and plates are symbolic of the season and holiday,  so after this nod to tradition, I put the dishes back into the cabinet until next  year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

          We're one of the last to get our New Year but here it is.

                        Happy, Hale, and Harmonious 2015 to you.

                                            Year of the Ram

New year's resolution:

Don't put silly things on Penny.

Maybe

The Last Day of the Year

                                  The last day of the year.

Sunset from the summit of Haleakala,
taken by Marisa.

"God is great,
God is good,
And we thank him
For this food."
Grandma's Grace.

We brought Toshikoshi
Soba to Grandma's.
It was Somen but any long noodle
should do, as it signifies long
life from one year to another.

 The traditional mochi
and orange decoration
under a winter scene painted
by Roy's Grandfather.
The red lobster has been a part of
every New Years decortion since I
was little.