Tokyo Miso Part 2

Fieldtrip time!

N-chan’s mom found the address for that Tokyo miso maker’s shop I mentioned the other day.

Here is a link to the website…page, rather, as it is only one page long (and oh so cute because it is so basic!).

Meanwhile, the online version of the article is now available (but, as usual with the Daily Yomiuri, I don’t know for how long).

Let’s go!

Valentines Soft hearts

My mom taught me how to sew.

I think I was 8 years old.

Nothing fancy, just enough to make simple repairs in my orchestra concert clothes. I learned how to sew on buttons and how to sew up small holes.

If your 8-year-old kid can sew basic stitches, then he can certainly make these basic hearts together for Valentine’s Day. No need to make a perfect pattern for the hearts; cut them out freehand, because…well, there’s no perfect pattern for love, is there?

Not-so-complicated instructions.

Finished?

Awww….!

Candy Cane Valentine’s Hearts

I got this great peppermint heart idea from Jill a long time ago (I get *many* great recipe ideas from her…hi, Jill!).

My problem is that I eat all of the candy canes each year before I can make the hearts.

We still have a few candy canes left from the last holiday season, so I should make these hearts now before I eat the remaining candy canes, yes?

Instructions!

Let’s count: 10 candy canes, so I can make 5 hearts. May I give you one?

Tokyo Miso

According to my newspaper today, Kojiya Saburoemon is the only miso maker in Tokyo.

Located in Nerima Ward, the family business is 120 years old, and it makes approximately 30 tons (27, 216 Kg) of miso each year. Oh boy oh boy that’s a whole bunch of miso.

Does someone know where this shop is located? The newspaper article didn’t mention any contact information…I want to visit!

I’ll bring my own cucumbers, if that helps. (I agree with the caption to one photograph: Fresh miso on cucumber is the best way to sample miso.)

Well, while I’m waiting for someone to provide more information, I’ll study the kanji for miso.

Say hey hey, if you like miso, do you also like Marmite and Vegemite?

D.E.A.R. Tag

As soon as it’s warm enough, I’m calling all of my favorite librarians and book lovers to play this entertaining version of tag.

D.E.A.R.? That stands for Drop Everything and Read!

******

What you need

• At least one book for each player (use paperbacks, not your Kindle)
• A whole bunch of players

What you do

1. Define the playing area boundaries and designate an area to be the library.

2. Play Rock, Scissors, Paper to decide who is IT. All of the other players take a book and start running.

3. Players are safe from IT only when they are standing still and reading their books (reading loudly? why yes!).

4. If IT tags a player, the player goes to the library to read.

5. To be freed from the library, that player must trade books with another free player.

Yes, this is a must-play game!

But…but…who thinks going to the library is a punishment? Please, don’t free me from the library. In fact, if I’m reading a really good book, I just might skip the rest of the game.

[Thanks!]

Eric Herman’s Snow Day

That’s it?

No more snow? One day of snow??

I’ve been trying to memorize Eric Herman’s Snow Day, and I was hoping for more snow.

Eh phooey.

If coffee doesn’t wake you up in the morning…

…then try making these terrifically bright rainbow pancakes for breakfast.

Worried about food coloring? Find all-natural vegan organic food coloring.

Go play with your food!

What’s the weather like?

Wednesday and Thursday will be dreary.

Sunny. Cloudy. Partly cloudy. Snowy. Windy. I understand those weather terms.

Dreary??

Is dreary official Weather Forecast Terminology??

Does the weather person ever predict that the weather will be super happy?

Dreary weather and grumpy pumpkins.

Oh I need something happy now, please.

What’s the weather like in your little corner of the world?

Snow!!!

It snowed today!

Happy happy happy me.

We might have to make snowflake pancakes (new-to-me blog) for breakfast tomorrow. You might have to make them, too. Easy to make!

That link is via Having Fun at Home. Terrifically fun blog, which I’ve mentioned before. You’ve already bookmarked it, right?

Thing on a String: Telephone

You can’t send text messages with it.

You can’t listen to music with it.

You can’t take pictures or video with it.

You can’t even call someone with it.

But if you make it with the right kind of string and paper cups, you’ll probably can get terrific telephone reception.

And you won’t be stuck with a two-year contract, either.

******

What you need

• 2 paper or styrofoam cups
• some string (try knitting yarn)
• 2 paper clips
• 1 sharpened pencil to poke holes
• 2 people

What you do

1. Use the pencil to carefully poke a small hole in the bottom of each cup.

2. Tie one end of the string to the paper clip.

3. Take the other end of the string and thread it through one of the holes from the inside of the cup. Then thread the string through the second cup from the outside. The paper clips keep the string from slipping through.

4. The 2 people stand apart and pull gently on the cups until the string is tight.

5. One person whispers into the cup while the other person listens.

How long can you make the string and still hear each other? Can you talk to your best friend who is standing in another room? Ah, old-fashioned wi-fi!