New Zealand - Part I

Just back from a lovely three-week stay in New Zealand, one of the most amazing experiences ever. We flew into Auckland, picked up our campervan, and headed down to Clevedon to start our trip with tea and coconut loaf at the home of Ian's friends Pete and Katherine (with that amazing beach right in front). Courtesy of Kiwi hospitality we stayed for lunch and took a walk on the beach, then headed to Hamilton for two nights. We actually stayed in the village of Cambridge, but our first game was in Hamilton: Wales vs. Samoa. The Samoans did their pre-game haka:

The Welsh did their equivalent:

And then the Welsh proceeded to win 17 to 10. There was even a rainbow after the game.

The next day we headed North to explore. We went to Bay of Islands, and spent a lovely morning in Russell where we had breakfast (including flat whites, the most glorious coffee ever created and apparently only available in New Zealand and Australia, sigh). Then it was on to Goat Island, which is not only a gorgeous marine reserve, but also the subject of a case study from the Ecology unit in the Biology text my team just published! We arrived in time for a bit of lunch in the campervan and a wander around the beach and the tide pools. Ian even found me a stingray in one of the deeper pools:

We stayed until dusk. It really is a magical spot.

Next on the list was Taupo, Craters of the Moon, and Rotorua. There's a lot of thermal activity, including mud pools, hot springs, and especially in Rotorua a lot of sulfur. Despite the incredible, amazing, fabulously yummy sweet potato chips (fries) we found in Rotorua, the Craters of the Moon was my favorite of the three.

Saburo is Amused

Saburo is Amused, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

Lest anyone think that I don't get any grief for taking photos of food all the time...I just received this from one of my Japan hosts. They laughed every time I got my camera out at the table, and you can see that Saburo-san thought it was pretty entertaining that I was so enamored with all the scrumptious food.

Sushi Night

Final Sushi Results, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

Spent a wonderful evening trying out some of the goodies I brought back from Japan in a sushi-making session with friends. The shiso furikake was a big hit. Throw in miso soup, good beer & sake, and an assortment of Japanese desserts and you have a very tasty feast.

The only disappointment for the evening was that the fish my brother shipped from Hawaii didn't make it. UPS has some explaining to do, and come Tuesday I'm guessing there's going to be a very smelly package on my porch...

Tokyo Gardens

Pine Tea House in Hama Rikyu Garden, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

We visited two gardens our last two days in Tokyo, Hama Rikyu and Shinjuku. I have a hard time picking a favorite of the two, but this was my favorite of the five different tea houses we saw. This is the pine tea house in Hama Rikyu Goen (garden), rebuilt from the original. It's a very simple tea house, without any ornamentation, no fancy roof, just a simple, beautiful pine building. We also went to the Imperial Hotel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and had tea at a very English style tea house in yet another garden across the way from the Hotel. A quick trip to the Tokyo National Museum rounded out Tuesday, and Wednesday after the Shinjuku garden and a quick, final shopping stop on our way to pick up our luggage, we were off to the airport. A lovely trip, absolutely jam packed with adventures and sights and stories and, of course, food. Perhaps next time I'll be able to be a bit more leisurely about it all.

Tsukiji Fish Market

Tuna for Auction at Tsukiji, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

Early, very early, Tuesday morning we headed to Tsukiji fish market to wait in line for a chance to see the fish auction. It was quite an experience. The floor is teeming with men checking all the frozen tuna that are laid out for them. They shine flashlights where the tails have been cut off, and hit the same spot with large hooks, I assume to test the freshness and quality of the fish. Then auctioneers come out to each lot, stand up on a crate and ring bell to signal the beginning of the auction. Everyone bows, and the auction begins. Takes under two minutes and is done. On to the next batch. It was quite fascinating to watch, but difficult to capture since everyone is moving so quickly.

Tokyo Day 1

Prayer Tablets at Meiji, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

We visited the Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine in the midst of Tokyo. There are over 170,000 trees planted in 1920 in honor of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. After that we headed to Shibuya for some shopping and general wandering (museums et al are closed on Mondays). Not a lot of pictures, but lots of fun.

Pottery, Sake, and a Train Ride

Three Grades of Sake, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

Sunday was our last day with our hosts, and started with a visit to the rooftop, open air onsen with a view of the misty hills of the Nikko area. After breakfast we headed to the Tochiji area for a pottery making lesson and lunch. Last event was, of course, a tour of a sake factory with tasting. Then a quick goodbye and we left our hosts and headed back to Tokyo for our last few days.

Nikko

Masao-san, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

Today we toured Nikko, home of the Rinnoji Temple, Toshugu shrine, Yakushi-do, and Taiyuin Temple. On the sacred stable (where the sacred horse does his two hours of service a day, i.e. hanging out in his stable where people visiting the shrine can see him) there are multiple carvings of monkeys, including the "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" monkeys derived from the three major principles of the Tendai sect (the Rinnoji Temple is a religous center of the Tendai sect). As a result, you can see these monkeys everywhere, including outside a restaurant near where our bus had pulled over for a stop. Masao-san, one of our primary hosts, was kind enough to pose for me whilst taking his smoke break.

We also went to Kegon Falls, 97m high and quite beautiful. That night we went to the onsen (baths) and then had a wonderful formal banquet in traditional Japanese style, including all of us wearing yakuta (robes) that we had donned after the onsen.

Teaching in Japan

Teaching in Japan, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

We've spent the last two days at the Gunma Kokusai Academy in Ohta, at a teaching conference. This morning I taught a two-hour lesson to 6-8th grade students on acids, bases, and serial dilution. The students are all volunteers who came on their summer vacation to learn more science. They were quiet, but wonderful to teach. All of them were more than willing to give "American style" lessons a try, and they gave very sweet feedback about how much fun they had and how much they learned. Tomorrow we're off to Nikko for sightseeing and cooler weather (and hopefully no more earthquakes!).

Japan Day 2

Making Rice Crackers, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

Several of our hosts took us around the Asakusa region of Tokyo today, before heading to Ota where we will spend several days. The first place they took us was the "cookware street" where all of the restaurant and cooking supply shops are. Heaven! I only wish I could transport the entire street back home. The street is called Kappabashi, after a mythical creature called a Kappa who used to swim in the river there (I guess until the river got paved over). He/she has a turtle's shell and a human head, although there are many different depictions of it that look wildly different. After that we went to the Senso-ji temple and surrounding buildings, then had soba for lunch. With the help of our hosts I was able to order cold soba with yam and wasabi leaf, which was somewhat bland, but tasty. We then headed to a small craft museum, went and picked up our luggage, and on the way to the train instead of the "American-style coffee break" that was originally planned they took us to the Kamiya bar, the oldest bar in Tokyo, where they ordered me a very tasty whiskey sour. The train ride to Ota took about an hour and a half. Ota seems to be a very typical town, but very, very hot and humid. Even more so than Tokyo. We had an amazing dinner, and the catered to my crazy dietary restrictions by plying me with three kinds of tofu with different sauces, various vegetables, rice soup with pickled ume (plums), great Japanese beer, and another sour (this one grapefruit). I slept well. Today's my first presentation to the teachers, fingers are crossed.

Jam Session

Jammers at Work, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

Got together with Carol, Diana, Shirin & Marie to make peach jam and canned peaches. Three flats of Bella Viva peaches made for 8 quart jars of canned peaches and 50 jars of jam (6 pint jars, the rest half-pint). Marie gets the prize for best shirt of the day.

Just Guess

Tower at Night, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

Guess where I am for the next 10 days?

For Uncle PP

My Little Jungle, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

My marvelous Uncle Peter, the one who helped with just about every little (and big) project inside my house when I bought it, doesn't believe that there's really all that much going on in my garden. Just wanted to let him know that there's plenty of good stuff. Like two massive zucchini plants, five summer squash, at least a dozen huge tomato plants, peppers, chard, beets, carrots, kale, strawberries, peas, bok choi, flowers, herbs...well, you get the idea. The only reason the raised box looks a little bare in this shot is because I just harvested a ton of carrots & beets to pickle. But more on that later. For now, I just wanted to take a minute away from tending the jungle to show it off. Love you, Uncle PP.

Chicago

Under the El, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

I have now officially been to Chicago. Only for 24 hours, but it was a good 24 hours. I did a teacher training in Mishiwaka, IN (outside South Bend). Stayed at a lovely B&B in South Bend, Innisfree. Spent my evenings in a great Celtic Pub, Fiddler's Hearth, nearby. And then I had one night and most of a day in Chicago. Went to dinner at The Green Zebra with a friend who came up from Champaign-Urbana. In the morning I ferreted out The Bleeding Heart Bakery, the country's first all-organic, sustainable bakery and had one of their fabulous take-a-hike vegan scones. Then a quick run through the Art Institute, where everywhere you turn there's something famous on the wall, and finished up with a wonderful walking tour with the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Must return. Soon.

Bobbies

First Strawberries, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

When I was a little, little girl, my father had a strawberry patch. I *loved* strawberries. I would eat anything with strawberries in it or on it. I would crawl out, before I could even walk, into the strawberry patch and eat any strawberry I could get my little fingers on, even the green ones. I called them "bobbies" (once I could talk...I was eating strawberries long before I was verbal). There's a great picture on my wall of my father holding me out like a little airplane by the straps of my overalls. I'm covered in mud and strawberry juice, with a big grin on my face. Today I decided to forgo the mud, and only go for the ripe ones, but I'm just as ecstatic at 36 as I was at less than one to be eating bobbies from the backyard.

Fair Trade Eggs

Fair Trade Eggs, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

My friend Sarah's daughter turned 9 this past weekend, but didn't want birthday cake. She wanted lemon cupcakes. I volunteered to make them, and as payment was given 8 beautiful eggs from the chickens in their yard. I think it was a very fair trade.

What I did on my vacation

Planted Garden 4, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

Two days of vacation time plus one weekend = a real garden. After carrying thousands of pounds of soil amendment, compost, and bark (not exaggerating, it was about 3600 pounds of stuff over the four days and one of those days we didn't carry anything), laying three paths and one patio-ish corner, fixing two raised beds, and planting bunches of stuff, it's official. I have a garden. Come June or so I'll have a small jungle of produce (fingers crossed that this prediction comes true). We planted 2 types of kale, 5 types of carrot, 4 types of beet, 2 types (but many plants) of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, 5 varieties of herbs, 2 types of strawberries, half a dozen types of flowers, and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things. Zucchini and bunching onions are still in their pots for a few days. Peas will stay in their trellised pot. Here's hoping for a bumper crop and lots of yummy meals over the summer. Yes, you're invited.

Paths are Laid

Paths & a full box, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

Friday we got the rest of the hard rototilling done, and brought in another 1200 pounds of dirt (this time compost). Finished laying out the winding paths, filled on raised bed, cut plastic for the little patio and the third path, and of course weeded some more. The weeding is done (at least until more sprout tomorrow). Today we're planning on "finishing" (she says with a grain of doubt) and actually planting. Going to pick up a load of bark in a few minutes to put in the paths and the mini-patio. That only ways around 650 pounds. An easy day. Unless we decide on one last load of compost...

Winding

Paths, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

One and a half paths are in place! I took two days off to work on the yard. As of yesterday, the corner under the mandarin is rototilled and amended. Maybe today we can get some plants in the ground.

It's getting there...

Raised beds waiting, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

Yet another Sunday of rototilling, digging, and weeding. We added hardware cloth to the bottom of two old raised beds that used to be on top of the cement, to keep the critters from eating things from below. There are tomatoes, peppers, and herbs waiting to be planted just as soon as we can get these beds set to go...

Eatwell vs. Eatwell

Cookie Bake-off, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

After discovering the most brilliant recipe for whole wheat cookies ever (thanks, Julia for the link) and trying out the recipe a few times, I decided to have a bake-off. My lovely friends at Eatwell Farms gave me two types of flour to try. The top cookie is made with Blanco Fuerte and the bottom with Bolero. I took the results to the market this morning and had friends from Massa Organics, Tierra Vegetables, Will's Avocados, McGinnis Ranch, Hidden Star Orchards, and of course Eatwell Farms do a taste test. Votes for looks went entirely to the Blanco Fuerte, taste was half and half. The Blanco Fuerte had a nutty texture to them, a bit chewy. The Bolero were more of a traditional chocolate chip cookie. Sadly, I didn't manage to get a picture until they were almost gone. In fact, I didn't get a picture at all, but Laurel's iPhone did.

Center Bed Prepped

Rototill Day 2, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

Another Sunday in the garden. More weeding and rototilling. Two pick up beds full of soil amendment, unloaded by yours truly two five-gallon buckets at a time while Dad did yet more rototilling (but this was the easy kind). Planted the pak choi (yes, that's how it's spelled) and chard seedlings Dad had started in the greenhouse. Pruned the front apple. By the end of the day the "tan" washed down the shower drain but the sunburn did not. Fortunately it's only a small patch where the sunscreen and the clothing did not agree on who was going to cover what. Next Sunday...you guessed it...more rototilling! Anyone who wants a free upper-body workout is more than welcome to stop by.

Don't look now...

Rototilling Day 1, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

...it's starting to look like there might be a backyard in there after all. Spent the afternoon rototilling and weeding in the dirt patch out back. The soil looks better than expected after however-many years stuck under concrete. Still some serious clay to contend with, but that will happen. The stakes mark what will be a path, and the potted plants mark the other path. The old raised bed in the corner will eventually turn into a tiny patio.

Dad commented at one point that it might have been smarter to just rent a big rototiller instead of using his little one, but we managed. Well, Dad did most of the managing while I weeded. And weeded. And weeded. Got to use my favorite new tool, with the most unfortunate of names: the HoeDag. I'm in love with it. I just wish I didn't feel compelled to giggle like an idiot every time I say the name.

Gift Plants

Apple from Johann, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

Today was all about getting my gift plants in the soil. First Dad & I planted the apple tree Johann gave me. The variety is a secret. Johann (the genius behind Hidden Star Orchards) was willing to trade cupcakes for one of his trees, but he won't divulge what they are until his own trees are giving off enough fruit to bring to market, in about 2 years. Based on the sample we tried, we've nicknamed them crack apples. They are that good. The second round of gift plants were the succulent cuttings that I had brought back from Sarah's garden in San Diego, and they are now happily installed in the kitchen window. I haven't had a lot of luck with succulents in the past, but I have high hopes for these. The rest of the day was spent in the war on weeds that have attacked the front yard. It's going slowly, but some progress was made. Not that you can tell from the pictures.

A Birthday Dinner

Mom's Birthday Flowers, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

Mom's birthday was a few weeks ago, but I was in Wisconsin at the time, so we celebrated tonight. The menu: gazpacho, salad, asparagus frittata, garlic hedgehog potatoes, strawberries, meyer lemon sorbet, and chocolate. Except for the ranunculus, the flowers are all from the backyard. I gave mom a hat that I knitted for her from an olive green wool with an off white border all in seed stitch. She'd requested something warm for her morning walks, and hopefully this will do the trick (and fit better than Dad's hat that she's been wearing in lieu of her own).

First Apple Leaves

First Apple Leaves, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

Spring is here. The White Pearmain apple that I planted back on MLK weekend has green bits coming off of it! The salvia has blossoms on it, the foxglove I planted last year is coming up, and there are (so far) exactly twice as many plums on the tree as last year. That would be 4.

San Diego Visit

San Diego Coast, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

After several years of threatening, I finally made good on my promise to visit my long-time friend Sarah in San Diego. We had a wonderful four days trekking around with her three kids (the youngest of which I met for the first time this trip). Lots of playing in the sand, at parks, building legos, coloring, ballet recitals, cartoon watching, and just catching up with Sarah. This shot was taken yesterday at La Jolla where we visited the Harbor Seals at the Children's Pool, built sand castles (at a different beach) and played in the park. Everything is starting to bloom down there, and I'm anxious for it to start up here (although I did come home to a little bit of color on my salvia!). Sarah's four-year-old put on a wonderful protest when it was time for me to leave, in that special way that only four-year-olds can, which made me feel very loved. I promised to return soon, and I'm looking forward to it.

SF Garden Show

Hydroponics, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

My parents & I took our annual trip to the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show. Of all the garden exhibits, this was the most unique. More of an art installation, really. Other popular items included succulents and edibles. Not a whole lot of ideas to take home this year, but a few. Enough to keep me hoping for sunny weather and some time in the yard. I did buy some new dahlia tubers, which will go in the ground just as soon as it dries up enough to be called dirt instead of mud.

Wine and WI Cheese Night

Wine and WI Cheese Night, a photo by zostra on Flickr.

I shared my Wisconsin cheese stash with Seth & Laurel. Accompanied by a bottle of Tramin Pinot Bianco 2009 (thank you, Solano Cellars, for the recommendation) and Powder Keg Petite Sirah 2008 (thank you, Seth), some other goodies, and followed by whole wheat chocolate chip cookies made with flour from Eatwell Farms. It was lovely. The fourth member of our party couldn't make it because his son was sick. While we were saddened by the loss of his company, this did not deter us from eating his portion of the cheese. Sorry, Jan. The cheese was amazing.

Exploring Madison

After an early-morning presentation I left The Dells and headed down to explore Madison. I stopped at a fabulous knitting shop, Lakeside Fibers, which has a very tempting selection of yarns and an attached coffee shop where there was live music playing an a selection of local pastries and other goodies. Down the street was this view of downtown Madison:



Then I was off to Avol's Books near the University, which houses a great collection of used and antiquarian books. I restrained myself, due to over-full luggage, and only bought one small paperback. Drove through some detours to get around the protesters at the capital building:



Parked the car, and headed to a restaurant on the capitol square that specializes in local foods, Graze, where I had positively scrumptious buttermilk pancakes with spiced butter, Wisconsin maple syrup, and tart cherries:



then made my way to a positively brilliant cheese shop, Fromagination. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and most importantly gave me samples. I made it out the door with only four cheeses, Bandaged Cheddar by Bleu Mont Dairy, Dunbarton Blue by Roelli Cheese, Pleasant Ridge Reserve by Uplands Cheese, and Evalon Saxon Creamery from La Clare farm. For those of you who are wondering, yes, I am still lactose intolerant but some things are just worth the suffering.

Last stop was at my friend Erik's house for coffee and to meet the chickens, who have one of the most fabulous chicken "coops" I've ever seen, not to mention a killer view:



Then I headed home, to wind, rain, and hail in California after four sunny days in Wisconsin. To be fair there are parts of WI that are still a bit frozen:



but still, as I sit at my kitchen table listening to the rain, I do have to wonder if those Midwest winters are all they're cracked up to be...or if I'm just lucky. I think it's the later.

Mirror Lake, WI

Mirror Lake, WI a photo by zostra on Flickr.

I escaped the faux-jungle cruise for a late afternoon hike at Mirror Lake State Park near Wisconsin Dells. There was snow on the ground, but not enough to ski on. Just enough to crunch through when you're walking and to slide on if there's a good hill. Went with my friend, Digby, who owns scienceteecher.com (if you want a science-themed t-shirt, tie, earrings, etc, Digby's your guy!). After our hike we headed to The Cheese Factory in The Dells, which is a vegan/vegetarian restaurant housed in an old cheese factory. Great food if you ever find yourself in that part of Wisconsin, but only open until 7:30...good thing the sun went down at 7 so we could make it because it's the only vegan place for miles.

African-themed Resort in Wisconsin?

Kalahari Lobby a photo by zostra on Flickr.

A teachers' conference in Wisconsin, where shall we host it? An African-themed resort and conference center with indoor water slides and theme part, of course. The lobby was too dark to get a good picture on my little, old camera (this was taken in the middle of the day), so if you want the real experience, go to their website. But turn the sound up on your computer first. Trust me, you can't fully understand without it. Here you go.

One Tree In

White Pearmain a photo by zostra on Flickr.

On Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, Dad and I headed down to pick up our bare root apple trees from Trees of Antiquity. We spent the night in Carmel playing double solitaire, then took the "country" route out to pick up the trees from Nature's Touch nursery, which also houses a natural grocery with a lot of local products (food products and things like soap, lotions, etc.) in Templeton. My tree is a White Pearmain, which some date back to 1200 AD in England (first "official" record is 1867). Good for eating, baking, saucing, and more. In a few years, that is. Dad got a Cinnamon Spice, which is supposed to taste like apple pie and first found near Bolinas!

Digger Slippers

New Slippers a photo by zostra on Flickr.

After months of languishing on the needles, I finally finished Cy's digger slippers for his third birthday. Mom & Dad spent two weeks in Hawaii with Cy, Chris & Bray, and delivered the slippers for me. Based on the expression on his face, I think he likes them. They're based on a pattern by Pick Up Sticks, originally for tractor slippers. The scale was a bit off, but as long as they stay on his feet and he recognizes what they are, I'm happy with the end product.

Narcissus for the New Year

Narcissus
Originally uploaded by zostra

On New Year's Eve I returned home from a quick trip to the grocery store to find a beautiful glass container filled with narcissus bulbs that were just getting set to bloom. My wonderful neighbor from up the street had left them for me as a holiday gift. They've all opened up over the last week, and the entire front of the house smells wonderful. I love how they bloom in compact pom-poms of blossoms, it's like a bouquet at the end of each stem.

Favorite Photo of the Season

Amanda & Uncle Jim
Originally uploaded by zostra

Out of all of the photos that were taken this holiday, and all the wonderful memories, I think this one is my favorite.