Terry's Halloween テリー君のハロウィーン

It's Halloween day today!
So Terry got another toys. Being spoiled as usual....
今日はハロウィーン。テリー君は、底なし親バカのおばちゃんから、またオモチャをもらいました。

This year's pumpkin is a bit funny. There is a chick inside the pumpkin. Terry liked to play with such pull out kind ones.　He is really good at pulling out such stuffs.
今年のカボチャはちょっと面白くて、中にヒヨコが入っています。テリーはこの手のオモチャがとても好きなんですよ。
しかも中身を出すのも上手に出来ます。


First of all, he is begging for his new toy.
まずは「新しいオモチャを下さい」とのおねだり。

Then he hide it and keeps away from anyone else.
そして大事なオモチャをとられないように、しっかり小屋に隠してから遊びます。
Nice butt, you Dudo!!
旦那、いい尻してますなぁ～！！

Sometimes he watches toward the entrance and make sure there are no enemies around there. (Who is the enemy by the way?)
時々入り口の方を見て、敵(一体誰のこと?）がいないか確認します。
After all, he goes back to play with it... I'd rather say "work for destroy it!"
It will be apart each pices in a few minutes or so... Oh, boy!
そして再びオモチャと遊びます・・と言うより、壊しにかかります。

What I got lately #2 またもや買っちゃいました

I went Shinjuku yesterday. To my surprise, the traffic was incredibly smooth and I could get there about half an hour. If it would be crowded it would take 2 hours or so. Such how we have heavy traffic in Tokyo.
Lucky me!
昨日、用事で新宿に行きましたが、道路はビックリするほど空いていました。なんと、３０分ほどで到着できたんです。混んでいるときは２時間もかかることもあるんですよ。東京の交通渋滞がいかに激しいか分かりますね。

However I don't cook anything good lately, I bought cooking tools several times. This time I happened to find some tools that I have wanted.
Go for them!!
What I've got are the photos below. The red one is tomato peeler. It's not only for tomato. It works for either vegetables or fruits that have very thin skin. Remarkable!
Well, some of you may wondered why I need such a thing. Sometimes such kind of skins bother me. You know me if you remember my story of "I don't care potato skins."
最近はろくな料理しないクセに、調理器具の購入が多くなってます。前回に続き、またもや以前から気になっていた道具を発見し、即買いしてしまいました。今回買ったのは、トマトピーラー。トマトの様な薄皮系のものなら簡単に皮むきできるという代物です。いや～、これは超優れものです！

Since I have had carpal tunnels in my hands, I can't work for peeling kind jobs so well. So this tool is very helpful for me. Besides I got some other tools too. They are cooking brush and sushi rapper. I had both of them but they have got too old. I have looked for something since I needed to have new ones anyway. Now I have very new "high tech" kind stuff. Isn't it great?
腱鞘炎で手の動きがちょっと鈍いので、これは便利かなと思っています。それから巻き簀と調理用刷毛。いずれも古いのがダメになってしまって、新しいのを探していたんです。どうせならハイテク機能の物を!なんて欲張ってみました。(笑)
　　　　　　　　　　　　

I got some cosmetics as well. These are the ones I also wanted to have. The hand cream was recommended by my friend. I liked it and I decided to get the one. The other one named Shea butter was great too. I used to use body/hand treatment prescripted by a skin doctor. It is one of the best but not easy to get unless I go to see the doctor. So I was looking for something substitute. Yes, this is it!!
I have already tried them all. I think they all worked on me very well. When you see me next time, I might look different. Very different....I hope.
それから、乾燥の季節に備えて、化粧品の類を少し。これも以前からチェックしていた代物。ここのハンドクリークは知人から進められて、是非購入しようと思っていました。それから、シアバターというクリーム。以前皮膚科医から処方された向日葵油ベースの物がとても気に入っていたのですが、入手が中々難しいので、それに変わる物を探していました。
早速試してみたのですが、結構良さそうです。

I have purchased so many things in such short term. May be I have been in stressful because of so many matters happened on me at once. Am I in shopping-holic syndrome?
買い物しまくりの私。このところ色々あって、ストレスも溜まっちゃってたから、お買い物症候群になったのかしら？

Guess what I got today? 買っちゃった！

以前から気になっていたこの道具、今日ついに買っちゃいました！これは今話題のスチームケース。この中に肉や魚と好みの野菜などを入れて電子レンジで5分ほどで蒸し料理の完成です。今日は残念ながら試す時間がなかったので、明日鶏肉のオレンジ風味蒸しをしてみようかと思っています。
I have thought of this cooking tool for a long while. Today I decided to buy! It 's a kind of big sensation in Japan recently. You put meat or fish and vegetables of whatever you like. Set them into microwave oven and cook it for only 5minutes or so.
Well, I didn't have enough time to try this new tool today. So I may cook steamed herb chicken with orange sauce tomorrow.



驚いたことには、この道具、以前購入した鍋敷きと同じ会社でした。お洒落でどちらも気に入ってます！
To my surprise, this cooking tool is the same brand as the pan holder I have got before. So cool! I like both of them!

近頃のキッチン、こんな感じです。可愛いでしょ？
My kitchen lately. Pretty lovely?


そしてもう一つの新兵器！今日はこれを試しました。パッケージの日本語にあるように、電子レンジでもお魚がこんがり焼けるんです。しかも焼いた後の処理が超簡単！これ、必須アイテムになっちゃったわ～！
Here is an another tool that I have tried tonight. As Japanese words on the package said that it can cook fish with microwave oven, as good as regular oven! I think it's more than regular one. The best part is; very easy to clean it up when you've done.

こんな感じに焼けます。電子レンジじゃないみたいでしょ？
This is how it goes. It doesn't seem as microwave oven way of cooking, don't you think?

Bento お弁当

以前は9月15日が敬老の日でした。近頃は、法律改正のせいで、お彼岸と重なったりして、ちょっと複雑な心境です。年寄りは「彼岸」に近づきつつあるから、敬老の日と重なっても良しって事なの？何か納得がいかないなぁ。
まあとにかく、この日は特別なお弁当を売り出すので、早速デパ地下に出かけました。色々ある中で、この3点が特に美味しそうだったのでそれを選びました。可愛い風呂敷包みも気に入りました。
On September 15, it used to be the day for "respect senior people." Recently it has changed by law and it is moved around the same time as autumn equinox. At the equinox day, we would visit graveyard to remind our memories of past family members. It is like that the older people would get close to "the RIP place...."?! I don't welcome this changing of the law.
Anyway, I went to a department store to get special box lunch called "Bento". It is called "depa-chi-ka." Generally grocery section is located at the basement in almost all of department stores. "Chi-ka" means basement in Japanese language.
Our traditional way of rapping, "furoshiki" are so cute and pretty! It is already the part of enjoying dishes, don't you think?
I picked these three kind below. They all look great. The taste as well!

目で楽しんで、舌で楽しんで・・・日本のお弁当は奥が深い！ああ、なんとも幸せな一日でした。

I enjoyed the view, atmosphere, and of course its taste! Oh what a great food, Bento, culture we have!
It was such a happy happy day I have had with my family :-)

First cousin? 親戚かな？

あれ～、なんか僕たち似てない？僕達って親戚なのかな？それとも他人の空似?
Oh boy! Don't we look alike? Are we first cousin or "third one"?


ねぇ、ねぇ。僕達って似てると思う？
う～ん、どうなんだろうねぇ。みんなに聞いてみようよ。
Hey, do you think we look very much alike?
Mmmm... I have no idea. Why don't we ask the other ones around us?

Hey, you guys. What is your opinion?

ねぇ、みんなどう思う?

テリー君のお友達、デンスケくんは、柴とスピッツとウエスティのミックスなのだそうです。だから3分の1はテリー君と同じウエスティーの血を受け継いでいるんですね。やっぱり親戚!! どうりで似ているわけだ。

His name is Densuke, one of Terry's friend. He is a mix breed dog with Shiba, Spitz and Westie. So one third of his blood take Westie.

I see. Not a "third" cousin but at least they are relatives!! That's why they look very much alike.

Homemade fig jam 手作り無花果ジャムに挑戦

I got such strange container recently. Guess what would it be for?

最近こんな不思議な形の容器を購入しました。一体何の為のものでしょうか?

Well, it's for making homemade jam with microwave oven.
これは、電子レンジでホームメイドジャムを作るためのものなんです。

OK, now I make homemade fig jam with these tools.
Use some fresh figs.

では新鮮な無花果（イチジク）を使って。早速作ってみましょう。

Cut into pieces, as big as about one centimeter dice.

約１センチ角のサイコロ大に切ります。

Add 10 percent of total weight sugar. In this case, 100 grams of fig with 10 grams of sugar.

総量に対して10パーセントの砂糖を加えます。この場合は、100グラムのイチジクに10グラムの砂糖でした。

Then add 1 large spoon of lemon juice. This time I used lemon rhyme.

それからレモン汁大さじ1杯を加えます。今回はレモンライムを使いました。

それをしっかり混ぜます。

Mix them well.

Set it into the microwave oven and cook it for 5 minutes. (in case 600kw if you have higher powered one, cooking time should be shorter)

電子レンジで約5分間調理します。(600kwの場合。パワーがこれより大きければ調理時間は短くなります）

このまましばらく冷ましておきます。

出来たてはとても熱いので火傷しないよう注意してください。

冷めたら保存容器などに移し、冷蔵庫などで保管します。

Cool it down for a while. It is very hot so be aware of burnt. When it gets cooler, remove to a container and keep it in the refuge.

A Party at Roppongi いっちゃんのオフ会

この記事を書いている途中に色々なことがありまして、書きかけのまま随分と長いこと中断してしまいました。
I have had so many things during I was writing this article. I have left it behind for a long while.

８月下旬に六本木で、一時帰国した友人のいっちゃんに再会できたのは、父が退院してからちょうど５日目でした。母はまだ入院中でしたが、この時は容体が安定していて、いっちゃんに会いに行っておいでと両親が言っているように思いました。その後、母の容体が急変し、９月５日土曜日に永眠しました。母のことについては、別の機会に話そうと思っています。
そんなこともありまして、このいっちゃんとのオフ会は、みんなに引き寄せられて行くことが出来たのだと思っています。
I could see my friend, Icchan, when she came back to Japan in late August. It was 5 days after my father's returning home from the hospital. At that time my mother was in the hospital though, I could go to see Icchan somehow. I guess that my parents made me to go for it. Since my mother passed away after the party day. It was Saturday, September 5. Well, I may tell about it some other time.
Anyway, I do believe that my parents made me to go for it. I thank them for I could make it.

さて、六本木での会はとても楽しくて、初めてお会いした方々が殆どなのに全然そんな気がしなくて、沢山の素敵な出会いがありました。両親の状態が思わしくなかったら参加できなかった会合です。
Well, the party at Roppongi was very nice. I have met most of them for the first time however, I felt as if I have already known them for a long time. Isn't it amazing? If my parents weren't in such stable conditions, I couldn't join that party.

会場は六本木の韓国焼き肉レストラン。沢山の若い韓国イケメンが入れ替わり立ち替わり料理を運んできて、色々説明してくださいました。韓国式の食べ方が私にはとても新鮮に映りました。
Our party was held at a nice Korean restaurant. There were many young handsome Korean guys served the meal, explained the way to have them. It must be traditional Korean way of having meals. It was a very new experience to me.

場所はこちらです。
Here is the info of the restaurant.
とん豚テジ六本木店　TEL　０３－３８６８－０３１１http://www.tontontezi.com/sub/sub02_3.php
「いっちゃんオフ会のブログを見た。」と言うと、ドリンク一杯サービスしてくれるそうです。そして期限は無しという太っ腹！機会がありましたら覗いてみて下さい。
When you have a chance to visit this restaurant, don't forget to tell them the key words,
"いっちゃんのオフ会ブログを見た=Icchan no off-kai bulogu o mi ta."
(I saw the articles of Icchan off-kai at the web site.)
Then you will have a deal, complimentary drink. According to them, there will be no deadline!

参加された皆様のうち、ブログをお持ちの方を紹介させていただきます。皆さん素敵な記事満載で、母のことなどが落ち着いたらゆっくりブログを拝見しようと思っています。
Some of the attendances of the party have their own web pages. I have visited them all. They are all great. I will visit their sites more often when I take over about my mother's matter. Unfortunately almost all of the articles are written in Japanese only.

とまとママさん　「とまとママのお料理日記」
http://ameblo.jp/tomatomama333/

gekoさん　「ありがとうを紡ぎながら」
http://happygeko.exblog.jp/

aliceさん　「Intemporaliter」
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/alice_snark

watchさん　「楽しく子育てしましょう♪」
http://mamanikki.exblog.jp/

daikanyamamariaさん　「代官山だより♪」
http://ukikomaria.exblog.jp/

reikopepさん「flying together」
http://reikopep.exblog.jp/

macchaさん　「Happy Day」
http://macchablog.exblog.jp/

ゆずさん　「美味しいおうちごはん　簡単レシピ帖」
http://ameblo.jp/recette-de-toujours/

ところで、友人のいっちゃんは私の自慢です。だって超有名人なんです！最近本も出版しましたので、本屋さんでご覧になった方もいらっしゃるのではと思います。
My friend, Icchan, is the friend I'm very proud of. Since she is so famous! She has published her own recipe book in February. I guess some of you may see this book at the store already.



彼女のブログはとても人気です。サイトはこちら。是非ご覧下さい。
いっちゃん（エリオットゆかりさん）　「いっちゃんの美味しい食卓 」
http://elliottyy.exblog.jp/

彼女のブログではいつも素敵なお料理をが紹介されています。私にはあんなに素敵には出来ないけれど、ちょこっとだけでも真似が出来そうな部分を取り入れています。
例えばこのイチジクと生ハムのサラダ。とっても気に入って、何回も作っています。基本形は下の写真なんですが、私が作るとどうもいまいちな印象で・・・
At her web page, she always show us such wonderful dishes. Oh well, I can't make it like her. But I try to follow what I would be able to. Even in one part.
For instance, I like one of her recipe "fig and prosciutto (=uncured ham) salad." The photo below is the one I made following with her recipe exactly. Well, it doesn't look as nice as what she made...

そこで、ちょこっとラズベリーなんか加えてみました。ちょっとお洒落な感じになったかしら?
Then I added some raspberries. How about this? Does it look a bit better?

Splash, Terry! テリー君のサマーバカンス

夏といえば暑～い！となると泳ぎに行きたいのは人間だけではありません。
と言う訳で、テリー君はワンコ用プールに行って来ました。昨年も行ったこの場所ですが、その時は気温が低くて泳ぎませんでした。今年はリベンジするべく、２回行きました。なにしろ爺ちゃん婆ちゃんの入院騒動で、お留守番が多かったテリー君。ご褒美旅行がないとね。
Summer, it's such a hot season. So it's natural that we want to go for swimming. Well, not only human but....
Anyway, there is a swimming pool "just for pooches" in Saitama. So "spoiled Terry" went there with his Mama and Auntie Nobue. Actually, we took him to this place last summer but it wasn't a nice weather for swimming then. This year, we took him there twice instead.
Since both of our parents have been in the hospital and terry had to be "home alone" so many times. We wanted to make him happy.



ワンコ用スポーツジムで何度もトレーニング経験のあるテリー君なので、泳ぎはお得意。ジムのトレーナーさんも驚いた運動能力の高さ。なにしろ、ジムでランニングマシンを走りきってしまい、小型犬なのに大型犬用マシンに移された逸話の持ち主です。
どうです?このライフジャケット、カッコイイでしょう?着なくても泳げますが、安全のために着用させました。
Terry has had some trainings at (doggy!) sports gym several times. So he can swim very fast. Besides, the stuff (a sport trainer who is the human, of course!) of the gym mentioned that Terry has high ability of athlete.
In fact, the running machine for small dogs (it should be for him though...) was too easy for him. He has got through it and has reached the edge easily. So he was moved to the other machine that should be for big dogs. It was not enough still...
Anyway, does he look cool with his life jacket? He can make it without the jacket as you know, we put it on him for just in case.

おねだりして買って貰ったオモチャをくわえて、ス～イ、スイのテリー君。泳ぐ速度はオリンピック選手レベル・・・って、バカ親の言い分ですけど(笑)
He demanded to buy this toy. Now he is really happy with his toy bone. And he swims fast as the Olympic athlete....really?

ところで、夏の「渚」と言えば、恋のチャンスもいっぱい。女の子大好きテリー君は黒髪の美女に恋してしまい、早速アタック開始ですが・・・・
Summer is the season for "Boy meets Girl" And of course, Terry loves girls. He was into a brunette beauty. So he decided to ask her out.....
Can she be his date?

モデルとしてワンコファッションショーにも出場経験を持ち、イケメンテリーと呼ばれているのですけれど、恋はフィーリングが合わないとね・・・・(笑)
女の子がダメなら、オモチャがあるさ。と言うわけで、プール遊びを楽しむテリー君。そしてプールサイドでそれを見て喜んでいるバカ親(ママとおばちゃん）約２名・・・・ でした(笑)
Oh, poor boy!
He experienced for a doggy fashion show as a model once. He even went through "Cat Walk." Since then, he has been called "Handsome Terry" though. My be it didn't matter for "her".
Then he enjoyed himself with the toy bone.
"The toy is much better than that girl."
"Oh, Terry, you are such a cool guy. Enjoy yourself with the splash!"　



その後、買ったばかりのオモチャはどうなったかは、この写真から想像がつくでしょう。トホホ・・・
After all, what would happen on the toy bone? You can imagine the result from this picture...

プールの後は、場所を移動してお食事です。テリー君、レストランでお食事するのが大好きなんです。この贅沢者め！
After such fun splash, we went to a restaurant. This is also his favorite activity. Oh what a spoiled dog!

So how many pieces do you want, Terry?
I've been telling you, Mama. "Give me Five!"

おばちゃん、楽しかったね。また行こうね！そうでちゅね～、テリー君。
It was a very fun day, Auntie Nobue. I want to go there again!
Oh, yeah. May be some other time.

Karuizawa 軽井沢

We, me and my sister, took Terry to Karuizawa, one of famous resort area in Japan. In fact, lots of celebrities have their second houses there. Besides there are many stores that are friendly to their customer's dogs. So it is a good place to visit with Terry.
At first, we visited "Three Dog Bakery." It is originally from US. Actually I have been to the one in Long Beach many times. When I compare both of them, they are very different each other though, they are both very nice. I liked both of them. I bet Terry liked the one in Karuizawa! I wished if I could take him to US...
Anyway, the photo on the top is the entrance of the shop. The below one shows the restaurant that accept dogs. In fact they have a list of menu for dogs! We had our lunch there. Since it was a bit early for lunch, it wasn't crowded yet. Very soon it became full. It's such a popular spot.

Does it look good?

The photos show inside the restaurant. This was how Terry had his meal with us.

Look at Terry! He just focused on his food. He didn't want miss them all.

The photo below show what he have had. It's chicken meat loaf for dogs. It made by all natural ingredients, avoid any chemical materials.

These were what we, the human, have had. We had coffee also and it's included this set menu price.

After the lunch, we went to this store that I have learned from my web friend. According to her, they have lots of Westie novelty goods. I thought it is the "must have spot" to go!

To my surprise, we have been here before. But I didn't realize it at first. Since it seemed a bit different as before.

Too bad. It didn't open. So as our last visit. We want to come back again when it would be opened.

On the way back home, this is another "must have" item. It's called "kama meshi." Some of you may know "obento." This is one of them. I love it sooo much! Whenever I come to Karuizawa, I always buy this.