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.

Scoop!! Terry's "shocking" pics?? 犬神家の一族？？

独占公開!! 「犬神家の一族」
（テリー君 　衝撃←もとい！「笑撃の映像!!」）

我が家のリフォーム中は、当然のことながら色々な人が出入りしていました。一ヶ月以上の期間、総勢２０人くらいの方が工事に関わって下さいました。しかし誰一人として、我が家に犬がいることを知りませんでした。
「２階にワンがいるんですよ・・」と話すと、皆から同じ答えが返ってきました。
「えええっ～?!　犬、いるんですか??!!」
While I have had my house remodeling, there were many people had come in and out. Over a month there were about 20 of them have got involved the constructions. But none of them recognized that there is a dog upstairs in the house. When they learned about the dog existence, all of them replied me with the same words,
"What?? Is there a dog in this house?!"

この世に番犬が存在する事を知らないテリー君は、見知らぬ来訪者があっても吠えるということをしません。それどころか、毎日「全開」で爆睡しています。本来、犬は警戒心が強く眠りも浅いといわれているのですけれどねぇ・・・
その寝方と言ったらもう・・・唖然とするばかりです。
Terry doesn't know the existence of watching dogs. He doesn't bark toward anyone else even if they are strangers to him. No matter who would come to my house, he doesn't care. He rather sleeps like a log with "full open".
Generally speaking, dogs are very careful creature and are told that they don't sleep so deep. It's because the mechanism of protecting their own from the enemy.
But he goes like human being. Oh, what a dog! Incredible!

ところで、映画「犬神家の一族」では、静かな湖畔に湖面に突き出た足の首無し死体が突如出現という、ショッキングな場面がありました。
ねえ、テリー君、キミのこの姿、まさにその首無し死体みたいだよ。キミは体を張ってパロディーやってるのかな？(笑)
映画のサイトから画像を拝借してみましたので、比較してみてください。
足の角度に注目です(爆)
By the way, you, the ones in Japan, may know the movie "Inugamikeno Ichizoku (The Inugami family dynasty)". There was a scene of dead body that poked into the lake, only its legs appeared above the water. And the body didn't have its head. It was one of a shocking scene of that movie to me when it was published.
Hey, Terry! Are you going to play a role of parody part by your "body"? I picked up the photo from the official web site. Please compare how they look like. Especially focus on the angle of the legs!!




この「首無し死体？？」それにしては、足は動くし寝息は立ててるし・・・(爆)
いかがでしょう？この体を張ったパロディー。
This headless "dead" body is "alive" since it moves its leg and snoring. How do you like his parody of the movie?
もっとも本人(本犬？)にとっては単に寝てるだけの、いつもの姿なんですけれどね。
Oh well, the fact is that Terry is just sleeping with usual way.

画像が暗いので、別角度から撮影してものがこちらです。そしてこの間、テリー君は全く目を覚ますことはありませんでした。
キミは本当に犬なんだろうか?　我が家に「犬は居ぬ」なんちって～～!
The picture seems a bit dark so I taped some other shots. During all of that, he was sleeping and never recognized what I was doing.
Is Terry a real dog? Or what?

我が家では、テリー君は「犬神家の一族」ということで「犬神様」と呼ばれています(爆)
そして「犬神様」は今日も「全開」で爆睡しております・・・・
He is called "Inugamisama." It means Inugami (=the god dog )dynasty . It is sort of a joke that stands for the movie.
He sleeps with "full open" today ... just as usual.

Terry's Preparation for rainy season 梅雨時のテリー君

テリー君は雨の日でもお散歩は欠かしません。そのため雨具も沢山持っています。何しろ衣装持ちですから。

今夜のお散歩はこちらのレインコート。近頃は朝晩雨のことが多くて、朝着た物がまだ乾いていないことがしばしば。すると、クンクンして、「今朝着たこれ、乾いてないよ」と訴えるんです。贅沢な奴め！

Terry goes for a walk twice in a day even if it would be rain. So he has many raincoats as you know.

Tonight, he picked this yellow one. These days we have rainy days and nights so his outfits are not totally dry yet. Then he sniffs the one that he wore in the morning and appeals "It's not the dry one! I don't want to wear it tonight"

Oh what a spoiled dog!

Spare ribs

オーブンを使って何か作ろうと思い、これを作ってみました。とはいえ、夕方は爺ちゃんの病院に行かなくてはならないので、じっくり調理するのが難しい状況です。そこで、ちょっと一工夫して、スペアーリブに挑戦です。簡単に出来て、美味しく頂きました！
I just planed to cook something with my new oven. But it's hard for me to make it for a long while. Because I have to see my father every evening at the hospital. Then I used a good stuff for it and tried to cook spare ribs. It made me easier and faster... and tastier!

ヒミツは、つけ込むときのソース。市販製品のこれを使いました。米国在住の日本人が考案したというもので、ちょっと甘いタレですが、お肉を漬け込むのに丁度良かったです。少なくとも調理する１時間くらい前につけ込んで、冷蔵庫で保存。
The key was the marinade. I used a commercial product. It was made by a Japanese guy who lives in the USA.
To me, it tastes a bit too sweet however, it fits to this meat. For preparation, marinade it at least one hour earlier and keep it in the fridge.
その後１５０度のオーブンで約４０分、アルミホイルで覆って２００度で約１０分位焼いてみたら、うまく行きました。オーブンはそれぞれに特徴があり、調理時間を知る必要がありますが、色々試していきたいと思っています。
Then cook it in the oven with 150 Celsius degree for about 40 minutes. Cover it with aluminum foil and heated with 200 Celsius degree for about 10 minutes. It worked!
I don't know much about my new oven yet. So I want to learn more about its function. I will try many more soon.

はい、出来ました！
Here is the one! Does it look good?

Tea time

今日、こんなお茶を見つけました。これ、ロサンゼルスの友人に以前頂いたことがありましたが、日本では今日初めて見かけました。ちょっと懐かしくなって、思わず買ってしまいました。家に帰って、早速飲んでみました。
Today, I found very unusual tea at a store. Actually I have had this one at my friend's house in Los Angels before. She knew many kinds of tea and served me this one.
When I saw it at the store, it reminded me of her so I got the one. And of course, I had the tea soon after I got home.

中身は、ハートの形をした蕾状のものが入っています。それにお湯を注ぎ、しばらく待っていると、だんだんと開いていきます。丁度花が咲くような感じです。同時に、ジャスミンの香りもしてきます。このパッケージには、ジャスミンと千日紅の花が入ってるそうです。
Inside the package, there are two heart shaped things. I put one of them into the tea cup and poured hot water in it. Then I waited for a while. It went as flower blooming little by little. I smelled jasmine also. According to the package description, they are jasmine flower and other one. (I don't know the English name.)

完全に開くと、中からもう一つの鮮やかな紅色の花が出てきます。楽しいお茶でしょう？
At the end a pretty crimson red flower appeared. Isn't it lovey pretty tea?
もう一つの方は、マリーゴールドとジャスミンが入っているそうですが、どちらも可愛くて気に入っています。

japan x beauty

友人の紹介により、彼女の妹さんも関わった展覧会に行って来ました。日本の伝統工芸である漆を用いた作品の数々にとても感動しました。こういう美術品と触れあえたのは随分久しぶりでした。
I have visited an exhibition that my friend's sister had got involved. It is used "urushi (japan)". It is a traditional material of our country. I was attracted by all of those products. They were all great. I haven't had any chance to see such beautiful things for a long while.

会場は、当然ながら撮影禁止なので、写真はオフィシャルサイトから借用しました。

The photo above is from their official web site since taking photos were prohibited.

こちらがオフィシャルサイトです。
This is the official site. (Japanese language only)

http://www.yamakyu-urushi.co.jp/13/index.html

こちらでは漆塗りが出来るまでの動画があります。
This site shows the process of "urushi" paintings. (It tells you in English also)

http://www.shikkouki.com/

My kitchen lately キッチンその後の様子

まだまだ片づかないキッチンですが、以前から考えていた用具や小物も少しずつ そろえています。今はこんな感じです。今日お玉などを立てるツールスタンドを買いました。
I still organize my kitchen. I know it is a big job and I work for it little by little. I have got some tools as I have planed. Today, I got a cooking tool stand. My kitchen lately is like the photo below.

そして、このお鍋を買いました。以前スーパーのポイントでもらったのと同じ会社の製品です。

Today, I bought this pan. It is the same brand as I have already got from a mileage point program of a grocery store. I paid for it this time.

ところで壁面のパネルに張り付いている物が気になりませんか？この赤い丸井物は何でしょう？ これは、鍋敷きで、磁石で張り付いているのです。キッチンパネルがステンレスなので、使わないときはこうして貼り付けておけば場所をとらなくて便利です。今日見つけたのですが、スペイン製だそうです。

Well, do you recognize a red round thing on the wall? It is a pot holder. It is staged by its magnet. This part of my kitchen wall is made of stainless steel so it works. When I don't use it, it stays on the wall and I can have more room on the counter.
I found it today. They said it was made in Spain.

うれしい機能は、お鍋が鉄製ならこうしてくっつくので、そのまま食卓に運べることです。我が家のキッチンのカウンターもステンレス製ですが、表面の加工の関係で鍋にしかくっつかないので便利なんです。

The function I like the best is like this. In case I use steel pans, it sticks and I can carry it to the dining table at a time. My kitchen counter is also stainless steel , however, because of its surface, the holder sticks on pans only. Very convenience!

こちらのトナカイさんは鍋つかみです。オレゴンの友人からのクリスマスプレゼントです。だから季節に関係なく使っています。とても可愛いでしょう？これは磁石のクリップでつり下げてあります。 その左横にオーブン用のグローブも置きました。
This reindeer is a glove pot holder. It was a Christmas gift from my Oregon friend. So I use it all year around.Isn't it cute?　It is hold by a magnet clip also.　Besides, I put some gloves for oven on the left of it.

その反対側にも鍋つかみがありまして、やはり磁石でとめてあります。下に見えるクリスマスがらのは、オハイオ州の友人からのクリスマスプレゼントです。
On the other hand, I have some more pot holder that are staged by a magnet. You see a Christmas patterned one underneath. It was from one of my Ohio friend.

少しずつではありますが、その後のキッチンレイアウト計画は進行中であります。
It goes slowly but my kitchen layout plan works little by little.

House Remodeling project 3

入院中の父が改築の進行状況を知りたがるので、それを写真にとっては毎日見せに行っていました。無事工事が終了し、写真からもその違いが分かってとても嬉しそうでした。
I have taken many photos for my father every time. Since he has been in the hospital and wanted to know how the remodeling work was going. Now all the construction have done and he learned how much it has changed. He looked happy also.

工事中はこんな感じでした。撤去する前の流し台です。長年使っていたので、かなり汚くなってました。
It shows the kitchen under the construction. The photo on the left shows the old kitchen sink.
It has used over 30 years and got so dirty and ugly.
床下収納も古くなって、危険な箇所があったので新しくしました。下の写真では、その床は工事中のため穴だけなので、危険防止のため板をかぶせてあります。
The floor storage was replaced since it got so old and partly broken. I had to get a new one for safeness. There were just a hole on the floor so it was covered by a plate for security reason.

終了後はこんなになりました。
It shows after the construction.

床下収納です。床もきしんでいたので床板を貼りかえて新しくなりました。これまでとちがって、きちんとお掃除しないといけないんだけど・・・
It is a new floor storage. I also got a new floor. Then I don't hear the sounds (something like cracking) any more! So I have to keep it clean... not like it used to be.
「綺麗」を維持出来るかしらん？チョット(←かなりの間違い）不安・・・(笑)
Can I make it? Well..... worry.. worry...
Does anyone come to Japan as a house maid? If you would, I'd love to pay for it! :-)


食器洗い乾燥機も付けました。日本ではまだ馴染みが浅いですが、食洗機先進国と言えるアメリカの友人達の家にはほとんどありまして、その便利さは充分体験済みです。だからこれも絶対付けようと思っていました。お鍋やオーブン皿も洗うから、組み込める最大容量のを選びました。それでも友人達のよりはるかに小さいですけれど、そこは日本のお家芸「ハイテク」でカバーです！
I got dishwasher too! It is not a common thing in Japan yet. I think that America is far ahead of it. In fact almost all of my friends in USA have dishwashers in their house. I have learned how useful it is while my stay there. I have planned to have it when I would remodel my kitchen. Then I made it.
I picked up the maximum one for my kitchen size. It is still a smaller one than my friends' though. It had many hi-technique functions instead. It cares not only dished but many cooking tools. It surely make me easy.

そして狭い日本の家屋に適した、収納できる棚も付けました。
I picked a foldable shelf also. It is very useful for such small house in Japan. When I don't use it, It can be hide under the shelf. Yes, I really like it!

ダウンウォール式の上置きです。これまでの物は出し入れが不自由で、上置きに入れた物は何十年もそのままでした。いわゆる「タンスの肥やし」ですね。使わないものを、ただ仕舞い込んでおくだけというのはしたくないので、今度は絶対これにしようと思っていました。

Pull down shelf in the upper cabinet. This is also useful. The old ones were too high for me to reach the stuffs. So things had been there for over some decades. I think it is the waste. I don't want to have such dead stock at my kitchen. So I have decided to have this function from the beginning.


流し台下の扉にこんな収納が付いています。以前テレビのコマーシャルでやっていた「パタパタくん」です。包丁やお玉が収納出来るのですが、我が家のお玉は長すぎて収容できませんでした(>_<)今は別の方法を思案中です。このスペースに入る調理用具をしまおうと思います。

Cooking tools can be store in such place, under the sink. This is exclusive of this brand. It was on TV commercial many times. I thought it was nice. Yes, it was true. But some of my tools are too long for the room. Too bad! I'm thinking of some other substitute way.

その扉を閉めると、奥には２段式の収納が現れます。ダブルストッカーという物で、鍋やボウルなどの調理器具を入れようと思っています。この下にも引き出しがもう一段あり、こちらにもお鍋類が収納できます。

片付けの下手な私に、きちんと出来るかしら？

Behind the storage above, there are stock room called "double stocker". I put pans and bowls in it. There is another drawer under this. It also can hold lots of pans and so.

Well, there are lots more rooms to keep tools than before. Now I don't have any excuse of "No rooms! So I can't make it clean!"

How can I say from now on?

水栓は、自在に伸びるシャワー水栓。これも絶対ハズせない機能でした。だけど常に綺麗にしないと・・出来るかしら？

Flexible and expandable tap with shower. This is also the one I wanted to have.

Then I HAVE TO keep it clean...

Mmmmm, I don't know if I can make it.


そして清水器。

今から２０年ほど前に一度、我が家の水栓をお湯も使える混合水栓にしたことがあったのですが、水がまずいと、婆ちゃんがもの凄く文句を言ったので、結局元に戻してしまったという事がありました。だから文句が出ないように、この清水器も付けることにしたのです。

It's for filtered water. It may make water tasty. About 20 years ago, we have had heating system and can get warm water from a tap. But our mother complained a lot. According to her, the water tasted so bad because of the heating system. In those days, such filtered water system wasn't available. So we had to give up the heating system at that time. So this time, to avoid such complaint, we decided to have filtered water system.

それから、チョットした物が置けるパレット。アメリカで使っていたのですけど、これって結構、優れモノなんですよ。だからこれもハズせない機能でした。

A small plate that can hold some stuffs shortly. I used it at my friends' house in USA. I liked it since then. It was "must have" one for me also.

日本の狭い家屋には、３個のガスバーナーでも充分広くなりました。だって以前のは２個でしたから。４個が当たり前のアメリカの友人達から見ると、驚きでしょうけれどね。

Three heaters are big enough for Japanese small house. In my house, it used to be two heaters. It became much more than before at least. It may be incredible to my American friends'. Since they usually have for of it anyway.

ガスオーブンは、３０年以上前に、この家を新築したときに欲しかったのに、婆ちゃんの強硬な反対で付けられませんでした。ついに３０年越しの夢がやっと叶いました。

どうせならと、電子レンジ機能も付いたコンビネーションレンジにしました。意識したわけでは無いのですが、冷蔵庫とカラーコーディネイトしていました。ま、両方ともステンレス製だから、自然とそうなっちゃう訳かな・・・？

I wanted to have a gas oven for over 30 years. When we moved to this house 33 years ago, I asked my mother to have the one. We have build a new house so we could make it if we would. But my mother rejected it.

Now, finally I can make it for the first time in more than 30 years! Then I picked the most modern hi-technique one. It has multiple function of both gas and microwave oven. It can be both at a time or can be separate.

Accidentally, its color can get along with the refgelator. I didn't plan it . I guess it's just because the material was the same, stainless steel.

そしてこれが新しい台所です！綺麗になったでしょ？

My new kitchen. It looks mucho nicer than before, don't you think?