After our August break, ikebana lessons have started again! Valerie uses *susuki* grass in this arrangement that emphasizes straight lines.
Does anyone know what is the local name for this grass?
Photo by the ikebana shop. All rights reserved.
This wooden shoji divider was hand-made by Stephen Sekerak, a woodcraftsman based on the Eastern Shore. He was the craftsman-in-residence for many years at the Dalhousie University School of Architecture, until he retired some years ago. Most of the architects in town would definitely know him!
As the weather gets colder, it will soon be time to use the donabe ("earthenware pot"). It is a Japanese clay pot that can be used to cook over open flame (or put inside the oven). Normally, the Japanese donabe is placed over a portable cooking stove at the centre of the dining table. Broth is boiled and ingredients like tofu, vegetables, mushrooms, fish or meat, noodles etc are added and cooked into a light soupy stew. While waiting for the food to cook, conversation (and the wine maybe?) flows. Then, the family shares the meal. Each member scoops their portions onto their bowls, dip the food in soy sauce or ponzu (soy plus citrus sauce) and eat with rice. It makes a hearty meal and, perhaps more importantly, gets the family together too!
Donabe and "Japanese Hot Pots" cookbook available at the shop.
The beauty of hand-made! This wooden screen divider has slats made of bamboo. There unevenness makes this piece all the more interesting!
Made in Japan. $350.00 (in Canadian dollars.) Subject to HST where applicable.
(All photos by the ikebana shop. All rights reserved.)
We are pleased to announce that our matcha is now directly imported from the tea farm in Uji, Kyoto.
In the past, only our matcha, though imported from Uji, Kyoto, went through a distributor before reaching us. We are happy to say that we have finally straightened out some “technical issues” and now we get them directly from the tea farm.
Of course, there is no deterioration in quality. In fact, we will be able to provide even more consistent quality just because we are now in control of the storage conditions.
The matcha are now packed in 40g bags (in a can) and retail at $19.00...a better value.
BEFORE: 30g in can at $15.00
AFTER: 40g in can at $19.00
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ANNOUNCEMENT: To our mail-order customers, we can now accept payments by Paypal. We understand if you are not comfortable about giving us your credit card information. Paypal eliminates that need. Just let us know you want to make your purchase via Paypal and we will send you a Paypal invoice. You don’t need a Paypal account (though it is convenient if you already have one!) to make a payment.
Many liked it when we had that free cookie & cupcake day last month...so we decided to do it again this month. This time we invite you to taste castella (see below). We timed the day to coincide with the Quinpool Cruise Day to give people that extra reason to visit Quinpool. Enjoy a bite of castella before you go on to hear the blues and see the classic cars on parade!
We saw the stars (and a half-moon too!) last night. The heavens must be rejoicing at the reunion of the estranged lovers. We hope your wishes will come true!
Here is a tally of the wishes we got from our bamboo tree:
Total wishes: 32
Here are our top five favourites:
Thank you everyone for participating...and if you made your own secret wish and hung it on your own secret bamboo tree, that counts too!
