odate » 大館 HakCafe ブログ

Surf welcome to the family!

Today was a busy morning. I was doing some computer work most of morning the rushed to pick up Xavier from kindergarten. He was planning to have a BBQ with his friends so we set up the BBQ and waited for his friends. While we waited we dug up some rocks around the yard looking for dinosaur bones.

When mom returned home we decided to go look at pets we Xavier protested that he wanted a rabbit, a hamster, a cat, and a dog. So we set off to a local pet store. To be honest I don’t really enjoy the pet stores I would much rather save a pet from the rescue shelter. Unfortunately Odate does not have one. We called the closest one in Akita city the week before but there were no compatible dogs our 6-year-old pug. He is afraid of other dogs so…

Relaxing where the puppy can't get me up on the bench!

Anyway at the local pet shop we found a lab puppy. We brought our pug with us and let them meet face to face. The pug was of course scared out of his wits with his tail between his legs. But he didn’t attack, or growl at the puppy so we figured it should be OK in the future. We decided to give the lab puppy a home. So after filling out some papers we got the dogs into the truck then headed to Homemac for some new dog supplies.

Chasing a pug is tough work!

At home everyone settled in. The puppy searched the house. The pug ran around trying to stay at least 1 meter from the puppy. And everyone enjoyed the rest of the afternoon trying to decided on a name for the new puppy. We finally settled on “Surf”…although X preferred “blue beard” or “bicycle.” Before dinner we took the dogs for a walk then at home they both had a bath together. Everyone is tired now and sleeping…I think I will do the same!

Bedtime after my bath!

息子の初ブログ

「マミィ、ブログにこの写真載せて欲しいの」

と、息子。

先日、少林寺拳法について載せたこと[http://hakcafe.com/2010/04/03/849/]をきっかけに、息子は、私のブログに興味を持ってくれ、一緒にブログを書いている気分になっているようです。

「今からマミィに言うから、そのまま書いてね」

「今日、魚釣りに行ったけど、全然さかなが釣れなかったの。だから、森の中に熊を探しに行ったの。

そしたら、swanに会ったから写真撮ったんだよ。ブログに書こうと思ったの。」

以上、息子の初ブログでした。

これから一緒に、いろんなことお話していこうね。

I was busy today but out of the blue my son wanted to go fishing. I just couldn’t say no. On the way my son started talking about how he needed to take a picture for his blog. He then told me that daddy has a blog, mommy has a blog, X avier has a blog, Wakana has a blog. I told him that it is great that he has a blog. We decided to take a picture of the fish we caught to put on his blog. Unfortunately we didn’t catch any fish.

While fishing we talked a lot about the animals in the forest. Specifically bears, my son was afraid a bear would come and eat us. I decided to take him into the woods a bit and teach him about bears and how they are not that dangerous as long as you understand them a little. We had a wonderful time and found a beautiful spot on the other side of a large hill.

On the way home we spotted some swans digging through the field. We decided to try and take a picture for the blog since we didn’t catch a fish. My cell camera couldn’t take a good picture even from a few meters away so I got out of the car and slowly moved toward them taking pictures along the way even the last picture was not very good and I was only about 2-3 meters from them!

It was a great day!

Daddy

At home a conversation between my wife and son:

“Mommy, Can you put this picture on your blog?” my son said

He started to become interested in my blogs since the article I wrote about Shorinji on my blog. [http://hakcafe.com/2010/04/03/849/ ]

“Can you write exactly what I say to you, ok?” my son said. He continued “I went fishing today. But I couldn’t any fishes. So I decided to go to woods to find a bear. Then I saw swans. I took pictures of those. Because I wanted to write a blog.”

This is my son’s first blog.

I’m excited about writing many things together.

自然出産　in 大館 / Natural Birth in Odate city

ずっと疑問に思っていたことを、声に、文字にしてみました。

ここ大館で自然出産をするには、どうしたらいいのでしょう。

皆さんの意見をお聞かせください。

I have had this question since I came to Odate city.

Please exchange views with me on the matter.

冬のかき氷 / Snow cone

今日は、息子が風邪で幼稚園をお休み。

私も風邪で久しぶりに声がでず、静かに、のんびり・・・ぐったり・・・過ごしました。

My son and I were sick. So my son took the day off from kindergarten.

We had slow day today.

突然、息子が

「マミィ、かき氷作って～」

Suddenly my son said “Mommy, make a snow cone, please.”

こんな寒い日に”かき氷”かあ

ま、いっかぁ

突然の出番に”かき氷器”も驚いたのか、

ちょっぴり切れ味がいまいちだったものの、

かき氷ができました。

I wondered why he wanted to eat a snow cone on a cold day like today.

OK!

So, I made snow cones for us.

外は、たくさんの雪。

子供の頃、雪にシロップをかけたら、おもいっきりかき氷が食べれるなあ。

なんて思いませんでしたか？つららを舐めてみたりしたことも・・・

When I was a child, I wanted to eat a lot of snow with syruo like snow cones.

I sometimes tried to eat an icicle.

こんなイメージ？！？！

The image of eating snow with syrup was like this?!?!

うちの犬のオシッコに異変！？！?

いやいや、

生理用ナプキンのコマーシャルでもありません。

何の話でしたっけ？

かき氷

冬のかき氷、そして、風邪の時のかき氷は格別でした。

This is not my doggy’s pee?!?!

This is not a commercial of a sanitary napkin, either.

What am I talking about right now?

Oh….about snow cones.

Anyway, it was nice to have when we were sick in the winter.

節分祭　大館八幡神社 / Setsubun Festival

大館八幡神社境内にて大館八幡会主催の節分祭が行われました。

The Setsubun festival was sponsored by the Odate Hachiman society as Odate Hachiman shrine.

裃を着た総代さんによる豆まき。

大館八幡の豆は、もう鬼を払っているので、

「福は内！！福は内！！」

の掛け声で豆をまくとのこと。

Representatives wearing kamishiko (the formal attire of samurai ) scattered parched beans to drive out bad luck and call in good luck. They already sent the demons out. So we should shout out “Fuku wa uchi ! (In with fortune!) when we scattered the beans.

大館八幡幼稚園の園児たちも自分で作ったお面をつけ、準備OK!

ワクワク興味津々

豆はまだかなぁ・・・

Children attending Odate Hachiman kindergarten, were already set with the demon masks which they made. They were so excited with the scatting of the beans.

福は内！！

Fuku wa uchi!! (Bring good fortune!!)

かわいい手をひろげ、「こっちだよ～！！」

The kindergarten children were waiting with their cute and tiny hands up in the air to catch the beans.

ポケットいっぱいの豆！

Their pockets were full of beans.

笑顔でチーズ！！

Hi! cheese!

ママたちもステキな笑顔！

Nice smile!

豆まきってたのしい～

We enjoyed a bean-scattering ceremony.

園児たち、そして、みんなの笑顔で凍てつく寒さを感じさせないほどの

活気ある節分祭でした。

We were so absorbed in the festival that we had forgotten all about the cold outside.

タイ生まれ大館育ちのトムヤンクン/ How to make Tom yam kun

以前、大館のトムヤンクンを紹介しました。[http://hakcafe.com/2009/12/26/80/]

今日は、トムヤンクンの作り方を紹介します。

I wrote about “Tom yam kun in Odate city” before.[http://hakcafe.com/2009/12/26/80/ ]

Today I ‘m going to show you how to make Tom yam kum soup.

＜材料/ Ingredients＞

プリック（とうがらし）　　　　　　　　　　　カー　　　　　　　　　　　バイ・マクルー

Cayenne pepper Car By Makuru

レモングラス　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　ナンプラー　　　　　　　　　　エビ

Lemongrass Nampura Shrimp

レモン/ Lemon

イカ / Squid

魚 (アジを使いました）

/ Fish (I used horse mackerel this time)

カニ / Crab

ヘッドファーン（ふくろだけ） Heddofan

：シメジでもOK

(I used Shimeji mushuroom )

＜作り方＞

沸騰したお湯にバイ・マクルーを入れる。

カーをたたいて潰し、お湯に入れる。

レモングラスをたたいて潰し、お湯に入れる。

エビの殻をむく。ミソは残しておく。

レモンを絞る。

カニを洗ってお湯に入れる。

魚（今回はアジ）を切る。

とうがらしをたたいて潰し、お湯に入れる。種ごと。

アジ・エビをお湯に入れる。すぐ混ぜると臭みがでるので、入れてすぐには混ぜない。ふたをして待つ。

それから軽く、そっと寄せるように混ぜる。

イカを入れる。

ヘッドファーン（今回はしめじ）を入れる。

レモン汁を入れる。

ナンプラーを入れる。

味のもと（商品名指定でしたd(^^*)　）を入れる。

・・・あっ、なんか日本的！

トムヤンクンのレシピを探してみたところ、鶏がらスープやココナッツミルク、トマト、お好みでパクチーを入れるなど、いろいろありました。

トムヤンクン！と言ってもきっと微妙に違うそれぞれの素敵な味があるんですね。

材料の分量は？

エビのミソととうがらしの辛さとそれと調和したすっぱさが決め手のスープを楽しむトムヤンクン！スープをたっぷりになるように、あとはお好みで。すっぱさ、辛さもお好みで！

と教えてもらい、最初は戸惑いました。

そして、

ふと思い浮かんだのは、”味噌汁”

日本人がも分量や経験で、その家庭の味噌汁の味が生まれるように、トムヤンクンはタイの家庭のおふくろの味なのかもしれないですね。

タイ生まれのトムヤンクンは、ここ大館にきて大館育ちのトムヤンクンになったのかもしれませんね。

＜How to make＞

・Boil the water. (How much depends on your ingredients)

・Add “By Makuru” to the hot water.

・Crush some ” Car” and add to the hot water.

・Crush some lemongrass and add to the hot water.

・Peel the shells off the shrimp, but leave the heads intact.

・Squeeze lemon into the hot water.

・Wash the crab and add to the hot water.

・Cut the some fish into large chunks.

・Crush some cayenne pepper and add to the hot water.

・Now add the fish and shrimp to the hot water.

・Cover the pot, leave it for a few minutes.

＊Don’t stir right away, otherwise it will become stinky. After a few minutes stir gently.

・Add squid and “Heddofan (Shimeji mashroom) ” then put some lemon juice and nampura.

・add Umami seasoning: Ajinomoto.・・・・souunds like Japanese.

When I looked for some Tom yam kun recipes, some of them used coconut milk, tomato and cilantro leaf . That’s up to you!! All Tom yan kun taste a little bit different depending how much of each ingredient you use. I don’t have the right answer for that.

The soup is the key thing to make Tom yan kun. It’s a harmony of shrimp brain , spicy pepper and sour taste. Make enough soup! find out your own taste.

When I learned how to make Tom yam kun, I was at a loss what to do because I had no idea how much of each ingredient I needed. But that reminded me it’s like Japanese miso soup. We don’t calculate how much of each ingredient to use. We just use our experience. I feel like Tom yam kun is like Mom’s home cooking: Ofukuro no aji.