An introduction of my dogs this time. 今回は、我が家の犬たちのご紹介 ***************************************************************************************** BJ （ビージェイ）： Boy Born in Oct. 2007 (2007年10月生まれ) English Pointer (犬種：イングリッシュ･ポインター） Firm body with good muscle / Excellent reflexes / Good eyesight （as he is a hunting dog) 筋肉質で痩せ型・運動神経抜群・目が良い（ハンティング･ドッグだしね） 生後7週目で飛行機に乗って北島から我が家にやってきました。 3ヶ月くらいまで家の中で大事に大事に育てられ、手のひらサイズだったのが、みるみる大きくなってキッチン･ベンチの上の食べ物に届くくらいに成長したので外犬に。 しつけが大変で手がかかりましたが、最近やっと大人な性格に。 おぼっちゃん育ちのためか、気ままで自己顕示欲が強い。
***************************************************************************************** ALANTA (アランタ）： Girl Born in May 2006 (2006年5月生まれ) Huntaway (犬種：ハンターウェイ) Obedient / Gentle / Move slowly but eat quickly / Poor eyesight (she needs eyedrop everyday for her cataract) 従順・控え目･動きはドンクサイが食欲旺盛・目が悪い（白内障で目薬が欠かせません） もともとはファーム･ドッグ、諸事情により羊を怖がり働けなくなった頃、我が家にペット犬として迎えられました。 ファームの厳しい環境で育ったので、しつけは十分に行き届いていて従順。 ライバル犬たちとの競争の中で生活してたので超早食い。 何でも丸呑み。 人の多いところが苦手で、町中では人が怖くて散歩できない。
***************************************************************************************** The lake shore, so beautiful ! It's our walking course everyday. 毎日の散歩コース、夏の湖畔はこんなに気持ちいいのです！
Alanta アランタ BJ ビージェイ
BJ swam to the offing soon. He is good at the long-distance swim, too.
********************************************************************************************* Care of dogs, it's basically Renon(my daughter)'s work. 犬たちの世話は、基本的には娘のレノンの仕事。
On the toothbrushing day: この日は歯磨き：
Open your mouth, BJ
はい、口あけて～・・・
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” Is it my turn next...? ” Alanta was watching, it seemed to be uneasy.
「次は私の番？」 不安げに見ているアランタ
Ok, the other side...BJ
反対側も磨こうとしたら・・・
What?! You ate it!
あれえ、食べちゃった！
We read the packet well...then, found that it should be fed to him as it was. (not a tooth brush !) We were wrong!
I tried Umeboshi (salted plum pickles) making this summer. (Please refer: japanesedinnertable.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-118.html for the previous stage of the pickles making)
After pickled Ume with salt and waited for 4-weeks, it was the time to be aired them. I did it 7th & 8th on February when the weather was splended.
The perfect position, on the swing. They were looked breathing comfortably under the sunlight. The surface gradually dried, and the wrinkle appeared...
An experiment: I read an article: "having aired it on the first day, return it to the Ume vinegar once for overnight, then let it air again the next day. It makes Ume softens. But the saltiness and the taste become thick by carrying out this process." So I tried it a part of them.
Day-2： Airing again under the sunlight. It is generally said 3 days and 3 nights for airing, but I think 2 days would be enough here (Wanaka is very dry place). I had it for 2 days and 2 nights actually.
Transfer them into jars. I need labels with details for each jars, because I made them complicated at each stage. (They have been done with some different processes.)
COMPLETION ! The first tasting is done together with cooked rice of course ! 梅干、完成です。 試食はもちろん炊きたてごはんで！ 今日は、このためにお米を土鍋で炊きましたよ。
しょっぱ～い!!!!!! でも おいし～い!!!!! 日本人でよかった～!!!!!
一粒でごはんが進む進む 残った種も、愛おしくて捨てられない
How salty !! and, how delicious !!
The rice turns into the acidity once it goes in our body, and alkaline Umeboshi let this neutralize. For the meal in old time in Japan which only rice ate a lot, the Umeboshi was an important role. Umeboshi, the best invention food that the Japanese food culture produced.
Nice by-product, Umezu (Ume-vinegar) ： They can be used as seasoning in substitution for salt (or vinegar) in small quantities, and it add a Ume-plum flavour to the dish.
We had Japanese women here, as our B&B guests, who were well experienced of Japanese tea ceremony. After the breakfast, they gave us a chance of the experience.
They demonstrated how to do it with tea utensils and tools, Matcha (green tea powder), and Japenese sweets for the ceremony which were all brought from Japan.
A week later, I suddenly remembered that I had got "Cha-sen" (one of tea utensils, whipper made by bamboo) from my Japanese friend 15-years ago. There must be somewhere....
数日後・・・そうだ、栄子ちゃん（うちの店の初代スタッフ）から15年前にいただいた茶筅が どこかにしまってあったはず・・・ Here it is !! あった、あった！
I found this one, too, in the back. A black tea pot which looks like a special iron-made one. ついでに、コレも奥のほうから発見。 2～3年前に、こっちで衝動買いした鉄瓶のような土瓶。 とうとう出番がきた！ 見た目が何とも、お茶っぽくてイイ。
Then, I try to make tea by myself ! 必要なものが揃ったところで、お茶をたててみよう！
While the cup and Cha-sen were warmed up by hot water, I sifted Matcha (green tea powder) to avoid lumps.
Another beautiful sweet made from sweetened azuki beans. I got it from Julie as a souvenir from Japan. Azuki & Matcha, royal road combination !
後日、 こちらのお菓子は、先週いらした知人からのお土産、 たねやの『栗月下』
And, one more sweets made from chestnut. I felt the deepness of 100% chestnut. Pure and delicious !
Tasted it with "Fukamushi-cha" (deep steamed ｇreen tea), as my friend Fusako's recommendation. 「是非このお茶と一緒に」 と深蒸し茶もいただきましたので・・・ まずはお勧め通りに。
ホクホクの甘い栗をそのまま食べているかの ような、純粋な味わい。 深蒸し茶にぴったり。
Then tasted it again with Matcha this time. I think it was better with the Fukamushi-cha than with Matcha, for this mild sweetness and for this texture.
The combination of tea and sweet is profound ! It's like the matching of wine and cuisine. Well...getting some more utensils in Japan, I would like to enjoy tea ceremony often here.
We went for picking of cherries in Cromwell this season again. There was an information that the maturity of the cherry was delayed several weeks because of the cold climate in November. Then we went there in the late in January.
A lot of cherries were on the trees. While tasting in turn, we walked around in the property. The tree with super sweet cherries that we wanted to pick was not found easily this time. Most of them...sweetness was insufficient. Influence of the weather, maybe? Therefore, we didn't pick many as usual.
Another part was used for baking. I made cherry clafoutis for B&B guests. With sweet custard sauce & cherry brandy, the cherries became a beautiful dessert !
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このとき、
Looks great !
in substitution for salt (or vinegar) in small 
Other than the pretty persimmon sweets, 
While the cup and Cha-sen were warmed up 
後日、
A lot of cherries were on the trees.
The next day, 
