Fun and News Updates!

Busy, busy, busy here! (As I'm sure everyone is this summer!) But I'm taking time to do a few projects for myself too. Here's my latest sashiko project on a tea towel that I converted to an apron. (I needed a cute shop apron and wanted to use one of my latest patterns.)

[caption id="attachment_658" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Lucky Cat in Sashiko"][/caption]

We're finally out of the rain every day part of our summer, knock on wood, and are hitting the pools every day it's over 85 degrees.  I'm studying Japanese while I work out (and trying to get the kiddos to learn with me - a few words at a time).  They're favorite word so far is "Uso!" ("no way!")   How is your summer going?

Looks like I'll get to teach at North Country Fiber Fair in September - likely Sunday morning.  Hoping to be certified to teach by then as I work toward my certification through Olympus, but I know I'll be able to teach the basics and the history either way.

In the store we've been adding our own PDF sashiko patterns.  The lucky cat above, the words "sashiko" and "obento" in kanji, bento boxes, and cute rice balls can be found in our pattern section.

We also just recieved a new shipment of GelCool bento boxes that are just perfect for men!  The boxes are available in our shop and we'll be making bags to put some in sets to go on Etsy soon.

Step Away From the PBJ #10: Introducing Others to Bentos

How hard can it be to introduce an easy way to take a healthy lunch to other people with out being overly "evangelistic" about it?  Harder than I thought, when it comes to sandwiches...

While we were visiting with family last month, I introduced my father-in-law (aka Grampa) to the "no sandwich packed lunch".  (Bento in disguise.)  He'd had packed lunches for so many years with sandwiches, that he dreads them.  He took his lunches in the pre-microwave days and had the mindset that they were only way to pack a non-microwaved lunch.

We were heading out on an outing to a special children's park over an hour away.  Grampa had worked so hard on his planning for this little trip and we were really looking forward to it.  But my kiddos, hubby and I can only handle so much greasy food and we'd had plenty of it in the airport and travel over the mountains to Grampa's house.  Grampa's suggestion of KFC was kind, but not really what we needed.  My idea of bentos wasn't met real well either, because of the sandwich prejudice.  He also likes his food warm.  (My hubby is the same way, but I'm SLOWLY convincing him that not everything needs to be warmed up.)  This was the tricky part.

After a bit of discussion, we compromised.  He'd buy chicken for any who wanted it and I'd pack the rest of lunch.

Next, I had no real bento containers and no stores that sold them with in 200 miles.  We punted for containers with the various plastic storage containers he had on hand.

I didn't want to use plastic silverware and toss it.  (This is bento afterall.  So minimal throw away!)  So it was down to finger food.  Various cheeses and crackers (according to the eater's taste), carrots, and berries were packed full to the brim in "Glad Ware" containers.  I carefully dried the fruit and carrots so they wouldn't get the other foods wet.  I also caved and put the crackers in a small baggie and used that for separation too.  But that was all my throwaway. (If I'd had my separators from home, I'd not have had to use those.)

Now that I think about it I probably could have only used 1 baggie cut into pieces for a separator for further tossables reduction.  But hind site is 20-20.  (Tucking it away for bento on the run next time.)

I wish I'd taken a picture, but alas my brain was only capable of packing the lunch that day.  I even forgot to take my camera to the park.  Thank goodness my phone as something of a camera or I'd miss the kids at the park!

Lunch was great!  And I must confess to eating some chicken.  But there was lots of fresh good for us food too.  And the park was an amazing kids play ground with castles and boats, and all one could imagine!  Grampa did great!

But, don't tempt me to pack bento boxes on my next trip!  We barely got everything in our suitcase and under 50 lbs as it was.

Lessons learned:

• We've learned to punt with bentos


• We can easily share bento with the unsuspecting and not be obnoxious about it.

Have you ever needed to make a bento on the fly and share it with the non bento initiated?  Tell us your stories!

Addicted to Kanji Sudoku?

If you're not into learning Kanji or playing Sudoku, please forgive my ramblings.  I should be back to my normal topics of bento and sashiko next post.

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While taking time off last week, I needed something to keep me from getting restless and snack-ish while visiting with family. Happily, I stumbled across the Kanji Sudoku site.

I want to learn Japanese and that list of ~2000 basic Kanji has always seemed a little daunting. I found this fun little site that you can print Sudoku puzzles that just use Kanji instead of numbers.  They weren't too hard because I could solve them just before bed.  By the time you're done with the puzzle, you KNOW those 9 Kanji and meanings.  I'm addicted!

Alas, there are only so many of these puzzles that they have on the site.  Grr.

So....A little research helped me find an Excel spreadsheet Sudoku puzzle generator. (Thank you Andy Pope for making this!)

And after a little tinkering and adding 3 pages to it, I can now share with you a new Excel based Kanji/vocab Sudoku generator modified from Mr. Pope's version where you can put in your own Kanji to learn.

[caption id="attachment_614" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Sample kanji sudoku"][/caption]

In the generator, I used a Kanji stroke order font (from the font link at the bottom of the wikipedia page) with the Kanji Sudoku generator.  So you can print the stroke order for reference as you work the Sudoku puzzle.

[caption id="attachment_615" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="stroke order page example"][/caption]

To use the spreadsheet:

• Ensure you can use your computer to read Japanese characters.  (If you can see this character -> ? , the same as the kanji in the stroke order page example image then you should be fine.)
• Install the Kanji stroke order font, if you want the stroke order help page.
• Make sure you enable macro content - so the sudoku puzzle can be generated.
• Go to the "Kanji Setup" tab and in the blue table add your kanji characters and meanings in the rows 1 through 9.  (Skip row zero.  Zero means a blank spot in the final version of the puzzle.)
  
  [caption id="attachment_616" align="aligncenter" width="213" caption="kanji setup"][/caption]
• Go to the "Sudoku" tab and click new puzzle
• Go to the "Kanji Sudoku" tab and print the puzzle.
• Go to "Kanji Strokes" and print that page if you want help with the stroke order or a reminder of that the kanji mean.
• If you want to print an answer key:
  
  • Go to the "Sudoku" tab and click "Reveal Puzzle"
  • Go back to "Kanji Sudoku" and print the solution.
  
  

Here's the download for my modified Kanji Sudoku generator based on Mr. Pope's work.

It could also be used with vocab and other things you need to memorize.

Enjoy!

(Disclaimer, I'm only sharing the modified generator.  I did not write the generator, I only added the capability to turn it into a Kanji Sudoku puzzle.  I cannot help you setup the ability to help your computer recognize Japanese characters, install the Kanji Stroke order font or help you enable the macro content.  Those things are way beyond my intention and my limited amount of time!  Google search for help on those topics.)