Iced Pumpkin Cookies

 

Each season brings a few special treats to our kitchen. In November that treat is a big batch of Iced Pumpkin Cookies.   

These cookies are cakey and fallish, and perfect with a big cup of hot coffee. For the frosting I generally use a combination of rum, orange juice, and cream, giving them a nice complexity of flavor. I also add a generous portion of pumpkin pie spice to give the cookies more pop. The nuts and raisins keep the texture interesting. It's hard to believe, but these cookies have been a seasonal staple in our house for over a decade!

November

 

My neighbors put up their Christmas tree this past weekend. I went into Target this week and was hit with reindeer decorations. I dropped into a Starbucks on Wednesday afternoon and my eyes were assaulted with glittery green and red and huge ads for holiday drinks. It's November. Stop it.

A week ago I read a great Jezebel article, "Christmas Must Be Stopped. Let's Declare War on Christmas." I couldn't agree more. November is a time for enjoying the end of autumn, for watching the last leaves fall from the trees, for celebrating Thanksgiving. I'm not a big fan of Christmas (it's my least favorite holiday), but I can tolerate, and maybe even enjoy some of it when it is kept to it's December place. When it starts intruding on Thanksgiving, and even Halloween (!), I flip out. The only place for this consumerist glut is *after* Thanksgiving. Not the evening of, not at 4 a.m. the next morning, but *after*. I think it is completely disgusting that corporations are pushing Black Friday back onto Thanksgiving day, and I have little patience for people that participate in such capitalist bloat. Don't do it, people. Don't force low-wage employees to work on the only American holiday that actually celebrates family and thanks. Don't be that ugly person running to a big fluorescent box store to buy some plastic crap that you don't need anyway. Keep your integrity. Have some respect for yourself. Shop later at retailers that stay closed on Thanksgiving (here is a list of 20 such retailers), or shop local.

For now, I'm enjoying pumpkin cookies and leaf gazing, hot spiced apple cider and squash pastas, kale dishes and things spiced with the last herbs from our garden. Be here now. Live in the season you're in. Christmas will have it's time, but let's all agree to wait until that time is right.

Two Bean Chili

 

The first chilly autumn days have arrived!

Fall is my favorite time of year- I love the cool weather, changing leaves, football, and sweaters. I also love transitioning into fall foods. Yesterday was the perfect day for a slow cooker pot of chili- I soaked black and kidney beans overnight and tossed them into the slow cooker with a bay leaf and a bunch of water in the morning. Canned beans truly have nothing on dried- the flavor and texture is so much better, and the amount of effort that dried beans take is minimal. Bonus- it's better for the environment (less shipping weight and packaging), and better for your health (no BPA lined cans, etc.). At lunchtime I sauteed an onion and some garlic and drained the beans, then put the beans back into the slow cooker with the onion, garlic, two cans of crushed tomatoes, a bit of water, and a liberal amount of cumin, chili powder, cayenne, basil, and oregano. Total preparation time- less than 10 minutes. By the end of the day the house smelled fantastic, and I threw together a quick batch of cornbread around 5:30 pm. I love trying new chili recipes, but this is my own stand by favorite. The best part was the huge hug I got from little dude, who proclaimed chili his favorite and thanked me for cooking "such yummy food." The greatest!

 

秋二 Autumn 2

 

The weather in Tokyo is gradually cooling, but autumn is still hanging on a bit here. On Monday I had business to take care of at the Ward Office. Difficult applying for preschool translating and explaining a US 1040 Tax form into Japanese tax language kind of business. Luckily, the workers there are really kind, and the woman processing our application was super nice. Now we just need to keep our fingers crossed that we can get in! In any case, the walk to the Kita-ku Ward Office is along a path beside this dry-for-winter riverbed, past a lovely arched bridge and near some fiery red maples (above). After my two hour (!) consultation and trying to pretend like I understand the US tax system, as well as learning about the Japanese tax system (preschool rates are based on taxes), I took a little sanity break and walked over to Oji Shrine (below), which is very close to the Ward Office. A great place to take a deep breath and return to a balanced state.

 

 

Tuesday was rainy and chilly, and as I walked through Ueno this morning the ginkgo leaves were falling from the trees. I am obsessed with their perfect golden color, and lovely curved shape.

 

 

Even though the 40 and 50 degree temperatures are nothing to complain about, the blowing wind and rain gets chilly while walking outside and standing on train platforms. My favorite anecdote is a hot yuzu drink from the vending machine- it warms your hands and your body, and matches the golden color of the ginkgo leaves.

 

File under: things I don't understand

 

Tokyo University's Akamon (Red Gate) with golden gingko leaves in the background.

It's been a busy few days filled with museum exhibits, a day trip to my old stomping grounds in Yokohama, lectures, library research, archival research, food and beer time with friends, and a notable train delay (a very rare occurrence in Japan). All great stuff, and all very worthy of sharing with the internets. But, as I'm short on time and sleep, it'll suffice to tell of perhaps the most head scratching story of all- today's archival experience. 

I found some amazing stuff at one of the many Tokyo University archives this afternoon; lots of great images and one particularly interesting text. Luckily, the late 19th and early 20th century magazine I was searching through was digitized on a DVD ROM, so searching wasn't as painful as it could have been, and printing was quite simple. Until I went to pay. This particular archive didn't accept payment at their window, and also didn't accept library copy card payment. Instead, I had to take my self-count of print outs up to the window, write down every page I copied (title, date, page), and tally the damage. Almost 2000 Y (about $20). I then received a sheet of directions on how to complete a bank transfer to the archive. Yup, a bank transfer. For copies. So, I walked the two blocks over to the ATM through the beautiful autumn foliage of campus, waited in line for a few minutes, and then proceeded to place cash in the ATM and go through a very long string of transaction screens before receiving a receipt. I took this receipt back to the archives and submitted it in order to receive my university ID, which they held throughout my use of their facility and my ATM adventure. Archive win!

The thing that always strikes me about these types of interactions is my lack of understanding of "the system." I had to ask the archivist two times if I was understanding the system correctly, and from his humorous responses, I'd venture to say that I'm not the only one who has had a slightly dumbfounded reaction to paying copy fees via bank transfer. Sometimes the words make sense, but the concepts are what confuse the issue. In any case, I know can claim knowledge to another way of doing things, and was so happy to have the chance to acquire some great material and to visit Tokyo University in it's autumn glory.

Kiyosumi Gardens 清澄庭園

Today I took a trip over to the east side of Tokyo to visit the Kiyosumi Gardens. The site of the garden dates back to an 18th century residence of a wealthy Edo (the previous name of Tokyo) businessman, but the current design dates to the late 19th century. The reason for my visit is that the funeral hall of Emperor Taisho (r. 1912-1926) was located here, until it was destroyed during the Second World War. The garden does presently house the Taisho Kinenkan (Taisho Memorial Hall), which is a 1953 reconstruction of the emperor's hall, but using the materials of his wife's funeral hall. In addition to my academic interest in the garden, it was also a lovely autumn day, and visiting the garden was a great excuse to go for a stroll in a beautiful park, escaping some of the bustle of Tokyo for more serene landscapes.

 One of the many boulders at the site- gathered from all over the country to give the garden character.

 Entering the garden!

 Rocks and trees and water. 

 Me and the Taisho Kinenkan (Taisho Memorial Hall).

 Scenic. 

The park is known as a place to view not just the scenery, but also to see fish, turtles, and birds. The koi in the central pond were particularly huge, and both the fish and the birds were crazy for the little breadcrumbs that visitors were feeding them.

 Koi. So creepy when they open their giant mouths.

 Getting a little Hitchcock vibe from the birds swarming the breadcrumbs.

Taisho Kinenkan again.

 Scenic!

 The ginkgo leaves were particularly lovely.

 A small stone pagoda in the garden. 

 Sensui-selfie.

 Leafy.

 I watched this little turtle for quite a while. He was chillin', floatin', and then sunning himself. So cute. 

Such a relaxed way to spend the day. I am learning from the turtle about how to live better.

There was an area of stone Buddhist sculpture near the south end of the park, which was a nice surprise.

 Jizo!

 Oh, no big deal, just throw in some 16th and 17th century sculpture near the back (!).

 Garden view.

 Another garden view.

 Stepping stones.

 Crane! So elegant. I could also use some life lessons from this guy. 

Move slowly, observe a lot, be serene, strike quickly and with purpose when catching fish.

 One last view on the way out.

Next to Kiyosumi Gardens is Kiyosumi Park. While the garden was quite formal and full of people on afternoon dates, older folks taking photos, and families on day trips, the park was full of exuberant life- a toddler learning to walk, high schoolers practicing baton, families picnicking, people walking dogs and dogs barking at each other, people on bikes, kids playing ball. As the sun set between the gingko trees, it was a truly joyful sight.

 Life being lived to the fullest.

Golden afternoon glow.

秋 Autumn

 

The leaves in Ueno Park are lovely this week. The autumn color combined with blue skies and cool temperatures makes it the perfect time to be outdoors.

 

Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore 埼玉県立歴史と民俗の博物館

Me in front of the museum.

Saturday was an excursion day- out to Saitama with Ti to visit the Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore.

Our main intent was to see the special exhibition on Hashimoto Gaho, but the regular exhibitions were also very interesting. In the lobby we started our visit with being able to touch Jomon pottery! The Jomon period (c. 10,000-300 BCE) had a flourishing ceramic culture, and it was pretty cool to actually touch the real objects. They also had a haniwa head that I picked up.

Ti with Jomon ceramics!!!

The museum exhibits were nicely displayed, and walked visitors through the history of Saitama Prefecture from prehistory to the 20th century.

So many pots!!!!!

The lovely bamboo garden near the special exhibition space.

More museum exhibits, on commemorative Buddhist stele. 

A replica of a Yayoi period (300 BCE-300 CE) home.

 The catalogue of the special exhibition on Hashimoto Gaho, a late 19th century painter who was one of the last Kano school artists. The show had many strikingly beautiful works, and was pleasantly not crowded, likely due to the relatively remote location.

 After the museum closed, we walked around Omiya Park, where the museum is located. The leaves are just starting to turn, and the full autumn moon made for a lovely reflection in one of the park's ponds.

 

Back at the station after a great afternoon.

 

Autumn in America

 

Taking a break from Japan, and visiting the States during my favorite season is a great way to refresh. I've been loving the crisp autumn weather, changing leaves, and the excuse to bake cute Halloween treats.

A trip to Shaake's Pumpkin Patch is a treasured fall tradition in our house, as is carving jack-o-lanterns.

 

 

Hiking at Weston Bend State Park is another favorite activity when the leaves change color.

 

 

Autumn in KC- so lovely.