cablopomo

i may regret this, but i’d like to try my hand at a month of daily blogging. i realize that nablopomo (national blog posting month) is november, but i was really busy in november and adding another thing to my to-do pile might have toppled it right over and made a big mess and no one wants to read about that sort of mess every day for a whole month. so instead, i’ll try february. ah, the shortest month of the year (although i seem to have picked the wrong year to really benefit from this decision)! my reasons for doing this are that i would like to get back into the habit of posting more often, and i’d also like to try out carrying my camera around with me on a more regular basis. it seems like every time i go anywhere, i see photos i wish i could take, but i have no camera. this may prove to be a fruitless goal, but i’ll try it nonetheless.

of course, i say that and then… today i forgot to bring my camera out with me. i would have loved to take some pictures at the ma-cha teahouse. i returned to my favorite study spot today now that classes are back in session and discovered that there is a new room! the room that used to be the kids’ toy room has been refurnished as the “zen cave.” they painted the walls a lovely very dark gray, raised the floor and added grass mats, a low table and a few floor cushions. it was a wonderful place to enjoy my lunch (a curry-ish “grains and veggie sandwich” that apparently was vegan–down to the “vegannaise”!). The proprietor threw in some bonus cookies (not sure if it was because i’m a regular or because of free cookie friday, but i don’t question free cookies) that were amazingly delicious–ginger and green tea, i think. they were about as big as a quarter, rounded on top and buttery-crumbly like a butter cookie, but with a twist of flavors. they were covered in a fine coat of sugar that melted beautifully when dunked in my chai tea. then, after i’d eaten a bite, there were two or three sparkles of salty taste on my tongue after the cookie was swallowed–mingling with the sweet and buttery taste of the cookie still lingering. a-mazing.

i found these mini calla lilies at trader joe’s for less than $5 for a dozen. i know they’re not local and i know they’re not in season, but… i splurged. when i trimmed the first stem after i got home, a little spider crawled out! (eek!) i wondered how far he’d traveled…. callas are such a sculptural flower that i just had to take some pictures. ginger really wanted to help.