Whistle while you work

M has been away for several days on a golf trip with college friends and I've taken the opportunity to do some spring cleaning and sprucing up around here.  Don't ask why a long weekend alone would be the impetus for a burst of good intentions when he usually is gone at least 12 hours a day.  I just decided to take the impulse and run with it.  As usual with me, results didn't quite equal expectations (though he's not due in until late tonight...still time) but I got a lot done.  Closets and shelves are now clean & organized and this wonderful product has gotten rid of several little carpet spots that were bugging me more than I realized.  What a difference!  (It takes so little to make me happy.)

14"x32"

When Molly and I were in Tokyo in January, we were hurrying around a corner at the Asakusa gate, when we came upon a charming, little Totoro shop.  I forged right in, disappointed to find the shopkeepers were starting to close up for the day.  Already laden down with bags from a washi shop that Steff had recommended (Kurodaya, on the same block), we were satisfied to do a quick dart through, oohing and ahhing (big Totoro fans, we are) until Totoro banners hanging above stopped us in our tracks.  It was here, as the owner was drawing the shades, that I had that fast-forward, internal conversation with myself over whether I really needed to bring home any more cute Japanese character items.  So I talked Molly into getting one.  And while she was purchasing it, I spied a more subtle one that *somehow* did get added in.  It was sitting, forgotten, in a little pile of mementos until recently, when within a few days, I read several blog references to Totoro (the movie....if you haven't seen it, you must...it's a treasure) and took this as a clear sign.  So today I took the time to handstitch narrow casings top and bottom for a thin dowel.  Look Molly!  Mine's up...how about yours?

Solitary snackfest

There's been lots of knitting this weekend (though on a secret swap project) and some Project Spectrum sewing (March is ticking right along, isn't it?) but this post wouldn't be complete without mention of the *eating whatever/whenever* aspect of several days spent alone.  This weekend's menu included lots of Trader Joe's potstickers with their new gyoza dipping sauce.  Yum.  My bottle's getting low but it's been so popular that TJ's has been having trouble keeping it in stock and I haven't been able to get my hands on another.  The good news?  It's a lot easier to open than the caponata!

Comments

[Carole]

Those dumplings look delicious! And I love your banner, too.

[Julie]

Yum! All the TJ posts around the blogs have me jealous. I must make a trek this weekend. I'm afraid that we don't have any fancy supermarkests like that in Joliet. Cute banner, btw!

[susan]

yummy! on both accounts!
susan

[Chris]

I love that banner!!

[Cindra]

Hmmmm. can't see the banner in Mozilla or IE. Darn, Darn!!!! All I see is 14" x 32"... is that where ii is supposed to be?

[blackbird]

Youngest LOVES totoro...
we have several toys from Mitsuwa as well as from our friends in tokyo.

[Lavanotes]

I *love* Totoro!! Hopefully I'll see Howl's Moving Castle this weekend. That banner though is really cute.

[Kathy]

Cleaning and organizing is great for the mind and soul. I LOVE TJ potstickers -- so yummy. We bought a new egg roll product there the other day -- called Thai Chicken Sticks -- green box -- really yummy.

[scribblesnbits]

That banner is adorable! I don't think I've ever had a potsticker so I'll add that to my growing list of foods to try.

[abby]

Oh! I just saw Totoro for the first time recently, and wanted to find a pattern to make a little stuffed Totoro. Your banner is just lovely! The dust spirits are adorable.

[kelli]

Yum. I love this blog. Crafting and good food. What's more for a girl to want?

[Dotty]

You can make your own gyoza sauce. Here's the recipe that I use (from the back of my frozen gyoza bag):

Mix together:
1 part white vinegar
2 parts soy sauce (use low sodium or Japanese style)
dash of chili pepper or a little hot sauce

Enjoy!

[Elizabeth]

Love the banner! We are major Totoro fans in this house - our favourite all time anime movie- and we have the whole Miyazaki collection in japanese and english. The imported merch we have found here is very pricey.

[Kay]

Totoro was our first of many Miyasaki films; I think my daughter was 3 or 4. I love those panoramic 'shots' and the darkness overshadowing childhood. Lucky you to have such a cool banner!

xoxo Kay Who Once Assembled a 500 piece Totoro Jigsaw Puzzle On Her Coffee Table.

[Helena]

I love Totoro! How lucky you were to find a shop like that AND getting to go to Tokyo.

[Sandrine (alias Didine!)]

Hi Jan ! I forgot to tell you to visit my sister blog and see her new papier mâché creation (totoro !!!) www.daphnezinzin.blogspot.com !! Smooches from Belgium

[Linda]

Oh, I am jealous. It is just impossible to find Totoro stuff in the states. :(