Mushroom season

SUP day 1

I am back to the SUP (Stand up paddle board)
Once I get on it and start paddling everything is further away, even my thoughts. 

The ocean is my playground and adventures are awaiting. 

My own energy moves me from place to place 

but it is because of the wind and the ocean that this is possible.

I choose my direction, my movements, my pace. 

It is only me
alone in this beautiful ocean. 

I feel alone but not lonely. 

A cloud covers the sun, suddenly waters turn black and the surface reflects light.

The sun comes back and waters turn clear and the bottom of the ocean can be seen.

In the darkness we can only see the surface but with the light we can see it all.

Memorable sunset

 

Sunset from Kominato beach

Days are longer

warmer and

more enjoyable

Yoga at home

Rainy season

Welcome to Ogasawara Rainy season! Yes, it is here! I have heard of the rainy season of Ogasawara therefor I ordered some books to stay at home and read but they were canceled because our strange address is not listed as an official address HAHA!! I guess that Coffee Mountain or Jungle House would worry any business.

So as I stay at home and look for things to do, meanwhile outside our vegetables are growing and nature is loving it! Mountains are greener and air is fresher than ever. Now, here is a thought that worries me.. radiation! Is our rain radiated? We are 1000km away from the Nuclear Power plant but are we safe? And what about all the food that we have been eating from mainland Japan? So many questions rise to my head as I sit still in my little cabin listening to the Les Brown Orchestra.

We have our first vegetable! An aubergine. It was planted before we came here but we gave it some good energy boost and bang! we have 9 aubergines coming! The energy boost was actually our toilet compost. It makes so much sense. Whatever we take from earth to give it back. We take so much from earth and give so little back, I think this is small yet significant way to give back and it makes you understand about the cycle of life.

Rainy season I am ready!

Learning while walking

 

On the way to the library I discovered this signs on the sidewalk. They have pictures of the Island's nature and their names in Japanese. I am not sure if I will remember all these but if I had to walk here every other day I would probably learn some ;) It is a smart way to teach, I can also imagine them being a bit more creative with games or quizzes.

Our garden

 

Welcome to our home... 

Tomatoes

 

Beans

Cucumber

Carrots

 

Our other tomatoes growing in the taped green house

And here is a clue that the chickens were trying to get in but haven't had the guts.

aubergine

tiny little one

mint

These are our little babies they have been growing during this long rainy days. It is a great joy to go to the decking and see how everyday they change. I look forward to eating their fruits, eating better  for cheaper. It is not much but it is a good start!

Easy Chocolate Cake

That is what the recipe said and so I decided that going for easy was the best for making chocolate cake from scratch for the first time. I really enjoyed it and so did the other people celebrating the birthday of little "S" who turned 9 years old this month.

It is a simple chocolate cake with a light chocolate frosting. I don't have an oven so I made it with my dutch oven on a low heat. When making the frosting I ran out of milk so I used water instead and it worked out well. I got the recipe from this site

Ingredients

1 + 1/2 cup (170 g) all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (dutched/dark)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup (220 g) sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
3/4 cup (1.8 dl) milk
3/4 cup (170 g) melted butter
2 eggs

Ingredients for frosting

1 stick (1/2 cup) + 3 tablespoons (160 g) softened butter
3 cups (7.2 dl) powdered sugar or confectioner's sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 to 5 tablespoons lukewarm milk

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 deg F (Gas mark 4 or 180 deg C)
2. Grease a 9 inch (23 cm) cake tin.
3. Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, sugar and vanilla essence in a bowl.
4. Melt the butter at low heat and add to the dry ingredients. Also add milk and eggs.
5. Mix everything together until smooth, either by hand or by using an electric mixer at slow speed.
6. Transfer to bake tin and bake at 350 degrees until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, approximately 35 to 45 minutes.
7. After the cake has cooled, slice the cake through the middle to make two layers (easier if the cake has been in the fridge).

Frosting

1. Cream the softened butter with powdered sugar in a bowl. Add cocoa, vanilla and 4 tablespoons lukewarm milk, and mix until smooth. Do not over-mix. If necessary, add some more milk.
2. Use one 1/3 of the frosting between the two layers, 1/3 on top, and the rest around the cake.
3. This cake should have room temperature when served.

If I ever build my own home....

here

If I ever have the chance to build and design my own home...

I have always thought of adding natural elements such as water, fire, air, wood or representations of them.

350 GARDEN CHALLENGE: ANTHEM FILM

let go

As I see the native hawk extend his long wings

letting the wind take him anywhere

I understand that I too 

have to let go 

and allow the force of nature take me anywhere;

if not

I'll go nowhere 

Fog Invasion in Ogasawara

It has been days since the fog has invaded this Island. I had never experienced such a long fog season!

That blue spot in the center is Kominato beach

The fog transforms this Island into Vietnamese northern mountains. It is romantic to see some mysticism in the scenery and from time to time to get a little peek of its beauty. 

A pool of blue water

The heat of the spring and a long walk made me want to dive in to that beautiful ocean I have missed for so long. 

My dream this days is for that day to come, the day were I turn into a fish and let my body sway in that mass of water infinitely connected with the universe. 

Camouflage