"Flowers & Presents"

Last Saturday was Jonathan's Birthday. And some said the end of the world ?
But, we are still here, and we had a great day....
I did cook an Italian Birthday Dinner for him and few friends we invited to celebrate together.
Menu was what he wanted to have for that night. 
Started with "Cold Pea Soup" and "Shell Pasta with Broccoli-Rabe & Italian Turkey Sausage" then "Baked Cod with Pesto Sauce" 
Contorni was "Brussel Sprouts and Radishes with Pancetta" and "Japanese Radish Greens with Goma Dressing".  I often make those dishes, therefore I didn't even think about taking photos of those dishes.
But, I took many pictures of Flowers I got that morning at the Famers' Market.
Bouquets of Peonies were in everybodies' arms. White, Pink, Coral, and Dark Red flowers were there for you to choose. Some people were mixing colors.
We got Dark Red Peonies. 
And I had to get Lilies for the Birthday !  For anybody's birthday !
We found a New Hybrid of Lily which has no name yet, just a code number. 
It has Huge Pure White Blossoms.  Those White Flowers are so HUGE !
It's not "Casablanca" which used be my favorite Lily, but I have a feeling that this New Species of Lily will become the favorite one.
We also found the very last of the "Lilies of Valley". 
As you all know, "Lilies of Valley" have a very short season. I think I may see them one more weekend. But, I must have them when I see them...

Few days earlier we got a package from our friend in Tokyo.
She sent him B-Day Presents and few things for me as well.
I may be bias when comes to little things we get from Japan, but I must tell you, things you can get over there are not the same as you can get in the USA or Europe. It is all about packaging and presentation !
The way they wrap things in Japan is just so different from here, everything is so well presented.
Most of shops have own Original Wrapping-Papers and Gift Boxes. You will not find that kind of thinking behind the Gift Wrapping anywhere else in the world.


When you get a well-wrapped present, don't you get so excited just looking at it ?
You almost do not want to unwrap it. You want to keep it as it is for while. 
You don't even care what inside of that wrapping is...
You appreciate more for the Receiving of Gifts, not just what you got. 
Wonderfully wrapped gifts will change your reaction when you receive them.
That is the Idea...  
Some people spend time for wrapping, because of that...  I always do !

Wonderfully Wrapped Organic Candle.

It was wrapped again with a Matching Organic Cotton Square. 

And then putted in the Original Paper Envelope with Logo. 

Those portable bags are in Zippered Balls.

Difficult thing is how to put bag back into the ball. 

You may need to practice a few times to get it right.

Believed it or not, this is a underwear.

"Jelly Bean Print Underpants"

These Printed Masking Tapes are popular in Japan. 
Masking Tapes are easy to remove. 

Meaning you can use them almost like Ribbons.

Keep them in a box along with Ribbons, so I know what I have at a glance.

I believe you can find them in USA now, Look for them ?

A few days later, one evening I heard the sound of Peonies petals falling onto the table. It's always happens 5~6 days after the flowers opened. It doesn't happen little by little, it all happens suddenly. 
That is the Peonies' way to says "Time for celebration is over, until next year !"
But New Species of Lilies are still blooming, we did not lose even one flower yet. 
The room is filled with fragrance from them.  It gets stronger in the evening. During days fragrance is very faint.  If it's strong all the time, we may get a head-ache from their fragrance. Remember we have more than ten huge lily flowers, and we still have half a dozen buds to be opened. 
Yes, Lilies are the most expensive cut-flowers in the Market at the Union Square, but if you can enjoy them for more than a week, maybe they are the best bargain for flowers....

Things I Love in the Spring

This is the box for "Lily of the Valley Scented Candle by Penhaligon's"

Guess what, I found "Lilies of Valley" my favorite flowers of the spring this past weekend at the Union Square Farmers' Market. I had to buy them for my home. 
Even when we were having Coffee and Whole Wheat Croissants in the cafe, the other guests could smell the flowers as well. 
Now my home is filled with this fabulous perfume from those tiny white flowers. 
I must say this fragrance definitely brings on a good mood.
I used get "Lily of Valley Perfume" from "Penhaligon's" for my mother when I was visiting Japan. She also loved this fragrance in other products by "Penhaligon's" such as Candles & Soaps. 
When I travel, I carry a small candle of "Lily of the Valley by Penhaligon's"  just in case if hotel room has an unpleasant smell.
"Penhaligon's" used to have a small boutique on Upper Madison Avenue, but I think that shop is closed now. 
So I have to go to Saks to find their products, unless I go visit London.
In my opinion, "Penhaligon's" makes best products with this fragrance.
You should try to smell other Perfumes and Candles as well. 
And I must comment about their Packaging, specially the Bottle design. They are simple and elegant !

In the Union Square Farmers' Market, I also found the season's first Japanese Turnips and Japanese Cucumbers and Shiso Leaves.
If you read my old blog last Fall, I wrote about a simple salad (you may want call it a quick pickle) made with those three ingredients and homemade Shiso Flower Sea Salt & Kabosu. It is very simple to make.  And I live on this salad through Spring & Summer, until "Watermelon Radish" to come back to the market in the Late Summer.
As you noticed by now, I don't mention that vegetable any more. Because their season is over. You can't find that colorful vegetables at the market for now.

My must-get Spring Summer Vegetable is "Japanese Radish" along with Shiso.
You may not have tasted the green parts of these Japanese Radishes.
But you should try them, they are surprisingly delicious !
Sometimes I saute them with garlic and soy sauce, finish with drop of Sesame Oil. 
That dish was one of my father's favorite side dishes for dinner.
This weekend, I decided to make a simple soup with these very green fresh leaves. 
I didn't use any stock as a base. It was just Scallions and Garlic and Greens from Japanese Radishes including stems, and Water.
It came out great, It is good even as a Cold Soup.
And, I also made Shiso Tisane. This is very soothing Tisane, Hot or Cold ! 
I think I'm even ready for a Hot Summer Days to come.

This is Shiso Tisane with Candied Yuzu Zests.

If I could get fresh Yuzu in New York, I would make them myself, but I can't.

So I have to get them in Rockefeller Center, at "Minamoto Kiccho An" 

That is a Japanese Sweet Shop where you can find Traditional Japanese Sweets.

They are nothing like American Sweets, I don't know what else I can say about.
Don't expect to find your basic ingredients like Butter and Cream in them, Japanese have a very different vocabulary of sweets.

You just have to try to go there to even just see what they are.

Arboreal Spring !

This is where I live. "Chelsea" in New York City. 

It is May, Spring is finally here. This week for sure !
We started to see Fresh Greens at the Farmers' Market. 
Crocuses and Daffodils are almost over. 
Now I'm waiting for "Lilies of Valley" my favorite Flowers to show up there.
On the island of Manhattan, many flowers are opening everywhere.
Trees in our neighborhood are getting greener everyday. Before trees are covered with leaves completely, some of them are showing us flowers as well. 
Trees that don't have flowers are pushing out very green fresh leaves. 
I love those Yellow-Green Soft Baby Leaves. 
Something about young leaves makes me walk around this neighborhood with camera to have photographs of Spring. Is this happening only to me ?
Very soon, those trees will make nice shade for us during Hot Summer Days....
I have a feeling that we will have a Very Hot Summer ?

Before the "Royal Wedding".

I love Easter-Lilies specially with Pink Feather Hat Lady !

Many of us watched the Royal Wedding in London early Friday morning. 
Beside the Newly Wedded Couple, we are all still talking about the Head-Dresses. Most of fashion commentators are scoring ladies' outfits and "Hats and Fascinators".  They are also saying that Americans do not wear enough Hats. 
We should pay more attention to our heads when we decide to dress up !
Where were those people last Sunday ?
Easter was last Sunday. I decided to go to Fifth Avenue to see the Easter Parade.
Yes, that tradition is still alive and well in New York City.
I saw many Hats and Fascinators in the Parade and on the heads of spectators.  
When I got out of subway station at 5 Ave. & 53rd street, I immediately found some people with Hats. I had no idea that so many people would show up with Hats.  They were gathering to show their Hats, and see other people's Hats on Easter Sunday.
Not just ladies, men and kids, even their dogs showed up with Hats & Fascinators.
It was a very nice sunny day, Fifth Avenue was closed for traffic.  
People with Easter Hats were parading up and down on the Avenue. 
I found so many Flowers, Feathers, Eggs, Birds, Rabbits, or Butterflies on top of people's heads. Almost like a scene at Art-School Garden Party or something.... 
My choice was not to take pictures of those Hats.  
I wanted to find more traditional Easter Hats. Sure enough, I could see many well dressed people with great hats and great fashion sense. 
I spotted many Antique Hats & Fascinators, sometimes they were matched with Antique Clothes. Almost like outfits we see in books and movies ! 
Of course I couldn't help taking pictures of Cute Kids with Cute Hats... 
So, here are some of my favorite people who dressed up for the occasion.
What do you think ?

"COUPLES with STYLE"

"CHIC HATS and OUTFITS" 

And there were Hats I have to show you.

You just simply smiled when you see those Kids with Hats. Maybe they wore them just because their mommies made them so, but some of them are just so CUTE !

And there were those Colorful Hats. They were simply screaming for your attention, you just couldn't help taking pictures of them.

I was planning to stay at maybe an hour for a few pictures, but I ended up staying almost three hours. And I took more than 100 pictures of Hats & Fascinators !

And believe me, I was not the only one busy taking pictures of the Parade.

I have a feeling I'll be back to the Next Easter Parade even with a Hat ?  

"HAPPY KIDS with HATS"

"Hats, I must include in this post"

" Of course, Mr.Cunningham was working hard for the New York Times."

By the way, did you see the documentary film about him titled "Bill Cunningham New York" ?  I don't know where you can see it now. 

If you get a chance, I think you should see this film.

You will have a good time finding out who Mr. Cunningham is and what he does, and how he lives in New York. 

I have even more respect for what he does after that film. 

I've been seeing him with his work uniform from Paris at Union Square Farmers' Market and at other spots in Manhattan for many years. 

I've seen my pictures taken by him in Sunday New York Times Style Section. 

After that movie I am thinking of finding those pages from the New York Times as my Fashion Certificates.