"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....