"Tenugui Book & Tenugui Tote"

"Green Tea"

This is a Tengui Book about Japanese Green Tea.

From how they grow it to how to serve it.

A few years back, a friend of mine in Tokyo sent me a "Tenugui Bon" 
"Bon" means "Book" in Japanese.  A book made from One Tenugui without cutting it.  It was folded such way that it became a small book, a very soft fabric book.  It came with diagram, therefore I could see what the tenugui looks like when it is opened.  
I don't have heart to cut the thread holding the shape of Tenugui-Bon.  But if I do, it will open up to a smarty printed "Tenugui"
Since then, I am collecting these wonderfully Japanese little things.  
Some of big cities have their own version of "Tenugui Bon" such places as Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, Kanazawa.....  I have a few of them.
But my favorites are books about Japanese culture, such as Food, Tea, Festivals, Calligraphy, Onsen(hot springs)....
You get the idea ?  I have some of those as well.
Recently, I discovered that I can get a case for it. Now I keep it in the case, then put them on the bookself.  They are just like small-size books, I used to buy in Japan to keep in a bag to carry around when I was reading it.

"Calligraphy"

 This is how I keep "Tenugui Bon"

Book about "Japanese Things", "Family Crests", "Onsen" , "Rice"

They are my Tenugui Bon Collection, so far.

All Books are open.

Some of the images may look familiar to you, don't they ?

One of the other things made from Tenugui is "Tenugui Tote Bag"  

When I was visiting Kanazawa, I walked into this small shop which specialized in things very traditionally Japanese.  

When I was living there, I used to despise shops like that. 

But now, finding shops like that is becoming such a pleasure.  I have no power over getting into the place like that....

There were many things I wanted to get in that shop in Kanazawa, but I had to make a choice.  After all, I just checked into a small Japanese style B&B a few steps away.  I needed to see the rest of the city before spending money at the very first shop in that city.

But, there was a Tote Bag Made from a Scallion-Print Tenugui.  I was carrying my guide book with my hand.  Therefore I needed to have a tote for me to put things in to be able to walk around.  At least I found a good excuse to spend money.  So I got that tote that morning.

It was well-made bag.  It had a lining and small patch-pocket inside.  I'll never find a fabric bag like that in the USA.  

I'm so glad that I bought my "Naganegi (Scallion) Tote"  Since I've gotten that tote, I made a few totes from "Tenugui" I purchased in Kyoto.  One of them is in "Senbei Tenugui (Japanese Rice Cracker Print Tenugui)"  

I still have few more of those Tenugui with Non Traditional Print which are perfect for tote bags me to make...

"Senbei Tote" & "Naganegi Tote"

"Tenugui in Manhattan"

I love "Tenugui".  It is a Japanese Cotton Towel, about 12" by 35" rectangular.

"Te" means "Hand" and "Nugui" means "wipe". 

Traditionally they always have specific panel prints.
But those towels are not just for wiping your hands.  Japanese have many traditional ways to use them.  You may see many Sushi Chefs twisted it, then putting it on thier fore-head like a sweat band.  Usually they use ones with small polka dots printed on them, navy polka dots on white.
According to "wuhao (the New York based company that imports Tenugui from Japan)", we can find evidence of "Tenugui" as far back as the ancient Kofun-Era (250~538AD) in Japanese history. Until the Nara-period (710~794AD) "Tenugui" were made of Silk or Hemp.  During the Heian-period (794~1185AD) the term "Terugui" originated.  It was only after the periods between Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo (1568~1867AD), the use of "Tenugui" spread to the general public. 
Along with the spread of public bath houses in the Edo-period, the uesage of "Tenugui" accelerated. 
The Luxury-Banning Act (Third Shogun Yoshimune made this Law) changed the public demand from silk to more modest Cotton for 'Tenugui".
You can lean more about "Tenugui" if you visit "wuhao". < wuhaonyc.com >

"My Favorite Vintage Tenugui" 

Very Basic, yet Very Japanese.

You will be able to find very similar patterns in Silk Kimono Fabrics.

Simplicity...

Give-away for "the Year of Hen"

Believe it or not , this is a give-away from "Cabaret Red Shoes"

 Checkered Panel, Pink Cherry Blossom Flower Petals, and Red Border.
What A Combination in A Panel !

In my memory, "Tenugui" was almost always given from merchants as gifts. Especially around every New Year's Day.  As the New Year's Best Wishes, they gave away "Tenugui" to their customers.  So, you can always find name of murchant or thier logo on them.  
Even many years later, you can still see where "Terugui" came from.
Nowdays such a tradition is disappearing. It is hard to find "Tenugui" with merchants' names or logos. On the other hand, you can find and buy "Tenugui" in souvenir shops or even at department stores.
They are becoming more like novelty things, not like "Tenugui" I remember from my childhood in Japan.
Since they are always in 100% cotton, they are so convenient to use in Kitchen to cover dishes for drying, or covering prepared food. 
My family used them in the bath-tab as a wash-cloth, or  keeping in the bathroom for drying hands. I also remenber grandmother covered upper part of Futon with "Tenugui" so that it would be easy to keep clean the part close to your face.
So, as you can see, "Terugui" has endless ways to use.  
No wonder, in recent years Japanese rediscovered uniquness of "Tenugui".

"Souvenir Tenugui"

from Tokyo.

from Tokyo "SHITAMACHI (Old Section of Tokyo)"

Those "Happi Coats" have Symbols of each Aria.

from Island of Ooshima,  famous for "Camilla"

from The Museum of Ancient Izumo in Shimane-prefecture.

Friend of mine sent to me this a few years ago.

That is the one of many places I want to visit some day.

When I get there, will I be able to find more "Tenugui" ?

from Kyoto.

"Ocasional Tenugui"

This one I've got for the New Year's Day.

Of course, this one is for Christmas time.

First 3 letters in "Hiragana"  Japanese Alphabet.

"All Hiragana" these are the very base of Japanese Writing.

 Tenugui with non-traditional prints, I found all of them in Kyoto.

Modern Terugui have more colors and patterns on them.  They are almost like regular printed cotton fabrics. They are just narrower and cut into the traditional "Terugui" length. 
I believe they are all "Hand Printed".  Some of the companies who makes terugui have started making other items with modern tenugui.  
I have some of those items.  I'll post them very soon.
But for me, Old Tenugui gives me warmth.  
Not so much from new ones, even though they have so much Brightness and Playfulness in them.  Happy but not to feel Complete.
Maybe nostalgia, but I still love my few antique ones so much more, patterms are simpler, but yet they are so modern......

"Pickled Pink"

You will never know what some vegetables look like by looking at outside.

You can make many different patterns by how you slice them.

Your artistic sense will show up with those pretty Veggies.

One of my friends is having a Japanese Pickle Party. Guests are welcomed to bring their own Pickles for the event.
As I always do Saturday morning, I was at the Farmers' Market looking for some vegetables to make my original pickle for the party. 
I found "Baby French Breakfast Radishes" at "Paffenroth Farm". 
I can always count on "Paffenroth Farm" to bring me some great Veggies for Pickles and other things.
I also got "Watermelon Radishes" and "Chiogga Beets".   
Yes,"Watemelon Radish" is back at the Market. This was the third time I've got them for Salad in this month.  
Without cutting open, you have no idea how pretty this vegetable is.
During the Summer weeks I started having "Chiogga Beets" raw in the salad. 
This vegetable is also very pretty inside, but again you will never know from the outside. Pink & White stripes or circles will show up by how you cut them.
But their prettiness will disappear soon as you cook them.
The thing is that all those vegetable will lose colors.  It all depends how long you cook them and how much water you add to those vegetables.
So, my theme for today is "Pink Pickles".  Hoping to see Pink~Red pickles from jars at the party.  
Naturally colored "Pretty Pink Pickles" will be different from the other ones...

"French Breakfast Radishes" can be very spicy.  But since they are very tiny, they can't be too spicy.  I though they could be the perfect ones for pickling. 
I soaked "French Breakfast radish" in Bowl with Water to clean. Sometimes, it is the best way to clean vegetables, specially small ones and Root-Vegetables. 
I made brine with Rice Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, and some Sugar and "Umeboshi(salt pickled plum)" instead of plain salt.
"Beet & Watermelon Radish" were quickly blanched before pickling.  
The brine for them was with Rice Vineger, Mirin, Sake, and pinch of Salt and clashed Garlic for a kick.  And I added Ginger for more Japanese flavor....

Since I blanched Radishes and Beets for only a few minutes, 

some of colors and stripes are still visible. 

This is an unexpected result for Pink Pickles. 

It is a happy surprise !

"East End & West End"

The painting is by Susan Baker. 

She sits in her gallery in Truro

Provincetown does not only give us fun times, that town also gives me many eye-candy views. Sunrise to Sunset, Sparkling Stars Filled Sky at night. 
I still remember the first time I saw the town from the boat. The monument that sticks up in the middle of town, is an exact replica of the "Campanile(Bell Tower)" in Siena.  
That view always makes me say with a smile,"I'm Baaaaaack !"
End of the pier hits Commercial Street, the main drag of town. It goes through from the beginning of town to very end.  At the cross roads of that spot, there was always "Dancing Policeman" doing traffic control like he was dancing. It was almost like seeing break-dancing.  He is no longer there anymore, but every time I walk to that spot I remember him. 
And Bikes, where ever you go in P-Town you will see bikes.  The first thing you do in P-Town is rent a bike. It becomes your transportation during your stay.  You definitely need to have a bike to get to Beaches.  Once you start riding it, you will feel like you are a local, especially if you already have TAN.  If you don't have one yet, you may need to work on that immediately..... 
One of things I do every visit is walking though the West End of Commercial Street to see the houses to make sure my favorite ones are still there.  They may have gotten fresh paint, or flowers in the front yard may have changed by new owner.  But they are still welcoming with lots of charm. 
This time I also walked the East End.  Beyond "Old School House" (now it became Galleries & Artists Studios) I do not visit by Walking much.  
Of course I found many lovely houses in that area as many as in the West End.  
There is only one Brick House in P-Town which belonged to Norman Mailer who spent his summer months in P-Town.  I think you can visit that house if you want to see.  But for me that house is out of place for P-Town.
I always say to myself if I have money to have a Summer House it will be in that sea-town, I even know which one will be the One for me.....

"A Dozen in The West End"

This is where Commercial Street makes a curve.

This means, the quiet part of the West End starts.

Those 3 Rocking Chairs are always outside having coordinated pillows.

I call this one, "Perfect House"

Love the front Garden and the pathway to the door.

"Blue House"

 "La Princepessa (the princess) / Pink House"

As you can see those 2 houses are exactly are same houses.

Count the windows will you ?

I have a thing about "Ivey & Picket Fences"

Unusual shape of the roof.

Our friend told me that the interior is completely redone.

Barn Shutter like windows are so big.

When they kept open, you can see everything in the room.

"Houses on the Pier" 

Somebody told me, people are on a waiting list for years to stay there.

"Picture Perfect House in the West End"

 "A Dozen in the East End"

"Picture Perfect House in the East End"

Sunflowers are perfect accessories for this house.

Picket Fence and Trellised Wall & Roof are waiting to be covered with ivy.

This house used be a Garage ?

May be fun to sit on the verandah watching people passing all day long.

Victorian by the Sea.

A Small Octagonal Window makes this house so charming.

Can you see the Ocean thought the living room ?

Somehow I love this "Rustic Bungalow"

"Norman Mailer's House".  

He spent most of Summers in this house when he was alive.

This is my second favorite house minus the red car.

This is the one I want, if I get money to buy a Summer House.

This one even has a name "IOTA Cottage"

If you decided to go visit P-Town or you are in P-town right now, you can find those houses easily. 

I didn't walk thought side streets of the town with my camera in this visit. 
So if you do, you will see more pretty houses. You can take pictures of them to add to this post as you wish. I'm more than happy to have photos of other house in P-Town before next Summer.

There are many interesting Views of Houses I documented in my "East & West Ends of P-Town Walk". 

Here are some views I thought I had to include in this Blog-post...

  

"GREEN  ENTRANCES"

"SEA VISTAS"

"GATES"

Iconic Photo of P-Town featuring houses on the Pier.

Blue Sky, Blue Water and the Monument.

If you have time & energy to climb up stairs in the monument,
this is the view you will see at the top of that tower.
You are looking at the East Half of Provincetown.