Results matching “tree” from Jeanette Hada's Wellness and Happiness Blog
I've really come to love this house with it's beautifully painted rooms. Naoki finished the Venetian plaster in the sun room and recently the star room. He did a wonderful job and they look wonderful and bring a warmer feeling to the house.
Life has been busy with family and business. We've been blessed in both areas. Naoki's mother and sister came for a brief nine day stay. They really enjoyed all the tasty fruit (navel oranges, pummelos, fuji apples, and oro blancos) that are in season from the farmers market in Campbell. I made a garlicky spinach pasta with fresh Meyer lemons from our yard one night. It came out very well, though I would have liked it to be spicier...recipe to follow.
In business, I feel very fortunate and again blessed to be working with so many incredible people. My listing in San Bruno thankfully sold and the seller is buying a lovely place to call home in Sacramento. Four deals have closed this year so far and with another in escrow, there is much to be appeciative for. Although the news is always painting a bleak outlook, they are usually behind in reporting how things are looking up.
Back to talking about home... We have nearly 50 fruit plants/trees in our yard now. The potatoes are sprouting in the crop circle Naoki made. The blossoms are radiant on Aislee's white peach / white nectarine tree and on the Georgia Peach tree we adopted from a home in Palo Alto. I'm looking forward to making fruit pies if the fat squirrels don't get to them first.
The old avocado tree that came with this house bears California Diablo avocados. They're smoother and creamier than Hass and have a thinner skin. They take two weeks to ripen once picked from the tree. Hopefully we'll have more growing as I love avocado sandwiches on toasted bread with Japanese mayonnaise (Kewpie brand) and slices of cold cucumber! So good!! I could go off on a tangent when it comes to avocados... Actually it looks like I did.
Ok, on to the pasta recipe -
Boil your preferred pasta al dente (slightly undercooked) as you'll be adding it to another pan to mix in with the garlic lemon sauce.
1. In a large sauce pan drizzle a tablespoon of grapeseed oil (olive oil is fine too) and a pat of butter, heat on medium flame.
2. Add crushed garlic, approximately 5 - 7 cloves
3. Sprinkle a teaspoon (or more depending on your heat preference) of red pepper flakes
4. Add a few pinches of salt to meld flavors, more can be added later to adjust
5. Careful not to burn the garlic, give your mixture a few pushes around your pan.
6. Once garlic is crisp, add spinach and pasta.
7. Mix everything well til spinach is cooked, adding a touch more oil or butter as needed.
8. Finally add thinly sliced lemon wedges of one lemon or juice lemon and add it's zest.
The ones you see in this cup were a few of the last cherries, before our guests and bird, Lucky, finished them. We'll have to wait until next Spring for the new harvest. I wonder how the cherry blossoms will look.
The house is definitely far from organized, but Naoki did an excellent job of refinishing the old pinewood floors and is in the process of applying Venetian plaster to one of the rooms. When we first viewed this property, I thought it was beautiful (still do), but not for us. I pictured us moving to some place...newer and more modern, possibly even a townhouse. Naoki fell in love with the yard and has since planted 19 fruit trees, or was it 20? I've lost count. All I know is that those damn squirrels that I thought were the cutest when we moved in, have eaten the white nectarines on my daughter's tree! Her papa purchased her a grafted white peach with two different white nectarines tree. I want to plant it as soon as she's born.
The gorgeous floral arrangement you see in this post is from our newlywed friends, Carla and Andre. They made our dining room smell amazing! This was our first of many flowers that have entered this home, but the only one that I managed to photograph.
Current fruit obsession - muscat grapes (available for a limited time at Nijiya Markets, Bristol Farms, and Whole Foods), oranges from Twin Girl Farms (available at our local farmers markets), and strawberries.
I'm sorry, nothing really new to report other than my food cravings. I won't look for and include photos as that would just cause me to go out unwrap my truck, which takes 20 minutes to get the buckles, lock, and cover taken off, and drive through the Cinco de Mayo traffic on my street to battle rush hour traffic to buy fruit.
This morning I woke up sore with the blanket stuck to my bloodied knee. I think I'll invest in some flat shoes and knee pads...
I will smother my boo boo with Emprizone, an aloe based gel. Thankfully it doesn't burn and seems to heal my injuries rather quickly.
Please note: It looks like I have chicken skin in the photo below, but those are badly bruised hair follicles. yes, gross, but true.
Sunday was an interesting and relaxing day. I had the pleasure of catching the last day of Camille Rose Garcia's exhibit at the San Jose Museum of Art. Her stunning art is a vibrant display of sparkles and intense color.
Since our business meeting was rescheduled for Saturday, we set out to visit some local shrines in Ise, which is approximately an hour and a half away. All together we went to three different places and walked through lush green gardens that have over a thousand years of history. The crown prince of Japan was set to visit the following day so the shrines were exceptionally clean and in order.
The first place was hidden within the city and appeared to be well kept. Naoki informed me that they move and rebuild the shrines at the particular place every 20 years as the gods tend to get bored of staying in one place. To me, I guess any change after two decades in one place would be good.
The second location we went to next was my favorite. It was so vast and had a river running through it. To enter, a long wide wooden bridge needs to be crossed and lengthy pebbled walkways surrounded by trees and foliage of various hues of green shaded lead you to each god's shrine. When you approach, you make an offering (a coin or paper money will do), bow two times, clap twice, then give your thanks. Oh, I almost forgot. Every entrance to a shrine has a well or fountain with ladles to cleanse your hands (some people also use the water to rinse their mouths) before entering. Aside from the amazing scenery, I loved that this place was next to a shopping area. We had a delicious lunch (see photo) of marinated tuna over rice, a smoky flavored miso, cold noodle w/ half cooked egg (somen), pickled daikon, and a tiny seasoned tofu patty, scallop, and what appeared to be a small purse of tofu stuffed with mushrooms and vegetables. Yes, all of it was super delicious!
Our third place to visit was a shrine for a moon god. I'm not sure what that exactly means, but this was a very hidden location. Due to the overcast weather conditions, it was really dark and difficult to see. Four shrines in a row were set up. After Naoki and my in-laws attended each one, we left for home.
After visiting a handful of properties, it's apparent more than ever, that it's necessary to view the property in person and not make judgements based on the images posted on the MLS. Listing agents are either getting better at angling their shots or using Photoshop really well. I have a few friends also looking to purchase homes, some even for the first time.
One of the benefits of working with a friend who's a realtor and understands the finance side of the purchase is she's upfront about the difference between affording and qualifying. Property tax, maintenance, utilities, and other general living expenses, plus having enough to invest in either other ventures or the market allows us to expand our portfolio and make more investments.
I've watched "The Secret" DVD three times now (actually 2.5 times - the first time was on our Alaskan cruise in their theatre. I'd fallen asleep after staying up late one too many nights in a row.) Every time I've watched it, I've come away with something new. All of it good in my opinion.
This documentary-style movie stirred up a lot of buzz within our group of friends, colleagues and also online with many of the Yahoo Groups I'm a part of. If you haven't seen it yet, it's something I would highly recommend be watched to my family and friends.
If you live nearby me (in San Jose, California) and are interested in watching it, please let me know. You can also go online and view it yourself for $4.95 at http://www.theSecret.tv or purchase it via that site or at Amazon.
This weird, but interesting looking citron is called a "Buddha's Hand" and was purchased at today's farmers market at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. It's scent is similar to a Meyers lemon, but more intense and slightly sweeter. I brought one home to show Naoki, since he has an interest in photographing strange things (you'll probably see it on his blog later)
Along with my buddha's hand lemon, I picked up one "pain epi" wheat bread (it's shaped like a stalk of wheat) at Acme Bread Company, and two organic oranges to make cranberry/orange relish. While walking back to the office, I broke my bread in half to share with someone on the street and stashed the other half in my bag containing the buddha's hand. The aroma of the fresh baked bread and citrus together created a wonderful smell!
The best part of eating that bread this evening was the light lemon taste it took on from the oils in the citron. It was perfect alone, though I did eat it with a small piece of pepper jack.
I'm not sure how clearly you can see these photos (taken with a Treo phone), but the tiny dinosaur looking creatures in the first photo are parrotlet hatchlings and the second is of Green Cheek Conures. They're different than Lucky, who is a "Yellow Sided Fancy Green Cheek Conure". His coloring is a mutation (a good kind of mutation that is..).
After spending time at the birdshow, we came home with Lucky's new toys and immediately showered and washed the clothes we attended the show in. We then washed all of his goodies and set them outside to dry.
Our friend Chie purchased a conure of her own. She found Takeshi, a Rosie Fronted Conure, from one of the breeders at the show. We helped her find a suitable cage, which needed to be large enough for him to roam around in, a large play gym made from a manzanita tree branch, and a Happy Hut for him to sleep in.
This past weekend was spent looking for multiple unit properties to both and live and invest in. After viewing about eight different places, I came home feeling very thankful for our tiny (but well kept and quiet) home. We'd like to find a place with a good school district, and possibly upgrade the property to include eco and health friendly flooring, paint, and water filteration systems.
It seems a million dollars doesn't get you very much in the Bay Area these days. That's not exactly our budget, but it's the going rate for many of the plex properties in the 40 year old range in the South Bay.
Please read on if you would like a list of valuable real estate resources.
Westfield has really outdone itself and created an amazing shopping center in downtown San Francisco. The interior of the mall is beautiful with all the glass letting in natural light, especially through the glass dome preserved from the original building. It really did take my breath (and a good portion of my savings) away!
My good friend, Michelle, remarked that it reminded her of the malls in asia, specifically Korea (South, of course). After having the chance to visit it myself, I absolutely agree. In Taiwan and Japan, many of the higher end designers have boutique/stores within the center and the casual or less pricey shops are on the street, such as Gap, Benetton, etc.
So far I've checked out Mango (from Spain), Zara (from Italy), Juicy Couture (from England), Aldo, Adidas (they have the Stella McCartney line in stock), Bloomingdales, and a variety of the eateries. I did a little dance (internally) when I found out they would have a Beard Papa cream puff shop set up there. They have the tastiest shu creams filled with fresh custard cream flavored with Madagascar vanilla...yum!
Tomorrow, I may head over there with friends to hit the Dior cosmetic counter. The manager invited us to get makeovers. Everyone at the that particular counter was extremely nice without being pushy. She was most helpful in assisting me with finding the perfect birthday gift for two of my friends. I can't say what it was, as they may be reading this... Anyway, the Dior department is offering a sweet gift bag and makeover with a two item purchase. It's way too easy to go crazy, so I'll need to decide before heading there.
Whenever we plan on going shopping, window or otherwise, we usually try to fit time in to eat first then walk off the meal as we peruse the different shops. Moving after a eating aids in digestion, helps us fight off the grogginess that sometimes accompanies a carb-laden meal, and gets our circulation going. If I'm shopping for clothes on that particular day, I'll also refrain from overeating, as trying to squeeze myself into an outfit is an uncomfortable experience. Taking a two enzyme tablets prior to eating has helped speed up the breakdown of foods which I also find very helpful!
Can you imagine how gorgeous this place will be during the holidays?
This is a photo of the stream where you can cool off after your tub soak and sauna. It's located behind the main building.
About a week ago, we stopped at Stewart Mineral Springs on the way home from our mini Mt. Shasta vacation (more on that to come).
The recommended course is to soak in your own personal (no sharing, thank goodness) tub for eight minutes, sit in the dry sauna to sweat out more toxins, and then cool off in either the showers provided or in the cold water mineral springs. You're advised to do this three times and three times only. Oh and due to the high silica content, don't rub your skin while soaking in your hot mineral bath. If you develop skin irritation, it's supposedly due to a cleansing reaction and they have topical products to apply if this happens.
I started my bath by filling the tub with scalding hot mineral water, then did the toe dip test. After burning myself, I ran cold water to get it to a more comfortable temperature. As I perched on the edge of my tub, I noticed a knotted rope hanging from the ceiling. My first assumption was that some of their elderly patrons may have difficulty getting in and out of the tub and needed the extra support.
Once the water reached a tolerable level of slightly less hot than just boiled water, I stepped in, slipped, screamed and shouted an expletive. All this while new age music played and sage was being burned for the people meditating in the other room. I now know that mineral water from Stewart Springs is slippery and that the rope is there is for everyone, not just the elderly or disabled.
Shaken from my fall, I sat in my tub (thankfully alone) and nervously began to rub my legs and arms. Settling into the warmth and relaxing to the music, I was beginning to enjoy the experience, until the feeling of stabbing needles caught my attention. I'd forgotten about the whole "no rubbing" thing and now the silica had made tiny scratches on my legs and arms, so I got out and headed to the dry sauna.
Five minutes in the sauna was enough, then I headed to cool off in the springs outside.
40% fewer calories than processed sugar / 75% less carb intake
Diabetic Safe
Xylitol is a natural low-glycemic sugar manufactured from birch trees or other natural xylan-rich sources. It's metabolized independently of insulin and is safe for diabetics or anyone seeking a healthier lifestyle. No sugar highs or lows.
Perfect for coffee, tea, cereal...does not promote cavities, looks and tastes like sugar, leaves no aftertaste, and disolves quickly.
Find it at your local healthfood stores (such as Whole Foods) or online at http://www.emeraldforestsugar.com
Find more information by Googling or visiting http://www.wikipedia.org
I just returned from an amazing night at the ballet. The opening was magnificent and truly like a Renoir painting come to life. Les Sylphides was my favorite performance of the evening, as I love Chopin. Nocturne in F major played as the curtain rose and all the dancers posed motionless behind a blurred, gossamer screen to give it a dream-like, diaphanous look. As that lifted, the backdrop was of a moonlit park with lush green trees. It was so breathtakingly beautiful -- I really regret not bringing my camera.
Never thought it would be possible to find good pizza in the Bay Area and was actually looking forward to my March trip to Fort Worth, Texas where there's a NY-style pizzeria with the most amazing pie that I think about that cursed, delicious cheesy piece of heaven almost a few times a week since I was there last year.
Last night, a friend and I (she's a native east coaster), dined at Tony Soprano's pizzeria in downtown San Jose. After that first bite into a simple slice of hot cheese pizza, I was in total bliss. The sauce and melting cheese were pure perfection! Don't even get me started on their crispy (not oily) calamari, hearty and generous servings of Chicken Marsala over a bed of linguini or their golden toasted garlic bread. The only thing that outshined the food, which wasn't an easy thing to do, was the service. Everyone from the patrons to the employees were so happy, wonderful and nice. Did I mention it was a Monday night? Anyway, my friend told me that their pizza was the closest she's come to what she's had back east and that's saying a lot! Her next quest is to find the perfect cannoli here...
The restaurant is a few months old and they will be getting their liquor license by the middle of this month. Drop in and take a look at their menu, bet you'll have a difficult time deciding what to order. My next visit will be to indulge in their seafood pasta laden with wine drenched mussels, clams, shrimp, and scallops in your choice of white or red sauce. Portions are extremely generous and can be shared or saved for the next day. Oh and pizza can be purchased by the slice!
Tony Soprano's Pizzeria Ristorante
87 E. San Fernando Street (btwn 2nd & 3rd Street)
San Jose, CA 95113
(408)271-9707
Worth visiting Monday thru Saturday when the incredibly talented Chef Marvin is working!!
Tell Richard J says hello!
