Well we finally understand all of the warnings about the こたつkotatsu. We were able to get the blanket and chairs that go with the kotatsu so we could finally use it. The heating element along with the blanket is very warm and comfortable. Here is the picture after we set it up.
And here is a picture 10 minutes after the first.
That is the whole week. We were not able to accomplish anything else, as we just sat under the kotatsu the entire week....
Ok, actually there was more.
We were able to get a Christmas tree. We went to にとりNitori on Saturday and found that all the trees were now sold out. I was able to ask the workers if we could buy the display. First they said no, but as we were leaving they stopped us and asked if it was OK without a box. No problem for us, so we got it 30% off and we did not have to throw the box away. It was already decorated with bells, and it has fiber optic lights on it all for about $40 US. We are now ready for Christmas.
Colleen had her marathon at school. Liam had his a couple of weeks ago. They both did very well. I am not sure how far it actually is, but all the children that are feeling well run it. Kate was able to go and watch, I was not.
These two girls did not run the marathon, but hung out and talked to Kate during the race.
We visited a Shinto shrine in Utsunomiya. When we arrived there was a market out front with a wide variety of items for sale. The shrine is very beautiful. It is at the top of a pretty good sized hill. There is a dragon that acts as a water spout for the cleansing pool. I have to learn a little more in order to better explain the items contained inside the shrine.
Below are a number of pictures of the shrine, the first is the gate.
Finally...... When we went to the fish market a couple of weeks ago Yokoyama san asked if we were interested in buying anything. I explained that I was interested, but that I did not know what to do with anything after I got it home. I said I guess we could put the live octopus in the tub and keep it for a pet. (of course I was just kidding). While walking around we found some spiced squid that we liked. Immediately Yokoyama san bought one for us. When we received it, it was wrapped in news paper. I asked how to prepare it, and I was told to freeze it, and then when I wanted to eat it I should take it out of the freezer and slice off the amount I wanted. Then just let it thaw a little and eat it. This week I decided I was hungry and wanted some. When I unwrapped the newspaper I realized that it was the entire squid shrink wrapped. Below is what was left after I sliced off what I wanted. You can see the head and tentacles if you look closely, the dark spot is the eye.
As I was eating it I felt it tasted a little strange. I got through maybe 3 pieces before I decided something was wrong. I stopped and thought a little about the squid I have eaten in the past. None of it ever had goo in the middle. I am completely OK eating things I know I am supposed to eat, but I was not really sure about this stuff. The uncertainty got to me and finally I decided I should remove the goo in the middle, and that this squid had not yet been gutted.
Above is the frozen cross section and you can see the middle is still there. Later I confirmed with my Japanese friends that in fact I should have cleaned the middle part out. Also they explained that you don't eat the head. That is also good information for the future. Some things I wish I didn't have to learn the hard way..
Happy Holidays.
The Hughes family.
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