What is in your cup?

[desertblues]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Not just vintage... Old! From back when everyone used charcoal fires for their cooking. These were made to sit on the iron holders that go right into the coals. Instead of chimney fireplace cooking, the fires were made in the center of the room, on a bed of sand, the smoke going up and out through a hole in the roof. For old wooden houses with paper walls, there sure were a lot of fires inside. For warmth, the kitchen and living rooms had charcoal heated 'kotatsu,' pits about 4-5 feet deep with burning charcoal at the bottom. Folks would sit with their feet dangling down into the pit, a table over the top of it, with a quilt holding the warmth inside.

These days folks use an electrically heated kotatsu. but it's still a very common way to keep warm. Many people will even sleep under them!

I prefer the old charcoal ones... as long as I'm not the one who has to wake up early to get them started!

Stitchawl

Thanks Stichawl; that is very interesting to hear. I think I would sit all day, with a good book and some cold Arabica-coffee with my legs under that cosy warm, table.

[astra]

A cup of Kokeicha.

[desertblues]

Mosel Riesling-Hochgewächs 2008, lovely white wine.

[Stitchawl]

Morning has broken
Like the first morning,
Black bird has spoken
Like the first bird.
Praise the singing!
Praise for the morning!
Praise for them springing
Fresh from the Word!

Good morning everyone, and happy April. I hope you all made it past April Fool's Day in good shape. Fortunately, it's not practiced here. As it's Sunday, we are beginning the week with a mug of Taylors of Harrogate's Yorkshire tea. I don't know what that has to do with starting off a week, but it sure tastes good!

Originally Posted by astra

What a bizarre country Japan is.

Bizarre x10! We say ' if you can understand it, it's NOT Japanese!

Originally Posted by Aurora W

My favorite manga-ka drew her characters sitting around a kotatsu in one of her art books. She also talked about how she liked sitting at one, but it made getting any work done difficult.

Especially in winter. The rest of the house doesn't get heated so everything happens while sitting at the kotatsu. And I mean EVERYTHING! Eating, drinking, sleeping, watching TV, reading a book, playing Spin the Bottle, etc.

Originally Posted by astra

I cannot imagine how they sit there.
I cannot sit on the floor with crossed legs. Lotus position. Never could.

I'm with you! I'm good for about 2 minutes before my legs begin to ache!

I have heard long time ago that in Japan it is an offence if you stand up from your knees or Lotus positions during tea ceremony.

True, but they make allowances for foreigners. We are allowed to wiggle, but if there are older Japanese people attending, you can see the disapproval in their faces.

Originally Posted by bjones6416

The pictures are great, Stitchawl! A little trip for me without leaving my chair this morning!
Is that Goddess of Mercy statue as big as it looks?

Here she is in proper perspective. About the height of a 6-7 floor building.




Stitchawl

[bjones6416]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Here she is in proper perspective. About the height of a 6-7 floor building.




Stitchawl

What a fantastic sight!

[bjones6416]

Originally Posted by desertblues

Thanks Stichawl; that is very interesting to hear. I think I would sit all day, with a good book and some cold steaming hot Arabica-coffee with my legs under that cosy warm, table.

Fixed that for ya.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Here she is in proper perspective. About the height of a 6-7 floor building.




Stitchawl

Originally Posted by bjones6416

What a fantastic sight!

Sight? Yes. But I like knowing that She's watching over me. I need all the mercy I can get! There is another large statue of her here in Kyoto, at a temple devoted to her;

I stop in to say 'hello' every time I get a chance. I figure it's a good idea to stay on her good side...


Stitchawl

[desertblues]

Originally Posted by bjones6416

Fixed that for ya.

Thanks Betty; you're a good friend.

[Iridal]

Originally Posted by bjones6416

Fixed that for ya.

Hehe

Cappuccino to start the day. Up too early as usual ... But looking forward to a run in a couple of hours, and also to demolishing my wardrobe this afternoon

[GeoffC]

empty

[ProfCrash]

Puppies and young dogs do not seem to understand the concept of weekend and think that the day should start at the same time as a regular day. (sigh)

[GeoffC]

it does ....

black coffee

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Puppies and young dogs do not seem to understand the concept of weekend and think that the day should start at the same time as a regular day. (sigh)

Just wait for the babies to arrive. Then you'll appreciate how late the puppies sleep! We were lucky that my son learned to 'use' a clock at around three years. He knew he wasn't supposed to wake us up before the little hand pointed at the "7" unless there was a real emergency. He could turn on the TV by himself and watch cartoons, and not wake me up until then. One morning I heard soft whimpering coming from the TV room around 6:00, walked in and saw him sitting in front of the TV but the screen was 'rolling' (back in the day of adjustable vertical holds on TV's) but it was too early for him to wake us up to fix it for him.... We told him that from now on, that could be considered an emergency and he could wake us up. Nice kid. He'll be getting married this August, 33 years after the TV trouble.

I'm finishing up the day with a small glass of Bombay Sapphire. 'Nite all!


Stitchawl

[astra]

After Sunday morning black tea spree (1 Assam Harmutty, 2 Keemun, 1 Emperors Yunnan, 1 Ahmad's English Breakfast ) a cup of Japanese green, Bancha Houjicha, for a change

[astra]

Originally Posted by astra

A cup of Kokeicha.

I was asked what this Kokeicha is.

Googled and found something unusual:

Kokeicha is a specialty Japanese tea prepared from the fine green tea powder used in tea ceremonies. A special process whereby water is added to the tea powder, kneaded, extruded through a machine (similar to making fresh pasta) and finally dried to result in a "pine needle" like form. Thus Kokeicha translated from Japanese means "formed tea". Tea has played and continues to play an important roll in Japanese culture and the traditional tea ceremony is still maintained as a ritual to this day. For more than 400 years the tea ceremony or ‘cha no yu’ has been performed following the same 37 steps that govern every move from the arrival of the guests to the washing of the cups. In some phases of the ceremony, the guests may compliment the hostess for the food or in some cases the guest may apologize to the others for taking the first cup of tea. Purists however insist that the only sounds during the ceremony should be those of the utensils touching each other as the tea is prepared and served.