Third Wedding this Year

"Ceremony" San Antonio, 2019
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.6, 1/210 sec, ISO200
“Ceremony” San Antonio, 2019

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Do you know that period of time when you are about 30 and many of your friends around you are getting married? Well, that was 20 years for us, and since then we haven’t gone to many weddings. However, just within the past half year, we’ve gone to three! And the ages of the couples has varied quite a bit. First, my brother (six years my elder) got married, then some friends (10 years younger than me) got married, and lastly, my nephew (23 years younger) got married.

And the types of weddings were also quite different. California beachside with Mexican food, Hill Country with Texas barbecue, and historic San Antonio with chicken, steak, etc. None of these were at a church and thinking about it, I guess church weddings aren’t as popular as the used to be. But one thing is always the same: weddings are perhaps the most emotional occasion for the newlyweds, so it is an honor to be part of them. And they are always fun!

This latest wedding for my nephew was great. The food was excellent, with a nice bar (Suntory Toki whiskey!). There were oysters on the half-shell, shrimp cocktail, smoked salmon, Beef Wellington, and jalapeño poppers. And those were just the appetizers! It was also really nice to see my extended family, some of whom I only see at family reunions. I have to say that family weddings are the best since we get to welcome new members into our crazy Leesang/Fujimoto clans.

"First Dance" San Antonio, 2019
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/90 sec, ISO6400
“First Dance” San Antonio, 2019

I hope you had a great day!

またね~

New Coffee at Our House

"Sumatran Coffee" Cedar Park, 2019
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/4, 1/125 sec, ISO2500
“Sumatran Coffee” Cedar Park, 2019

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Mariko and I are both coffee drinkers (and Bay is turning into one as well) which means we need a steady supply of coffee beans for our morning drinks. The photo above is the latest coffee we are trying, and I have to say, it’s pretty good! I always drink my coffee black, so I can easily tell if it’s too bitter, and this one is very smooth – almost too smooth, but what’s nice is that Mariko buys lots of different coffees, so before long, we’re onto something new.

One thing that makes a big difference in the taste of the coffee is grinding whole beans rather than buying the coffee pre-ground. Even before drinking, that smell of the freshly ground beans is awesome! Another bonus is that if the coffee happens to be too bitter, you can create a coarser ground next time for a milder taste. Conversely, I’ve also used the grinder to “freshen up” pre-ground beans (which tend to be less flavorful) and give them a stronger flavor.

I’ve read that the Burr-type grinders are the best, but we’ve had our Braun electric blade-type grinder for over 15 years and it’s still going strong, so we’ll probably keep going with it until it dies (which might be never).

I hope you had a nicely-caffeinated day! ☕

またね~

Snapshots from Tonight’s Dinner

"Duck and Foie Gras Sushi" Austin, 2019
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2, 1/50 sec, ISO6400
“Duck and Foie Gras Sushi” Austin, 2019
"Shishamo" Austin, 2019
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2, 1/50 sec, ISO6400
“Shishamo” Austin, 2019
"Sushi Roll" Austin, 2019
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2, 1/70 sec, ISO6400
“Sushi Roll” Austin, 2019
"Busy Restaurant" Austin, 2019
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2, 1/125 sec, ISO4000
“Busy Restaurant” Austin, 2019
"Mini-Ramen" Austin, 2019
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2, 1/60 sec, ISO6400
“Mini-Ramen” Austin, 2019

Freezing Weather and Frozen Yogurt

"Frozen Yogurt Toppings" Cedar Park, 2019
Photo info: motorola moto g(6), 3.95mm, f/1.8, 1/20 sec, ISO435
“Frozen Yogurt Toppings” Cedar Park, 2019

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Today the weather dropped to near freezing temperatures, and we even had some sleet. It wasn’t enough to cause any school closures, but it was still way colder than I like. I could never survive in a place that has a long winter!

Even with the frigid temperature, we went to get frozen yogurt this evening at the local Froyoz. Actually, it was just Koa who got anything. I’m always surprised how many choices there are for toppings at the frozen yogurt shop – there’s the regular items like sprinkles, crushed Oreos, and gummy bears, but also some newish toppings like marshmallow creme, kiwi boba, and cheesecake bits. It’s like a candy store!

We rarely go out for ice cream or frozen yogurt, so I didn’t mind taking Koa this evening. Just hope it doesn’t turn into a habit!

I hope you had a nice day.

またね~

Kimchee Nabé (Hotpot) on a Chilly Evening

"Kimchee Nabé" Cedar Park, 2019
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/80 sec, ISO6400
“Kimchee Nabé” Cedar Park, 2019

こんばんは。How’s it going?

A really nice dish to eat when the weather turns cold, as it’s doing right now, is Nabé, or Japanese hotpot. Tonight’s nabé was Korean-style, with plenty of spicy kimchee and sliced pork. The greens were nira, and we also had mushrooms, sausage, onion, cheese, and instant ramen noodles.

"Before Cooking" Cedar Park, 2019
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 35mm, f/2, 1/75 sec, ISO500
“Before Cooking” Cedar Park, 2019

It was so delicious that I ate way too much. But it warmed me up and left me with a nice feeling of contentment. It’s funny how some foods can do that! 😌

I hope you had a nice day!

またね〜