For Japan

Please remember our Japanese friends who need our help:     

Artists for Japan  

Meet my friend and neighbor

'Octopus',  bracelet; sterling silver, fossilized walrus ivory,
printer's ink;  Kathleen Faulkner

Shy octopus glides through the water looking for a hiding place.

One of my all time favorite critters, the octopus: shy, intelligent, curious and an intricate member of the underwater ecosystem.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, it's the Giant Pacific Octopus growing up to 23 feet and weighing as much as 150 pounds.  These beauties make their home territory from northern California up the coast along the Aleutians and down along the coast of Japan.  One could say they are a part of the 'Ring of Fire'.

If you've ever seen a live octopus up close and personal, you probably remember the eyes,  intelligent eyes that look right back at you, maybe even through you.

so much more than just another sea creature

Nectar of the Gods

'Gyokuro' neckpiece, 30x1.5" sterling silver, tea bag images, mica
Kathleen Faulkner

I live on green tea.  I drink it throughout the day, every day.  It is my one necessity.  I prefer Japanese green tea for it's flavor and since I buy my tea loose, I have to travel to Seattle when I start running low.

I buy my green tea from the asian grocery store in Chinatown.  Uwajimaya is a wonderful place to shop.  It is a bit of visual overload, at times, with all the color and activity and a lot of the food is unknown to me which makes the experience all the more interesting.  My first stop is always the tea aisle.

There are many different kinds and grades of green tea.  Prices can range from $3 to $20 and up per package of about 3 ounces.

Back in the boom times, I'd buy Gyokuro now and again.  It is the finest green tea and was my reward for finishing difficult projects.  These days, I stick to the lesser priced, but still good,  Sensha and  lately, I've also developed a taste for Machagenmai-cha.  This tea is blended with roasted brown rice giving it a roasted, slightly meaty flavor.  mmmm!

Time for another cup of tea.  Cheers!

image: washokofood.blogspot

In Japan, one can get a cup of tea from the vending machine!