The Hatter's Circus

Oh look! The Mad Hatter has disappeared from the ring and dissolved into a pool of sparkling tea. He's off to another party, so it needn't be sad.

This is from the dearhearted Shokoofeh. One word answers are hard ;)

1. Where is your cell phone? Here.
2. Your hair? Braided.
3. Your mother? homeschooling.
4. Your father? hero.
5. Your favorite food? savouryorchocolateandgourmeteitherway.
6. Your dream last night? unremembered
7. Your favorite drink? coffee.
8. Your dream/goal? multigenerational motherhood.
9. What room are you in? mine.
10. Your hobby? art.
11. Your fear? waste.
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? my own home.
13. Where were you last night? study.
14. Something that you aren’t? feminist.
15. Muffins? warm.
16. Wish list item? polaroid.
17. Where did you grow up? everywhere.
18. Last thing you did? movie.
19. What are you wearing? pajamas :)
20. Your TV? Off.
21. Your pets? Sunny.
22. Friends? blessings. (but scattered)
23. Your life? Growing.
24. Your mood? happy.
25. Missing someone? Someones.
26. Vehicle? walking.
27. Something you’re not wearing? Necklace.
28. Your favorite store? antiques.
29. Your favorite color? Pink?
30. When was the last time you laughed? Downstairs.
31. Last time you cried? Recently.
32. Your best friend? Loved.
33. One place that I go to over and over? Starbucks.
34. One person who emails me regularly? Katie :)
35. Favorite place to eat? Homecooked. Or Circle Cafe.

A Happy Trend

There's an exciting thing happening in many places around the blogging world! Many of my favourite bloggers are pregnant - a very blessed state indeed. I look forward to seeing all of the beautiful new babies! (in real life too; quite a few women at our church are expecting at the same time, and a good friend of mine told me this Friday that she is as well! She and her husband are so happy =))

First of all, Courtney of CJane Enjoy It. This is new news, so I have no picture, but CJane is older sister of NieNie, a wonderful and witty writer, and treasures her motherhood.

Ruby of Cakies I am super excited partly because her first two girls, Brave and True, are the cutest kids ever, and partly because she is a creative mommy and very inspiring to me, and partly because she's a great example and encouragement. Do check out her blog if you aren't familiar already.


Rachel Denbow of Red Velvet Art takes adorable belly photos and makes gorgeous towels, smocks, and quilts out of vintage sheets. Oh, and she started my clipboard obsession!


Emily (Life is Beautiful/Embers) is expecting any day and could very well have just had her newest baby! She's an incredible, down to earth mother and artist, and is wholeheartedly in love with her husband and little Ivy and Yindi.

Needless to say, I love babies, and of course these bloggers! These are priceless gifts and rewards - what a joyful time :)

with love,
Cait

P.S. Several of you have asked for my macaron recipe. This is the one I use, perfected by the amazing David Lebovitz. It only works (for me) on chocolate macarons, however, and replacing the cocoa powder with more powdered sugar or something else rarely works. I did manage to replace it with powdered sugar and instant coffee when making tiramisu macarons, but had a harder time getting the proper 'feet' to rise. I've yet to find a good recipe for other colored and flavored macarons. Enjoy! Show me your efforts!

Further East

These were some of the sights we were greeted with at the Tsukiji fish market, at 5 a.m. on our first morning. Huge frozen tuna being examined and loudly auctioned off, and the freshest sushi in existence.

We then went to the Kabuki-za theatre in Ginza, and saw one act of kabuki (Japanese opera). It was interesting be we saw one which didn't have much singing in it.

Asakusa walkway and the Senso-ji temple. Look at all the crazy ice cream flavors! They included variations of green tea, soy bean, and black bean.

I thought that street was so pretty (nevermind the guys with the bike - haha! that kind of wrecks the photo), and the sign below made me smile. I have some antique monkeys from Germany and we bought one here for my little sister.

The famous Takeshita street, Harajuku - it was packed, and even more so the next day.

Some girls on Takeshita street (above), and an interesting procession in Harajuku.

Forever 21 was the funniest thing - it was a multi-storey complex and had roped off lines outside because there was a sale going on. I couldn't believe it!

Looking at Blythes in Nakano (I didn't buy one), and one of my favourite photos from the trip - playing around with settings in the train station.

Shinjuku at night - when I think of Japan (before and after) I think of bright city lights at night, among other things. Here are also a few of the famous vending machines - they're everywhere!

Rows of colorful shoes (everyone wore heels!) and more 'fruits' on Takeshita street in Harajuku.

The Golden temple; Kyoto. (I will write more about all the temples soon.)

I don't remember what this temple was called, but the view was beautiful. It would be impossible to capture it perfectly.

At the Gion corner in Kyoto, we saw a show with various ancient traditional art forms. There was a comedy, music, tea ceremony, real young maiko dancing (it was beautiful), and banraku puppetry, in which the puppet is controlled by three men.

That night we ate at a tiny Teppan Yaki place, where I had the best grilled mushrooms in existence, and the owners walked us to the elevator and bowed until the doors closed. What a cultural experience! Below is the tea ceremony we did in Uji.

The A-dome, above, and Hiroshima at sunset. The Peace Memorial Park and museum was sobering.

On the train to Miyajima island, above, and funny monkeys and sweet, sweet deer on the trail to the island's summit, after taking a stunning ropeway.

Farewell to Miyajima and Japan - the ferry back to Hiroshima was passed by another full of waving Japanese students.

I hope you've enjoyed this glimpse.
much love,
Cait

Hello from Japan

Good evening ladies! (or whatever time it is in your parts of the world ;)

I have no pictures on the computer, nor much time to write or reply to your lovely messages, but I wanted to say hi from over here! Currently my dad and I are staying with acquaintances in Hiroshima. In the morning we will walk around Miyajima island before hopefully flying home. You never know with stand by - we just may end up spending the night in the airport and rerouting with a layover in Hong Kong.
But Lord willing we'll be home on Thursday!
It's been a wonderful experience and I love seeing the city, the old towns, people-watching, having my dad to myself, and experimenting with vending machine coffees.

I wasn't quick enough with the camera, but one of my favourite moments was glimpsing a real geisha walking the dark, lantern-lit back streets of old Kyoto. Geisha and maiko fascinate me, and we got to see to maiko peform a traditional dance in part of a show we saw.

Anyway, I hope you all are having a marvelous week and I'll be back soon with photos and art projects!

with much love,
Cait

Off at 3 A.M.

My dad and I fly out tonight, arriving in Osaka and taking a train to Tokyo, where we will walk around and stay up all night before going to the Tsukiji fish market when it opens at 5 a.m. A funny way to do things but we will be night owls due to the time difference, and will hopefully get lots of rest on the plane (we're standing by on business, which makes sleeping much easier - thank goodness for staff travel benefits!).
This morning I drove alone for the first time! Even in the US I hadn't gone out by myself yet. It was just a quick run to the post office, to send some pretty mail. If you sent me your address, something is on its way!
These cupcakes were for a gathering of girls at our house after church last Friday. I had so much fun decorating each differently - much better than one cake.

This necklace is a late graduation gift from my dad's step-mom. I was so surprised when I opened it! It is a gold cross engraved with Rose T. Muldoon, which belonged to my great grandmother who came over from Ireland (Rose Theresa Muldoon Fox). She thought it should be in our family and sent it as a piece of family history; it is at least 100 years old. I cherish it and will give it to either my oldest daughter or my brother's oldest daughter someday (way in the future ;).

see you soon!!
with love,
Cait