I've long heard tales of the Japanese country 'inns' but this was way beyond my wildest dreams and I found it absolutely sublime! All of our rooms overlooked the lake with majestic cedar trees and awesome Mt. Fuji appearing just as in all the woodblock prints we've...

.......and everything else for that matter.  Remember high school gym?  Not your favorite thing?  Well, one visit to a Japanese bath....after the initial shock ....will change your mind about the whole communal thing. Here's the entrance....the red is...

The day began at Meiji Shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. I could hardly wait to get to our Sumi-e class at Carre Moji.  This is one of the most elegant galleries in Japan devoted to the most expressive Sumi painting and...

.Tony T. is the best, best limo driver and I had a relaxed Sunday drive to LAX International. JAL gets my vote for the best, best airline and business class was never better. I watched three movies that I had been avoiding....Dallas Buyers Club and 12 Years a Slave...

…….it’s on to Japan!

We had a 2.5 hour drive to Nikko National Park with the first stop being Toshogu Shrine with the Yomeimon Gate. Yomeimon Gate is also called Higurashino-mon or 'The Gate Where People Stop to Look'. It was evident why this is designated as a national treasure. Miss...

‘Ernest & Celestine’ is quite possibly the most precious movie ever about the friendship between  plucky Celestine, a little mouse, and Ernest, a grumpy bear. The story is charming and the animation is sublime! Handcrafted watercolour backgrounds and hand...

…..and it was the cover story! We were favored with a ‘tour’ after lunch but more on that later. Lucia went to China with us and it has been a great joy to have her sweetness in my life.  Sunday I was invited over for an intimate luncheon before leaving for...

It seems like a month ago that Tomiko & I met for dinner (natch) at Bar Verde but it was just last Sunday evening. I think she has gotten tired of my taking pictures of her and whatever she’s eating so it was her turn. Tuesday John-David came over and we discussed...

…….was the most precious time!  Amy had been wanting to make borscht for me but that was just the beginning! It was a ‘Jackson Pollock’ sort of an evening so here’s my homage “Borscht with Sour Cream’. Followed by ‘Le Paris’ Beef that was simply...