Springtime Swallows 「途中で見つけたツバメの巣」

The other day, my husband and I were out driving and we stopped at a rest area. As I entered the ladies room, I noticed beautiful bird singing and thought it was that recorded "nature" sound/music I hear some places lately (like the train station at Shin-Urayasu). Right away I noticed however the "caution" cone...some swallows had decided to nest in the ladies room. The workers there had taped off the area and placed the notice. It was pretty cute. Check out the nest above the cone up near the skylight.
One of the swallows was just sitting on top of the edge of one of the stalls singing out his heart the whole time I was in there. I have seen other areas taped off (in Japan) where the swallows are nesting, such as the entrance to the train station. These swallows were pretty smart if you ask me...nice safe place to build a nest, not to mention brave.

A Swedish Tablecloth 「スウェーデン製のテーブルクロス」

Today I put on my table a beautiful tablecloth that my dear friend Beata (who is from Sweden) just gave me (which she got on her recent trip back home, thank you B!). She made such a nice selection of colors, and it goes surprisingly well in the room.

It was alittle long in one direction for my antique table that is sized a bit strange, so I got out the sewing machine and made the adjustments. I ended up having some left over material and got this idea to put little 'caps' on the backs of the dining chairs. I have some velvet covers on the chairs already (the antique wood needs refinishing desperately). Velvet as some of you may know, can get matted down when it is touched often so these little covers will help protect the velvet nicely. I may make more of these with other fabrics and use them on the chairs even when they just cover the plain wood.

They are super easy to make and they add a nice accent don't you think?

My amazing friend Jun 「友達のジュンさん」

This last Friday, I stopped by my friend Jun's house. She is a lovely former JAL airlines flight attendant and now spends her time representing a line of wonderful Italian handmade ceramics and accessories that she helps import to Japan (called Mamma Ro'), enjoying life with her husband and their 2 dogs and pursuing other outlets for her creativity.

She is amazing to me since she is always making something creative, setting a perfect table, cooking or baking up something gourmet and picture perfect, hosting a wonderful BBQ party at her exquisitely decorated home (BBQ's are unheard of in Tokyo but she has a large and fabulous roof garden overlooking the Ebisu area), to name just a few things, and still she has time to write a most interesting blog, be a savvy business woman, super homemaker and wife, and on top of it all, being such a cheerful happy friend all the time. I'm so fortunate to have such inspirational friends around the globe!

So last Friday, Jun was putting on an exhibition in her home for Mamma Ro' (the Italian Ceramicware) and I stopped by. Her friends had done some very nice flower arrangements and baking of goodies for us all to enjoy. Here are some pictures of some one of the table settings that day and the elegant hostess herself chatting with her customers over a table of colorful dishes.

Jun has her own blog (although its in Japanese, you can still enjoy the pictures if you can't read) which is at http://manufatto.exblog.jp/ and a website for her Italian Ceramicware, where you can see more beautiful pictures. Check it out at http://labellavita.jp

It was fun afternoon!

Aloha, Terri

E Komo Mai, Welcome, 「いらっしゃいませ！」 熱烈歓迎

The beginning of Princess T's adventures over the Anuenue. That is where I'd like to be anyway! Where bluebirds fly and troubles melt like lemondrops (or Junior Mints would be nice)...well, we can pretend can't we?
So having now cleared a small corner of open space in my brain, I hope have time to share with my friends, old and new, some of adventures of my life in Japan, love of Hawaii and what is new with Princess T designs.
A hui ho, Terri