If you’ve followed this blog, you may recall my five part DIY Bath Products series from late 2015 when I made them for gifts – and for myself. Throughout the year – typically on rainy/snowy days, I’d haul out my supplies and expand my bath products repertoire and inventory. Working with essential oils is not only fun but the house smells pretty amazing.
My lifelong BFF and I had discussed doing a Girl’s Day of making bath products for the last several months. To her credit, she set the date and a plan to make: 1) room and body sprays 2) foaming liquid soaps 3) facial sugar scrubs and 4) foaming bath salt scrubs. The coldest day of the year thus far with bursts of snow and wind, it was a good day to be indoors Shortly before I arrived, she’d texted me a “how about some homemade soup?” to which I quickly replied “Yes!”.
After a very satisfying and delicious lunch (completed with veggies, dill dip and Pinot Noir) we set to work. Since the wine was opened, we felt it would be wasteful not to finish it off. This served to enhance our creativity (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it). When you’ve been friends since you were two years old there’s a history of hilarity, silliness and laughing till you’re crying (or snorting) that is tapped into. For several hours, we embraced our zaniness as we worked on our fragrant endeavors, measuring and blending away like we were chemists. Or stand-up comics. Or both.
Forty fifth thing: As I continue this series on 59 Things that make me happy, I must mention enduring friendships.
I’ve been blessed by long-lasting friendships. One of my two best friends, was my first-ever friend from the age of two. The other, I’ve known half my life (and I’m racing towards 60 in May) who for a time was my roommate. Oh the stories they could tell….
There are more long time friendships that I treasure dearly. Last night I got together with three ladies I worked with in a position I left 25 years ago. At the credit bureau I added two more dear pals who remain in my life and a couple more amazing girlfriends from my final career stop prior to retirement. Another treasured friend, I’ve known since I was ten and she was married to a family friend. Over the years that age difference was of no consequence and any time spent with her is treasured.
I’d be remiss to leave out my sister and my mom who I consider to be friends and confidantes as well as my family.
To all of the incredible women who honor me with their friendship, love, compassion and unwavering support, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Life with you in it is richer given the memories we’ve made and the laughter we’ve shared.
Here’s hoping for many more years….
For more of the “59 Candles, 59 Things” series, go to categories and select “59 Things”.
Last Saturday, my sister and I attended Adam Lambert’s concert at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort. Having been die-hard fans since his first audition on American Idol (which he should have won!) this is my second (her third) time seeing him perform.
When we saw him last, he was touring with Queen (there’s an earlier post on that concert). He was brilliant – the vocals so beautifully echoing the magnificent, gone-too-young Freddie Mercury. Bliss.
This time, Adam performed his music including a cover of David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” which rocked the house. Adam is a natural and gifted performer, singing and dancing, while flashing that gorgeous, mega-watt smile – truly riveting to watch.
After strolling through the gardens at the Japanese Cultural Center yesterday, my Mom, sister and I proceeded to the Tea House to take part in the Tea Ceremony.
Awa SaginawAn was designed by renowned architect Mr. Tsutomu Takenaka and constructed in 1985 as a collaborative effort between the City of Saginaw and its sister city Tokushima, Japan. Its foundation rests part on American soil and part on Japanese soil. It is treasured as one of the most authentic tea houses in North America.
Designed by a Japanese architect, the exterior was built by a local contractor. The interior was finished by four Japanese contractors working directly with the architect. A few interesting facts:
There were no nails used anywhere in the interior. Everything was planed and fitted.
No paint was used. The material of the walls is natural and has a sandy, stucco type feel to the surface.
The ceiling of the Tea House is hand-woven cedar.
All the wood is natural and unfinished and includes trees that were fitted into the walls, brought from Japan.
The Tea House, notice the benches and the handwoven cedar ceiling
Tatami Mats
A Japanese Doll
A collection of Geisha Dolls
The table where the tea is prepared by the hostess, notice the tree to the right.
We took our seats shortly before the ceremony was to begin after first being encouraged to take photos, that included a few selfies. (Girl’s Day Out documentation)
Selfie of me, Mom & Sis
Selfie with Mom
Mom & Sister, ready for the Tea Ceremony
Our hostess came in at 2:00 beginning with a brief yet fascinating history of Tea Houses (this one and Tea Houses in Japan) and Tea Ceremonies. The type of Tea Ceremony we were attending was established only 400 years ago by the 11th Grand Tea Master in 1872 for the World Fair in Kyoto Japan. To introduce the world to Tea Ceremonies, it was determined that the traditional kneeling on Tatami Mats would be too painful and awkward so they provided benches. This is how we were seated. Traditional Tea Ceremonies in Japan, in Tea Houses or Tea Huts, go back many years and the number of Tatami Mats are descriptive of the size of the Tea House (2 Tatami Mats, by example would be a small Tea Hut) and participants would kneel throughout the duration of the ceremony.
Our lovely hostess was a wealth of knowledgeBorn in Japan, she came to the US in 1957 when she married her husband, a Saginaw Michigan native.
The Tea Ceremony is based on four principles, Harmony, Respect, Purity and Tranquility. Tea leaves are picked by hand in May, steamed, dried and ground into powder for Tea Ceremonies (not brewed as the type of tea you’d drink daily).
There is a hot water pot with a bamboo ladle and a cold water pot should the temperature of the water need to be adjusted. There is a lovely process of cleaning and preparing the tea bowl before the guests. Then using a long implement, tea is measured into the tea bowl and whisked into the steaming water. The whisk is fashioned from a single piece of bamboo.
Hot Water Pot
Cold Water Pot
Measuring the tea
The Whisk
The Tea
Each movement was slow, deliberate, silent and reverent. Our hostess was assisted in the ceremony by two ladies in Kimonos, one who served the other. The Tea Bowl in which the tea is prepared is highly prized. With a lovely design on one side only, the bowl is turned as it is served so that the guest may admire the design. The guest then turns the bowl and slurps the tea from the plain side of the bowl. The “slurping” is considered a sign appreciation indicating “it was good to the last drop”.
Historically, Tea Bowls were so revered that a Shogun was known to take it as his only possession upon retirement and the value was such that often a Tea Bowl was given in place of land.
Serving
Admiring the Tea Bowl
Our Tea Ceremony ladies
The ladies served each of us, delivering the sweets first, one person at a time. Then bringing our tea, one at a time.
The sweet on the left, Yokan, is made from a sweetened red bean paste, the consistency like a firm gelatin. (I thought it tasted like dates) The one on the right had a much more complex name and is made of a cookie type crust over a sweetened white bean paste. I thought it tasted a bit like shortbread.
For more information about the Japanese Cultural Center, visit their website at:
