For Easter, instead of guessing how many

jelly beans are in the jar, I thought we could guess how many coconuts

are in the back of my truck.

The prize you ask? The coconuts in the back of my truck! (Truck not included.)

Thanks for Listening.
Shibui

I need some of those balls that you ...

put on the walker legs so they move more easily on the ground.  

Okay imagine this. You are a lady (Since this is a true story, I won't be naming names here to protect the innocent) in your mid 80's. You need to get some of those tennis balls for your husband's walker.  So you think to yourself that the best place to go would be a store that sells home medical supplies.

You walk in the store and ask for those tennis balls that work for walkers.  The response you get is "We don't have those, lady. But what you do is just buy some tennis balls. Take your mat knife and cut an "X" in each one and then just slip them onto the walker legs." You say to yourself "THIS IS A HOME MEDICAL SUPPLY STORE THAT SELLS WALKERS AND YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE BALLS!"

You imagine.  Here I am trying to hold this tennis ball steady in one hand on the dining room table, a mat knife in the other, my hands are shaking. "What is wrong with this picture?" and "Should I make sure that my phone is handy in case I need to call an ambulance after I slip and cut my hand?"

You come to your senses and go to Walgreen's where they have balls with pre-cut holes in them for the walker.

Thanks for Listening.
Shibui

Public Service Announcement - Parmesan Anyone?

Just in case you can't find your cheese grater that is stuffed into the very back corner of your lower kitchen cabinet where you almost have to stand on your head and grow a few inches in your arm to get to it.  Or it is dirty and in the dishwasher to be cleaned. (We all know what a pain it is to clean them by hand, right?)

There is a community cheese grater for anyone's use on Ashby Avenue, Berkeley, California, just before you get to College Avenue headed inland on the right side of the road. Just bring a step ladder because it is above your head. You know, that step ladder, that is in the back of the closet behind all the stuff you don't use. Oh! And there is no parking on the street between 3 and 7 because of the traffic.

Thanks for Listening.
Shibui

17th Century "China Menders" in 2017

In the parking lot at Longs yesterday, I parked next to this car. This bumper has been "mended" using zip ties.

It reminded me of a couple of "mender" ways. One,  that historians believe was perfected in 17th century China, itinerant "China Menders" would repair broken porcelain by drilling little holes along the broken edges. Metal staples were then inserted to hold the pieces together. 

The piece was then ready to serve the family for many more years. Antique dealers used to think they were junk and would want to get them out of their shops. Now there are active collectors of mended pieces and are valued.

But then it also reminded me of another example of "mended china."

Beautiful. I like the ideal of "mending."

Thanks for Listening.
Shibui