It is a bugs life. . . . .

So here is the interesting insect which showed up outside my house after I took a freshly painted end table from the garage. It is a Rosalia Funebris and it turns out it likes fresh paint. I found this article on line while researching the guy (at least I'm calling it a guy) http://www.news.cornell.edu/chronicle/97/6.19.97/beetle.html So check it out.

I've been doing yard work. Laying a few pavers, putting down bark, planting, weeding, and all that good type stuff. I have a ways to go. We have some old redwood yard furniture in need of sprucing up so I'm painting them black - as it seems to be easier to purchase new yard furniture in black.

What about you? What are you up to?

Until Next Time. . . . . .

Kathleen

My Bento Shopping Loot

So I never shared my bento shopping loot with you guys. I have made changes to the my bento supplies since then but I'd like to share all the things I purchased in San Francisco in February.

The pink and black boxes I've actually given to my nieces since I took this picture. The little green box I liked so well I purchased another green one and two pink and tan boxes as well. I'll share all that with you in another post. I'm discovering what I like in the bento world and shopping at Ichiban Kan (see the side bar for a link to their online store) made it affordable to try different size boxes.

The chop sticks were suppose to fit into the black bento box (under the lid) but for some reason they didn't. I gave them along with the black bento box to my niece Kelsey (who turned 14 yesterday btw.) The another utensil set I liked so well I ordered a tan and pink set. Again, I share all that later on another post.

On the left we have rice shapers which I use to make rice balls with. The items on the right are egg molds which are turn your hard boiled eggs (you have to purchase the small ones) into wonderful little shapes. Even my husband likes these and takes them to work. I've since added to the my egg molds and now I have a bunny, bear, car and fish.

The fish and car egg molds.

Food picks. The animals ones went over so well with my nieces Brittnee and Kelsey that I purchased them their own sets.

Silicon food cups for keeping the food separated in colorful reusable ways.

Sauce and spice containers. The little penguin and the monkey are also favorites of my nieces.

More little sauce containers. I use most of them for soy sauce but I've also used two of the flying pigs and two of the tomato head containers to store salt & pepper.

Seaweed punch to make a smilie face and also two bento bands to hold the boxes together.

Inside one of the malls in Japan Town close to the Ichiban Kan store.

Another shot inside the mall.

Well, I can't believe it has been almost two months since my trip. I really had such a good time. Often think of how much I miss living so close to San Francisco and of course I'm already planning my next trip in July.

Until Next Time. . . . .

Kathleen

Flowers in the Guest Bedroom

This is my flower wall in the guest bedroom. Pictures I've collected at various garage sales or thrift stores and one I painted myself - well sort of...

This picture was a paint by number that I painted a couple of years ago. I really liked doing it and I'm not sure why I haven't painted another one. I drew all the time as a kid. That is why I love Charles Schulz so much. I drew mostly animals. I got this picture to ease me back into art. So I guess that means it is time for another picture.

This picture I picked up at a garage sale somewhere. I think it is painted in acrylics.

This is a print I found at a thrift store. I repainted the frame as I didn't like the dark frame it was set into.

The top picture is a painting I found at a thrift store. I took an old frame and painted it white. I really like the green color on the back ground. The bottom picture is a card which I placed on top of a piece of lace.

Just a few pictures to remind myself that our surroundings can make a difference in our outlook sometimes but more about that later. . . . .

Until Next Time. . . . .

Kathleen

A Note of Thanks!

I want to thank everyone who has visited my site, all who have posted comments and those who are brave enough to follow my blog - Thank You! Thank You from the bottom of my heart!

I'm amazed at how many people from the Oregon Coast find my site.

Elegant Marie - I want to say I had tea at the "Tea Cozy" many times. I loved that place! I was so sad when you closed down. I kept waiting and praying that you would open back up. You may have noticed from a couple of my pictures that I too have the Rose Chintz dishes. It would be lovely if you could come to my little cottage sometime when I'm in Bandon and I could make you tea. Of course, it won't be as fancy as your but I do have PG Tips!

Bandon Home - I don't even know your name but thank you so much for following my blog. It would also be great to meet you in person sometime.

Cousin Rick - I hate to break it to you but you may have to wait a long time before those adorable girls wait on you all the time - but I'm sure it will happen. I promise that I will get around to facebook. I've told Suzy we have to join. It is good to keep connected.

And for the older and wiser sister Suzy - please don't stop writing all your funny comments. They make me laugh so hard which is a real important part of life. I would never be upset at any comment you make so let it rip sister!

Thank you all for your comments - it really makes my day when I read them. If you like please leave your email address and I will write you back.


This picture is from a card I received from my great niece Katalynn back in 2000. It was a thank you card she wrote for a Christmas present. A Hallmark Storybook Friends presented by Crayola. I often keep old cards and hang them on bulletin boards to make me happy.


Until Next Time. . . .
Kathleen

Mom said not to play with your food but. . .

A friend of mine at work sent me this link about Bento boxes http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/bento I just think this is the coolest thing. All of the pictures below are from this link. I've been thinking a lot about Bento boxes because....I've got a few pounds to lose (could that be cousin Keith why there are no new pictures of me on this site.) I was thinking how it could help with portion control and make eating fun. Well, now I'm hooked so sorry Mom but I think it is time to play with my food.

I collect Eiffel Towers so this is one of my favorite. This was done by a true artist Sakurako Kitsa check out her site http://sakurakokitsa.blogspot.com/

Green Eggs & Ham - I'm not so sure I would want to eat this but how cute is that!

Snoopy - On our instant message at work I usually have a Snoopy or an Anime Character from Gintama for my picture. I'll tell you a story about meeting Charles Schulz one day. He was my Hero!

This one is for Jeanine - she loves Halloween.

Wouldn't your Star Wars fan love to have this for lunch??

Now this is art people - too beautiful to eat

Look at the bananas - this is actually a container to hold sauces. The little monkey also holds sauces. And look at the tiny Monkey head that is a food pick (in case you were wondering.)

And this one is for my friend Kris - who loves Hello Kitty.

Hello Kitty and a Panda

Now wouldn't that make you smile getting this for your Birthday lunch?

Now the bunny on the left is a boiled egg which has been put into a mold (we will get to that later.)

Breakfast Bento Boxes

Yes you can even take breakfast all packed up - I know I do sometimes.

This looks like one my husband would have made.

This little monkey is a sauce pots - isn't it cute. I bet it holds syrup.

Regular Lunch Bentos for the Regular folks like us

So I know what your thinking that all that stuff is cute but lets get real. Well here are some everyday type bento boxes for us regular folks.

Now this doesn't look that difficult to make but think of how it would bring a smile to the face of who ever opened their lunch box to this.

Little bear is also a sauce pot. I could see giving this one to my husband.

Or even this one.

These little hot dogs are great!

Look at the little bottles these are sauces bottles. Yes, I know that you are thinking that I know way too much about this stuff.

Cheetos - see you can put anything in there.

Websites of Knowledge

The website http://lunchinabox.net/ has lots of great information about Bento building such as shaping rice into shapes.

They also have information about how to freeze the rice shapes for faster Bento building.

Tools of the Trade

Lunch in a box has great links for purchasing your tools for the trade. I really enjoyed J-List which I will be purchasing supplies from soon. http://www.jbox.com/

Now this is one box I would love to own.

Food picks.

Sauce containers.

Plastic food cups - to keep foods separated.

Not very green but disposable food cups.

Egg & Food Molds

More sauce containers.

And look at all these tools for Bento

Now this is my sort of organization. I want a box full of stuff like this!

Until Next Time

Kathleen