Asuco's Diary

いよいよゴールデンウィークですね。　私はというと、島田恭子さんの個展が終了して息つく暇もなく、ＧＷイベントの準備です。
宇都宮のＧＷイベント　　ファインフィールドフェスティバル。　ことしで４回目。
南宇都宮駅周辺、文化会館と大谷石蔵群be-off、悠日での合同イベント。　
Japan is going to have Golden Week!! (GW: Large consecutive holiday around the end of April to the beginning of May). Now I still am having busy days for preparation for this GW event even though I just finished Kyoko Shimada's exhibition. I don't have time to breathe....anyway.
GW big event in Utsunomiya Fine Field Festival 2011. This year will be the 4th year.
This is a big joint event with Utsunomiya Cultural Hall, Studio Be-Off and Yujitsu around South Utsunomiya Station.

文化会館では、子供向けイベントとして、ダンス、太鼓の舞台鑑賞、こども寄り席、ポスター作りのワークショップ、他
Utsunomiya Cultural Hall: Variety of kids' events for viewing, dance, Japanese drums, kids' yoriseki and a poster-making workshop.

Be-Offでは、ヨガワークショップ。
Be-Off yoga workshop

悠日では５月３，４日、県内人気カフェ店やスイーツショップ、焼き鳥の青空フードマーケット
アーティストによる手作り雑貨や小物、似顔絵イラストなどのアートマーケット
公募アーティストによるアート展示
フラメンコライブに、夜１８：００～日光在住　アーティストＡＫＩＲＡライブ。
Yujitsu Gallery and Cafe: 4th, 5th Outside food markets by popular cafe or cake shop in Utsunomiya. Fancy handmade crafts, pictures and accessory shops by artists.
Art exhibition by artists.
Live Flamenco. Live music from 18:00~ by AKIRA

盛りだくさんで、各場所は徒歩５分で行けちゃいます。
当日私は仕事するフリして、食べ歩きにアート雑貨物色予定。ﾑﾌﾌﾌ♪
Ａ heaping helping of events!!! You can walk around each area (Utsunomiya Cultural Hall, Be-Off, Yujitsu) within 5 min.

詳しくは
More information ↓↓

文化会館公式ＨＰ　ファイフィールド

Utsunomiya Cultural Hall HP Fine Field Festival 2011

　→　http://www.bunkakaikan.com/jigyo/fff.html

悠日　マーケット　Yujitsu art markets →　http://www.yujitsu.com/jp/

ＧＷに行くところ決まっていない人！　是非遊びに来てくださいね。　
Don't stay at home for GW!! Let's have fun together♪　 We are waiting for you.

2011　May, 4-5th 10:00~18:00 Fine Field Festival
場所：　南宇都宮駅（東武線）周辺　明保野公園・宇都宮文化会館・ギャラリー悠日　　
Location: around South Utsunomiya station area (Tobu line)
Utsunomiya Cultural Hall, Gallery Yujitsu

という訳で、かな～～～り出遅れましたが、先日、今年の味噌仕込みをしました。
本来、寒仕込みといって、１月～２月の寒い時期に仕込むのが一般的ですが、今年はいつも大豆を仕入れる農家さんが大豆の不作、また地震で機会を逃してしまっていました。
でも！大丈夫、桜の咲く頃に仕込む「花見仕込み」があるそうです！（はい、長い言い訳でした）
So, the other day I could finally do the preparation for miso paste for this year even though I got a late start. Actually, miso usually is prepared in cold season for January or February, but there were poor harvest for soybeans this year where the farmer we usually order from also was affected by the earthquake so I missed the chance to do it.
But! Still it is OK to prepare miso that people call 'hanami-jikomi' meaning 'miso prepared during the flower season'. (Let that be my excuse! haha)

今年はいつもの、大豆、青大豆、黒大豆に、麹は玄米麹、そして、麦麹を使ってみたくなって、混ぜてみました。いいのか、悪いのかわかりませんが、試してみたくて。。。
I used soy beans, green-soy beans, black-soy beans as usual and brown rice malt and this time tried to use barley malt for the first time. I don't know if it is OK to mix barley? I just wanted to try.

やっぱり豆を潰していくのは「すり鉢」が一番潰しやすい。　ただ・・・１．５ｋｇの大豆を茹でた量はこれが限界量かな。。手仕事なので。。
I thought the mortar and pestle is the best for mashing beans. But I think boiled 1.5kg of soy is maximum when mushing by hand, because it is hard work.

これをいつものように塩きりした麹と、豆の湯で汁と混ぜ、瓶に空気を押し出しながらつめていく作業をくりかえしていきます。この辺の工程になると、旦那さまに「上手だね～～」「ちゃんと詰めてるね～」などと声をかけておくだけ。一生懸命に詰めてくれます（笑）　もう３回目なので、だんだん慣れてコツを覚えていきます。
はい、２０１１味噌、準備完了。　あとは透明瓶で変化を楽しみながら、美味しい味噌汁になってくれるまで待ちます。
Mix well with the salt and rice malt, barley malt then repeat the work to fit in to the bottle while pushing air out. For this work, my job is telling to husband, 'You doing so well!' or 'Good job!'. Then he is working hard. We have three times experience now so we are starting to get the hang of it.
This is miso paste prepared in 2011. So now we just wait for it to become tasty miso paste while checking the changes through the clear jar.

これは２０１０年と２００９年に仕込んだ味噌。　だいぶ色も変わるものですね。　
We made these in 2010 and 2009. Colors are quite different.

来年は何の味噌汁が格別でしょう・・・　
What is the best for miso soup next year....

いつのまにか・・・外の桜は緑の葉っぱに衣替えし始めた今日この頃。。。
Before I knew it......Sakura (Japanese cherry trees) are changing their dress to green these days...

花見が、間にあわなかったな～～
I missed the season for having hanami parties under the trees this year...

毎日パタパタと過ぎていって。。　
It was so busy recently and the time goes by so quick.

やっぱり日本人。桜を恋しがる季節ですね。
But I am Japanese so I love sakura flowers.

そしてステキな写真を見せてもらい、暖かい気持ち、桜の気持ち？になりました。枝垂れ桜迫力あります。畑扉さん、ご提供ありがとうございます。ﾘﾝｸ　
I feel warm and feel like beautiful sakura by seeing neat photos taken by one of my friends. They are gorgeous. Thank you!! →link his blog
この花みながら、今年の味噌の仕込みは花見仕込みといたしましょ。
I am going to make this year's miso with the joy of these beautiful flowers.

明日はサーズディーナイトフィーバーです。
県内のカフェ、天然酵母パン屋さんやら他数店。
宇都宮　二荒山神社前バンバ広場にて　１８：００～２１：００　
Thursday night fever is coming tomorrow night.
Some cafes, a bakery, and more shops will be there. From 18:00-21:00 at Banba hiroba, in front of Futaarasan shrine in central Utsunomiya.

これから準備。二荒山神社の桜は終わっちゃったかな～～。少しでも残ってればいいんだけど♪
Now, I have to start preparation. Wonder if there are still some cherry blossom flowers blooming? Then people can have a party under the tree.

前回はフードが早々に売切れてしまい、来てくれた方に申し訳なかったので、今回は数を考えて・・・といっても、こればかりはね・・

いちごのお酒も好評です☆
Last time, all food was sold out pretty soon so I felt sorry for people visiting us. I should consider the amount this time... but, it is difficult to think....
The strawbeery liquor is good, too!!! Try it!!

はぁ～～～～～～～。一息！！
週末のイベント、島田恭子さんのギャラリートーク、無事終了～☆。
正直ここ数日眠れない日が続きました（笑）
未熟な自分の経験と、いろんなことが始めてで、疑問や不安に自問自答しながら準備を進めてきました。
考えるばかりの私に、カナさん始め周りの皆さんの協力が心強く、なんとか踏ん張りました（笑）
急な日程、内容変更イベントにも関わらず、当日は１００人以上の来場があり、「さすが島田さん！♪」とまた島田さんの人気を再認識と来場のお客様に感謝！！
そして青木（須合）和子さんの軽快で関心を引き寄せるインタビューで来場してくれた皆さんにもトークを楽しんでいただけたと思います。
Whoooooooof!! I got a sigh of relief...
The event last weekend for pottery artist Kyoko Shimada's gallery talk is done and dusted. Actually I couldn't sleep well these days for organizing them. It was a big try for me and the first time, but I could try my best even though I questioned or worried myself because I had cooperation from Kana-san and other co-workers. The day, over 100 customers came even though it was such short notice, so that reminds me how the artist is popular and felt thankful to the customers.
Although I think the customers could enjoy the talk with her swinging and interesting interview by interviewer Kazuko Aoki (Sugo).

今回イベントに携わって感じたこと。。
主催者や協賛する側が相談や検討を重ねてできた会です。それでも１００人いれば１００通りの意見があります。大切なのは、最終的な目的を忘れず、惑わされず意向をもって携わっていくことです。大きな学びがありました。
What I felt about this event.
For this event we made advertisements or inquests by hosts and cooperated with people. But I could see 100 opinions by 100 people. What is important is that we should never forget the ultimate goal, without being captivated and keep carrying our inclination. I learned a lot this time.

同時開催したチャリティーイベントでは、島田さんのご協力もあり、２時間のイベントで２５万円以上の義援金が集まりました。ご協力に深く感謝。皆さんからお預かりした’心’と一緒に東日本大震災被災者あて日本赤十字社に届けてきます。　
こちらの報告は悠日ＨＰにて近日中にＵＰ！しますね。→悠日ＨＰ　
There was also a charity auction at the event, and we got over 250,000yen of donations in 2 hours. I'm deeply grateful for it. I'm going to give it with the heart of the people to Japan Red Cross Society for disaster victims of the earthquake in east Japan. Report of this donation will be on the Yujitsu HP in a few days. →Yujitsu HP






左：島田恭子さん
右：青木和子さん
写真提供：高橋さん
On the left Kyoko Shimada
Right Kazuko Aoki (Sugo)
All photo by Takahashi-san

今日、仕事帰りに寄ったのは、以前の会社でお世話になったＮｉｓｈｉさんの激励会でした。来月北京に転勤だそうです。　前職を辞めてから時間も経ちましたが、お世話になった恩もあり、一言お礼を言いたく駆けつけてみました。
After work tonight, I stopped by an encouragement (farewell) party for a friend Nishi-san who I met in my previous job and he was nice to me when I was in there. He is going to transfer to Beijing from next month. It has been a while since I quit the job but I just wanted to say thanks to him so I decided to go to the party tonight.

数カ月前までは、その職場にいたというものの、今の職場とは、環境も雰囲気も全く違います。
以前の職場は世界的にも名がある大きな会社です。ビジネスの前線で活躍する環境で、男性社会という感じ。　（私はそこまでの仕事はしていなかったものの：笑）
久しぶりに会った方達のとの話は新鮮でもありました。やっぱり異業種であったり、異なった世界観の感覚を持った人と、たまに話をするのも良いですね。最近の自分を振り返ってみたり、刺激をもらいます。
The environment and atmosphere are very different between the current job and previous job even though I was in the previous up until a few months ago. The previous office is a big world-famous company. I could say that there is almost like a male-dominated society I felt at the front line of the business world. (actually I wasn't a serious staff member: haha)
It was refreshing for me to talk with friends I haven't seen for a while. And it is nice to talk with people who are from different industries or people who have different points of view of the world. It makes me think about looking back recently myself and is refreshing.

そしてまた再認識することは、今日の皆の熱い話題にもなりましたが、仕事を頑張ることも大切だけど、なによりは人との絆、コミュニケーションでした。上司と部下の在り方だったり、仕事の仲間としての在り方。そこから信頼がうまれ、良い仕事ができる。

それは、大きな組織の中でも、小さな組織でも同じだということ。

さてと・・・そんな良い刺激ももらったことだし、明日のイベント頑張るぞ。。

Although what re-acknowledge myself and they were talking about to keep work hard for the job is necessary but more important thing is to care for the bond with people and have communication. The best way of boss-subordinate relationship or between co-workers is related to trust in each other and will grow stronger and be able to do good work.

This rule is no different between vast organizations or small.

Well....after I got such nice refreshment, I have to do my best for the event for my job tomorrow....

今日はお休みだったので両親と一緒に蕎麦ランチ。
そこで鹿沼の「ニラ蕎麦」を見つけました。　母は子供の頃、そば打ちが上手だった叔母がよく作ってくれたそうです。
鹿沼市は美味しい蕎麦屋が多いところですが、特産「ニラ」　も有名です。
蕎麦にニラを絡めていただきます。　ニラの香りと歯ごたえが、蕎麦ととてもよく合います。
また食べたい味です。　ちなみにニラ蕎麦は鹿沼のいたる蕎麦屋さんで食べられるようです。　
はい、もちろん大盛り。。。なにか？
Today, I had soba (buckwheat noodles) for lunch with my parents since I had the day off. We went to a soba restaurant in Kanuma-city and found nira-soba (Chinese chives on buckwheat noodles) on the menu. My mum says that her aunt used to make it a lot when she was a child. There are many good soba restaurants you can find in Kanuma-city, also nira (Chinese chives) is a local specialty vegetable and famous in Kanuma-city. Put and mix nira on soba-noodles. Nira flavor and firmness goes well with soba. You might be able to find nira-soba in soba restaurants around Kanuma-city. Yes, of course I had a large-size plate... Is that a problem?

そして、先日お客様から有難～～～いお差し入れ！　
今話題の壬生にあるお菓子屋、松屋さんの朝摘みいちご大福。　
ビックリ。たんまげるくらい美味しかった！。　ほど良い甘さの餡に、栃木特産のジューシーで大きな苺。いちご大福は旦那さまも大好きなので大喜び。　沢山あったのに二人でぺロリと頂いてしまいました。その後またあの味が忘れられず、探して買いに行ってきちゃいました。。
勿論！！お差し入れを頂いて、その心遣いがとても嬉しかった事も、美味しさの秘訣でした。ありがとうございます。
Also, the other day I got a nice gift from customers for me! It is Ichigo-daifuku (fresh strawberry-rice cake stuffed with salt-seasoned bean jam) which is sold at a popular cake shop called Matsuya in Mibu-town in this prefecture (Tochigi). It is great!! What a surprising goodness! Nice sweet mushed beans and juicy strawberry (a specialty fruit in Tochigi-prefecture) inside of rice cake. My husband likes this kind of rice cake, too, so he was glad have one. We gobbled them up. I couldn't forget that tasty cake so I found and went to the shop a few days later.
Of course the reason why I felt that it was so tasty is because I had kindness from the customer.

栃木、美味しいもの沢山ありま～ス！！
We have many tasty vegetables and fruits in this Tochigi-prefecture!