Washism

This year's sakura season was relatively late.

But the magically beautiful pink no matter how late, make their appearance year after year, regardless of how tough the previous year was.

Arigato, pretty lil sakuras, all over Japan, your bloom always gives us hope for a new start, something to look forward to, a warm feeling to delight in...

I love it, when i look up from under a sakura tree, and see those pretty petals smiling back with the nice blue sky complementing its pink shade.

This picture was taken 2 days after the full bloom; green leaves were already sprouting.
This was at Koganei park, during a mama gathering picnic.

A year has passed since the last sakura season which we all spent in the hospital and recovering from childbirth. Oh how the babies have all grown! From tiny tiny lil ones, to bubbly chubby toddling lil ones. It is always a joy meeting up with them.

This park, less than 50 steps away from our doorstep, never fails to brighten our mornings each time we walk pass. It is like a celebration of the colours of spring!

In the kitchen, spring is singing in the air too~

One of my favourite flower vegetables 菜の花.

Limited edition sakura leaf perfumed grilled fish

I love anything sakura leaf & flower fragranced.

The fragrance of sakura is soothing.

And these leaves & flowers are always salted. So when i have them with my favourite sweet red bean desserts, they just balance out.

A few wagashi (japanese confectionary) we've been enjoying ~
Sakura mochi, with 2 leaves! Whee! usually, there is only one.

Sakura monaka, red bean filled wafer.
Sakura manju

and a very beautiful bean only cake.

the petals are made with a blend of white bean paste.

From a very small but stylish wagashi shop near our place.

I love its quaint lil paper bag, that says, "wagashi made with our hearts".sweet~

A few things i've been experimenting with in the kitchen this spring ^~

Since it's been getting warmer, time for cold noodles lunch at Junnaki Cafe+++++++

Soba carbonara made with tofu.

Gosh this was refreshingly yummy!

Flower vegetables & fresh celeb tomatoes cold pasta.

We ordered a box of really really sweet tomatoes. They call it celeb (celebrity) tomatoes. Never had such a treat before.

Sushi dinner, for the first time with snapper i seasoned on my own!

I never had the confidence to do the konbu wrapped snapper because the konbu seems to be a super strong smelling kelp, that i feared will make the snapper extra fishy.

But i was wrong! It was so well fragranced that i am looking forward to making more of this for the coming snapper season!

Back at the ice cream factory...

Something which i am so into now.

Cranberry yogurt ice cream!

with my favourite peanut M&Ms =.=