Unexpected finds!

One early morning I was awoken and told that there was a road side pick-up, where the locals were disposing their unwanted furniture. When I heard there were a couple of items I might like, I literally jumped out of bed and was down the road in record time! 

Now one of the items I will be sharing with you today, I must confess is not my kind of style, but I looked past their present state and saw their potential with a lick of paint. After all, it was free! 

Does anyone remember these iron chairs with the rosebuds set into the legs that usually came in white? I think they actually still make these outdoor settings. Well, I thought they would be perfect to sit and rest outside between DIY jobs, so that's why I scooped them up. When I got them the back rest was missing on one chair and the other was snapped off, so I just removed it to make stool type seats.

My stylist created a shop front type of set-up, notice the "Open" sign!

To get started on this simple project I initially started peeling off the larger and easier pieces of flaking paint and then used a wire brush. 

After picking and chiseling at the paint work I switched to a sanding bit which made the job all the more enjoyable and quicker! These are the moments I love about being in the countryside. Just sitting outside with the wide blue sky above, sun shining and the fresh morning air. I'm in my element!

Once I felt I had removed enough of the flaking paint I moved to priming the chairs. Simple and easy!

My assistant was very eager to help with the spraying, so I obliged just for a second because the paint smell was pretty toxic. Maybe a mask for our next spray painting job would be a good idea!

While the process was most enjoyable the end product came up just as I had hoped. I am thinking of using one of the seats with the antique sewing machine that I featured here. 

You might be wondering what the other freebie was that I picked-up. All I can say at this moment is that its something I have wanted for a very long time and again I got it for free!

I haven't done a make-up over to spruce it up yet, but when I do I will definitely share, but for now I'm keeping secret about it. Gomen ne! Sorry....

Historical treasure

Recently when we visited the city of Shimoda to look at some recycle shops we stopped at this beautiful place for some lunch. I've shared the black and white pattern known as namakokabe on another visit here. I just can't get enough of this traditional architectural  design that can be seen on many buildings and homes throughout the Izu Peninzula. 

This family run business was a Japanese Inn but has since changed to a cafe.

Of course I just had to take a photograph from every angle!

Here is the entrance as you walk in with large flat rock pavers and gravel. Beautiful!

It was quite busy inside with every table taken, so it seemed inappropriate to be flashing the camera around like a crazy foreigner while everyone was eating! It's quite the tourist attraction in the area that's for sure! It has the typical exposed wooden support beams that are impressive to see holding up this building which is more that 100 years old. 

In an upcoming post I want to share with you something that I never thought I'd get a chance to experience and it is something to do with namkokabe. 

More next week....

Things that make my heart sing

One thing that I can't get enough of is locally home grown, home-made goods and some recycled bargains! One morning we made a road trip to the nearby city of Shimoda to look for a saw horse at the local recycle shop.The last time we were there I picked up some cute blue and white polka dot tea cuts for such a bargain. Let me tell you that I wasn't disappointed on this second visit. 

 What did I score you ask? 

Well behold.... I picked up five small flower patterned bowls known as, kobachi which are traditionally used for pickles; deep stewed vegetables and in my case some cumquats. I'm even thinking they'd be good for ice-cream or sherbet bowls.... petite servings. 

While this photograph doesn't do this plate justice. The flowers are white camellias with a mint green background with gold accents. I kicked myself that I didn't pick up more, because this beautiful plate was only ¥200!! Don't worry I'll be back for more and just hope no one else discovers them before I get back there. The polka dot bowl is actually a tea cup, but I have it intended for a sugar bowl and it was only......¥30!!!

On our drive back we stopped off at a local farmers market known as, Yorimichi that made my heart sing the moment we stepped in the door. 

When I saw fresh flowers for ¥200 a bunch, I was like hello!

I was so tempted to buy a cherry blossom tree just there on the table, but I am waiting.

Once we walked in we were surrounded by homemade baked bread, jams, pickles, citrus fruits, locally grown rice, tea and green veggies. Just before we were about to pay for our goodies I spied some homemade tofu pudding. Oh my! It's has to be the purest and    creamiest pudding I have ever tasted, with no artificial flavoring. It truly is the little things that can make your day! 

Just behind the yorimichi are rice paddies that are filled with spring flowers at the moment, but come the beginning of May the earth will be churned up and rice planting will begin.

I must add that while we were in Shimoda we drove onto another recycle shop and had some lunch at a nearby historical treasure. I'll be sharing this beautiful building with you next time. Here is a clue....

First Impression-Part 2

As promised I want to update you on what we are calling part two of our concreting work. We started out with the front entrance here. It is such a great feeling to get this job completed. Little Obachan's is starting to look a bit more respectable!

           

This part of the house where the engawa leads out onto was in desperate need of repairs with broken up concrete and more weeds creeping in.

Our assistant is always willing to learn a new skill and have a go!

Here we are blending the front concreting done to our entrance at the end of last year to our part two work.

                           What a big difference a bag of concrete can do to a place!

When we first concreted the front entrance we placed the ends of two roof tiles at the corner of our entrance. Last time I engraved our surname into the concrete to make it more personal with all the work we are doing on the place, but after some thought we felt the need to add, "Obachan chi"~ Grandma's Place.

I feel this little touch is the icing on the cake! As always an onsen is calling us to relax our tired muscles after flexing them with our concreting efforts.

More next week.....