Sushi Skill Share

Sometimes I get the urge to host a party that I wish people would invite me to.  And I make sure to invite myself.

That's what happened a few days ago when the ever-talented Mari came to my house to share her sushi rolling skills with a group of adventurous and gracious friends of mine.  (They keep coming to my parties, even though they know my weakness for inviting guest speakers.)

Mari came and brought all the supplies and ingredients.  We gathered around her as she demystified the art of rolling sushi.  The secrets are simple, but important.

• short grain rice is essential
• wash, even scrub the rice
• soak that rice
• never lift the lid until the rice is finished cooking
• cut in the vinegar, no mashing the rice!
• use sparse, but flavorful fillings
• tight, tight rolling!
• the extra sushi rolls, left over after the slicing, are the chef's treat

And look how much fun we had!

She left us with recipes, inspiration, and even our own bag of rice for further sushi-ing.  I got brave and tried my new skills for a Father's Day dinner.  I feel more skilled in this area than I did a few days ago!

What skills would you like to learn?

What skills do you have to share?

Our recent daycation

Last Saturday, we headed up to our state's capital for Be A Tourist day.  It wasn't exactly a vacation.  Nor was it a staycation, because we were sort of out of town.  But it was fun and frugal and took up the better part of the day.  A daycation.

Grandma Sheila was our host and tour guide, and we did a fun variety of things.

Impression 5 Science Museum

Lansing Art Gallery

CATA bus station

Riding an 'articulated' bus (the accordion kind)

The 4-H Children's Garden

We all agree that riding the city bus was our favorite part of the day!  Ah, the urban experience.  And a memorable daycation.

"Creatures, I give you yourselves."

You might have guessed from the sidebar on the right that we do a bit of reading over here.    Fiction, nonfiction, adult, children's, old-fashioned, current, trendy, quirky, quaint, BOCD.  We love it all.

We're currently listening to C. S. Lewis' The Magician's Nephew, which has risen to the top of my favorites list.  Today's portion especially, as the great lion Aslan speaks life and breathes intelligence into the new world.

Aslan

"Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, awake. Love. Think. Speak. Be walking trees. Be talking beasts. Be divine waters."

Aslan

"Creatures, I give you yourselves," said the strong, happy voice of Aslan. "I give to you for ever this land of Narnia. I give you the woods, the fruits, the rivers. I give you the stars and I give you myself." 

What passages are especially touching you today?