Oh little brains..

Snack of the day - WALNUTS!

Great source of: Omega 3s, Fiber, Protein, Antioxidants, Magnesium & Phosphorus.
Energy: 185 calories in 1 oz. (Oh don't mind that, I bet you cannot JUST eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner right?)

A Little Twist:
Just toss them on a baking plate and place it inside a small oven for 5 minutes and enhance the taste.
If you have a sweet tooth, put some honey on; if you like it salty just sprinkle a little on top :)

I always find Chinese culture very very interesting and I love it, not all but I still respect the country's culture. In the eating culture, we have a saying that "any living thing with its back facing the sky is edible", it's like an all-you-can-eat statement. I was joking with my sister when we were younger, what about the old people with a crooked spine or those with a hunchback? Are the Chinese going to eat them? Oh dear...anyways, another interesting fact is that we believe food that looks similar to body parts, or eating the same body parts can improve or is good for the particular body part's condition. For example, if your tendons/legs are not doing well, you have to eat the ox's tendons or chicken feet, etc; my friend's grandma makes pig brain's soup for my friend whenever she needs to take her exam; we eat ox's heart or pig lungs for our hearts and of course, our lungs...but I have never heard of eating the intestine is indeed good for your intestines, I guess it is just a popular stinky snack!

Walnuts were not originated from China. Some believe these little brains were originated from the area around Germany where they call them wallnuss/welche nuss, some argue that they are from Anglo-Saxon word wealh hnutu meaning foreign or alien nuts.

This is how the fruits look like. Its fun to find out how the fruits of nuts look like and I couldn't help but wonder if they taste good or even better!

Source: http://forestry.sfasu.edu/faculty/jstovall/dendro//images/tree_photos/juglnigr/juglnigr_fruit1.jpg

There are unlimited things you can do with this nut, it can easily be found in any supermarket/market. It goes well with a lot of dishes and as snack itself! I will include them in the recipe after the next one.

Book #1 - Scandinavian Dollhouse

Found Book: Scandinavian Design in the Doll's House

Saw this book today in a book store, life of being a doll might not be what we thought before: Having a huge mansion made with hardwood, Scandinavian designs filling up the whole place with plants that never die, just that they smell like plastic. 90% of the content was pictures of different doll houses' interior design, perhaps it should do a miniature and put on that man-doll's hands and title it "Dream Property", that makes sense. 

Frameweb talked about it long ago, if you want a look inside the book click here.

Flowers/Plants #1 - Red Chamomile

Sometimes, one is more than enough.

Objects #6 - Retro Mechanischer Wecker

If you are interested in these mechanical alarm clocks, please contact me via email or leave me a comment here. 

White [with Bells] - H160 x W115 x T 60

 

White [without Bells] - H110 x W98 x T 55

    

Red [without Bells] - H110 x W98 x T 55

Objects #5 - Local Street Furniture [STOOLS]

Stools handcrafted from scrap wood or existing objects. Stools can easily be found in traditional shops in Hong Kong, especially in shops where they sell industrial related products or materials such as metals, wood and tools. In the 50s, stools were often placed around a magazine stall for kids who would sit on them and read children comic books. The stools were no more than 20cm in height at that time.

These pictures were taken around Mongkok and Yau Ma Tei, which is a hub of industrial materials. I go there quite often to buy materials for work, or for self interest, when I feel like building something, or just get some copper parts and turn them into jewelry. It is always a source of inspiration, as well as new knowledge. I would talk to at least one shop keeper whenever I visit the area, they will always surprise you with new things that only from their experiences would they be able to tell you what can be done and what cannot. That is why I always think knowing more languages is an advantage in life!

The stool was made from scrap wood pieces, the maker taped layers of old magazine papers on top to create a soft surface for sitting, and it works, I tried!

The heavy clamp was nailed onto the small stool for cutting jobs.

Little bended bamboo stool that requires skills and knowledge to assemble, the joints were interlocked. 

Stools that can be used in two ways. depends on your preference.

Somehow I cannot take my eyes off these weathered beauties...oh well..

Experimenting with Ceramics #1

Knot My Heart | Ceramics Charm

Please email me if interested :)

Objects #4 - Well Equipped

How many types of tools can you spot?

New Reclamation Street [新填地街], Mongkok, Hong Kong | Mar, 2013

Objects #3 - Ceramics in Kyoto [清水燒]

清水燒

Ceramics is one of the most beautiful inventions on earth, and they are proofs of human civilization.

These pictures were taken when I was on my way to Kiyomizu-dera, a Buddhist temple that can satisfy your love for architecture, nature, objects, religion beliefs and history.

Boundaries on Walls

Haji Lane, Singapore | Mar 2013

Boundaries I found on walls on Haji Lane marked the territory of each store, reminded me of how orderly and disciplined the city is. The boundaries did not reflect the relationship between people there though, and now I miss chatting with the lady I met in an art gallery.

20Cc Project #1 - 20Jk

Kyoto, Japan | Jan 2013