I vividly remember getting a book about origami when I was in my early teens and spending hours and hours folding fantastical shapes out of the most beautiful paper I had ever seen. I could never have imagined though that origami would be used in space!

I love puzzles (as you can see from the photo collage!), and I wanted to share what I recently learned about Kumiki puzzles, also known as "interlocking wooden puzzles". These are traditional Japanese puzzles that date back to the late 1800s.

When people think of Japanese food, they often envision sushi and ramen. While these dishes are of course popular in Japan, they are not necessarily the everyday fare that Japanese people consume at home. In fact, nimono (煮物), or simmered dishes, are a staple of home cooking in Japan.

You all know I love studying Japanese, but this obsession with counters has got me stumped. I mean, just watch the video link (thank you hubby for digging that one up!) and you'll know what I mean. Why does the counter for a bowl of ramen change 3 times during its 15 minute life from making to consuming! Mindboggling 😅