Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2017 20:13:02 GMT -6
Whether or not Grandma's property was actually in Republic City was debateable; something that Grandma did with some frequency at town hall meetings. Tonight, however, that was the least of her concerns. Old Pa was coming over for dinner, and Grandma was in a tizzy with spring cleaning.
The windows of the old house had been opened wide to let the cooler late spring air in; electric fans sat on the window sills with buckets of ice water beneath them. Grandma hated these first prickling signs of summer heat and made an effort to keep her home as cool as possible.
Her house boasted a few vases of daisies here and there, but the largest vase, sitting in the middle of her coffee table, was empty. That vase was reserved for the beautiful flowers Old Pa would undoubtedly bring in from his garden. The spring festival had just passed, and she had unfortunately been unable to attend due to a cold. She hoped he had won, finally, but knew that it would have been a struggle with professional gardeners and horticulturists competing as well.
For dinner she had planned an appetiser of somen, figuring the cold noodles they'd dip into light tangy sauce would help cool their bodies. Next, a main course of grilled unagi and ayu (the latter served on their grilling skewers) and rice. Lastly, green tea-flavoured kakigori. Unlike other 'snow cone' desserts, which were made by grinding ice into an almost powdery state, kakigori was made by literally shaving off slivers from a flavoured block of ice, then drizzled (or, in Grandma's case, doused) in condensed milk.
When Old Pa finally arrived, Grandma threw open the door with a bang. "HELLO!" she said (shouted); her cackling was so loud the birds in a nearby tree took off in fright. "Come in, come in you old coot! Dinner's almost ready."
And indeed, the smell of grilled fish and rice wafted through the air.
She gestured for Old Pa to leave his shoes at the entry way. then led the way to the dining room, located behind some rice paper screens. Grandma's dining table was a traditional one, low to the ground and surrounded by comfortable cushions. Already there was a serving bowl of somen and two dipping bowls of a dark brown liquid. There was also a pitcher of ice water and a teapot, and appropriate utensils and dishes for two.
The windows of the old house had been opened wide to let the cooler late spring air in; electric fans sat on the window sills with buckets of ice water beneath them. Grandma hated these first prickling signs of summer heat and made an effort to keep her home as cool as possible.
Her house boasted a few vases of daisies here and there, but the largest vase, sitting in the middle of her coffee table, was empty. That vase was reserved for the beautiful flowers Old Pa would undoubtedly bring in from his garden. The spring festival had just passed, and she had unfortunately been unable to attend due to a cold. She hoped he had won, finally, but knew that it would have been a struggle with professional gardeners and horticulturists competing as well.
For dinner she had planned an appetiser of somen, figuring the cold noodles they'd dip into light tangy sauce would help cool their bodies. Next, a main course of grilled unagi and ayu (the latter served on their grilling skewers) and rice. Lastly, green tea-flavoured kakigori. Unlike other 'snow cone' desserts, which were made by grinding ice into an almost powdery state, kakigori was made by literally shaving off slivers from a flavoured block of ice, then drizzled (or, in Grandma's case, doused) in condensed milk.
When Old Pa finally arrived, Grandma threw open the door with a bang. "HELLO!" she said (shouted); her cackling was so loud the birds in a nearby tree took off in fright. "Come in, come in you old coot! Dinner's almost ready."
And indeed, the smell of grilled fish and rice wafted through the air.
She gestured for Old Pa to leave his shoes at the entry way. then led the way to the dining room, located behind some rice paper screens. Grandma's dining table was a traditional one, low to the ground and surrounded by comfortable cushions. Already there was a serving bowl of somen and two dipping bowls of a dark brown liquid. There was also a pitcher of ice water and a teapot, and appropriate utensils and dishes for two.