18 for 2018 - family bucket list

We decided as a family to put together a bucket list for 2018.

It had to contain a stretch goal, something the cost nothing, something fun, something to challenge us and something taht we could do every month. They were the general rules anyway!

It too a while to come up with 18 but we finally did it, this is sperate from my create every week misssion!

If you prefer to read about the whole list, I wrote about it over HERE or you can sit back and watch the short video...

Let me know if you are doing something similar!

So far we have tried 2 new cafes, one is just a 10 minute walk up the road and we had no idea it was there. It's a great find as they also have a foot spa! I can see me spending a lot more time over there...

They also have a small shop where they sell oils, herbs and handmade goods, absolute gem of a find! The menu is limited but tasty.

The second new cafe is about 3km away, also very nice, everything sourced locally when they can. Bit of an odd menu but we all enjoyed it! No doubt we will be going back soon! I could probabaly bike over alough it means going along the scary main road, so to be honest, I probably won't!

That brings us onto pancakes, I tried THIS recipe, well I based it on that recipe, I made some tweaks. You have to cook them on a very low temperature otherwise they are still soggy in the middle!

I want to try them again, when I am sure I have it right I'll share my tweaked, Japan friendly version!

And the fun family photo - mision complete, New Years skiing in Niigata. The first day I wasn't feeling too good, the scond day was lovely, great snow, great weather!

Then day three was a right off, the weather was terrible, most of the lifts were closed so we gave up and came home early but at least we got a decent photo!

Fancy an avocado?

When I last went to get my hair cut, I arrived a bit early, so I had a wander around the little streets near to the hairdressers. Down one of the streets I came across this massive avocado, so I had a bit of gander, it turned out to be an avocado cafe! The owner popped out and said hello so I decided that if I had time I would investigate further after my hair appointment.

It's a quirky and cute little cafe and every menu item uses avocado - well, I think there were maybe a couple of things that were avocado free, if you are one of those freaky avocado haters!

I'm not sure how to describe the style of the place really but it is homely and quirky, so I loved it! Behind the ghetto blasters was the drinks bar and soup.

I love this funky light too..

I ordered a lunch set, it came with avocado smoothie, there are syrups in the drink bar to add to it, it was good without the syrup but I tried strawberry and that was amazing too. Then there are a choice of drinks in the drinks bar and soup...

Service was great and the owner explained to me what everything was, he had lived in Vietnam years ago and worked with American troops so his English was pretty good. I had the locomoco don which came on top of a half avocardo and avocado balls on the side. It was great, I stuck with the regular size which totally filled me up but you can up the size, for those hungry men folk!

Apparently there are 2 other cafes in the group, I haven't tried them out but I will be coming back here after my next hair appointment!

As the place had just opened it doesn't seem to be on google yet! I don't remember exactly which little street it was down, just look for the big avocado! Somewhere near BerBerJin.

I also spotted this place down one of the side streets but sadly it wasn't open! Maybe next time...

The Cutest Lunch...

We went to one of our favourite cafes for lunch. It gets so busy these days that we now know to book ahead to be sure we get a seat!
The menu is very simple, they have 2 dutch oven meals, basically the same except one is served with bread the other with rice. Then they have two pasta dishes. They make all their own pasta and bread and it's sooo good!

I love how they served up the main meal..

As my husband and I relaxed with a lovely coffee Ebi-kun found a book and was totally engrossed, some things never change! Of course we had to stay until he finished the story.

And I couldn't resist a quick snap of these cute sheep cakes - in honour of year of the sheep for 2015, these look pretty easy to replicate.

Trying out the new cafe...

Just round the corner from our home, we have a new cafe whoo-hoo! We have been itching to try it out....

The menu is very limited for now, it was basically a choice of panini or carbonara. Hubby and I both had the panini and Ebi-kun had the carbonara, all of it was delicious. We got soup, salad and deviled egg too. Big thumbs up for the lunch, although it was more of a ladies lunch size rather than a strapping bloke sized meal!

Ebi-kun had hot chocolate which was really cute...

I got a caramel latte and we all got these cute little cookies. 10/10 for cuteness! I'm pretty sure the owner can speak English too, although she didn't when my hubby was there, I reckon she will if I rock up alone. This is great for me because my other favourite cafe has an owner who speaks English and used to be a tour guide!

Come for a walk with me…

I shared last week how I like to get out of the house once a week and work in a cafe nearby, well I'd like to take you to this weeks spot, Starbucks it is not! I leave my bike in the car park then follow the path…

Past the cars and other odd ornaments and a small shrine, if you are lucky you might see a snake too!

Then you come to the main building…

When you walk in, there is always a display of artwork or ceramics by a local artist, often there are pieces for sale…

Time to settle in with a cup of coffee and homemade cake, like my other frequent haunt, the menu is very limited. I think they have 3 dishes here, I always have the brochette and salad set - which comes with a choice of drink and cake too! It is what my husband would describe as a "ladies lunch" - in other words, he always leaves still hungry!

It is usually full over lunch time, which is quite surpassing since it is in the middle of nowhere! But once the people taking lunch are done, I generally get the place to myself…

I know some people would see this as a downside, but these cafes don't have Internet access, this works for me because it forces me to get on with the job in hand. I get far more writing done when there is no net to distract me! 

After I have done my work, it is time for a walk around the grounds, are you coming?…

There is also an old farmhouse, they often have exhibits on in there too, it was a guy with some beautiful kimono fabrics this time…

As we walk around the garden we spot some pretty flowers…

What is this? Where is it pointing to?…

 Hmm a yurt of sorts, I wonder what is inside…

It's a cat shrine!! You know how much I like cats, I'm outta here…

Don't forget to smell the flowers on your way out…

A new discovery...

I don't get to travel abroad much these days, so my adventuring is a lot more scaled down! For the last few weeks, when we have returned from Aikido, we have passed a sign with 'Outdoor Cafe', last weekend we decided to investigate. I must admit, I was expecting an outdoors cafe, can't imagine why. It is in fact a wooden building with the seating inside.

Despite the odd name, we have found a gem of a place. We are lucky where we live because we have a number of cute cafes dotted around, this one is now on the list. The menu was very limited, lunch sets: 2 types of pasta, a rice dish and a bread dish plus they had 'light lunches' which were various types of sandwiches. We placed out order then they asked if we wanted to make our own butter. Of course we said yes....

Great way to keep kids entertained as you wait for the meal to be served. We all took turns giving it a shake, until we got this...

You are given a small jug so you can separate the liquid from the butter and some salt and garlic so you can flavour it, it was good!

They hand make everything, that includes the pasta and the bread - both of which were delicious.

Ebi-kun Secret Agent 008, had a toastie, that was good too. 

Considering it is down a tiny road near some rice paddies, it was quite busy! 

My husband likes a nice cup of coffee and they roast their own beans here too, so he was also a happy bunny. It isn't too far from our home, I am wondering if they have wifi, it would be a perfect place to go and work, when I need a break from the house!

Have you been adventuring recently? Found anywhere new and exciting? Please share!

The Secret Cafe...

Where we live really isn't very exciting. We have a small shopping centre with a supermarket, Daiso and a few other smaller shops and that is about it. We have rice paddies, new housing estates, a few factories and old farm houses.

What we do have are a couple of really nice cafes, so I thought I would take you to one today...

Cafe Neh is on a small road and it's not really that obvious it is a cafe at all. You park around the side and then have to follow a small winding path which brings you out at the cafe. The first time I went, I took my bike up this path then convinced myself I was at someones house and did a runner!

Inside they have a small gallery area where they often have handmade goods for sale, they also have a wood burning stove so it is nice and cozy in the winter too. The food is what my husband would describe as 'ladies lunches', not the type of place to go if you are looking to fill up your bloke with a hearty meal, delicious all the same.

On my latest visit, I discovered that they have a new path which takes you to a yurt where they exhibit goods as well, sadly it wasn't open, but do not fear, I will return.

And there is also the farmhouse, this has a couple of tatami rooms which they open to customers if the main part of the cafe is too busy and they often have art and crafts on show or for sale here too.

Sitting out in the autumn is lovely but the heat is just too much at the moment, give it another month or two! The cafe is a real gem and one of my favourite places just to hang out. When I lived in Jerusalem I had several favorite haunts but in Japan they seem to be few and far between. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of lovely cafes but few that have the right 'atmosphere'.

Do you have a favourite 'haunt', what makes it so special? Share in the comments below.