Any recommendations on where to shop for the Japanese knives? We are going to Japan next month and this would be a great gift for S. We’ll be in Kyoto for 4 days.
Yes, there are many knife shops in the area of the Nishiki Market.
I got mine at the Yoshimune annex shop; another traveler in our group took the knife sharpening workshop (and purchased the knife) at Hamonoya Hirai in the Teramachi Dori shopping area, right next to the Nishiki Market.
Thank you!
Be sure to pur knife in checked luggage so it isn’t confiscated!
Just thought of a great holiday gift for SIL. (Beside the vegan leather belt from London that has already arrived.)
He’s getting a TP holder for his bathroom. One with a lift up bar instead of the spring-loaded roller. I know the new one will fit exactly right where the old one does–no new screw holes needed. I know this because I just replaced an identical one in my bathroom and it was a perfect fit.
I guess bathroom accessories are becoming a theme. Last holiday season he gave me a new vanity light fixture which I finally had put up last month.
So far I have gotten mostly stocking things – silicone kitchen utensils, stainless steel prep bowls, cellulose “paper towels”. And I got miter squares for them, they are starting to acquire house skills. They are all either handy in the kitchen, or aspire to be. We have scaled down giving to three small presents (usually a book is one) each, and then one gift for them both – S2 and DIL are getting a deep fryer and I have zero idea about the newlyweds — they camp all the time, love experiences but she wasn’t raised on museums – I might see if there is one near them we can give them a membership to. Sometimes that doesn’t work out, and I feel disappointed (in myself, not in them) for the miss.
Link, please?
For the TP holder?
Vegan leather belt?
I plan to get this for son for Chanukah/birthday. He’ll think I’m crazy but will enjoy it in the end. I know he likes the picture, and I know he once liked Lego’s. It’s a little cheaper on Amazon so I’ll wait until Black Friday to make the purchase just in case the price gets better.
Thanks for this idea. I have been giving my daughter (now 23) a Lego set at least once a year for the past few years. First we did Star Wars (Yoda, Baby Yoda, R2D2), but this year I started branching out. She grew up in Japan, so I gave her a Lego Bonsai for her birthday, but the Hokusai will be perfect for Christmas. At least here in France, it’s a Prime Day deal, although not a huge discount.
It’s been $85 on Amazon in the US for a while. Retail per them and the LEGO website is $99.
Hanna Anderson has a 40% off of everything sale right now. Bought some things for GD ( the 3yo clothes horse) and GS ( too young to care what gifts he gets).
The other grandparents will give the kids plenty of toys.
We were at Costco and they had a three pack of waxed bulb amaryllis, but the colors were yellow, orange, and white.
Will they come out with new holiday color bulbs closer to Christmas?
Useful stocking stuffer– a retractable 100 watt usb charging cable. I got one for myself to keep in my purse. Now $10 instead of $16
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C85943HQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?th=1
Have you used that one? I have something similar that I got free at a conference and it doesn’t lock into the stretched mode when I am charging something. If I try to charge an item, the cord retracts so that the item needs to be sitting on top of the power source.
I mentioned in another thread that I go to Disneyland a couple times a week. I have Fuel Rods but don’t like the feeling of the weight hanging from the bottom of my phone. They also don’t last very long before I need to swap them out. I end up holding the Fuel Rod and my phone in my hand at the same time which is bulky. I found this charger which I think works really well. It is easy to hold the cord with my ring finger and operate the phone at the same time. It is 30W/10,000mAh and charges quickly. It would be good for someone who travels a lot.
Not yet, I’ll let you know once I get it and try it out.
Penzeys Advent Calendar on sale today and tomorrow
I ordered this one (pack of 2) a couple months ago and use it often. I like the multi plugs- can do my phone, kindle, earbuds, etc using the same cord.
I haven’t used a lot of the stretch feature yet - a few times and while it’s not butter smooth it didn’t get stuck
I’ve had them for several days now. The 3 ft version has 4 distinct stopping/lock points. Two on each end of the pull cord. And once you’ve locked them, they stay locked and don’t retract. So far, I like them fine.
Baseus also makes a 6 ft version., which has 6 lock points–3 on each side the cable.
And 100 watt, 5.9 ft version with 7 lock points. At 100 watts, it’s heavy duty enough to charge your MacBook or other laptop.