Birthday Dinner

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E5, 35mm, f/3.2, 1/105 sec, ISO800
“Birthday Dinner” Cedar Park, 2026

A friend came over for dinner tonight, and wow, it turned into a huge feast! 🍽️ On top of everything you see in the photos, we even had karaage. Needless to say, we were all stuffed by the end.

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E5, 35mm, f/3.2, 1/50 sec, ISO800
“Baked Brie” Cedar Park, 2026
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E5, 35mm, f/3.2, 1/90 sec, ISO800
“Shrimp” Cedar Park, 2026
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E5, 35mm, f/3.2, 1/80 sec, ISO800
“Carrots & Mushrooms” Cedar Park, 2026
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E5, 35mm, f/3.2, 1/105 sec, ISO640
“Sashimi Spring Rolls” Cedar Park, 2026

Dumpling Dinner

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E5, 35mm, f/3.2, 1/40 sec, ISO800
“Gyoza and Har Gow” Cedar Park, 2026

Tonight we had two kinds of dumplings: Har Gow and Gyoza. And to go with that, yummy fried rice! 🥟 This a truly a comfort meal for Asian families.

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E5, 35mm, f/2.8, 1/40 sec, ISO800
“Har Gow, Gyoza, and Fried Rice” Cedar Park, 2026

Productive and Lazy: A Perfect Sunday

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/80 sec, ISO200
“TV Time” Cedar Park, 2026

I actually got a lot done today including some motorcycle maintenance and HVAC vent cleaning, but I also spent a good chunk of it relaxing in front of the TV (with a big bowl of popcorn), listening to my audiobook, and even reading from a real, non-digital book. Sundays can fly by so fast, but today felt like it lasted. That’s a rare thing. 😊

First Attempt at Tamagoyaki

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO125
“First Tamagoyaki” Cedar Park, 2026

One of my small goals for this year was to make tamagoyaki. Surprisingly, I’d never actually made it on my own before, even though it’s a pretty simple way to cook eggs. Mariko gave it a thumbs-up, so I’m counting that as a win. 😄🥚

Morning Clouds, Afternoon Rain

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/1500 sec, ISO64
“Morning Clouds” Cedar Park, 2026

The cloudy weather continued today. In the morning there were some magnificent formations catching the first rays of sun, and then in the afternoon we got a bit of rain and a nice cloud show before sunset. I wasn’t complaining. ☁️😊

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E5, 27mm, f/5, 1/350 sec, ISO125
“Evening Rainclouds” Cedar Park, 2026

Two Great Dinners in a Row

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E5, 35mm, f/4, 1/13 sec, ISO800
“Deep Fried Goodness” Cedar Park, 2026

Here are a couple of recent dinners worth sharing. Tonight was all deep-fried goodness: korokke and aji-furai, with two carrot dishes and a fresh salad on the side. A perfect combination.

Last night was pan-seared salmon, baked gratin, salad, and rice. It was so filling. I was happily stuffed. 😋

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E5, 35mm, f/4, 1/17 sec, ISO800
“Salmon and Gratin” Cedar Park, 2026