Blueberry muffins are always classic among all sorts of muffins, aren't they?

One of the cafes where I like spending time is DEAN & DELUCA. New York is the place of its birth. I haven't been there, though. I go to DEAN & DELUCA in Tokyo. It's already common and we see it at several places.

Even if I just stop by to catch a glance at what kind of pastries they have these days, blueberry muffins are always there and greet me.

Oh, it looks sooo delicious! The surface is done to a perfect brown...must be lightly crispy. I wonder how soft the inside is...

 

I pick one up and take a seat. I can't resist a blueberry muffin.

It is nice DEAN & DELUCA provides a space for customers to enjoy food and drink in a casual style. I know, I should order coffee or tea for a sweet... White wine is my company mostly.

Juicy blueberries. The vibrant color is making a striking contrast.

The inside of a muffin is softly dense and moist as I imagined. Yes, it is delicious.

I knew it. Thus, I will come back to see (and buy) a blueberry muffin in the future...again.

CENTURY Swiss Sapphire Watches. The dazzling elegance is beyond imagination.

The streets are getting in full Christmas mode. I like seeing light decorations everywhere in this season. It is...more exited than Christmas Day itself! Waiting for happiness is a childlike pureness.

There is a watch store in Ginza I introduce to you. This incredibly elegant watch is from Switzerland.

The ladies watch I am wearing is VERSAILLES.  White gold, diamonds, and quarts as well as sapphires! I am honored to have a chance to wear such a gorgeous watch since my friend is a friend of a lady who launches this brand in Japan.

Century Time Gems Ltd is headquartered in Nidau, which lies at the heart of the Swiss watchmaking region and is also home to the firm's production workshops, where every CENTURY watch is born.

CENTURY SWISS    Ginza Chuo-ku 5-12-13 Tokyo, Japan

Two discs of sapphire are fused into one inseparable piece.

This highly complex technique remains one of the distinctive marks of every CENTURY watch.

Everlasting sapphires －　Transparent, perfectly pure, the second hardest material in the world after diamonds.

CENTURY's motto is "beyond imagination".

Every masterpiece is a ready-to-wear creation.   Conversely －

We realize our ability to transform every second into a moment of pure wonder...

Thanksgiving Day - A day to give thanks for what I have

In the United States, Thanksgiving is held on the fourth Thursday of November.

Commonly, it is said that the "First Thanksgiving" is celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World. Pilgrims were the first English settlers in the Plymouth Colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts. They had a difficult time to secure their food. The Native Americans helped them to survive their first winter in America. Thanks to the Native Americans, the Pilgrims from England harvested as much as they could make it through the next winter. The Pilgrims invited the Native Americans to show their gratitude and had a feast together, giving their thanks and praise to God.

There is a  tradition for whole family to get together and celebrate Thanksgiving with a gorgeous dinner.

I am alone at the apartment in Japan. I don't have roasted turkey nor a pumpkin pie, but wishing you a warm Thanksgiving. I wish I could be there!

Instead, I post my little feast I had at the cafe a few months ago.

Thanksgiving is also a day to give thanks for what I have. It is a comfort to know.

I think about what I am thankful for.

There should be a lot of things. We tend to take it for granted that we already have.

So...I thankful for who I am.

Thanks God. I am happy for who I am. I am a creature of your will.

White Horse Inn, Metamora. Once, it was Michigan's oldest restaurant.

It had been a place I'd like to visit since I searched for it on the internet when he e-mailed me a few pictures. He took a stroll in the park of Metamora for a while to refresh himself.

I saw one impressive restaurant on the net. That was White Horse Inn.

One of the oldest original buildings in the city. It started as a general store in 1848, and 2 years later, it was converted into an inn and stagecoach stop which charged 50 cents for overnight guests.

Due to the line Michigan Central Railroad built in Metamora in 1872, it became a welcoming rest stop for weary travelers, coming by stagecoach or train. A hearty dinner of boiled mutton, oyster sauce and a draft beer were served for 10 cents.

Wear-and-tear White Horse Inn abruptly closed its doors in 2012.
From 1929 to 2012,  White Horse Inn had truly remained Michigan's oldest restaurant.

Renovated and rebuilt, it officially opened in November 2014. White Horse Inn was given a new life, with the reinvigorated architecture and menu for the 21st century.

 

Quiet, small old town welcomed us. It was my first visit.

Metamora is a village in Lapeer County in Michigan.

 

The entire Metamora community donated time and skill to the renovation.

I ordered Hess Chardonnay from Monterey, California! The rich taste was a wonderful start of the dinner.

When posting on this, I found M. Lawrence Green Sparking on the menu. Wow! It is made in Michigan. I'll have to taste it next time. :)

The decor in the restaurant was carefully created with the past in mind, paying respect to the history.

Spinach Artichoke Dip $10 as an appetizer.

Fresh spinach, chunky artichoke, baked parmesan, tortilla chips. 

It was a big hit for me(us)!!! Tastes really good! It goes with wine, of course also beer♪

Plenty, plenty enough for an appetizer... It is a pretty big plate. I want to eat it again. I want to order only this one as a main dish for 2 persons and enjoy 2 glasses of wine for myself. When I told that to Collie, he laughed. Maybe we can, but, a waitress would say "Yes? Anything else!?"

I really recommend Spinach Artichoke Dip to you! 

How about ordering another dish and sharing 2 menus with 2 persons? I'd like to try that when we visit there again.

Goulash  Hungarian-Style    - Limited-time menu -

It tempted me because it was written "award-winning". Though the sauce was a little sweet for me, it was good. I couldn't eat it all, so had a box to take the leftovers home. (Collie added one slice of his chicken to it.)

Caesar $10 + chicken breast $5 from add-ons

Romaine, parmesan, fresh-baked croutons, house-made dressing with chicken on top.

Our main dishes were served with breads, which were very tasty like authentic French breads.

It is great that it was renovated with the design to bring in an equestrian theme, paying homage to the stagecoach days.

Tranquillity in downtown Metamora

People will come to White Horse Inn from other counties, too, even from other states...

Once, it was an inn dedicated to travelers by stagecoach or train.

Bubby's ★ Red Velvet Cake is the Deep Red Magic

You know Bubby's https://www.bubbys.com ?  Yes, the one in New York!
I've never been to Bubby's in NYC, however, there are some shops of Bubby's in Tokyo.

I often go to Bubby's in Shiodome City Center to enjoy New York atmosphere.

In the cold season, I am filled with a joyful expectation that I can meet Red Velvet Cake at Bubby's. They don't make it regularly, so I feel happy when I find it there.

😊"Can you make 2 slices of Red Velvet Cake to go?"  I couldn't buy just 1 slice of it...

Shiodome City Center, Tokyo, Japan

In the evening, I returned to the office....I couldn't wait until I go home and decided having 1 at the desk.

Cheese frosting is so delicious as if it were like New York Cheese Cake💕  I do love heavy cake like this rather than fluffy cake. Whipped cream goes greatly with it. Isn't this red so charming!?

I don't eat chocolate(cocoa) cake, but I love Red Velvet Cake. It might be strange because Red Velvet Cake is cocoa cake after food coloring has been added. Red food coloring is added to color the cake in red.

It is the magic! The deep red..crimson drives me crazy.   I wonder  －

Is there a substitute for red food coloring in Red Velvet Cake? Would it make the cake taste still good?

feeling fine to see Oxford houses & Oxford library

A peasant sky after the rain.

Today, I will introduce you Oxford houses in Michigan which caught my eyes💚

 I hope you will enjoy watching the residential area in Oxford!

Several kinds of houses are all different, and all are really amazing...

I feel so good!  I had an awesome time biking in this town of Oxford.

And one of the paces I like in Oxford.  It is a library.

Quiet time on weekday. I like this atmosphere the best among libraries I've visited so far in Michigan.

Well appointed with wi-fi, too!

 

A wonderful idea occurred to me now. How about posting a blog here?

I can't enjoy a cup of coffee nor wine while writing, though😅  Still, isn't it nice!?

I will update my blog from here someday! Can change seats from day to day. GOOD♪

It's 17:38. I gotta go...back to Collie's house. I knew he's back home by his message.

On the way to his house, I took one more picture of a house. It was a must to photograph.

When he was looking outside from the window, I just came back. I e-mailed to him from the library, "I'll come home soon."

Collie "Hey, bicycle girl."  He took a picture of me as soon as I came in.

※ A picture won't enlarge when you click it. 

I know....💧a baseball cap is suitable for a cycling outfit. However, I think it's not good enough for sun protection.

UNIQLO's Ultra Light Down I got at Narita Airport had a big impact on a rainy day. How great it was! It is water-resistant and water-repellent!!!

By the way, I was wearing Delta Airline slippers this time at his house since I didn't use them on the plane. Collie still has my exclusive use, but I want it to last a longer time.

In the town, a schoolboy screamed to me on the bike, "Pheeew!".  I seemed hot for a kid...😂

Red Knapp's Original Hamburger, "The Nap Burger" without any toppings

Rainy day in Oxford, Michigan. I couldn't help starting for downtown Oxford by bicycle. I make the most of my time because I am here for only 3 days!

It felt pretty long from his house to the downtown. I didn't remember the roads exactly, and a heavy rain overwhelmed me while I had a short rest under the trees.

Whew, here I am at last!!!



I hooked "my" bicycle to the pole. It was really a coincidence that a waiter offered me a table by the window in front of my bicycle!

The view form the window.  How nice it is! I can see downtown Oxford while I enjoy my lunch. It was like a reward for my hard trip in a rainy day.



I have been looking forward to coming here for the first time. I ordered "The Nap Burger", Red Knapp's Original. There was an option to choose toppings, but I decided to taste an original burger simply at first.

Homemade buns are cut into halves, uniquely put on the plate. Somewhat flat, somewhat light brown buns of Red Knapp's.

During 1930's, Red Knapp started a restaurant in Rochester, providing simple food to local patrons. In 1996, Red Knapp's American Grill in Oxford became a local favorite and has been continuing to be successful.



In spite that I didn't order any toppings like cheese, tomato, or others, chopped onions, sliced zucchinis, and mayonnaise were served in the bowl with ketchup and mustard. I like this style! I made my own hamburger.

Though water with ice was refreshing after pedaling a bicycle, I ordered draft Bud Light additionally♪

Brett Knapp, Red Knapp's grandson owns Red Knapp's American Grill in Oxford. He graduated Michigan State University with a degree in business administration in 1992.



Later, I knew that one of Red Knapp's son still operates Red Knapp's Dairy Bar in Rochester. It is heartwarming. On the internet, I saw same-style hamburgers as Oxford.

I was looking at the "quaint" town. I'll stay here until the rain stops. Red Knapp's was my comfortable shelter.



Finally, it stopped raining. I hung around downtown Oxford, leaving my bicycle hooked.



When you have a change to come through downtown Oxford...



 Take notice of these "quaint" buildings. It is a feature of this town.



Quietness rather than liveliness. Still, I like this small town.



Collie bought this bicycle a few years ago for me to use while he were at work. Now, he calls it "his" bicycle. I returned, "My bicycle!".  "I can't ride?", he answered.

Rose "Yes, you can...(●－－●)"

I  liked it when he said "I can't ride?" instead of "It is mine."

In my childhood, I got hurt because all my family had their own bicycles, but I was not given one for myself. It was scary to walk home from the station at dark night since after I was followed by a groper. But it was ignored by family.

So, when Collie bought a bicycle for me, my heart was healed.

All right, Collie. It is your bicycle. It is your bicycle which I can ride, too.



The historical building had been vacant for several years. Brett Knapp and his father designed together and did a majority of the renovations.

Brett has also been energetic in the real state development market in Oxford. He has renovated some buildings in downtown Oxford, one of which had been unoccupied for years, and now, it is actively full.

Shall we go to Red Knapp's?  To enjoy American-Italian with modern lodge-vibe, and feel a family tradition.

All Souls Day

As the flowers in the vase were beginning to wilt, I arranged them smaller in the mug.
Revived flowers can last for a while, in another attractive style...

All Soul's Day is dedicated to those who have died, but not yet permitted into heaven. I didn't know this. I have been thinking, simply, it is the day for all the dead; the commemoration of souls.

Last night, I learned our prayers for the dead will help them to enter into heaven. According to Catholic belief, "purgatory" is a place most people, free of mortal sin, but in a state of venial sin, must go to. Living persons on earth can help the dead in purgatory go to heaven by prayers!

Nobody is perfect. I am not perfect, neither.

This day, I pray for the dead.

Souls can be cleaned before they enter into heaven. There are people who pray on All Souls Day. Now, I am one of them.

All Saints Day

For all the saints who have attained heaven.  Rest in peace . . .