March 30, 2011

A look back in time

From HistoryLink.org

“On March 30, 1942, the U.S. military removes 275 Japanese American residents from Bainbridge Island. The removal comes after Franklin Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066 gives the military the authority to intern anyone they consider “dangerous.” The order set in motion the expulsion of 110,000 Japanese Americans from the West Coast to 10 inland prison camps, based on their ethnicity and heritage. None was accused of any crime or charged or convicted of any act of espionage or sabotage. Bainbridge Island’s Japanese American residents were the first in the country to be removed, most likely because of the nearness of the Bremerton Navy Yard and other military installations.”

From time to time, I work on our family tree until I get too overwhelmed/ frustred/ stuck; things get complicated when you start to go that far back in time. Above, is a US Census document from April 11, 1930 which listed my grandfather and great grandfather. It lists them both as Japanese and my great grandfather as a restaurant owner – must be where I get my cookin’ skills from! I was pretty excited when I found this! I imagine how easy this will be for my great great grandchildren – just a quick search on google to find out what I was up to.

While my mom’s side is predominantly English and easy to trace thanks to a family bible, my father’s side is riddled with a variety of ethnicities, divorces and name changes. It makes for an interesting, complicated story to try and unfold; detective work really.

My grandfather, Joseph Tadashi Sugiura, his wife and their 2 month old daughter Judith all went to those same camps even though he was half Japanese. Although he never really talked about it, I can only imagine what it was like – I’ve read a few books on the subject. I do know that everyone that was put in there lost their homes, their business, their belongings – everything. To be picked up and moved like that was truly horrible though when you look at the pictures, especially the ones from Bainbridge, they all look so dignified and graceful. It really makes me apprciate how lucky I am to live in such a tolerant community.

March 27, 2011

Soup for you!

Threw together this awesome soup the other night. Wanted something that would last for the week to chow down on. This endless rain makes me think of soup. And of rainboots. And of tropical beach locations with no rain that I could vacation to. Sigh.

Italian Chicken Soup

2 – 32 oz. boxes of chicken stock
1 package of chicken sausage (I like the Trader Joe’s one the best and it’s cheap!)
4 cups thawed, frozen spinach, squeezed of all water (so pack those cups full!)
1 cup cooked orzo
1 can diced tomato, drained and rinsed
1 can white kidney beans (or really any canned bean of your choice)
Salt and pepper to taste, plus some red pepper flakes if you’re feeling hot!

Empty the two boxes of chicken stock into a large pot and turn stove onto medium heat. In a small pot, cook the orzo until al dente, drain and rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process – set aside. Take the sausage out of its skin and cook up the meat in a frying pan, breaking it into small pieces – drain and set aside.

Once the orzo and sausage are cooked and the stock is heated up, add them to the pot along with the spinach, can of tomato (with its juices) and the rinsed beans. Let all of this heat up a bit, season with salt and pepper and those optional red pepper flakes.

Going to go home now and have this for lunch 🙂

March 26, 2011

Clam Dog

Clamming, Stella

Nothing’s better than a clam diggin’ dog!

March 20, 2011

Clammin on the Coast

Clamming, Pacific Beach, vacation

Spent the weekend in Pacific Beach with the Sugiura clan clam digging. Did hella puzzles, drank hella mimosas and dug hella clams. Did back to back digs in 12 hours – good times. Thank god for the goddess clam gun – that saved us the next morning! Overall a great time – how can you not have fun at the beach? Can’t wait to share my catch with my co-workers!

March 17, 2011

Japan Animal Rescue

After watching this video that has been making it’s way around the internet, I immediately searched for which organizations were taking donations to help animals affected by the earthquake and tsunami. While the focus in Japan is on helping people affected by the devastation – and rightly so – as an animal lover and owner, I am also concerned about the countless animals affected by the disaster.

I urge you to donate to Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support. It’s a coalition of three groups – HEART-Tokushima, Animal Garden Niigata and Japan Cat Network. Their intention is to keep animal rescue on the agenda, provide shelter space and coordinate some earthquake/tsunami animal rescues.

I’ve donated on behalf of my dog Stella and all of the Sugiura dogs that have been in our lives. I hope you will too!