Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Morning Vistors


Morning Vistors, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

This morning several Doves took an early morning break on
the fence by my bedroom window.

I have seen Cactus Wrens ( the clowns of the bird world ) Cardinals,
Quail, Woodpeckers, Cowbirds and several Hawks.
Living in Tucson is a real treat to be able to see such a wide range
of wild animals and birds . . . not so much with the scorpions and
Rattle-snakes ! I can do without those.

happy. . . parsnip



Fall Evening in Tucson


Fall Evening in Tucson, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

A lovely Fall evening in Tucson, Arizona, looking North towards the
Catalina Foothills from my backyard.

quiet. . . parsnip
music. . . Two Star. . . Everything But The Girl

Monday, September 28, 2009

Tsubosake Temple


Tsubosake Temple, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Juichmen Kanzeon Bosatsu, the Eleven Faced Goddess of Mercy, is
enshrined in Tsubosake Temple and is worshipped as the Goddess
responsive to eye diseases. Many famous people have prayed at this
temple for recovery from their eye diseases including three Emperors
and me !

This is one of the lovely side temples leading up to the main temple
area.

A winding road leads to the Temple that is set in a tree filled
mountain area. The grounds are very beautiful and the red painted
wood balances nicely against the gray stone and green plants.

tourist . . . parsnip
music. . . ost. . . Princess Mononoke

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Utility access cover


Utility access cover, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Another utility access cover ( see post below ) this time it is from
the city of Sanda, the Azalea is the city flower.
Sanda is 25 kilometers from Kobe beyond the Rokko Mountains and 35
kilometers from Osaka.

cheers. . . parsnip

Utility access cover


Utility access cover, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Japan has the best utility access covers . . .

While everyone is looking up at the sights I am also looking down and
look what I found. Is this not Fabulous !
Every area has its own design. As you can tell this is from the Kobe.

The utility box by my home in Tucson has " utility " on it, how
useful but very boring ! Think of all the plants or animals of Tucson
they could have put on it.

Since I knew that there was no way I could walk off with a cover, I
had to be happy with a picture "le sigh "

sightseeing . . . parsnip
music. . . Sky . . . Takuya Ohashi

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Fall


Fall, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

It is the start of Fall in Tucson. Fabulous !

Fall in Tucson is very different from other areas. . . Leaves don't
drop from the trees leaving carpets of red, orange and brown. Fields
of corn and pumpkins don't magical appear just down the road inviting
you in for a hay ride. . .
Don't get me wrong we do have some of these things just not such
prevalent clues a-bit more understated. Most of our Fall color is
from the fruit that has set on Citrus trees that are slowly changing
from green to orange and yellow.

What we also have is a magical change in the air. The days get
cooler and after such hot, dry, monsoonal wet, then hot again
weather, the change in the air is the hint to Fall. From the hot,
sharp, in your face heat of summer air filled with dust, sage and
ozone, the mornings are now clear, the sky a brilliant blue and air
so soft that it envelops you like a whisper.

In the spirit of Fall, I am posting a photo of one of my ceramic
wreaths that I used to make in the Fall when I lived in Laguna Beach
California.

magical . . . parsnip
music. . . Enchantment . . . Corinne Bailey Rae

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Japanese Crackers


Japanese Crackers, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

My son just sent me some of my favorite Japanese crackers. Color me
very very HAPPY !

Talk about Presentation Packaging ! Each of these little crispy,
airy, bite sizes morsels of goodness have different Nigiri Sushi
photograph on each small cellophane bag. There are octopus, shrimp,
snapper, tuna and eel. The two cracker flavors are Wasabi and
Shoyu. . . love at first bite.

I so love these small bags ( 3 inch by 1 1/2 ) I have been saving
them all ! Not sure what I will do with the bags but they are
photograph so beautifully. . . I just can't throw them away.
I might glue one of each bag on a board and frame it, maybe that will
help me so I can throw the rest away. . . wahahahahahahah !

delirious . . . parsnip
music . . . . . Nice Day. . . Persephone's Bees

Friday, September 18, 2009

Signs


Signs, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

I remember many fabulous signs while growing up in Tucson, Arizona.
Interesting signs with plants, animals, people and quite a few neon
ones that would have made Las Vegas of the 50's and 60's very proud.
Hey ! I was a kid . . . I loved all the colors and lights and had
many favorites. Still do !

Many have been destroyed for various reasons. This great one was torn
down the week I took this picture. Yes it is in terrible shape but I
liked it and the new one that took it's place is safe, secure and
extremely boring !

So. . . now the new or old project for me is to finish what I
started when I first moved back to Tucson 2 years ago and take
pictures of the signs that I remember from my childhood. It has been
40 years and I am not sure how many are still standing but I put new
batteries in the camera, the car will be back from the collision
repair next week and so . . . off I go.

More signs to come ! Yea Haaaa !

Dreaming. . . parsnip
Music. . . You Get What You Give. . . The New Radicals

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Presentation Packaging


Presentation Packaging, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Several blogs ago I was talking about Japanese Paper Art, especially
the Fabulous 3-dimensional cards that my son and his wife send me.
In the comments on this post, Anna of the wonderful " My Only Photo
Blog " ( check out her bird photos ). . . wrote about her love of
Japanese cookies and how she saves all the presentation packaging. . .
me too, me too, me too !

I save all the packaging from all sorts Japanese products... food,
restaurant-postcards, napkins, hashi (chopsticks) and my all time
favorite Eki-Ben, made to go food bought at train stations to enjoy on
your ride.
Check out the Eki-ben on David's Blog. He wrote
about his latest train trip and posted about the wonderful train food.
I must tell you this is not your everyday McDonalds . . . it usually
has food of what region your in, filled with tasty octopus, chicken,
fish, beef, rice, spices, local produce. . . so good !

What does one do with all the artwork ? if your me you frame them and
put them up on your pantry wall along with the shopping bags.
I really love the green package to the right it was " Persimmon leaf
wrapped pushed sushi " one of my favorite... seeing all the artwork on
my wall brings back so many wonderful and yummy memories !

Nishinomiya here I come ! Go Hanshin Tigers. . . . Go Go Go Tigers !

Very hungry. . . parsnip
music. . . OST, My Neighbor Totoro, Studio Ghibli

Monday, September 14, 2009

Failure !


Failure !, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

File Failure !

This is one of several pictures I took on Sunday to enter "The Boys"
in a contest that ran in my local paper. Needless to say, my lack of
computer skills got the better of me and my computer and I couldn't
transfer the right file to the paper. Bummer !

Oh Well there is always next year and I hope by then I will have
" transferring files correctly " learned by then.

This was not a photo of Hamish I was going to use but I had to post
it. . . . because it looks like the cheeky little devil is winking !
He loves all the attention he can get so this really fits his
personality ! huba hubaaa !

The picture was taken on one of my work tables looking out on the
Citrus Trees, where the Javelinas like to mosey around. They haven't
been around much this Summer ( check out earlier post ) the weather has
been too hot they are enjoying vacation time in the cooler mountains.

bumbling. . . . parsnip
music . . . The Love Parade. . . The Dream Academy

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Two Square Dogs


Two Square Dogs, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Woof !

OK, these are spoiled bad bad boys. . . . but I love them.

Watson in the back is a Brindled Scottish Terrier. . . smart, loyal,
charming, courtly, and most of all loving. A big sweetheart. He has
to be to put up with "The Hamish"
Hamish in front is a Westie/Scottie mix and is always in conflict. . .
the good-side, white is in battle with the dark-side. . . much like
"Darth Vader"

As you can see by the photo Mr. Watson was taking a nap in the crate
and Hamish just crushes in.
We only have several pillows, baskets and a very cool basket crate for
their sleeping and napping enjoyment. Hamish always finds Watson and
this is what happens ! See earlier " Two Headed Dog" post on
this blog. . .

Little brothers can be such a Big pain !

sympathetic . . . . parsnip
music. . . . So Sorry. . . Feist

Friday, September 11, 2009

Early Morning


Early Morning, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

I awoke very early this morning !
The sky was a starting blue with the morning sun leaving long soft
shadows all over the foothills where I live. The air smelled so fresh
and crisp with the hint of rain to come. It was utterly amazing !

I saw the reflection of the sky on the copper sheeting of the
fountain, as the water dripped down. . . I had to try to take a picture.
The rocks shimmered in the basin with the dripping water leaving
little swirls and bubbles. Most of the rocks came from my land and
some that I have schlepped around from home to home... when they get
wet the colors just pop, with range of the color going from dark red
to green-blue. Lovely !

I loved the way this photo came out and how the shot is cropped
tight, even the water droplets reflect the blue sky, Fabulous !

contented. . .parsnip
music . . . Enchantment. . . Corinne Bailey Rae

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Lighting


Lighting, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Kanani came for the weekend and she stayed at the home of Two Square
Dogs. We all had a wonderful time excluding the small incident of
the person who was too busy with phone or ipod and rear ended my car.
Thank Goodness we are all fine but what a way to welcome a friend to
Tucson.

The storm that was to start when Kanani was here, waited till Monday
evening . . . good thing she left that morning and missed this
storm. Lighting and Thunder all around as the storm circled Tucson.
This storm was very slow moving so we had major rain fall and that was
really great for Tucson.

This picture of the storm at sunset is facing West and if you look at
the right side you can see some lighting. The camera I use now is
really not great for Lighting shots but I was lucky to capture this
flash by accident ! and yes the sky was quite yellow from the setting
sun and the clouds very deep blue and purple.

soaked. . . . parsnip
music. . . Rainy Day. . . Tatsu Yamashita

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Boys


The Boys, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

The Boys just came back from their " Herbal Body Wrap " or in boring
everyday terms the groomers and are looking good but not for long !
Hey they are Bad Bad Little Square Black Dogs and this is Tucson !
Yikes !

Hamish on the left and Watson on the right.

Laughing. . . parsnip
Music . . . Hello, Kitty Girl . . . ost The Last Exile

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Hurricane Jimena


Hurricane Jimena, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Hurricane Jimena is approaching Southern Arizona. . . but by the time
it gets to Tucson, this weekend, the hurricane will be a storm. That
means extra moisture and maybe RAIN !

Hopeful. . . parsnip
Music. . . Suddenly The Trees Are Giving Way. . . Ulrich Schnauss,
Far Away Trains Passing By