Friday, December 31, 2010

savannah marsh mamma's day !

It is Savannah's Birthday !

I found her blog this year and must say it is a hoot and I so enjoy
being called sugar when
she comments !

So today a favorite quote for her Birthday...
"We choose our destiny everyday an everyday I choose a destiny of joy"

Savannah, Happy Happy Birthday !

happy. . . parsnip
music. . . Don't Know Why, Norah Jones

where is it ?

There is suppose to be a post here wishing savannah a Happy Birthday ...

lost in cyber-space
hoping it appears soon

Hello ? ? ? where are you ?

angry... parsnip !

Update....
The little post found the bog !
Good Good post. . . you can have cake now !

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Yes, that is Snow !


Yes, that is Snow !, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Close-up of some of the snow on the lower part of the Catalina
Mountain outside of my foothill home In Tucson, Arizona.
Taken this afternoon, the snow is starting to melt by my home but they
haven't cleared all of the road up to the Mt. Lemmon
area, where the town of Summerhaven and our ski lifts are !

A few days early but Winter has come to Tucson !
Commence dancing in the streets !

cheers. . . parsnip
music. . . Dancing in the Streets, Martha and the Vandellas

Morning storm with rain and snow

What I saw this morning after all the clouds lifted, lots of wind,
rain and snow.
This storm blew in with a vengeance from California last night.
They can have it back, Thank You very much !

frozen. . . parsnip
music. . . On A Day Like This, David Bridie

Citrus Trees in the cold, rain and snow

It will be below freezing tonight.
So my citrus trees have the old-fashion C-8 size Christmas light in
them to give off a small amount of heat
plus a good watering to help them combat the affects of the super cold
drop in temperature today and tonight.

You can't tell by this photo but the rain drops were really tiny
snowflakes that melted as they hit the ground.

Pretty but really cold !

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Christmas Durian !


Christmas Durian !, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Ok here we are in Tucson Arizona eating the Christmas Durian... or
trying to eat the Durian !

Called the King of Fruit in Asia, the Durian is the stinkiest fruit you
will ever encounter.
Many cities in Asia forbid the eating of the fruit in public places,
hotel rooms and just anywhere where people are
besides your home and I think if they could they would forbid it there
too !
You should eat this fruit in a open field in the middle of nowhere.

Durian groves have nets tied under the trees to catch the ripe fruit
as it drops
as it can cause great damage to any person walking under the tree. The
shell is very heavy, hard and with sharp spikes !

The hard spiky outer shell holds a fruit so aromatic that the
fragrance has been said to resemble dirty socks.
I though it smelled like really cheap bad California Gasoline.

Pull off the inside layer skin to revel the custard like sack that
holds the seed. Discard the seed and suck the creamy fruit
that is suppose to taste like vanilla pudding.
Ours was frozen and I think out of season when picked because it
kinda tasted like onions dipped in gasoline.

We will try again when in season and hopefully a-bit more tasty !

It is just one of those crazy thing one does when family gets together.

spiky. . . parsnip
music. . . Banking On A Myth, Andrew Bird

Starting to crack the shell. . .

Outside, with newspaper and knife. . .

Opening the shell


Opening the shell, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

With knife and careful separation pull the spiky outside apart. . .

close-up of Durian fruit


close-up of Durian fruit, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Discard the seed and slurp the creamy fruit. . .

Thursday, December 23, 2010

My Christmas Card...


My Christmas Card..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

This is the second card in the Arizona Christmas series.

Last year was a Cardinal in a Palo Verde Tree,
This year it is Two Mourning Doves In A Mesquite Tree.
I am taking Arizona liberties with the Twelve Days of Christmas. . .

Lots of blogger have been writing why they don't send out Christmas
Cards.

WELL I AM A GREETING CARD ARTIST AND PROUD OF IT !
wahahahahahahahahahahahah. ( insert evil maniacal laugh )

Except for bills... I decorate envelopes, make postcards and enjoy
sending out greetings.
But that is just me and I know not for everyone.

e-mail is great don't get me wrong I love "talking" to my family in
Japan really fast, instant fast.
But, oh my goodness, a card you can hold in your hand and reread,
it is like a real book and not a "kindle"
It is the fact someone thought enough to send you a card.
Many of my friends ( in my age group = very old and very creaky)
don't need or want a gift, our cards are our gifts
with a note for a visit, lunch or dinner at a later date.

I know someone who can't even be bothered to set up a tree or even buy
a plant ? ? ? too much bother ?

I am not saying that if you have to send out cards and to do so will
make you crazy by all means don't do it.
Enjoy the time with the ones you love and cut out the commercialism of
mass gift buying.

But our go fast instant gratification society is really taking over
and for me wrong in so many ways.
Hey I'm old I get it !
Like getting a mass e-mail is kinda weird to me... especially when
you get one from your x who just told you
how %$^#&%$^@!!*&^^$ you are then lumps you in with 500 other super
very close friends that must
read this most import message he just had to send out ?
I laughed so hard over that one... OMG I need to write a book.

So for all my super wonderful blogging friends, who will never know
how much I really enjoy all your blogs,
I wish you
Merry Merry Christmas
and
New Year Filled with
Joy

cheers, parsnip
music. . . II Est Ne Le Divin Enfant, Anne Lennox

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Eclipse 1


Eclipse 1, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Cimg0329.Jpg

Eclipse 2


Eclipse 2, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Cimg0349.Jpg

A Birthday, Lunar Eclipse and The Solstice

What a Night and Day...

Arizona Son's Birthday is on the Solstice, also this year the Lunar
Eclipse.
Very exciting !
All night we both kept going outside to view the sky and Moon. What an
experience !

One of the best Birthdays ever !

The only problem is the clouds started to flow in after weeks of clear
starry skies, ahead of the storm
that comes in Wednesday.

My new point and click... kept freaking out trying to focus on misty
clouds, bright moon or clouds.
So to drive the poor thing more crazy I keep changing the setting,
candlelight dinner, sunset,
dynamic photo, night scene portrait... I hit them all trying to get
any shot.
That is why you will see such a change in the photos. Plus at the end
the moon does turn an orange color.

Fabulous!

birthday. . . parsnip
music. . . Burning In The Sun, Blue Merle.

We will be celebrating by going out to dinner at Zemams, Ethiopian
Restaurant !

Monday, December 20, 2010

Lunar Eclipse Tonight


Lunar Eclipse Tonight, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

a haiku. . .

lunar eclipse now
earth moon sun move silently
darkest shadow near

waiting. . . parsnip
music. . . You Could Be Happy, Snow Patrol

Friday, December 17, 2010

Favorite Christmas Music



I love Christmas Music, the hymns, the carols maybe the fact that it is only played once a year,
when the nights are indeed silent, crisp, cold, stars twinkling, and the wonder and excitement of Christmas Day to come.
For me it was sitting in Church listening to the music and sometimes singing, all our voices filling the church made it so special.
I have many favorite carols, the ones we all know and sang in school and hear in every shop and TV special.
But I also love the ones we don't hear as much, II Est Ne Le Divin Enfant, The Holly and the Ivy, Lullay Lullay.

I decided one Christmas ( after the x walked out ) the children and I should do something different so I took us all to Tokyo, Japan for Christmas. Japan = Christmas ? ? ? Go figure
They celebrate Christmas, kind of, more for all the foreign visitors I think. Their big Holiday is New Year. But was quite fun being there, everyone was wonderful to us and we all had a fabulous time !

Back home looking up Tatsuro Yamashita's theme music for Japan's World Cup Yacht Race Team, I find his Christmas Song that was used for the JR X' mas Express.
A series of commercials starting in 1988, they show people trying to get home to their love ones using the Express Train. In Japan you hear this song everywhere at Christmas like we hear Jingle Bells.
He has a Japanese and English version and it makes me wish I had someone waiting at the train station for me and yes I liked all the old Kodak commercials too !

The whole song can be found on his album Christmas Eve, Moon Records. I had a hard time finding this album but for me it was worth it !

Have fun listening to Christmas Eve and Merry Christmas to you all my special blogging friends !
Cheers!

singing. . . parsnip
music. . . anything by Tatsuro Yamashita

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

To cute for "The Square Ones"

I know, I know, I spoil "The Square Ones" but they are my boys and I
"lurve" them....
and Christmas is coming. . . what is a mumzilla to do ?

I went to Target or as we like to call it "La TarJay" in your very
best French accent please !
It is the very best store in the world you can find just about anything
and I found these barely stuffed doggie toys.

The Raccoon and Bunny are sitting rather squishy on my lap top so you
can see they are really big.
The paws and tails squeak and these sounds drive The Boys crazy.

The problem with Scottie are the Jaws and the need to prove they are
indeed Great Hunters...
delusions of grander abound !
I give these two toys about 15 seconds !

They are so cute I think maybe I should keep them safe for awhile. I
don't think The Boys would mind do you ?
wahahahahahahahahahah woo hoo, ( tear running down cheek ! )

clueless. . . parsnip
music. . . Christmas Is Coming, Miss Piggy and Gonzo

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Koshikiiwa Jinja


smIMG_5476, originally uploaded by Mollybot.

The Koshikiiwa Jinja Temple was where Mia's Omiyamairi was held.
This Blessing Ceremony is much like our Baptism and is held one month after the birth of the baby up to five months.
The extra time was really helpful for the American side of the family so we could be there for this very special day.

This was why we went to Japan in October of this year but I noticed I didn't post any photos. Both photos are by the very talented mollybot.

Omiyamairi


smIMG_5465, originally uploaded by Mollybot.

The Shinto priest is getting the shrine ready for Mia's Blessing Ceremony.

This is a small but very beautiful shrine is in the Koshikiiwa Jinja Temple.
In the top part of the alter is a round mirror, one of the three symbols of the Shinto Belief. A mirror to reflect your true nature, there is also a sword for power and purification and a jewel for influence over others.

The priest's chants include the name of the baby, date of birth, parents names and most important the baby's address so the Gods can find the baby and bless her. I just loved that last part !

David helped with parts of the ceremony and held an offering of a branch of the Sakaki Tree tied with white folded paper. I had the honor of holding Mia because I was Mia's Grandmother on the Fathers side.

grandmother. . . parsnip
music. . . Breath of Heaven, Amy Grant

May whatever you believe in find you and bless you too.


Monday, December 6, 2010

Kogumachan Eating


Mia Eating, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

I just had to post a picture that sleeptako took
of Kogumachan eating.

Even using the dish, spoon and rice the Priest
gave her at her Blessing Ceremony, you can tell she
is not really all that happy with the rice.

I say forget the rice and get the girlfriend some
Takoyaki !

eating. . . parsnip
music. . . Twist and Shout, The Beatles

more photo's can be found at Mia's blog
Koguma's View at the right column.
Posted by the proud papa, sleepytako

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Cute Mascots


smIMG_5539, originally uploaded by Mollybot.

Japan sometimes seems to have the market covered on Kawaii ! (cute)
but Oh My Goodness ! how cute are two mascots outside Mainichi Broadcasting Building.
Channel 4 TV mascot is a very kawaii Lion. The other (elf-platypus ?) is the mascot for a popular comedy show.

Mascots are everywhere in Japan and I love them !

kawaii. . . parsnip
music. . .Tonari No Totoro, ost My Neighbor Totoro

photos by mollybot