Monday, February 28, 2011

Parlay View Parsnip ?


Parlay View Parsnip ?, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

It's time for my Monday morning post and Thank You Eryl for the
wonderful subject line today.

Now that the citrus trees are dropping the ice damage leaves and
fruit, I can see many of the tiny birds that zoom around my home.

The tiny but oh so stylish Verdin is my new favorite discovery.
When this tiny little bird flies you just see a streak of gray, barley
visible, and when inside the canopy of leaves quite impossible to see.

But what a handsome friendly tiny bird. From his light gray/silver
body, lemon orange head to the rusty red shoulder patch he is so
stylish.

So between the Cactus Wrens and this little Vendin I am very
entertained.
The only problem is they love my Tangelo's as much as I do.

discovering. . . parsnip
music. . . Skylark, Boss Scaggs

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Update... 8 AM in Tucson, Arizona


8 AM in Tucson, Arizona, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Clouds lifting off the Rincon Mountains east of my home.

6:45 AM Sunday Morning in Tucson Arizona

View from my kitchen window early this morning.

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

6:50 AM


6:50 AM, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

My home has some snow .... woo hoo ! love the reflection.

Friday, February 25, 2011

How we are all connected...


How we are all connected..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

As you all know there has been a huge earthquake in Christchurch, New
Zealand. What a sad time for the people, city and nation.
I lived in California for many years and I have lived through many
earthquakes Although nothing like the magnitude of the NZ quake but
still scary enough.

If you have read this blog your know my oldest son lives in
Nishinomiya, Japan with his family.
The school he teaches at, Sonoda is a sister school to the
University of Canterbury in Christchurch NZ. That is where Sonoda
sends their exchange students. His school even owns their own dorm
down there, that right now ( small amount of damage) is currently
being used by emergency personnel from outside of the Christchurch area.

The good news is thankfully, all of his schools students and staff
have arrived in Japan all safe.

Christchurch TV Building hold an English School that one of his
friends school send their exchange students to. That building was very
hard hit and one student is still missing and feared dead.

The only good thing is that this is off time and many student that
could have been there were back home. At any other time in the year
many more students would have been at school in Christchurch.

So from Arizona to Japan to New Zealand I am connected as I am to blog
friend "savannah marsh mama' who's loved one is out of Libya on a
Turkish ship heading for Anatolia.
I am keeping all these people in my heart .

So no matter where you live and who you know we as people of the
Earth, are all connected.

cheers. . . parsnip
music. . . Road, Nick Drake

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Fabulous Mail !


Fabulous Mail !, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Among the bills, flyers, and various "throw in the recycle bin"
adverts in the mail, there can be a treasure !

My treasure on Saturday was from Titus.
A Book ! Her Book, a handmade book of her poems and utterly FABULOUS !

So far my favorite poem is "Venti" which is also the name of her book.
As I first looked through the book I was amazed by the different
texture of the paper, the printing and the art work that works so well
with the poems.
The next day I was able to find some quite time and really enjoy the
whole book.

I first received "Bianca" one of Eryl's favorite crochet family
characters and now a book, stamped envelope and poetry no. 5 from
Titus.
I am so glad to have joined the five handmade giveaway.

Thank you, Titus !
A few days late but paper work and not the good kind, bills, tax
reports, checks and a new will has been keeping me too busy !
I keep saying how much I love paper but not this kind of paper !

cheers. . . parsnip
music. . . If I Could, Blue Merle

Monday, February 21, 2011

coffee with parsnip...


coffee with parsnip..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Well, I am still trying to figure out what to call my Monday morning
blog.
It will be about what is going on around my home that morning I need
an interesting subject
line with parsnip in it.

Todays post is on my citrus trees. A few weeks ago the Jet Stream
dipped very low engulfed
Tucson with evening temperatures of 18 degrees.
Oh my goodness, It has not been that cold in Tucson for a 100 years !
It was a bit nippy !
Our winter temperatures can drop for a night or two into freezing but
the warm sunny days
make up for it.

The Citrus trees all over Tucson took a huge hit. This time of the
year they should be full of
leaves and fruit and instead they are dropping leaves and mushy fruit
all over town.
One interesting fact is that some of the Tangelo fruit on the tree in
the front of photo is still good.
Who knew ?

The Harlows Gardens tree people will be out in March to assess the
damage, prune and feed
the trees.
The white paint on the tress is to cover the treatment for a fungus
that trees have, and the
ground squirrels love to eat and transfer from tree to tree with their
tiny little feet.
Cheeky little devils !

coffee. . . parsnip
music. . . Mad World, Tears For Fears

Friday, February 18, 2011

They are back.....


They are back....., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Today the bigger herd was munching on the Century (Agave) Plant stalk
that I left for them.
We cleaned up the dead plant but I left the stalk with the seed pods
on it for the animals to enjoy.
It was all gone in a few minutes. Can you say Yum !

This herd had two very young juveniles and two brand new babies !
Ack ! the cuteness is killing me !

hungry. . . parsnip
music. . . Magical Beast Farm, Final Fantasy OST

Tiny hairy loafs of bread with feet

The babies look like tiny hairy loafs of bread with feet and they are
so very cute !
The baby is running around but stays very close to Mum !

Mum and baby...


Mum and baby..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

I love that where ever the Mum roots around looking for yummy roots to
eat the little baby follows and tries too <3

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

She has arrived !


She has arrived !, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Monday was Arizona Statehood Day and Valentines Day ! I will post more
about this later
this week but it was also

Mail From Eryl Day ! ! ! ! !

Bianca has arrived in great spirits and is now sitting recovering from
her long journey resting
next to a cactus plant and looking out the window toward the frost
damaged citrus trees.
In this photo they look fine but they are really in bad shape.
It will be a high of 80 today before the rain (please) comes in this
weekend with highs in the
middle 60's. So I think she will be very happy and warm in Tucson.

happy. . . parsnip
music. . . California Dreaming, The Mamas and The Papa

Monday, February 14, 2011

Monday morning in Tucson


Monday morning in Tucson, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

I am starting a Monday post.
Every Monday I am going to post on something that is happening at my
home. I first thought
of taking the same photo of the Catalina Mountains to see how it
changes weekly but best laid plans will go amuck

My Javelina herd just happened to mosey by and I changed directions.
So it will be "Monday in Tucson" I think ? I have
a whole week to come up with a better name.

I am somewhat sad that the herd is so small. I am thinking this might
be a new smaller herd ?
It is hard for all the wild animals who live around us. We humans
impose our unthinking selves on land that belonged
to them first. I try to not disturb my property to much, I have left
most of it wild except for the small part my home is on.
And I have be blessed to be able to watch all the different wildlife
who I get to share the land with.

watching. . . parsnip
music. . . Made To Run, Blue Merle

The Leader


The Leader, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

This is the leader of heard. Even though I am inside the studio
taking photos he knows I am there and is keeping watch
in my direction.

Mum and her baby


Mum and her baby, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Mum and her baby that has grown and survived the winter so far.

Friday, February 11, 2011

stamps !


stamps !, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

I love writing real mail, snail mail, hold in your hand mail....

I love decorating my mail except for bills, I think the envelope
should be as fun as the note
card or letter in side.
Even the the stamps should be interesting. I look for the most fun,
exciting or appropriate
stamp to put on the mailer.
Thank you Eryl your "Fireball XL5" is a most fabulous stamp and is
being added to my collection.

Not always finding stamps I like I found a USPS web-site that you can
design your own stamps.
I am so there !

These are four of my first tries. The stormy cloud one is the lest
effective. It is a wonderful photo
but gets lost in a small stamp format. The Two Square Dogs are always
so black that if it
wasn't for the little pink tongues you could never find their sweet
little faces awwwwwwww !
The cactus bloom and the exciting rain storm seem to work best.

I could become very addicted to this web site !

mailing. . . parsnip
music. . . 1 2 3 4, Feist

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

I am joining Titus and Eryl...

I am joining Titus and Eryl in....

I promise to send something I make myself to the first 5 people who
leave a comment on this post and who in turn,
promise to make the same offer on their blog.
Rules are that you need to make the items personally and send them to
your 5 folks within 2011.

How fun is this...
I am thinking a small handmade book with photos and my haiku or an
assortment of postcards... still thinking.

The ideas are endless...
You could print out one of your poems, a photo of your garden in the
snow, a small drawing, make a sachet.
Titus is boiling wool to make buttons or you could crochet small cute
critters a la Eryl . . . adore !

I wanted to do a link to Eryl's and Titus's blog but my brain is not
working today and neither is the link !

thekitchenbitchponders.blogspot
30 January, 2011

cheers. . . parsnip
music. . . Ordinary Day, Vanessa Carlton

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Osaka Birthday Card


Osaka Birthday Card, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

OK. . . when you live in Osaka you probably don't need a Birthday
Card featuring two
Osaka landmarks and made in America but thats what Mums are for.

The Fugu restaurant cutout opens to reveal the crowded street scene
leading up to Osaka Tower.
Conversation bubbles inside convey Birthday Wishes.

I had so much fun making this card.
Couldn't post till I knew sleepytako received the card, didn't want to
spoil the surprise.

The wonderful photos of my most favorite place in Osaka were taken by
the most
talented mollybot on our last trip to visit sleepytako.

Under Osaka Tower Is my favorite Takoyaki stand, I miss it ! yum !

artist. . . parsnip
music. . . Lucky To Know You, Blue Merle

Sunday, February 6, 2011

What my pool looked like Thursday Morning.

What my pool water looked like on Thursday Morning.

The cold wave that has been hitting most of the America finally
swooped down and touched Tucson.
Thank goodness it decided to go be cold somewhere else and only
visited Tucson for three days.

oh yes, the low was 17 last night !

Coldest night in 100 years !

Not sure if you can tell but the pool is completely frozen over and
yes the low Thursday was 17 and the high on Friday was 35.

Durning the winter months I run the pool equipment at night to keep
the water moving so it doesn't freeze in the pipes and burst.
The pool-man has the timer set at midnight to 6 am but after seeing
this I reset the time to run longer. Thank goodness the ice
was thin and didn't do any damage.

All my poor citrus trees in the background have taken a huge hit and
the fruit and leaves are destroyed. They look terrible today.
The leaves are shriveled and yellow and the fruit is mush in your hands.

Harlows Tree service will be out around April to prune and repair the
damage.

Tucson always has a few freezing nights durning winter but never this
bad. And sure enough it looks like the weather read the
Tourist pamphlets because last night was 34 and today will be 68 more
typical Tucson weather.
The only thing we are missing is our rain in the valley and the snow
in the mountains. We can only hope.

swimming. . . parsnip
music. . . Rolling In The Deep, Adele