Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Wednesday in Japan...


Wednesday in Japan..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Found at a fabulous bakery at the Nishinomiya Gardens Mall ... Totoro
pastries.

These delightful bundles of goodness are light dough filled with the
best custard and a cream frosting.
Fabulous tasty !
.
Of course being a huge Totoro fan and Stuido Ghibli ...
there I was being a geeky tourist and standing at the window taking
pictures.
What was even better, this Bakery was on the way to the way to
"Donguri Gardens" a small shop at the mall fill with all things Totoro
and Studio Ghibli.
Geeky Heaven !

Even though I couldn't buy one knowing that I would be devouring a
Totoro, charming son Adam ducked out one afternoon took the train
over to the Mall and came back to the apartment with a bag filled with
Totoros.

We were all very happy !

tasty. . . parsnip
music. . . OST, My Neighbor Totoro

Monday, March 28, 2011

parlay view parsnip...


parlay view parsnip..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

It is Monday morning at the ranch, time to see what is going on
around my home.

In the continuing saga of what is happening with the freeze damage
plants, I also see the Javelina damage to the Prickly Pear cactus in
my front yard.
Javelinas love to eat Prickly Pear Cactus thorns and all !
After the Harlows crew came in two weeks ago and did some major clean
up, the Javelinas moseyed in and chomped their way through also. So
nice that they thought they were helping....

One morning I walked out the front door and see quite a few arms of
the Prickly Pear ripped off and big bites taken here and there on the
cactus pads.
In the photo you can see a ripped arm, a chomped pad and way in the
back top middle a dainty bite of a smaller pad.
Cheeky little devils !

One nice thing about the Prickly Pear is you can just let the fallen
pad dry up for a week or so then just stick in the dirt and " Waa Laa"
a new plant is born. Thank goodness because this is one of my favorite
Prickly Pear ! I love the sage green pads with the paper thin blooms
in vibrant colors that can rival any rose.

charmed. . . parsnip
music. . . Someday in Somewhere, OST, Someday

Saturday, March 26, 2011

saturday haiku


saturday haiku, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

dragons in the clouds
white rabbit lives in the moon
run run run away hide

amazed. . . parsnip
music. . . Cloud Age Symphony, Okino Shuntaro

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Wednesday in Japan....


Wednesday in Japan...., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Mondays post is what is going on around my home. Wednesday's post will
now be about what I love about Japan. Fridays will be a surprise for
you and me !

"The Square Ones" are hoping for a Scottie Day. I have told them that
everyday is a Scottie Day around here but they still want their very
own post !
So not going to happen !

Today Japanese post is about "mollybot" and her response to what is
happing in Japan.
She wanted to help and she decided to help support the wonderful
group Animal Refuge Kansai by getting the word out through her art.
For a donation she would sent you a animal painting of your choice.
Above picture is what she sent me, a Scottie... I wonder why ? but
"The Square Ones" are very happy....

Please check my side bar for her blog and to get an Update !

Japanese Son is running a 100 things I love about Japan on "tummbler"
check out his blog on my sidebar too.

I divide my time between Arizona and Japan. For me the Pacific Ocean
is just a place to fly over and take a nap.
My next trip to Japan will be in the Fall.
My son is not leaving Japan, he is staying. Japan is his home now and
this is where his family and friends are.

flying. . . parsnip
music. . . On The Hill, Ryuichi Sakamoto

Monday, March 21, 2011

parlay view parsnip...


parlay view parsnip..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Here is my Monday post about what is going on around my home today...

It is Spring and yes . . . there Is New Growth !

The Tangelo, Sweet Orange and one Grapefruit have new growth.
Unfortunately the Lemon, second Grapefruit and Kumquat are not looking
great.

In April the Harlows Nursery tree people will come out again to check
on how the trees are doing. Gosh I don't want to lose all those
trees. I will just have to wait and see.

waiting. . . parsnip
music. . . Either Way It Goes, Blue Merle

Saturday, March 19, 2011

moon # 2


moon # 2, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Played with the camera, moon and the lights.

moon #3


moon #3, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

later in the evening at 10 pm the moon was blue.

moon # 1


moon # 1, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

moon rising over the Rincon Mountains with lights in the valley.

glowing. . . parsnip
music. . . Six Days, DJ Shadow

moon #4


moon #4, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

played with the exposure.

lost photo...


lost photo..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

The escaping photo from the post below !

cheers, parsnip

Friday, March 18, 2011

mollybot rules !


mollybot rules !, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

mollybot rules !

Daughter has posted about an animal relief group that Japanese son
"sleepytako" told us about.
To help support this group and bring it to the attention of more
people she offered a small animal painting for a minimal donation.
She makes absolutely no money from this. She is footing all of the
supplies and time.
She also shows you how to donate on PayPal to change over from
Japanese to English.

Well her little blog has raised over $600 dollars.

OMG ! Donations have come from all over and just to show how big
peoples hearts are, she just received a donation from Australia !

If you click on her blog, on my side bar, you will see her blog and
more of the paintings she has done. The Square Dogs had to remind her
that Scotties love to help too, so she finally painted a Scottie !
about time they woofed !
I will have to donate again just to get that painting !

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

Yes, my mollybot . . . I am lucky to know you !

On a side note,

ShelterBox based in Cornwall UK is a relief group I just found out about.
They have several International affiliates.
Japanese authorities have requested ShelterBoxes, and you can track
your box, how wonderful is that !

Monday, March 14, 2011

Gratitude, Heartbreak, Hope, Love and a Birthday


08.27 Tamba-10, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

My usual Monday morning post about what is going around at my home in Tucson will be about where my heart is this morning, Japan.

Japanese son took this lovely picture of this wife's Family Home at Tamba, and the rice field that surrounds it. They grow the most wonderful rice. The extended family is safe.

To find out how someone feels living through what is happening in Japan please click my sons blog sleepytako on the sidebar.

Also click on sidebar for Daughter mollybot blog about helping the Animal Refuge Kansai. This group has experience working with animals after earthquakes.

You can text Redcross at 90999 to give a $ 10 donation.

And to Fabulous Pat of the blog Past Imperfect I send Birthday ((HUGS)) I remembered but your Birthday card will be late this year.

hopeful. . .parsnip

Friday, March 11, 2011

update update update...

Japan is indeed sitting on the Ring Of Fire...

I would like to Thank everyone for all the comments, e-mail, twitter and phone call that were sent to my son and me today.
So far all my family, extended family and friends are safe for now.
I have been quite glued to the TV news reports.

The nuclear Power Plants at Fukushima are the big worry right now. So far as I understand about eleven reactors in Japan have been shut down.
I hope they can find a solution for this plant worked out soon.

For anyone who would like to donate Mary at "Resident Alien" has a link to the Red Cross.
I am also posting a link for a rescue group that David just e-mailed me about. I know nothing about this group but David has met, as he said... the nice English lady who runs this group.

Animal Refuge Kansai


Thank You all again for your wonderful wishes and concern for my Japanese Family.

Gayle

update update...

David just called and as I said before all is fine with his family, extending family and friends.
If your on Twitter ( I am not ) he has been twetting ? since the quake hit. Also keep checking his blog on my sidebar he will be posting. I also think he will put up the NHK feed but it will be in Japanese.

He was teaching at school at the time the earthquake hit.

The earthquake was not like the quakes we were so use to when we lived in California. It was a rolling one that last about 30 + seconds. In California you usually get a sharp jolt and then shaking.

He said his main concern was to make sure all the Junior High School students were outside and the Senior Class was very good at getting out of the building. The whole school was evacuated and everyone is doing fine.

The trains are running in Osaka and Tokyo

As I write this it is 2 am in Japan and he said that the news tomorrow morning will break his heart. Mine too !

Thanks you all... Gayle

Earthquake...

update.... Good News !

David, Yuko and Mia are fine ! So far from what I can tell on my map of Japan Extended Family are OK too.

Most of you know about the earthquake and tsunami that has hit Japan. My son and his family live near Osaka which is south on the main Island of Honshu. The center of the earthquake hit Sandai which is northeast of Tokyo.

The news coverage is heartbreaking.

Please check my sons blog on my side bar "sleepytako" for an update.

This was the first morning I slept in to 6:30 am and I awoke to such news... I can't get a phone call through but the e-mail is working .

Thank You all for thinking of my family, Gayle

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

before...


before..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Tuesday Morning before the Harlows Nursery people started to work on
the trees.

after...


after..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

This is so weird... I have never seen any citrus tree with out leaves.
They have beautiful green leaves all year, sweet blooms perfume the
air in spring, the fruit grows in summer and we can't wait to start
eating in fall/winter.
The good news is we have found new green shoots already !

The Harlows Nursery people will be back in April to see how the trees
are doing, what branches need to be cut, and re-treatment of the fungus.
From left to right, Tangelo, Sweet Orange and behind the Birdhouse is
the Lemon.
The Grapefruit trees and Kumquat are out of photo to the right.

Life goes on. . .

astounded. . . parsnip
music. . . Suddenly The Trees are Giving Way, Ulrich Schnauss

Monday, March 7, 2011

parlay view parsnip ?


parlay view parsnip ?, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Today is my Monday post about what is happening around my home.

This charming Gila Woodpecker is having a snack before the tree
surgeons arrive today.

One of my favorite birds, I think they are a spectacular stylish from
the warm gray body, horizontal black and white barring on the back,
wings and tail. They also have a beautiful red "cap" and the top of
the head, quite jaunty like a beret or a tam maybe ?

I really like the graphic bars of black and white that cover all the
back and down the tail and the bright red dot on his head is perfect.
Sadly the lady bird does not have the red cap. Bummer !

chirping. . . parsnip
music. . . The Wind Forest, Mari Fujware

p.s. Thank you again Eryl for the fabulous name.

Friday, March 4, 2011

a perfect photo


IMG 6261, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

"jeanette from everton terrace" has in her post today a wonderful photo with a bike leaning against a wall.

This got me thinking about a photo Japanese son "sleepytako" took a few years ago in Osaka.

This photo always strikes me as a perfect photo for me.
The composition is wonderful. The different angles of walls playing off each other, the bright red wall and white numbers draw you in with bikes parked in front for that extra interest. The green bus playing off the red wall give this photo that accent pop that you would miss if it wasn't there.

Do you have a photo that stays in your mind long after you have seen it ? One that you just remember and cant forget ?

happy. . . parsnip
music. . . From The Morning, Nick Drake

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Burning in the sun...


Burning in the sun..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

A few evenings ago the sky was just so pink. I love the way the bottom
of some of the clouds were highlighted so it almost looked like a
white line was drawn across the sky.
Of course this only lasted for a minute before the colors changed as
the sun set further.

I am still having trouble with some of my color settings on my new
camera. Most of the time the color is pretty true but on shots like
this when I was in a hurry and I didn't have time to change the
setting the camera zoomed in on the sun and the highlights which I
thought was very interesting.
In fact I really was impressed by the sky that was more of a rosy deep
pink with purple streaks as the sun dropped down below the horizon.

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