Two Little Square Black Dogs

parley view parsnip...

2012-02-12T21:50:00.000-08:00

My Monday post about what is going around my home.

Last Monday's photo of the Bok Choy.
It was so small and pretty I just put it in a glass of water like a green bouquet.

Wednesday

Thursday

Saturday

Sunday

Very pretty green bouquet that is going to bloom.

12 pm Sunday

Sunday clouds and some mountain rain blew in from the west.

3 pm from studio

4 pm from studio window

cloud photo from the backyard

the sun was starting to set so the sky and color where changing

by the mintue

sunset.

green . . . parsnip

music. . . Runaway Baby, Bruno Mars

square dog friday, part 2

2012-02-10T16:56:00.000-08:00

UPDATE !
blogger is deleting some of these photos too !
I give up !

here are the photos for the 1st square dog friday post....
when I posted this morning and checked they were there....
I guess blogger and lovely %$#%@*(&#$$$$$ comcast had a fight and I lost...

if you feel like it the post below does mention that today is National Umbrella Day and some other stuff... Just my very clever writing...

ball!

Oh dear

I would much rather play tug.
It is the thinking dogs game of enjoyment.
The timing, the strategy of waiting to feel the weakness in the opponent.
The release and pull, so a quick tug and the sock goes to me.
Then a quick shake and the victory is mine.
Mine.

ballllll!

drop gudball
lurveballballballball...ball!

yert !

Early morning sunshine on Palo Verde.
As you can see the Tangelo and Sweet Orange in front have not recovered from the deadly freeze that
blasted down from Canada last year.
They both should be covered in leaves so dense, you can't see through.
With branches so full of fruit that thay touched the ground.
The tree surgeons come this month to see if there is any improvement and some hope of saving them.
I have already lost three other trees and have already cut down one.
My little citrus grove is getting smaller by the day.
I am very sad.

Now your pretty for the weekend.

8 am looking east towards the Rincon Mountains.

square dog friday....

2012-02-10T08:24:00.000-08:00

Another Friday filled with Square Dogs
and Umbrellas.
Today is also
National Umbrella Day.
Yea !

So to all you out there in blog land who are anywhere but in Tucson (76/43 today sunny blue skies) I have seen the weather reports so get those umbrellas out and celebrate the day.

Now on to the important stuff,
The Square Dogs....

ball!

Oh dear....

balllllll !

drop gudball
lurveballballballball...ball!

yert !

Early morning sunshine on the Palo Verde.

As you can see the Tangelo and Sweet Orange in front have not recovered from the deadly freeze that blasted down from Canada last year.
They both should be covered in leaves so dense you can't see through.
With branches so full of fruit that they touch the ground.
The tree surgeons come this month to see if there is any improvement and some hope of saving them.
I have already lost three other trees and have already cut down one.
My little citrus grove is getting smaller by the day.
I am very sad.

Now your pretty for the weekend.

8 am looking east towards the Rincon Mountains.

sunrise . . . parsnip
music . . . Wake Up, One Republic

Wednesday In Japan...

2012-02-08T08:33:00.000-08:00

Kurasushi
Conveyor Belt Sushi !

Food, entertainment and so much fun !

There are many conveyor belt sushi restaurants but this chain is my favorite

Happy, happy, very happy mascots in front of Kurasushi,
greeting a very happy, happy, happy Me walking into restaurant.
I adore these guys.
Did I mention how happy I was ?

First have a cup of Matcha, powered green tea,
there is a hot water faucet at the table next to the condiments.

Then the happiness starts !
Small plates of sushi are placed on the conveyor belt that winds around the restaurant and moves past your booth. You pick what you want the selection from the steady stream of tasty small dishes that pass by. Only rule you touch the dish you must take it. And unlike in America this rule is followed, no exceptions.
There is a chip on the bottom of these dishes and after a certain amount of time the dish are thrown away.
whahahaha, like that really can happen especially if I am there.

The cost of your sushi is determined by the size and number of the dishes.
At this resturant you place empty dishes in a slot and a total is taken as you eat.

because....

... after so many dishes you can play a game and win a "capsule prize"

We won several prizes that day.

I was very good at Sumo.

You place your special orders from a menu on the screen.
The sign below shows after you place a special order, it will be placed on the belt on a red dish that will alert your screen as it get near.
How cool is this !
I am in LOVE ! what could be better, great sushi, dishes that beep and prizes.
Heaven !

Yea, Hanshin Tigers favorite baseball team ... many of the capsules had team phone straps and charms in them.

I so miss Osaka.

sushi. . . parsnip
music. . . Walk On The Ocean, Toad The Wet Sprocket

Photos by daughter, mollybot, I was too busy choosing and eating and winning at Sumo wrestling.
Thank You, sweetie darling !

parley view parsnip...

2012-02-06T09:41:00.000-08:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home .

Daughter belongs to CSA (community supported agriculture) a local organic produce group.
Every week she picks up her share of amazing produce. The farm it comes from is halfway between Tucson and Phoenix.

What is interesting is I was under the impression that I was adventurous cook
but through her I have found vegetables I have really never used in my cooking before.
Lots of greens, the tops of vegetables we all toss out or give to the rabbits. Like carrot and radish tops and the greens that look somewhat wilted in the markets that look so much better straight from the farmer.

Bok Choy
a Chinese cabbage...
I cook with this cabbage quite often but what is so interesting is how different it looks straight from the farmer. All the beautiful outer leafs are left on, not the smallish white bulb with a few green left on top in the super market.

I love the way it looks like a green bouquet, fabulous.

Beautiful outer leaf.

A group of braising greens.

I make "chips" from every vegetable I can.
Now don't start laughing...
but you can if you really want, who am I to say no !
And yes, I know that this might look like "Fall" in many places.
But these "chips" are so good.

I really needed to tear them into smaller pieces first like I usually do but this is what the above braising greens turned into.
Paper thin crunchy tasty goodness.

Cooked in the oven with a small spray of oil and what ever spice you want. For "us" who like chips but can't eat deep fried potato chips... these veggie chip tastes great and are good for you. I really like Kale the best.

I have made oven potato chips and they are better than any bag chip. You will never want to eat a store bought chip again but a carb is a carb ! Bummer !

crunchy. . . parsnip
music. . . Dancing In The Street, Martha & The Vandellas

Oni wa soto, Fukuwa uchi and Square Dog Friday

2012-02-03T08:44:00.000-08:00

February 3rd is Setsubun in Japan.

Setsbun is bean throwing ceremony.

The most common way to celebrate Setsbun is each home does "mamemaki". They throw roasted soybeans called "Fuku-mame at an Oni and chant
"Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi" Demons out-Good Luck in.

In the Helan Era people though illness, hunger or disasters were because of demons.
So by doing the Setsubun ceremony you can bring good luck to the family.
The Oni (demon) lives in the North East side of the house which is the ox and tiger direction. That is why the image of the Oni, has the horns of a ox and the fangs of a tiger.

The oldest male of the home wears an Oni Mask outside and you throw the soybeans at him while chanting "Oni wa soto Fuku wa uchi" then slam the door close, keeping bad luck out and good luck in.

After you finish Mamemaki, you eat as many roasted soybeans as your age for more good luck.

The Square Ones do not like soybeans, but they do like Pancakes.

they are waiting and hoping for a pancake...

I wanted to try and get a good photo of The Square Ones, but Watson only has eyes for the pancakes. He is crazy for any carbs but pancakes are his most favorite ever.

you know he is saying... alright ! take the photo!
now can we have a pancake !

after Hamish eats Breakfast and Dinner this is what comes next
followed by the most yummy chicken strip....

yesh! chicken gud! lurvechichenchickenchickenchickennnnnn!

yert !

soybean. . .parsnip
music. . . Demon God, OST Princess Mononake.

Wednesday In Japan...

2012-02-01T08:33:00.000-08:00

Today it is February 1st in Tucson, Arizona
Tomorrow is February 2nd, Groundhog Day in America.

Today in Japan it IS Feburary 2nd although Groundhog Day is not celebrated... why not ?
What a great holiday.
No gift giving, flowers, candy, relitives grummbeling over dinner. Just a fun Holiday when a chubby, bucktooth, cuddly bundle of cuteness is pulled out of a very elegant burrow in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to tell us if winter will end early or last a few more weeks.

Now the reason for for this long winded preamble
It is also Japanese sons Birthday !

Happy Birthday to David my very own Sleepytako.

awwwwww, best photo ever.
Walking up the very steep path, 808 steps to Chome-ji Temple in Chimihachimam, Shiga. On the walk down Mia wanted to hold the walking stick so David had to reach back and hold it up for her, so she could "hold" it.
She looks very proud of her self.

Now for some cuteness

helping painting one of the thousands of re-models we lived through.

He loved trucks and wanted to be a truck driver.
This is a Christmas photo you can see Santa footprints

his caption for this photo is... still like Jamesons Whiskey

Yes, many years ago shorts and knee socks where what the stylish child wore to school.

So to a sleepytako, kuma-cha (big bear) father to Mia, a koguma-chan (small bear), husband to wonderful Yuko,

Tanjoubi Omedetou, Happy Birthday !
Let there be cake !

mumzilla. . . parsnip
music. . . Happy Birthday, Shikao Suga

Goodby Sarge...

2012-01-30T20:26:00.000-08:00

Perhaps they are not the stars,

but rather openings in Heaven

where the love of our lost ones

shine down to let us know

they are with us.
.......

Eskimo Proverb

My blog friend Empress Bee's Husband, Sarge died on Sunday after a last battle with cancer.

I found Empress Bees blog through a friends blog and felt I just had to check out who this funny lady was who was commenting.
Well I found out who she was and have laughed a lot knowing Bee and her husband.
What would cracked me up was Sarge would drop a comment here and there on her blog. He never let her get away with too much.
But
You know what was the best part ... the joy they had being with each other.
Pure Joy !
It came cross everyday in her posts.

Now comes the hard part, she has lost a true friend, husband and partner in crime !

Bee, I send you a thousand hugs,
and hold you and your family in my heart.

Gayle
and
The Square Ones

parley view parsnip...

2012-01-29T15:07:00.000-08:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home.

Tucson, Arizona has some of the nicest weather.
Yes, somewhat too hot in summer (you learn to work around that) but with bright clear blue skies, fabulous cloud formations and colors that will amaze you it is all worth it.

I have a very nice Casio, Exilim camera my son picked out for me on my last trip to Japan.
It is really just a small point and click.
And I love it.
I have problems lifting things and keeping them steady, so this is a perfect lightweight camera for me.

I do "fluff up" (technical term) some of my photos here and there using the Picasa program. Trying to get them more like what I really saw.
But if you know the program you really can't do a whole lot.

I am posting some "unfluffed" (sorry, technical term again) photos of three different sunsets from last week. Straight from the camera to my computer to the blog.

I must tell you that the colors where so much brighter and almost eye searing in their intensity.
Most of my photos are taken from my front and back yards.
Goodness I love the Tucson skies.

taken from my studio window so some reflection

Instead of doing lots of reading of government paper work because I am applying for Social Security and Medicare.... argh ! ! !
I am sitting at the "fun" work desk and drawing with prismacolor pencils....
They are very waxy/oily so you can lay down the color very thickly, looking much like gouache paints.

this Prickly Pear is indeed purple, magenta and lime green.

blooms on my Century Plant ( Agave Americane)

the stalk of the Century Plant

more Prickly Pear cactus

cactus and the mountain view from my studio.

Watson was helping me fold one of the doggie blankets straight from the dryer. Notice how helpful he is by sitting on the nice warm blanket.
Hamish was at hospital again much of last week, so Watson was helping me with the laundry.
Thank You, sweet doggie, you are such a big help.
Couldn't do it without you !

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

Square Dog Friday...

2012-01-27T09:20:00.000-08:00

It is Friday !
Square Dog Friday to be exact...
like everyday isn't really Square Dog Day around my home.

Goodness !
I am starting to sound like the crazy cat lady who lives down the street.

New postal stamps I had made up .

Except for bills or anything sent certified... I think the envelopes, packet or boxes should be exciting to look at as much as the card, letter or gift that is inside.

I have always drawn on my mail envelopes from sketches, cartoons. clouds, used stamps, pieces of paper or abstract designs.

I also had some stickers made.
These photos really show The Square Ones personality.

Watson, is very sweet, loving, charming, cuddly and looks great in hats.
Hamish is..... wellllll.... just.... yert !

I walked by the living room and happened to see something out of the corner of my eye that was different.
Can we see something that shouldn't be there ?

Watson who is 12 now can lay in the sun anywhere he wants but Hamish is another story. Let me just say that living with a dog who can and will throw-up on command is very interesting and...
we don't ever talk about the lizard/ottoman incident anymore !

Because of this Hamish is not allowed (bawhahahahhahahahah) on the sofa.
Whoa... let me catch my breath here.

What can I say
Can you see and feel the terror in the air, the palpable fear...
the the the... oh give it up, who am I kidding !
yert !

and because I can here is your weekend pretty.

funny. . . parsnip
music. . . Both Sides Now, Judy Collins

Wednesday In Japan...

2012-01-25T18:29:00.000-08:00

My Wednesday post about my life in Japan...
Feeling a bit homesick, so I started looking at some photos of my last trip.
This is my sons neighborhood where I get to live while in Japan.

Train station just down the street. This is a local line that connects to the bigger JR line.

You can see the train at the crossing between the two flags.

The neighborhood Lawson's, where one can find almost anything.
Best store ever !

Best breakfast... rice balls, one filled with umeboshi, pickled plum and one with tuna, iced coffee and orange juice.

You pull the front tab on the wrapping down then you pull both side out and seaweed magically covers the rice ball.

Nice and crisp and not soggy. This one was filled with tuna, so good.

Tombow... best Okonomiyaki restaurant ever.
Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake cooked on a stove right in front of you filled with a variety of ingredients.

Beautiful, utility cover showing the wonders of Osaka, just in front of family apartment.

The suitcase that I bring filled with gifts to give, comes home filled with gifts I have been given plus a few items I have bought. I didn't buy any dishes this trip.

missing. . . parsnip
music. . . One Summer's Day, Joe Hisaishi

parley view parsnip...

2012-01-22T19:48:00.000-08:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home...

Saturday afternoon clouds.

Late afternoon quiet, before the evening wind blew in from the west.

Woke up Sunday morning to a golden hazy glow in the air, that looked like gold glitter was tossed in the air.

I couldn't even see the Rincon Mountains to the east of my home.
I first thought that it was fog, but figured it was the dust in the air from Saturday evening.
The morning was very still, with very little breeze so the dust was just suspended.
It was like a curtain of shimmering gold had been drawn across the valley.

Another view of the Catalina Mountains with the golden hazy air that really was very pretty, even if it was dust.

Several hours later the breeze was coming from the south west and was slowly settling the dusty air.

please, put down the camera and throw the ball....

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

square dog friday....

2012-01-20T08:45:00.000-08:00

The Famous Two Headed Dog Of Tucson.

I had just moved to Tucson in February of 2007.
This is a small dog basket but each dog likes to curl up in it.

Hamish takes much comfort by being with Watson and I think (?) after the move he especially needed his big brother.

Gift from Japanese family.

yesh ! i winagain...

Watson... can I go now, please ?

This is why I don't buy cute dog toys.

I really thought this was a charming blue toy and I rather liked the fact it was a a fun representation of a Hedgehog.
I don't like when our toys are too realistic.
Enjoyed the nice chewy blue part.
And although there were a squeaky in each paw, the material was much to thin and extreamly easy to chew through.

This very cute Hedgehog lasted about 2.3 nano seconds.

2 out of 10

yert!!!!

squeaky. . . parsnip

music. . . Dancing In The Street, The Mamas and Papas

Wednesday in Japan...

2012-01-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

Umeboshi !
Pickled plums.
My favorite !

Japanese son and family when on a trip to Hotel Nakanoshima which is the only island hot spring hotel in Japan.

They found this small Omiyage (gift to bring back) for me.
Fabulous packaging filled with umeboshi.
So cute !

These little umeboshi triangles are under 2 inches tall. The plums are small and you can see one peeking out.
These are special because some are flavored with honey, shiso or plain.

Daughter and I are planing a vegan sushi dinner one night and will make rice balls topped with the different flavors umeboshi so we can have a tasting.

I am very spoiled by my Japanese family and extended family.

Sons Mother In Law sent me for my Birthday, some Totoro furoshki (they all know I am a Totoro/Studio Ghibli fan) that can be used for wrapping gifts, your lunch box and a placemat.

But what I really love is the small landscape hangings or coasters. She is an excellent quilter and has made me wonderful gifts over the years. One of my all time favorites is a beautiful pillow that unzips to a quilted throw.

My son is so lucky to have married into such a wonderful family, he even took their family name.

Japan has the best socks and here is a fun bag that was filled with gifts and of course some socks from son and daughter in law.

New wall charm from Koshikiiwa Temple. This is the same neighborhood Temple that Granddaughter had her Omiyamairi (bapistism) at.

Just had to slip these two photo in.
Every morning when I wake up and step into the kitchen this is the view I get to see.

and on a sunny morning the shadows are beautiful.
No wonder I have always drawn and painted my trees like this.

lucky. . . parsnip
music. . . Nausicaa, Joe Hisaishi

parley view parsnip...

2012-01-15T22:04:00.000-08:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home.

Kohlrabi...

Isn't this a beautiful vegetable.
I will peel the bulb ( about the size of a tennis ball) cut into match sticks and use it in a salad with some blanched Pea Shoots. Tossed with a homemade Sesame Seed dressing.

Daikon Radish.
Daughter belongs to a farm co-op and she gave me the the kohlrabi and some of the extra Daikon.

which I cut into spears...

and pickled.
So good.

Watson...
nice human tall person, I don't think it is Friday yet.

hamish...
ithnkiseechickenstrip
ismellbacon?

yert !

Some of the books I made, with help from Daughter.

And here is your pretty for the day.

running. . . parsnip
music. . . Monday Monday, the Mamas and The Papas

Square Dog Friday...

2012-01-12T20:37:00.000-08:00

Wild Animals...

Lots of wild animals !
Just resting in the sun waiting for food.
It is a very hard life, chasing down the next meal.
Or if you are a Square Dog, just waiting for their human persons to gently, quietly and very quickly place a chicken strip or bacon in front of them.

After all it is winter and their little feet can get cold running after dinner.
Better to just wait in the sunlight, stay warm and wait for food to be dropped near very near.
Must not exert oneself too much.

Watson... awww the sun feels so good on my old bones.

hamish...wawhunnnnnmmm?

Javelina cousins come for a visit.

hamish... ummmmmmmm hearsnufferingmuchbarkbarkbarkkkking
mum woun'tletme go outand barkbark don'tunderstand.
yert !

Watson... I think I will rest now. Please call me when it is tea time.

hamish... teafoodeverythingbetterwithbacon !

Javelina is having a snack ummmmm is there tea ?

Watson... goodness climbing up on the pillows to rest in the sun is exhausting
hamish...whahesaid!

Watson... ahhhhhhh a nap in the sun. Heaven !

hamish ...yesh whathesay..yert ! ohhhhisthata bug?
bugeatbuggg zonkkk,zzz z z. . .

memememeememememmmmeee eee. . . .

yert !

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

Blogger redesigned my comment section (?)
if you want to leave a comment is still works but it is different.

Wednesday In Japan...

2012-01-11T09:13:00.000-08:00

GODZILLA !

If you have read this blog for any amount of time, you know my love of Godzilla.
I found a Japanese copy of the above poster 11x14, I was so happy but......

I really wanted a big huge poster and so for my Birthday last Wednesday, Daughter tracked down a 28x38 poster that will be hung over the fireplace in my studio.

Much Happiness !

GODZILLA !

Daughter gave me this plate many years ago and I always keep it on display.

Every year I put the zodiac symbol in front of the plate.
Last years rabbit leaves...

... for the year of The Dragon.

Dragon ? Dragon ? Dragons ? where is the year of the Scottie ?
Much better idea !

rabbits? rabbitsss???didi hearrabbitswherwhersrabbitchaserabbit yert !

scottie. . . parsnip

music. . . Shine, Laura Izibor

parley view parsnip...

2012-01-09T10:16:00.000-08:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home.

Books !
Handmade Books !

Six books for a handmade project I was participating with Eryl and Titus.

I had the inside pages printed on large paper so it could be one continuous fold but some where in the process communication broke down and it was printed on a gloss paper instead of the matt paper I wanted. So the photos came out fabulous but the folding and feel of the pages is not to my liking.
Thank Goodness, talented bookmaking Daughter stepped in and helped me finish.

Book tied with attached ribbon and a button.

First three pages, my haiku and photo
dragon in the clouds
white rabbit lives in the moon
run run run away and hide

Haiku in Kanji and Japanese, love the way these pages came out

last four pages

The last page is a direct translation of my haiku but not in the 5 7 5 structure.
I so adore this translation.
dragon of the clouds
from the moon escapes
white rabbit

New card I am designing. I like the 9 x 3 1/2 size.

When you pick the right photo, when folded the back becomes as nice as the front.

Inside with another haiku

Folded, tied and ready to put in a envelope to mail.

Saturday moon rises.

This is the proportions I like to use and have quite often.

but when I use the 9 x 31/2 size format it becomes interesting.

photo. . .parsnip
music. . . Breathe, Alexi Murdoch

Square Dog Friday...

2012-01-05T21:23:00.000-08:00

It's Square Dog Friday so lets woof it...

Watson... Oh dear, it is blue ball time again.

Hamish... ballballballballrun ball

Watson... good grief here he comes

Hamish... balllllllllllllllllll!

runrunrunrunrunnnnnnnnnn !

Blueballgudyert !

herethrowballthrowthrowthrowballlllllllputdowcamerathrowball

igotheballminemineminegudlurveballyert!

moreballyert!ball
igotdiamondnecklaceforchristmasandtheball
yert !

gud !

new blue toy tall person who feeds us won't let us play with yet
why not ? we need new blue toy
toy fun gudtoymusthavetoytoytoytoytoytoytoytoy

Watson... Oh My Goodness ... please throw the new toy !

throwing. . . parsnip
music. . . Into The Wild, LP

Wednesday in Japan...

2012-01-04T09:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year card of the new Tokyo Sky Tree.

Japanese Son sent me this beautiful pop-up card of the Tokyo Sky Tree decorated for the New Year.
I have not see this tower yet but I have heard it is quite fabulous. It is a broadcasting, restaurant and observation tower with wonderful views of Tokyo, especially at night.

Another New Year Card featuring a Kumade (broom) with many good Luck symbols.

I think I will keep this card out for awhile. I need all the good luck I can get !

happy. . . parsnip
music. . . Paradise, Jeff Beal

parley view parsnip...

2012-01-01T21:50:00.000-08:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home.
Dragons and Ozoni soup !

Every year Japanese Family sends me a paper-mache zodiac animal.
And yes it is a bobble-head Dragon ! ! ! @_@
I bought my first one, The Year Of The Monkey on my very first trip to Japan.

They also send every year, a small Kagamimochi.
This is made up of two rounded mochi rice cakes on top of each other.
The Baby Dragon (on this one) holds a tangerine a symbol of good luck.

Kagamimochi or mochi
is eaten as part of the New Year celebration filled with special dishes called Osechi-ryori .
A favorite way to eat mochi in the New Year is Ozoni or New Year Soup.

Daughter made us some Ozoni using the Mochi that was sent to us for our soup on January 1st.

A clear light broth was made from Kombu kelp and the water the dried Shitake Mushrooms were soaked in.
This was heated and poured over
Shitake Mushroom cut with a star shape
Carrots cut into a Sukura Blossoms
Daikon Raddish
Spinach
Kombu
with the fried Mochi placed on top.
I also added some Bonita flakes.

The mochi is sticky and very chewy so one has to be careful when eating it.
But so very delicious when fried.

Making a New Year appearance is Dr. Watson,
My little old dog.
I lurve him !

and the hamish..
Oh what can I say ?
yert !

soup. . . parsnip
music. . . I Wish I Knew, Boz Scaggs

Happy New Year !

2011-12-31T20:14:00.000-08:00

Welcome, The Year of The Dragon.

My New Year Postcard.

This sketch is based on a Chinese Imperial Plate, Dragon and Fish , 1662-1722 A.D.
Symbols of Power, The Bowers Museum Of Cultural Art.

I rather like Dragons !

In Japan everyone sends out New Year Day Postcards.
The Japanese post office gets them all out right before and on New Years day... amazing !

You can buy ones already made up in as many designs possible, much like our Christmas Cards or you can make one up yourself.
Of course Sons Family makes theirs.
The blurry part on the top right is a personal message I fuzzed out.
(Of course what he wrote is that I am the very best Mum ever but I would never mention anything about that ! )

My wish for 2012...
I wish for us all to have hope
and the understanding that everyday is indeed a gift for us to enjoy.
Happy Happy New Year to you all !

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

Square Dog Friday....

2011-12-30T10:09:00.000-08:00

Since it is almost the New Year The Square Ones have graciously allowed me to post today.
Negotiations ensued and extra chicken strips will be given out today.

Son who lives in Tucson, the chef, Birthday was on the 21st and Japanese Son sent these wonderful and extremely touching memorial tickets.

The fun left one 22. 2. 22 is from the Nankai Railway. The way of numbering the year by the current Emperor is the year Heisei 22, train ticket follow this format YY.MM.DD

So following this format and add any combination of numbers mix in train fanatics like my son and you can come up with this promotions around February 2nd and February 22.

The special ticket on the right 11.11.11 is special ticket put out by the Ohmi Railway in Shiga prefecture. They did a joint issue with Sanriku Railway up in Tohoku in the Iwate Prefecture. This line was pretty much destroyed on 3/11. Both lines were very badly damaged from the earthquake and tsunami. Together the two lines were very badly affected at 300 locations plus losing over 5.8 km of railroad tracks.

From what I have read they expect the rebuilding to finish in 2014.

Inside of the 22.2.22. packet with tickets

On the release day son traveled to the two participating train station ( they have the kanji for two in their name) to get the station stamps on the back.

Front and back of the 3/11 memorial ticket.

The inside with special tickets.

Part of the proceeds from this special memorial ticket will help with the reconstruction of their railway.

Great Birthday gift !

Please check the following post for a wonderful look at the what can happen when some train fanatics get together !
3 minutes of pure joy !
It will make your day !
Happy new Year !

Canne Lion prize - Japanese Commercial for New bullet train

2011-12-30T09:14:00.000-08:00

This is a March 12 2010 commercial for the new Kyushu Shinkansen (bullet train) This is the last connecting part of the Shinkansen that connect the main island of Honshu with the southern island of Kyushu.
This commercial shows the opening trip and yes I know this is bigger celebration than usual because it is for a commercial but the first day, run of any new train in Japan is sold out months in advance. With special commemorative tickets being sold, celebrations, flowers and mass quantities of happy people and food !

What is so funny about this commercial is the speed of the Shinkansen. It never goes that slow !
One time I was standing on the platform waiting for the Bullet Train that made two stops, mine been one of them and had the wonderful experience of seeing the express Shinkansen whoosh by. First you hear the distinctive whistle then a quiet vacuum and a huge extremely quiet and fast whoosh ! Plus it was at night that made it even ethereal. They do float on air !

There is a huge train culture in Japan and my Japanese Son is a true train geek/nerd. He will go out to ride trains/lines that are in other areas with hundred of other train geeks on any given day.
On one of his trips he saw a Dad with his two sorta bored children and he call me to say "that will be me in a few years ! " And yes that is true, has already started with his daughter !

So from the devastation of 3/11 I want to leave you on a super happy and fun look at The Kyushu Shinkansen.

Happy New Year from parsnip and The Square Ones.
music. . . Boom, Miai Hirasawa

「来年は『辰者』な年に」通天閣で干支引き継ぎ（11/12/27）

2011-12-28T09:18:00.000-08:00

Wednesday In Japan....

2012
The Year of the Dragon

In Japan the big Holiday is New Year and the Zodiac symbol for the new year is the Dragon.

For the 56 year the city of Osaka (I love Osaka) had it's annual Zodiac Replacement Event.
The animal representing the Chinese Zodiac sign of the old and new year are presented.
The symbolizing passing of responsibility.

In the past years the selection of animals has been somewhat easier,
Boar to Rat, Rat to Ox, Ox to Tiger, Tiger to Rabbit but Rabbit to Dragon is somewhat more complicated.
The Dragon was represented by a Seahorse, which makes sense to me if you think about it and pretty clever too.
I don't fully understand the but an associated element is also given, this years Rabbit element was metal, the element for 2012 is water and the associated color is black. So 2012 will be the year of The Water Dragon.
Dragons are thought of having mysterious color and have been somewhat unpredictable. If you look the little Seahorse has turned "Black" while the others are still very pale. Seahorses are able to change their color.

According to astrology the new year will be unpredictable ?
I think 2011 was unexpected and unpredictable, kind of all over the place so lets all hope that 2012 will be unexpected in a good way !

When I was young I thought seahorses were amazing. Little prehistoric animals from the past. Dinosaurs that lived in the water.

I rather like the idea they are Dragons. Even Better !

flying . . . parsnip
music . . . Back In The High Life Again, Steve Winwood

parley view parsnip...

2011-12-26T09:33:00.000-08:00

Daughter's Handmade wonderful gifts !

My children are grown and stocking are not quite a must anymore. We even talked about stopping them.

Side note... as a Mum I never had a stocking but a few years ago my children decided that I should have one and what fun it was... They went through the local craft store and just about bought one of everything !

I usually hang the stocking on their doorknobs as decoration before Santa came. When they were younger when ever they got up they would check them out before coming down to the gifts under the tree. Never filled with just little toys, they had different items like stamps and inks, brushes, pencils, pens, candy, cookies and always an Orange in the toe of the stockings, something my Mum always did. When she was a child to receive an orange was a very special treat in the snowy Chicago Winters.

But talented Daughter decided to make the Tucson family stockings this year !
As our main gift from her.
Only about 9 inches tall, she embroidered the stocking with special details.
She is still deciding how to finish the cuffs, leave them plaid or add a white cuff ?

Guess who received this stocking ? ? ?

A Badger hold a cup and wears a Scottish cap and scarf for a Brother.

Hers is a Bunny with a bunny snowman.

Friend has their Adopted dog Waldie who is a gift.

A small gathering for Christmas Eve Dinner.
Son and Daughter cooked.
Wonderful Vegan Dishes with a Roasted Turkey Roulade made just for Son and Me. Then all the food was warmed for the extremely easy Christmas dinner the next day.

So much Fun !

holiday . . . parsnip
music . . . Walk On The Ocean, Toad The Wet Sprocket

クリスマスイブ山下達郎 Christmas Eve・Tatsuro Yamashita

2011-12-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

Tatsuro Yamashita's song Christmas Eve first appeared in 1983.
It has become a standard in Japan heard everywhere much like Jingle Bells here in America.

I heard it (on my first trip to Japan over Christmas week) through the commercials for the JR Railway. They used it for many years for their Christmas Holiday commercials.
Wonderful small stories of people trying to get home to see their love ones for the holidays. Last year I posted the commercials but for this year I thought I would post the clip featuring the way Tokyo, a city known for light, Decks the Halls !

My wish for you all is to have a lovely, quiet, joyful Christmas Day.
Gayle and the Square Ones.

Square Dog Friday....

2011-12-23T07:46:00.000-08:00

It's the Scottie post so lets woof it !

Last years Christmas Card from Daughter.

Watson ... I really approve of this card.
It has a Brindle Scottie that looks just like me.

Hamish ... ?memememwheremememememe ?

This years card from Daughter....

Watson ... ummmmmmmm card could be better if there was a Scottie in it
but Waldie is a nice cousin so it is a really sweet card. Approved !

Hamish ... niceniceyert !

Watson ... Just checking out the wrapping.
Good choice of paper on the gift in front.

Hamish ... foodfood?looklookfoodfoodtoytoytoyyert?

ummmmmmmm.... just saying

We are the best very best presents ever !

yert !

Merry Christmas to you all from The Two Little Square Black Dogs.

whatcanisay . . . parsnip
music. . . See Amid The Winter's Snow, Annie Lennox

Wednesday In Japan...

2011-12-20T20:49:00.000-08:00

Wednesday in Japan
and Tucson too !

A tree in a pot covered in lights
with Two Little Square Dogs waiting underneath.

Crane Origami made by Daughter so sweet
perch on branches of Evergreen.

A sweet little Christmas Tree made by a Daughters tiny hands,
always finds a place on every tree.

Gaily wrapped packages and a Scottie Bank too,
find their way on the hearth by the Christmas tree.

Japanese Cards some new and some old,
placed on a buffet with three little dogs sitting so near.

Snow Globes brought out only once a year,
filled with Trees and Snowmen full of good cheer.

A covey of Snowmen perched on a clear box
march in step toward tiny sweet gifts left by a very dear friend.

Merry Christmas to all so near and so far,
may your days be filled with Joy and much Good Cheer !

Christmas. . . parsnip
Music. . . II Est Ne Le Divin Enfant , Annie Lennox

parley view parsnip...

2011-12-19T08:34:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas !

I have started a new series Christmas Cards
based on The Twelve Days of Christmas.

I started the first series in 1978, the stamp was 15 cents.
Full color printing was expensive, unlike today's color instant printing you can get at any Office Max/Staples.
I chose back in 1978 one color ink and a two fold self mailer that saved on envelopes.

My originals where destroyed along with my home, in the firestorm that engulfed Laguna Beach in 1993.

Wonderful friends sent me the cards they saved so I have a copy of each year.

This new Twelve Days will have an Arizona take on the Christmas song.
Plus as you see the Square Ones are making sure they get their woof in.

OK, it is now a parsnip rant.....
Skip this part if you want. It's OK, really !

I am a Greeting Card Artist and proud of it.

Many people have mentioned the hassle of sending out cards. If it is a cost factor I understand.
I usually start my card early November and it is printed and ready by the end of the month. I have heard the famous "paper eco/carbon footprint" excuse. Give me a break, I am the queen of recycle, carbon footprint and I send cards. Such a small way to send some cheer ! If your that concerned about your carbon footprint take a bus, drive your car less, cut out fast food, give up meat become a vegetarian, buy local.....

If your just too stressed, cranky, hate holidays, can't stand your family, well go for it but be honest.

But I can tell you when I look through the mail and see bills, junk mail and see a card peeking out at me it makes me smile and if there is a quick note so much better. I save the card to read after the mail is sorted.

Someone sent me their year end letter as a pdf file this year, needless to say if they would have sent me it in a card I would have read it. After a quick scan to make sure that illness wasn't the reason for the email I just deleted it.

Cards are held, enjoyed, saved and if your me, put out year after year as holiday decorations. Carbon footprint any one ? Recycle reuse !

What little shopping I did was finished in November, hello computer and online shopping ! I don't do well in crowds.

I love the whole month of December.
What is not to love, family fun, the lights, music, cooking, movies, the wonderful smells and just sitting enjoying your tree. What other time of the year do you get to put a tree in you home and hang lights around your home. Beautiful !

This year I did get somewhat behind because of some major health issues but it all done, Thank You Daughter and Son for the help.

unstressed. . . parsnip
music. . . God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Annie Lennox

square dog friday....

2011-12-16T08:55:00.000-08:00

A few pictures of the great weather we have had this week...

Sunrise with storm clouds over the Rincon Mountains

after two days of wonderful gentle rain clouds lift over the Rincon Mountains.

Sunset with clouds over the Catalina Mountains.
This is what is nice about Tucson,
a few days of rain, the clouds lift
the sun breaks through and some days it is just this bright and golden.

Watson.....

ummmmmm, isn't this the The Square Dog Friday post ?

Afternoon sun shinning on the Catalina Mountains from my studio window.

Hamish...

whataboutususususmemememecameracameracameracameramememem
I lookbetter than wetcloudsmememememe!

view from kitchen window

Waston...
sheeeeeesh !
Our day, gave up one chicken strip for this ?
the studio kind of a mess with tall persons "work"
books, cards, boxes filled with good stuff sent off to Japan for
nice little Koguma-chan and other nice people.

Guess we will just go take a nap if we can find our pillow.
There better be a chicken strip waiting for us after our nap !

Hamish...

yert !

cheery. . . parsnip
music. . . The Holly and The Ivy, Annie Lennox

Wednesday In Japan...

2011-12-14T09:47:00.000-08:00

More Christmas Cards from Japan...

I find the Japanese take on Christmas very interesting.

Not coming from a Christian based society their idea of Christmas is more Santa based. The Advent fold out cards are regional based. They still have windows to open every day but there are 30 day to the New Year and not Christmas Day.

Plus they are beautiful.

Hiroshig's "Fifty-three Stages of the Tokaido"
an Ukiyo-e Advent Calendar

My favorite.

Flowers and Birds of Japan's Prefectures

Sights, Tastes and Toys of Regional Japan

The cutest card ever !

awwwwww Tokyo Tower and the cutest cow for Iwate

Japanese Family lives near #24 Osaka Tower.
My most favorite of all the Japanese Towers.

And just because it is my blog...

Wednesday morning pretty...

Yes, the Matterhorn has moved to Mt. Lemmon. View from my studio window.
After two days of a gentle rain, it is 48 this morning were I live, crystal clear blue sky with some fluffy clouds and beautiful snow on the mountain.

happy. . . parsnip
music. . . Christmas Is Here, Vince Guaraldi Trio

parley view parsnip

2011-12-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

My Monday post about what is happening around my home.

Artichoke Agave

One of my favorite agave plants.
From the gray/sage green leaves to the lavender, rosy red thorns that turn purple black

Fantastic, futuristic and very sci-fi looking plant.

camera! cameracameracameracameramememememememememe !

yert !

Your Monday pretty.

I was playing with the settings and this is what appeared !
I must be feeling very sci-fi today !

Scattered showers today and tomorrow temperatures in the lovely low 60/40
more like are normal early winter weather !

prickly. . . parsnip
music. . . Every Ship Must Sail Away, Blue Merle

square dog friday...

2011-12-09T09:31:00.000-08:00

Christmas decoration done ! 2.05 nano seconds !

The Square Ones have been asking (plotting an overthrow) for the Friday post.
The Square Ones are looking over their contract.
The Square Ones have hired an attorney.
The Square Ones are in dispute over the amount of chicken strips per day.
Negotiations continue.

Watson, I was taking a nap...

Hamish, lightslightslightslightsprettylights

Watson, nap, a nap I was taking a nap a comfy nap !

Hamish, lightslightlightlightltightlightslightsbrightlights yert !

Watson, is this in the contact ?
There better be a chicken strip at the end of this photo shoot
I was taking a nap !

Hamish, yert !

lights. . . parsnip
music. . . Little St. Nick, The Beach Boys

Wednesday In Japan...

2011-12-07T09:19:00.000-08:00

My Wednesday post about my life in Japan.
More Japanese Christmas Cards.

Best postcard ever.

This was sent to Watson and Hamish from Japanese son.

"Look ! Good Bears and Deer get to help decorate ! You should be good and help Mommy !"
So not happening !
The Boys get the best cards ever.

Newest card just came yesterday.

Pop-up Santas in a snowy and sparkly forest.

Last years circular Christmas town.

Now who wouldn't want to buy some ramen from this very happy vendor.
The card and ramen cart fold out with a bowl of ramen phone charm attached. It looks so cute on the card I can't take it off.
Plus my new phone does not have a place to hook a charm on. Dumb phone.

Cute stamps on envelope.

I don't put lots of Christmas decorations up any more but on the buffet in the dinning room I like to put up my favorite cards from over the years.
Usually it is covered with cards but last year I only put up the Japanese ones.
So much fun !

We just picked up the tree but decorating will have to wait for a few day.
Overloaded with paper work !

cheery. . . parsnip
music. . . Jingle Bell Rock, Bobby Helms

parley view parsnip...

2011-12-05T07:58:00.000-08:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home.

Canada, Canada, Canada, Oh Canada...

Didn't your Mum or Dad tell you to close the doors and windows ?
Your letting all the cold air out !

These Scotties were not made for cold wet weather
and they don't care what the books say !

nononononononon that's a big NO !

Yep ! grainy, light hail....

on the cushion...

and a chair...

These Scotties say awwwwwwwwwww much better.

Your Monday Morning pretty...

Sunrise over the Rincon Mountains.

Beautiful

cold. . . parsnip
music . . . What A Wonderful World, Ray Charles

Random Friday

2011-12-02T09:15:00.000-08:00

The Square Ones have been asking (plotting overthrow) for the Friday post just for them.
Thank goodness their short attention span plus a love of chicken strips has served me well so far.
Watson is good either way but Hamish likes the star billing he has been getting lately because of his lens replacement surgery.

He just had his 4 week check-up ( it feels like 4 years) and passed with flying colors. The only bad part is because of some of the meds his diabetes is all over the chart and we have to be constantly adjusting the insulin and we have added two new drops !

To show how very important he is to this home, he put on an exhibition of his stalking techniques.

stalk

pounce

whoa..... bunny ?

see mummy
i got intruder !

yert !

erfungefefefurgh erf ! destroy ernfteatglowingintruder !

yert !

Here is your pretty for the weekend.

Wednesday evening sunset it was a lovely 80 degrees that day.

looking west.

But.......

7:30 Friday morning.

Another cold front is dropping way down from Canada, hey thanks a lot guys !
This is our January/February weather, not December !

Clouds lifting from the foothills.

Mt. Lemmon
way in the back of Thimble Hill, is completely covered in clouds and it is indeed snowing as I am typing.

Only in the high 50's today !

yert !

cold. . . parsnip
music. . . Here Comes The Sun, The Beatles

Wednesday In Japan....

2011-11-30T13:03:00.000-08:00

My Wednesday post about my life in Japan...

Christmas Cards from Japan.

Another post was planed but I feel very Christmas today... plus I had trouble with the other post but we won't mention that, will we ?

My son started sending me these fabulous pop-out cards. Knowing my love of Christmas, Santa, Cards (I am a greeting card artist after all) and of course furry animals big and small. I love them all.

My favorite !
A pop-out card 16 little animals and Santa standing around a tree.
When you push the button small blinking lights come on. You can see some of the tiny blue lights on the edges of the tree. 2 Christmas songs play. This is my favorite of all the cards he has sent me. So sweet I love all the little animals.

This is his favorite.
15 Santas that twirl when you open it up along with deer and snowmen. But what he absolutely loves is the 12 count them 12 Christmas songs that play ! He wrote " Be thankful you don't have crazy kids around to push the play button non-stop ...like Me"

In his own words... "this has to be the most insane card ever ! 4 buttons"

When you push the various buttons you make the drums and the horns play, children sing to the song and lights come on.

This is a pop-up card, no songs and lights but a huge favorite because I adore Osaka.

Filled with many Osaka landmarks and over 50 little Santas. I love this card.
Who in their right mind puts a Crab, even the famous Osaka Crab on a Christmas card ! let alone over 50 tiny Santas.

Japan's big holiday is New Years, but the bigger cities put up Christmas decorations. I think for the tourists but Christmas is slowly making some small inroads.
You know how small children love a party !

One year I took the family to Tokyo for Christmas. The x had just walked out so I thought ... lets go to Japan for Christmas. Hey, it made sense at the time.
It was the best trip ever !

The wonderful Hotel we stayed at was elegant, older and not in the typical tourist area. We loved it. They had a lovely Christmas Tree up but on December 26 the tree was gone and New Year decorations were up.
That so made me giggle.

More cards to come....

singing . . . parsnip
music . . . Jingle Bell Rock, Bobby Helms

parley view parsnip...

2011-11-28T08:06:00.000-08:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home...

8 a.m. Monday, the sky is so blue and clear not a cloud in sight.

Sprinklers come on at 8AM watering the new winter grass that was seeded right before Halloween. Looking very green and lush.

Sad view.
Last winters hard freeze that dipped down from Canada for two days and mostly wiped out my small citrus grove. My all time favorite, Tangelo tree is just hanging on. Right now it should be overloaded with leaves and fruit. So much fruit that the gardener prop up the over laded branches because there is always so much fruit.

No candied peel for Christmas gifts this year.

And...

Because there are no clouds in the sky today....

Here is you moment of pretty...
When I look down from my Computer desk and chair this is what I see.

When Hamish, red necklace, came home from hospital, and had to stay very quiet and had meds six times a day. I put a blanket down next to my computer desk so I could watch him, while catching up on awful paper work.
Just found this wonderful new plaid blanket for him to curl up on. Now Watson likes the comfy blanket plus a pillow.
Nice !

sunny. . . parsnip
music. . . Back In The High Life Again, Steve Winwood

chestnuts and radishes, oh my...

2011-11-25T08:52:00.000-08:00

Chestnuts !

Daughter and I know about Japanese Chestnuts.
They are roasted and sold in front of the Japanese markets we used to go to in California.
When you buy a bag and you will get a small plastic disk you put on your thumb to crack the shell. Japanese Chestnuts do not have the x cut in them.

Daughter and I tried our hand at cutting the x in some Italian Chestnuts we bought at the market. I don't know if we did it right. The shell puffed and curled so pretty but as we have never seen Chestnuts roasted this way, we are not sure if this is the way they are suppose to look ?

They tasted lovely and I thought them beautiful.

I pickle some radishes yesterday, tops and all.

What a most beautiful vegetable.

I did a quick pickle that only takes an hour. All the sharp bitterness was gone leaving crunchy goodness behind.

Have a lovely weekend.

crunching . . . parsnip
music. . . Holding Back The Years, Simply Red

Another Wednesday...

2011-11-23T14:24:00.000-08:00

It's the Wednesday before Thanksgiving so that would mean ...

Squash !

Golden Nugget Squash.

Beautiful !

Good friends napping in the studio

And under my work table.
Hamish, in the back with head resting on Watson, has always liked cuddling up with Watson. Since his operation he seems to need it a little more or maybe the fact it is Fall and somewhat cooler in Tucson right now.
What ever the reason it is very cute.

Looking out my studio window at six vapor trains left by a jet stationed at
Davis Monthan Air Force Base.
This is a host unit, they train units from all over the world. You can see planes flying training classes over the Tucson sky.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone
and for the ones who don't celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, Happy Thursday !

cheering. . . parsnip
music. . . Wonderland, Zitten

짙은(Zitten) - 곁에

2011-11-21T07:44:00.000-08:00

I love this band and I adore this video.

So here is your pretty for the day....

cheers. . . parsnip
music. . . Zitten, By My Side

Before and After...

2011-11-18T08:41:00.000-08:00

Before...

The Hamish with the Cone of Shame !

After...

Eureka !
One day of freedom, The Hamish has been a good boy.
No rubbing or scratching of his eyes so far and he can see ! Watson will not have to be his seeing eye dog. He doesn't have his necklace/jewelry on yet but maybe today I will put it back on.
I think he looks really cute, collar free, like Snowy of the Tintin (except color) books with his long neck.
Of course he kept moving his head (freedom) so I couldn't get a better photo. The shaved hair around his eyes has grown back and the doctor said they saved as much of the eyebrows as they could because he looked so cute with them.
He was a hospital favorite.

Son has been cooking again...

Taharava Kootan, Duck Curry country style. From the Kerala region.
This time he made it with light and dark chicken cut in very small pieces. We like duck but thought this would work and it did. So wonderful.

Appam

Savory rice bread. Made from fermented rice batter.

Appams are soft and spongy disks. They are fat and puffy in the center and lacy crispy brown on the edges.

Appam reminds me of the light and spongy Ethiopian bread Injera that is made from Teff flour.

Fabulous !

hungry. . . parsnip
music. . . Under The Milky Way, Sia

Wednesday In Japan...

2011-11-16T09:46:00.000-08:00

My Wednesday post about my life in Japan...

Favorite recipe from Japanese son, made by talented daughter, mollybot.

Southwest Cassoulet.

Daughter came over last Sunday and whipped this fabulous dinner up for us.

What made it even better was that it was last Sunday it was cold weather for a November in Tucson, with early morning snow on the mountain tops and a sunny but rather cool afternoon.

The cassoulet had white beans, onion, garlic, red wine, kale , sage and soy chorizo. We like soy chorizo better than pork chorizo , not as fatty but just as tasty. Melissa's or Trader Jo's brand is great. Garlic bread crumbs on top then pop in the over.
This taste so good and your home will smell wonderful. Just the thing for a cold day.

Click on daughter's blog, CSAmazing, on my right side column for recipe.

Update !

Hamish is still wearing The Cone Of Shame.
It comes off tomorrow and he really wants it OFF NOW ! he is on mass quantities of eye drops for the next two weeks, then next recheck.
Eye look clear and he can see now.

Partners in crime. Hamish, Waldie and Watson.

Waldie has extreme separation anxiety.
I have never seen a dog scream when left alone like he does for as many hours you are gone, he never stops.
They are using a crate, cozy blankets, a recording of their voices reading a book but nothing so far has worked. They even bought a "Thundershirt" for him. You wrap him snugly in the vest and it is suppose to help the dog feel secure. It works about 90% of the time. guess who is in the 10% that is doesn't help that much ?

So they dropped him off for a play day with The Boys hoping that would be less stressful on him and he could get use to being away from them. Well there was no screaming but we had lots of crying. I swear there were tears !
Of course Watson took one look at all the hysteria and took off for parts unknown. Hamish hung around and slept next to Walide who was always right next to me but it was a hard day. I want him to visit at lest once a week, sooner or later (please let it be sooner) he has to get use to being left alone and that The Ladies will come back for him !

snugly. . . parsnip

music. . . Mad World, Michael Andrews/Gary Jules

parley view parsnip...

2011-11-14T09:05:00.000-08:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home...

January weather in November !

What a strange weather year it has been.
First the lack of our Winter rains that Arizona depends on, a hard freeze that destroyed so much vegetation, my small citrus grove included and now winter weather in November ?
No matter when it rains in Tucson we are happy. Plus the air feels so fresh and smells like sage.
Thank Goodness our nice Fall weather returns this week.

8 am Sunday morning.

I understand many people who live in the north and east would just grumble at this scene but not me. Rain falling on the Catalina Mountains.

9 am rain stops, clouds hugging the tops of the mountains.

9 am clouds so low I can't see the Rincon Mountains to the east.

10 am, clouds starting to lift from where the Rincon and Santa Ritas mountains meet southeast from me.

10 am, my favorite view from in front of the garage looking through the ramada on the east side of my home. It is raining again.
The Catalina Mountains look so close because you see no foreground. Even though they are so close to my home when I take a photo they look so far away.

This Grapefruit tree is one of the only trees that sort of survived the hard freeze. It has leaves but no fruit.

1 pm it rained again and then the clouds started to lift.

The breeze was very slowly pushing the clouds East.

Close up looking Northeast

3:30 pm

View from my studio window. Love the bright patch peaking through the dark rain clouds

Here is a close up. This cute little peak is called the Thimble and in in the Sabino Canyon Park. about 5 minutes from my home.
Photo taken through my window so is somewhat tinted gray.

wet. . . parsnip
music. . . Heavy Clods No Rain, Sting

11 . 11 . 11

2011-11-11T10:38:00.000-08:00

To start out my Friday catch up blog...

Thank You to all the Veterans the Men and Women serving in the Military today and their families who support them.

I can not go to any service today but in their honor I will make a donation to USO.

Another photo from Monday.

Presenting....

Mr. Darth Vader, Tonton, sweetie pie, haggis, kumquat, honey baby, cutie pie, sweetie darling, lemon, lucky, good boy, cuddles, oh no you didn't, Hamish !

Cone of shame is still needed for one more week, along with the mass quantities of meds for three more weeks. Goodness, his eyes look so much better and he is feeling way to spunky for a little guy who lens replacement surgery just one week ago.
I have to keep him quiet for two more weeks to protect the eyes.
Hahahahahhahahahah... yeah good luck wih that !

Thank You Dr. Betbeze and Dr. Maus.

Good job sweetie pie you look marvelous !

Moon rise Wednesday evening.

thankful. . . parsnip
music. . . Sailing, The Cafe Carlyle Sessions

Wednesday In Japan.... and update

2011-11-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

My Wednesday post about my life in Japan.

Bikes, bikes, bikes everywhere.

A chain of very tasty Curry Restaurants, with more bikes in front.

Everyone rides bikes in Japan.
You can see the train tracks down the street. This is the stop my son takes for his job. Curry House is in back of this photo.

View from my Kitchen Window.

After I posted Mondays photo of the rain and the cold weather from Canada (thanks a lot Canada !) the clouds lifted and the snow appeared. It was gone by the afternoon. These foothills are lower but on Mt. Lemmon (photo below) the snow last longer.

Monday morning snow on the Catalina Mountains, view from my studio.
We are now back to more normal November weather.

Hamish is feeling better, sitting in the sun by the Kitchen Table.

On Thursday we will find out how his eyes are and hopefully the cone of shame comes off. 6 days after the operation I can tell he can see and his eyes look less bloody and the squinting is gone.

Good Job, Hamish !

happy. . . parsnip
music. . . Back To Her, Five Way Friday

parley view parsnip...

2011-11-07T09:04:00.000-08:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home .

Ack ! What is going on with our weather !
First we get the deep freeze that destroyed my citrus grove last winter and now we have this cold rain storm that shouldn't even be here till January. Thanks a lot Canada ! What do you think your doing, why are you sending down this out of season cold weather. Well if the snowshoe fits, please keep it. OK !
Normal Novemeber weather returning on Wednesday, thank goodness.

Day Four...

Hamish is doing better. His eyes are open more but his left eye seems to be progressing slower.

And if the 30 minutes it takes to give him his meds 4 times a day wasn't enough.... he hates the cone of shame. He refuses to go outside with it on. We have picked him up deposited him on the grass and that doesn't even help. So every time he has to go outside, off goes the cone. Even eating I have to take it off but I have to watch him like a hawk because he wants to scratch his eyes. I was hoping the cone would come off Thursday but I am thinking maybe not ?

woof !

get this thing off of me !

Sunday Dinner.

Taharava Kootan from the Kerala region of India.

Country Style Duck Curry.

Again fabulous son cooked this wonderful dinner for me. Duck, potatoes, ginger, cloves, onions, shallots, mustard seed, coriander, cardamom seed and of course coconut milk. Utter bliss !

tasty. . . parsnip
music. . . Autumn Leaves, Susan Boyle

I'm Alive, sort of. . .

2011-11-04T16:41:00.000-07:00

Update. . .

Call me Tanuki !
The Japanese Raccoon Dog.

Hamish made it through surgery with flying colors.
He is now installed on a fluffy blanket sleeping by my computer desk.

This photo was taken under my work table.
He is on mass quantities of drugs

and

wearing the "Cone Of Shame" for at lest a week.

We did find another problem that is common in Scotties and Schnauzers but easily controlled.
They all loved him at the Hospital and really didn't want him to leave.
Even with all the pain he was very sweet and they loved taking care of him.
He is a trooper.

nurse. . . parsnip

music. . . In The Blink Of A Eye, Cafe Carlyle Sessions

Wednesday in Japan...

2011-11-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

Wednesday Japanese post is being hijacked by a small 29 pound Square One.

But

For a very cute slice of everyday life in Japan click on Kogums-chan's blog on my sidebar. It shows a very small and definitely cute Costco cart girl making her "diaper money"

Well here is the culprit, awwwwwwww so sweet but really a Darth Varder in a furry coat !

On Thursday at 7 am he will be at the hospital for his lens replacement surgery because of diabetic induced cataracts in both eyes.

Waiting for morning meds

Under my big work desk.

Next to my computer/printer desk.

Morning pills.

When Hamish came to live with Watson and me he became my shadow.

I can't walk 2 feet with out him jumping up and following me. When I walk anywhere he is right next to my feet or between them sometimes even a lick on the ankle as I walk. He has sent me flying into walls and even a French Door once chipping a tooth.

While very endearing, after 7 years it gets a bit tiring. He is always there looking up at me. I don't flatter myself thinking it is all love, I think he is just checking me out for when I will be ready to eat. I am just a walking Steak or Pork Chop !

I have noticed he doesn't follow me around as much in the last 3 weeks. As I move from computer/printer to work table he is near but doesn't move in till he hears me leaving the room. It makes me so sad to see him stumbling, missteps, and walking along walls. I have put lots of old comfy blankets all over our home, adding to all the fluffy pillows and soft beds they already have strategically placed in our home. I try not to leave anything out or move anything to a new place because he will walk into it. He can't see anything right in front of him, it is like looking through thick frosted glass.

I see him now looking up at me and it breaks my heart because I know he can't see me.

I will update his surgery on my Friday post.

Ending on a happier note, clouds from my studio window.

They remind me of the waves on the Pacific Ocean.

worried. . . parsnip

music. . . Both Sides Now, Susan Boyle

parley view parsnip...

2011-10-31T00:12:00.000-07:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home.

Watson and Hamish just back from the groomers.

Hamish and the Cataracts brought on by his Diabetes.

The Cataracts that have covered the lens in both eyes. Making it seem he is looking out through frosted glass. He can't see anything in front of him. He has some fuzzy peripheral vision because he can walk around but runs pass objects and can't see anything if you hold it in directly in front of him.

His operation is in three days.

awwwwww such a boo boo baby boy.

He has been on three medications but today he start a whole new group of 5. I had to make a chart so I could remember. I have also programed my phone alarm.

On another note
Fondue !
1970

A few blogs I read have been talking about how they use leftovers, soup is always a good choice. My son has been talking about Fondue a lot lately and the blogger "Counterintuitivity" even had a post about Fondue.
So it see deemed by the Food Gods that for our Friday dinner we should have our leftovers served with small fondue pots. I wish we had some apples but they were all gone so I served a salad too.

Last but not lest
Happy Halloween Birthday to Carol of the Blog "Dry Bones"
hope your day is filled with scary fun !

busy. . . parsnip
music. . . Trouble, Coldplay

Random Friday...

2011-10-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

End of the week, lets wrap this puppy up...

Fish Moilly

Mondays dinner made by talented son. A Fish Stew from the Kerala region of India.
Very simple and super easy dish. Made with firm white fish, red onion (he used shallots) finely sliced fresh green chillies, ginger root, coconut milk and lime juice.

So easy, so simple and so good.

Halloween scary...
View from my kitchen window looking North towards the Catalina mountains
Beautiful summer green grass was cut and thatched, winter grass seed spread with a covering of mulch.

The Square Ones were perplexed.

Your weekend moment of Cloud Zen from Wednesday the 26.
Looking North-East from my studio window.

and

I just learned today an outstanding weather fact....
You can tell the temperature outside by listening to a Cricket !
Count the number of times a Cricket chirps in 15 seconds. Then add 37
How fabulous cool is this !

scary. . . parsnip

music. . . Breathe, Telepopmusic

Wednesday In Japan...

2011-10-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

My Wednesday post about my life in Japan.

Omiyage

Small gift from a trip to give to family and friends.

These little gifts are from my favorite rest stop on Awaji Island.
Not the simple gas station with a 7/11 like in America, this one has two fabulous restaurants, fast food, parks, amusement area with Ferris wheel and the most wonderful shopping court.

Packaged Okonomiyaki with very happy octopuses.

Pressed sugar

Soft cookies in the shape of Chestnuts, filled with Amaguri a sweet chestnut paste.

Sweet Potato cookies

Cookies and crackers, some filled with figs or the famous Awaji sweet onion.

More onion crackers

Cookies, many filled with sweet red bean paste

The best custard in a cup. It has a kawaii (cute) cow as a mascot.

Awaji Onions looking at the rolled filled cakes.

Awaji Island is also famous for their Limes.

Cute lime mascot.

Awwwww cute Onion.

This is where you can find me, looking at all the phone charms and key rings.

I have a wall of these " kawaii" charms.

kawaii. . . parsnip
music. . . Kaza No Toor-Michi, Joe Hisaishi

parley view parsnip...

2011-10-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

My Monday post about what is going around my home...

Day and Night....

Monday 8 a.m. Tucson, Arizona

Sunday 10 p.m.

This little spider and I have been battling over ownership of my small garden fountain.

Dining, Living Room View from my garden at 10 p.m.

No matter how much I like the early morning, especially in the quiet foothills area that I live in. I think that Twilight and Evening is what I love the most.

Maybe all the late nights I stay up after school and working all day, the quiet evenings enveloping me so I could finish my school work. It followed me through taking care of the family, all the noise of the day would melt away so I could start my art about 10 p.m..
I even love driving at nigh when all around you are dark shadows lighted by the moon and stars and then you come upon traffic light at the intersection glowing a welcome.

Kitchen view with open door to my studio to the right.

As I turned around from taking the fountain photo, this is my home. I love the way my home glows and softly welcomes me to come in.

glowing. . . parsnip
music. . . Night and Day, Ella Fitzgerald

Random Friday....

2011-10-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

Just three little photos

Son, who lives n Tucson is a fabulous cook.

He reads the recipe several times, makes sure he has all the correct ingredients and then most importantly follows the recipe. I am at best a lazy cook. I will use what is on hand, toss in a bit of this and that and it is usually rather good but when you follow the recipe this is what happens.... a fabulous dinner.

The recipes are from Madhur Jaffrey's Flavors Of India.

Above photo is Vegetable Rice. He crushed and toasted spices, soaked rice and chopped vegetables.

Country Chicken Curry and the Vegetable Rice.

This weekend he is making a Fish Stew from the Kerala region also. Photos to follow.

One dinner he made a Savory Rice Bread that used Cream Of Rice, flour, yeast and coconut milk and involved fermenting the batter. It was wonderful ! I think he should forget getting a degree in History/Teaching and go to Cooking School.

Your weekend photo of Zen....

hungry. . . parsnip

music. . . Tables And Chairs, Andrew Bird

Wednesday In Japan....

2011-10-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

My Wednesday post about my life in Japan...
Except today it is Japan by way of Tucson, Arizona.

A wonderful surprise gift from Japanese family. Stamps with The Square Ones. Now I stamp The Boys on everything that I can, even bills !

They were ordered/made in Japan but I think you could you could order these on line like my son did. Watson's came out better because of the side view, Hamish's photo is looking down at him so it is a bit complicated.

Fabulous !

Lunch at SushiMatsu.
Dragon Roll and Spicy Tuna Roll.

One of Tucson's great interesting restaurants. Yoshimatsu and SushiMatusu are under one roof. The Cancer survivor owner chef offers original healthy recipes that use several kinds of mushrooms, vegetables and no MSG. They also have one of the best Vegetarian/Vegan menu.

Vegetarian lunch for Daughter.
Avocado Roll, Tamago (sweet egg nigiri) and Ginger Tofu Nigiri.

I didn't get a side photo of the Ginger Tofu which was arranged over the rice like a mountain with the best light spicy ginger sauce, almost to pretty to eat, almost !

Lunch ended with a parfait .
No one makes Ice cream parfaits like the Japanese. Layers of ice cream, cake, fruit, whipped cream, cookies and even cornflakes. Using cornflakes in parfait is very common in Japan, and I must say really fun and taste wonderful.

eating. . . parsnip
music. . . Great Balls Of Fire, Chris Isaak

parley view parsnip...

2011-10-17T08:56:00.000-07:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home.

Sunday Morning I was invited by Waldie to a Halloween Party sponsored by a Dachshund Group.
The morning started with a "meet and greet" and a lovely Spring Water was served, Vintage 2011, a very good year. Lovely parting gifts bags were filled with a charming assortment of small tasty treats.
Much wooofing, nerrfing and sniffing was enjoyed followed by a Halloween costume contest.

A few of the costumes, top left, Banana split, Spiderman, Bat, Toblerone, Pumpkin and Ladybug. I was having so much fun that I forgot to snap some photos. Legs and feet courtesy of paparazzi and adoring public.

And the winner was............... Waldie the Toblerone.

Since he is a Chocolate Dachshund, what better costume but a chocolate bar. Daughter made the costume, which I think looked just like the rather tasty chocolate bar. One of the few chocolate candy I happen to like.

At one time Toblerone was on the list of possible new names.

The third placed Shark was circling, maybe disputing the voting ?

Waldie has been living with his new family for a month. Since then he has gone from an abused and neglected dog, fearful of people especially men. He wouldn't eat, go outside and walked with his tail firmly tucked between his legs.

In one month he is now enjoying eating, goes outside and loves riding in the car. His social calendar has been filled with an afternoon spent at October Fest, Sunday Brunch at the patio of a neighborhood restaurant and a First Place at the Halloween Party. What is even better is he now has a new life with two adoring people. I wonder what he is thinking besides...

Life is so much fun !

chocolate. . . parsnip
music. . . Gimme Some Lovin', Spencer Davis Group

Random Friday....

2011-10-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

Watson was helping laying brick for a new patio...

A nap after all that hard work...

What happens after breakfast.

Twice a day after eating Hamish gets an Insulin shot, two kinds of eye drop (in preperaton for his eye surgery) allergy pills and a pain pill for my little old man Watson. The Chicken strip treat is for after all the meds.

Turnip
What a beautiful vegetable, I can't believe how white it is.

The baked chips I made from the Turnip.

I love taking random table photos.
I have lots of these random shots and I am thinking these would look great in a little book.

and...
because it is my blog and you all know my love of clouds,
here is the weekend moments of zen.

dancing. . . parsnip
music. . . Siboney, Shigeru Umebayashi

Wednesday in Japan

2011-10-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

My Wednesday post about my life in Japan...

The beautiful Osaka Aquarium Kauyukan.

When entering, you take a escalator up eight floors and then wind your way down around the huge tank the fills most of the inside of the building. On the outside of the walkway there are habitats of the 15 regions that make up "The Ring Of Fire"

The building tile mosaic is spectacular.

Outstanding signage.

You enter the Aquarium through the Aqua Gate.
I was mesmerized as the Stingrays floated by.

The Whale Shark, beside being quite fabulous, is one of the mascot of the Aquarium. Yu Chan is so beautiful that I could have spent my whole time sitting there and just watched her swim. All the friends who swam under and around were so funny . This photo only showed one but the other side had about ten fish of various sizes and shapes hugging her and gliding along with every move.

The Beluga Wale sign.

Yu Chan.

The extremely popular puffer fish is also a mascot.

along with the Sun Fish.

Another fantastic hallway.

Yu Chan gliding towards me.

An Amusement Park is part of the complex.

Bought at the gift shop is a fabulous designed box of small bite sized cream puff cookies, filled with chocolate.

awwwwwww what a darling back of the box.

What a fun and well designed package.

Photos by mollybot and sleepytako.

swimming . . . parsnip
music. . . Sailing, Christopher Cross, Cafe Carlyle Sessions

parley view parsnip...

2011-10-10T13:05:00.000-07:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home...
It is Watson Time !

Watson is the most handsome Scottie in person but he takes terrible photos.

I can't believe these came out somewhat close to how beautiful he is.

He is also very shy.

awwwwwwww. . . parsnip
music. . . Blue Monday, Flunk

Guten Tag Waldi....

2011-10-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

Watson and Hamish want to introduce their new cousin Waldi.

Daughter and friend adopted this beautiful four year old long hair Dachshund from the SPCA. This little guy was abused in his former life but is now living his new life in the lap of luxury. He has some major problems and there is a possibly of him losing one of his beautiful eyes but even with all his dreadful history, he is the sweetest little (13 pounds) pup ever.

The close-up is of a drawing she drew on the announcement card that was sent out. Waldi is named after the mascot from the 1972 Munich Olympic.

Nap time after playing with The Square Ones... who knew the poof pillow I bought four years ago would be such a perfect match.

From my back yard a small Barrel Cactus with a bloom that is almost the same size as the cactus is.

The flowers are so delicate compared to the prickly, stabbing, painful spikes of the cactus they sit on top of.
Don't you think the bloom looks like several of the hats that seem to be perched precariously on the heads of some of the guests at the wedding of Prince William and Kate ?

woof. . . parsnip
music. . . Open Promise, John Hackett

Wednesday in Japan...

2011-10-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

My Wednesday post about my life in Japan...

Wonderful Japanese family brought me some very tasty gifts on their visit. This Instant Ramen is the best I have ever had. It comes with three packets to add. It comes out looking almost like the photo on the package. I am guessing this has enough sodium for a month but so very good I don't care !

Fun cookies...

I have never been crazy for chocolate and Japanese chocolate is just OK for me. I don't like Godiva Chocolates either. I know, I know I am the only woman in the world who doesn't like chocolate. But I rather liked these cookies because they are not very sweet. The galbo ball is a small semi crunchy outside with almost a soft airy cake creamy inside. The Chip Chop for me is much better, it is a little salty outside with a tiny strip of soft filling. I like them in the afternoon with coffee.

What I love about these cookies, is after you peel the perforated strip off, you can refold the box top down. It is still attached to the back, and is very easy to close the box back up. A beautifully designed box.

Arizona son is a fabulous chef. This is a dinner he made last week, Okonomiyaki. A savory pancake filled with usually what you have around. We had stir-fried pork, onions and green chilies. We then topped it with Okonomiyaki sauce, a lightly sweet tangy sauce, Japanese Mayo that for some reason looks green in this photo (?) red pickled ginger and chopped green onions. When you go to the Okonomiyaki restaurant it is made to share, cooked on a stove top built in the table and you cut off a bite with the little spatula to eat it. So much fun and it really work quite well. We eat it with chopsticks or a fork at home, perfect with a beer.

hungry. . . parsnip

music. . . Look What I found In My Beer, Quench

parley view parsnip

2011-10-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home.

castles in the air

memories of rain appear

thunder becomes wind

The first photo was on the west side of Tucson the second photo, taken at the same time,

was on the north side of Tucson

Three quick water color studies.

They are only about 4 by 5 inches and as usual I painted on what paper was on hand. I used card stock which is not a very good paper for watercolors. I didn't plan on taking any photos or painting yesterday, was supposed to be cleaning the studio but when nature says .... Look ! who am to say, ummmmmm not now !

looking. . . parsnip

music. . . Breathe, Alexi Murdoch

Fabulous Friday...

2011-09-30T09:25:00.000-07:00

Halloween toys from "La Tarjey"

Watson... Lovely colors nice tall person, can we please play now ?

Hamish... toy, toy, toy toytoytoytoytoytoytoytoytoytoytoytoytoy !

Hamish... pinkpinkpinkyertpinkpinkpinkpinkpinkpinkyert !

Hamish.. greengreengreengreengreenyertgreentoy squeak !

Watson... the nice pink toy is quite exciting and it squeaks !

Hamish... must find and destroy green squeak have already destroyed pink !

Watson... the pink toy is very colorful.

Watson... nice tall person you know how much I like to play tug.

What a delightful and stylish Halloween toy, Thank You for finding these for us.

Watson... nice tall person playing tug... I am so enjoying this activity.

Watson... tug, tug, tug and with a charming squeak and lovely top notes of rubber ball.

Watson... Oh My Goodness, The exciting green tug toy has somehow escaped.

Hamish... yert !

Hamish... attackgrengreengrensqueakyertgreensqueakyert ack !

Hamish... ummmmgurrrrrgreengreengreen destroy yert !

Watson... The very cute pink toy can be fun too.

Hamish...minemineminemnemineminedestroy squeaky !

Watson... I am rather enjoying the lovely pink toy the squeak has a very pleasing chew factor.

Hamish... greengreenyertgreenmummmmmsqeak eurff yert squeak !

Hamish... destroy now ! wahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !

note from the tall person, the pink squeak sound lasted 5.2 nanoseconds. That is why Hamish switched over to the green toy. That squeak lasted about 10.6 nano seconds longer... Squeak !

These very cute dog toys were found at Target. They were sewn together but I snipped them apart. Loved the cute faces on the bouncy ball part but all Hamish wanted to do was kill it and eat it ! He doesn't care about aesthetes he just wants a strong squeak factor. This was the last one I found, must find more.

The Boys give this toy a 9 Good squeak, exciting off balanced bounce with a great rubber ball sniff factor.

playing... parsnip

music... Rawhide, The Blues Brothers

Yorkshire 1998....

2011-09-27T23:09:00.000-07:00

This is usually my Wednesday post about my life in Japan but today it is about Yorkshire, England 1998 by way of Osaka, Japan.

Oldest son was finishing up a semester at Cambridge and I flew over to see him and drive around England and Scotland for a few weeks. It was right before Christmas, what a fabulous time to be in the UK. We flew to Edinburgh and drove back to Cambridge sightseeing on the way, then on to London and our flights home to Laguna Beach, California. One place that stood out on that trip, for me was Yorkshire, England.

I imagine , you who live in England maybe tired of hearing James Herriot's name but not me. I wanted to drive around Yorkshire to look at the cities, towns, fields with stone fences, Sheep, Hedgehogs and Scotties. Plus being a Wallace and Gromit fan I had to see Wensleydale, and we did ! Never saw a Hedgehog or any Scotties.

I have been reading and commenting on Pat's Blog "The Weaver of Grass" which I started following because it is a fabulous blog based in Yorkshire. I mentioned one day about seeing a road sign on my trip through the Dales that I thought said Gayle but I had a hard time remembering it correctly, the trip was in 1998 and my photos were destroyed. What surprised me was the way the town spelled their name. No one ever spells Gayle the way I do, that is the way I spell my name.
Yes, angryparsnip is a Gayle.

Pat wrote back and said yes the road sign did say Gayle ! Since then I have looked up the town with my name and it is beautiful. I want to live there beautiful ! But I will have to settle for a visit instead. I don't think the Dales are ready for an angryparsnip.

Thank You Pat for making my day, my month and my year. I have been telling everyone and I mean everyone, whether they want to hear it or not, about my town !

I e-mail my Japanese son to asked if he had the photo of my road sign (click on photo to make bigger) and he said yes, he had downloaded it years ago. So from California to the UK down to Tucson over to Osaka and back to Tucson and my blog here is a wonderful photo of my sign and another fun photo of me. I look great in this photo, really I do, trust me. Really I do. Really ! My hair was quite fabulous that day.

gayle. . . parsnip
music. . . Dumb, Quench

This song was playing everywhere we went on that trip and my son bought me the album. Whenever it pops up on my i-pod I am whisked away to the UK. I also found "The Vicar of Dibley" on TV that trip and became a huge fan of the show. I would love to visit Turville, Buckinghamshire where the show was filmed.

Thank You, sleepytako for saving and finding the photos of our trip.
Heart !

parley view parsnip...

2011-09-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home.

Pickles ! ! !

Daughter came over and helped me make some quick Japanese styled pickled vegetables.

I used half a bottle unfiltered (that is why the liquid looks cloudy) apple vinegar, two tablespoons each of sugar and salt add a splash of water and boil till dissolved. Pour over sliced seeded Jalapenos, Carrots and Onion slices, or your choice of vegetables. Let sit and store in the refrigerator for a day or so, they get better the longer they sit, but these veggies never last around me. I chop and add them to everything.

Cabbage, garlic and a few Jalapenos.

I tried my hand at "Cowboy Candy" Jalapeno peppers cooked in a sugar syrup with Celery Seed and Turmeric. I didn't have the right size of container so they look lonely in the big dish. The sweet/spicy syrup smelled so good I poured the leftover syrup over the vegetables in the above photo.

Since I don't know how to can for stable shelve life, I like to make small batches of pickle vegetables to store in the refrigerator. That is why I like the quick Japanese style of pickling that my daughter is so good at. Plus after years and I mean years of eating carrots this gives me a new and exciting way to eat carrots.

If I like the Candied Jalapenos, I will look into getting a few correct size jars instead of using what I have on hand.

Just because it is my blog, here is another moment of Zen sunset. I sat and watched it till the sun completely set, beautiful ! The sunset was a bit softer but the camera really focused on the sun. Camera problem aside, I rather like the circles of colors expanding out.

No rain Saturday evening but the weather put on quite a cloud show.

waiting. . . parsnip

music. . . Burning In The Sun, Blue Merle

Fabulous Friday...

2011-09-22T22:08:00.000-07:00

This is possible the last storm of the monsoon.

Thursday afternoon the storm built up with clouds and the thunder was rumbling. When you looked up into the sky and clouds you could see Virga rain. This a type of rain that evaporated before it reaches the ground.

The watercolors were out for a project my son had just finished. I just sat down and did a few very fast cloud studies looking from my studio window. Watercolors are the hardest medium for me to work in, I have a tendency to over work them. I just sat down and forgetting what I was suppose to be working on, for 30 minutes or so just did some quick studies on some card stock that is really the wrong type of paper to use for watercolor. I just used what was out on the table. I find if I just paint or draw with what is at hand, it is more spontaneous and fun.

painting . . . parsnip

music. . . Heavy Cloud No Rain, Sting

Wednesday In Japan...

2011-09-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

My Wednesday post about my life in Japan...

Last year when I was visiting my family, I saw this poster for the Nakizumo Festival.

Ok, Sumo wrestlers holding babies dressed up as Sumos ? I found it is called Natizumo or The Crying Baby Festival. A Japanese proverb is "a crying baby grows fast" or "a crying baby is a healthy baby".

Younger Sumo in training or sometimes father dressed up in Sumo outfits hold the babies in a face-off and the first baby who cries is the winner. When the babies don't cry the judges will cry Naki Naki Naki which means cry cry cry or bring out an ogre mask, which usually does the trick. The baby is held up high so the cries are closer to heaven so the Gods will bless the baby.

All over Japan these Nakizumo Festival are held to help drive Evil Spirits away. As a Mum I am not sure how to view making your baby cry but as it is just for a one time only and babies seem to cry a lot in the early months of their life, who am I to say an over 400 year old Japanese tradition is wrong. Everyone seems to have fun, smiles and laughter everywhere, food stalls, people cooing over all the babies in the match or not, it seems just another way to for the neighborhood to go to the Temple and celebrate.

Oops... all photos from last Wednesday post and today's have been taken by fabulous Daughter mollybot.

tears. . . parsnip

music. . . On A Clear Day, Kiki's Delivery Service, OST

parley view parsnip...

2011-09-19T12:55:00.000-07:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home.

Fabulous tomatoes.

Good news I saw a beautiful Bobcat just moseying down my street (go U of A Wildcats) Bad news is I saw it at 11:30 p.m. Saturday night as I was rushing Hamish to the Veterinary Specialty Clinic. Three hours later we were all home and he was doing much better.

Sick or not he is a very stylish puppy wearing a gift the fabulous Empress Bee of the blog "muffin53" made for him, Watson has one too. Too bad he is so balck that in this photo you can only see the charm part and not the beads. She makes them for cats also. If you go to her blog you can find a link to her Etsy shop. I can't seem to get the link to work today....

Thanks Empress Bee, The Boys say woooooooof !

This is a plain wall on the West side of my small fenced in yard. All that was there was some pipes for the pool that are quite ugly.

I designed these rather big panels that swing open so the pool-man can access the pipes. The wall gets very hot in the summer and I didn't want to put plants there that need watering, plus the space is narrow. But the magic happens at night.

This area of the yard is very dark at night so I had the metal panels punched with holes so the light inside can sparkle like the stars in the sky and reflect in the pool. The flash makes the yard look much brighter than it is. It is much softer and glowing but it is so pretty and I am very happy with how this project came out.

glowing. . . parsnip

music. . . Under The Milky Way, Church

flying lizards, oh my.....

2011-09-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

As I sit at my computer and look out my studio window I never know what I will see. From herds of javelinas, a bobcat or two or coyotes. Roadrunners, quail, birds or snakes they all seem to mosey through what is left of my citrus grove and pass my window. My very own National Geographic show.

Thursday, Mr. Flying Lizard appeared.

not as exciting when you really see what is going on.

A little know fact, it seems desert lizards love screens, or at lest the crazy ones around my home. Even though I know there is a possible of acrobat lizards impaling themselves on my screen, I still startle when I see one enjoying the view from my window screens or on my window ledge looking in my studio or kitchen.

And..... Just because it is my blog, I must have some clouds in my post somewhere.

The very crazy and not very typical summer monsoon season is coming to an end. We are now entering our fall season and the temperature are now back to where they should be, daytime 90 to high 80's evening 70 to high 60's. Perfect !

As I write this a Coopers Hawk just zoomed by holding a large snake. It was so fast that I couldn't get a good look, I so hope that wasn't Oswald the beautiful black Coral snake that I adore. He eat the packrats and rattlesnakes that really don't like. I understand about nature but if it is Oswald I will be so upset and sad.

cooler. . . parsnip

music. . . Good Life, OneRepublic

Wednesday In Japan....

2011-09-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

Some random fun signs...

Fabulous Osaka restaurant in the older style of dinning at low tables.

Sign at the Pokemon Center, it has a Lawson, like a 7/11 only a thousands times better.

Fast food.

Osaka street signs.

Curry fast food, with the usual banner signs and of course bikes. Great curry !

Tanuki, modern day god for restauranteurs

Famous Awaji onions make the best soup.

The third ad down on the left is showing the wonderful cake made from bamboo charcoal with a cream filling, Heaven !

Tako.... octopus

Fugu !

hungry. . . parsnip

music. . . Daydream, Tatsu Yamashita

parley view parsnip

2011-09-12T09:13:00.000-07:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home.

Early morning storm front passing over Tucson, coming in from the South heading northeast. Thunder and lighting and some big fat rain drops. I am looking southeast in this photo. It smells so good, sage, dust and ozone, perfect !

Meanwhile on the West side of my home all was calm, blue skies and some early morning clouds. The monsoon season in Tucson is filled with inconsistency. Pouring rain in some area, hail possible and then bright blue skies in another. So Tucson and so fractured, Love it !

Our weather this year has been so strange. The much needed winter rains never came, just three small storms, we depend on these rains to replenish our water table. Then we had two evening of a hard freeze, I lost several fruit trees. So sad, no blooms this spring and no fruit this winter.

Now our summer monsoon looks like what we should have had in the winter.

An early morning rainstorm is just not a summer possibility. If you didn't know what month this is and looked out the window you would swear that it is winter.

Monsoon rain storms build up in the afternoon, Thunderheads, huge Cumulus clouds flat on the bottom billowing up in the sky to 25,000 feet high, looking like whipped cream, slowing moving over the Tucson Valley trailing a rain storm below them. Not thunder, lighting and rain in the morning.

That said, we desert people appreciate our rain whenever it comes. I have been known to go outside and stand in the rain or sit under my covered porch and enjoy the sounds and wonderful smells of the rain. That too is so Tucson !

wet. . . parsnip

music. . . From The Morning, Nick Drake.

fabulous friday...

2011-09-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

My Friday post about anything and everything...

When it rains in Tucson it is always a great time to look at the mountains and to see what is really there. This late afternoon storm diffused the light just enough to see all the ridges and valleys from my backyard view of the foothills. There are six, usually it looks like just two or three.

Now for my moment of WTF were you thinking, please let the Darwin Award go to this person. The only good thing to come out of this incident is that I hope the typical "Ugly American" tourist stereotype has now been replaced by a Canadian. My other wish is I hope he really doesn't or will never have children.

I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around this story.

Have a wonderful spray paint free weekend where ever you are.

tourist. . . parsnip

music. . . Mad World, Michael Andrews, Gary Jules

Wednesday In Japan...

2011-09-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

My Wednesday post about my life in Japan.

Wonderful thin crispy crackers flavored lightly soy and ground black pepper topping.

So much ground black pepper and so good

I have mentioned may times my love for Japanese package design and this package is one is one to save.

I will either frame the package, use it for gift wrap or send it as a post card.

Love the monk who is taking a break from studying. We should all be so lucky.

crunching . . . parsnip

music . . . Breathe, Telepopmusik

parley view parsnip...

2011-09-05T12:14:00.000-07:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home. A few random photos.

Afternoon rainstorm

Barrel Cactus in bloom.

Bench under a Mesquite Tree.

Bark of the Mesquite tree, quite interesting

Pomegranate Tree

lazy. . . parsnip

music. . . In The Blink Of An Eye, Christopher Cross

Fabulous Friday

2011-09-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

Twenty minutes in the life of a summer monsoon storm.

The first summer I lived in Tucson this one of the first monsoon rain storm I was able to track as it moved around the Tucson Valley.

It started at the northeast side of my home between the Catalina and Rincon Mountains.

Traveling south towards the Santa Rita Mountains.

Moving very fast blocking out all the sky east of me but I was standing under a blue sky filled with sunlight and no wind.

The storm, now south of me, veered west, now traveling west along 22nd street (about 20 minutes from my home) taking out several street of telephone/electric poles and filling the streets with water.

Looking up into the storm clouds.

The storm changed path again, now heading north on the west side of my home heading back toward the Catalina Mountains and the flat lands leading towards Phoenix.

Making this a very unusual "U" shaped path this storm followed.

The color change was just the way the sun illuminated the fast moving storm winds filled with dust and rain.

stormy. . .parsnip

music. . . Heavy Cloud No Rain, Sting

still trying to figure out Picasa and it messed up where my text should be.

Wednesday In Japan.....

2011-08-31T09:29:00.000-07:00

My Wednesday post about my life in Japan

Family is back in Japan, I'm happy they all made it home safe but......

Tucson home is very quiet and Watson is missing Mia, his cohort in adventures.

If you haven't figured out by now reading my blog, I love spices.

Besides my new love I wrote about last Friday Yuzu-kosho, I adore this small bottle (5 inches) of fabulous heaven, Yuzu-Koshou sauce.

It is like the Green Tabasco sauce we have in America (notice the similar label) but mixed with Yuzu citrus and vinegar. It is so good that I could drink it straight from the bottle.

It only is made once a year in Japan and when it appears in the shops it is sold out in an hour.

Japanese son was able to buy several bottles for family and friends and I was sent one.

Thank You sleepytako !

lucky. . . parsnip

music. . . The Letter, The Box Tops

parley view parsnip

2011-08-29T17:29:00.000-07:00

My Monday post about what is going on around my home.

The Tucson Botanical Gardens

Saturday we visited this most beautiful garden in what was the home and gardens of Mrs. Bernice Porter.

Although the day was really to hot to walk around in the heat, we were so excited to walk around the grounds and view the wonderful use of shade tree, native plants, inventive use of water conservation and how to use plants and trees to cool your home before air conditioners.

Fountain and wonderful sign for the herb garden

The cactus garden ramada

Beautiful Golden Barrel cactus

Sign at entry way to the cactus garden

One of the many benches in the much need shade

Another fabulous bench

Mosaic wall

Still learning how to use picasa.... Yikes !

incendiary. . . parsnip

music. . . Burning In The Sun, Blue Merle

Fabulous Friday....

2011-08-26T13:11:00.000-07:00

Some of the fabulous food gifts Japanese family brought. They know the way to my heart besides bringing themselves and the lovely Mia.

But Oh My Goodness the food.

Udon, ramen, flavored crackers/chips, sauces, cookies all my favorites and some new ones that are pictured here !

The three small bottles on the left are special handmade salad dressings, bowl filled with crackers, the fantastic green topped bottle filled with a ponzu sauce made from a special sudachi lime, and yellow and green yuzu and the gorgeous green bottle is a Sudachi dressing.

But my new addiction/craving is the very small rather plain orange labeled jar in front.

Yuzu-kosho !

It is made from Yuzu citrus peel, Tokarashi a Japanese spicy pepper and salt. It is all mush together into a green paste.

You use it like a condiment a little goes a long way much like wasabi

Use it in udon, sauces next to veggies and potatoes, mix with ponzu sauce for a dipping sauce, perfect on chicken and fish.... I am in love. Step aside wasabi I still love you but. . . there is a new spice in town.

Update....

DIL is better and enjoying the last three days of their vacation.

Hamish's operation was a success and is now home.

New roof repairs held during last night rain.

To all my special blogging friends on the East Coast, stay safe and keep well I am thinking of you all.

I have lived through a raging wildfire and never had the warning you all have. We drove out from my home with the fire raining down on us. Escaping with our lives and nothing else. So please be safe and take care.

eating. . . parsnip

music. . . Daydream, Tatsu Yamahita

Wednesday in Japan....

2011-08-24T14:55:00.000-07:00

My Wednesday post about my life in Japan.

For two weeks Japanese Family is visiting Tucson, Arizona, so for a special lunch daughter, mollybot made Bento Lunches for us all. In Japan these lunches made for children and adults can go from the very simple to extremely involved.

Today mollybot made The Sonoran Desert bentos for us.
In the first photo you can see my box filled with a rice Quail standing next to a spinach Cactus, the sky is potato salad and the ground is tofu sand with homemade carrot and sesame rice seasons rocks.
Second photo is Inari, tofu skins, filled with rice and two different seasonings.
Daughter is a Vegetarian and very clever with what foods she can use and her spices.

This lunch was fabulous and super cute !

happy. . . parsnip
music. . . Theme from Rawhide, The Blues Brothers

This is my first post using Picasa so here goes...... yea hawwwwwww

parley view parsnip

2011-08-22T10:26:00.001-07:00

parley view parsnip, a photo by angryparsnip on Flickr.

My Monday post about what is going on around my home.

Partners in crime ! Mia and Watson

Sunday,
Japanese family landed at LAX

Tuesday,
Drove to Tucson with daughter and a moving truck. She is moving to
Tucson.
Arrived very late that night.

Wednesday,
Daughter, drove to new apartment, unloaded truck.

Thursday,
At 3 AM DIL rushed to Hospital.
Now recovering at home but still ill.
Storm of all storms stalled right over my home, new roof destroyed
over the guest-room bath and entry way !

Friday,
Had to rush Hamish to vet, diabetes and bladder problems worsened.
Roof emergency repair started

Saturday,
Calm,
Used the new Grill for the first time, had lovely dinner

Sunday,
Lazy pool day. More grilling.

Monday
Hamish who spent the weekend at the vets is in surgery today.
Inside room repairs to start so hopefully guest bath is usable again.

The good part
Great family...... everyone jumped in to help.
and
I get to help with a darling granddaughter who is a real joy.
She has never seen the Totoro movie so I was very happy to help out
with that.

The best part Watson is so enamored with her. He has become a mother
hen, is always near her and we have to physically remove him from the
bedroom, so he sleeps outside her door. awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww ! We
let him stay now.
They are partners in adventures. Too bad they can't be together so he
can help her grow up.

happy. . . parsnip
music. . . Gimme Some Loving, The Blues Brothers

Wednesday in Japan.....

2011-08-17T10:28:00.001-07:00

Wednesday in Japan....., a photo by angryparsnip on Flickr.

My Wednesday post about my life in Japan.

Today's post is about Japan by way of Tucson, Arizona.

Japanese family is visiting Tucson for a few weeks of fun, sun,
clouds, rainstorms, pool, hot tub, outdoor shower and our favorite
past time many trips to Target !
The best part is daughter and son is in Tucson too. The whole family
is here !
All of us being in one place at the same time is something we are not
always able to do living so far apart.

Let the fun commence !

playing. . . parsnip
music. . . Gimme Some Loving, Spencer Davis Group

p.s..... I am having trouble logging into everyones blog. Hopefully
this problem will be cleared up soon....

parley view parsnip....

2011-08-15T10:45:00.001-07:00

parley view parsnip...., a photo by angryparsnip on Flickr.

My Monday post about what is going on around my home...

This post is for Kirk, who mentioned in a comment, he didn't know that
Arizona could be so green.

I have mentioned may times how green the Sonoran Desert is.
Maybe not the lush green of where many of you live but for a desert
this is a very green one.
Thanks to my favorite tree the Palo Verde, plus the Mesquite,
Ironwood, Arizona Cypress, Arroyo Willow, Arizona White Oak, Sycamore,
Mountain Laurel and in the higher elevations all the Pines, Spruces
and Oaks, add in all the cactus and sage we are not so windswept arid.

Were I live in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains the houses were
built with minimum tree removable, they are hidden among the trees. No
one fences in all their property so we have a very rural feel to this
whole area. Plus no sidewalks and street lamps.
I am so lucky to be able to live in this most beautiful place!

On 5 August I wrote about my new outdoor shower that faces South,
here is the view when you turn around and face North.
Not all of Arizona is so green but even in the more arid areas, with
all our native plants they are amazingly green and not quite the Sahara.

leafy. . . parsnip
music. . . Open Your Eyes, Snow Patrol

fabulous friday or my life in the desert.....

2011-08-12T10:37:00.001-07:00

fabulous friday or my life in the desert....., a photo by angryparsnip on Flickr.

A Monday sunset......
Isn't everyday life grand ? and why don't we take the time ?

watching. . . parsnip
music. . . Sweet Home Chicago, The Blues Brothers

... what can I say I am a sucker for Aykroyd and Belushi
and I love this movie, makes me smile, sing and laugh every time I
watch it.

Wednesday In Japan...

2011-08-10T09:59:00.001-07:00

Wednesday In Japan..., a photo by angryparsnip on Flickr.

My Wednesday post about my life in Japan. . .

A quick early morning breakfast bought at the local quick mart before
taking off on a day of sightseeing.

Since it was summer. . .
The best iced coffee ever !
A rice ball (triangle), pull the top red tab down, pull tabs 2 and 3
out the sides and the wrapper magical falls away, the seaweed wraps
around the rice and filling. Commence crunchy eating.
Small bento box, filled with tamago, sweet egg omelet, Karaage,
Japanese fried chicken, two small rice balls the one on the left is
tuna and the one on the right is umeboshi, pickled plum.

The extra are hashi, chopsticks and much need band-aids !

Small pleasures ! Thanks mollybot for tasty photo ! I was too busy
eating Cha Siu Bao a warm, steamed, light as air pork bun, Heaven !

chomping. . . parsnip
music. . . Nausicaa, Valley of the Wind, Joe Hisaishi

parley view parsnip...

2011-08-08T12:33:00.001-07:00

parley view parsnip..., a photo by angryparsnip on Flickr.

My Monday post about what is going on around my home.

I love the color green especially the color lime green and never knew
quite why ?
When I moved back to Tucson after many years away, I finally figured
out why, the Palo Verde Tree.

The lime/electric green Palo Verde tress are everywhere. They are a
big reason why Tucson is so green year around.
I grew up around these trees and love the bright green color along
with the white of the floating clouds and the bright blue sky.
My top three favorite colors in any combination.

In spring the trees are blanketed with pale yellow blossoms.
The leafs have 4 to 10 pairs of tiny, and I mean tiny leaflets, tiny
little round dot of lush green.
These drop off leaving the stem which is the leaf.
After the blooms fade the seed pods are food for birds and the ground
animals.

The Palo Verde is Arizona State Tree.
Just Beautiful !

green. . . parsnip
music. . . Walkin' On The Sun, Smash Mouth

fabulous friday or my life in the desert

2011-08-05T10:15:00.001-07:00

fabulous friday or my life in the desert, a photo by angryparsnip on Flickr.

I have always wanted an outdoor shower.

Off my bedroom on the west side of my home I have a small walled in
space that was a no-mans land of bight sun. heat, and the utilities
boxes.
Did I mention the heat and bright sun ?

When I bought this home the pool didn't have an attached jacuzzi/hot
tub (way to expensive to put one in) so I had a freestanding one put
in the west side yard near the pool and my bedroom in the small no-
mans land of heat and sun.
Did I mention the bright sun, headache inducing heat and utility boxes ?

The hot tub is very useful and much need for those day I can't get the
various body part moving in the correct way. But the west yard is not
a very pleasant place to be when it is filled with sun, heat, and
utilities boxes. Harsh is a good word for this space.
I mentioned the burning heat and blinding bright sun and ugly
utilities boxes right ?

A ramada was built and covered with shade cloth (temperature dropped
15 degrees ) and a space was found for an outdoor shower. A beautiful
shower tiled in small green tinted glass subway tiles and the hanging
rain shower fixture.
Even though the slat wooden floor is not finished, no pots of plants
and lighting installed yet. . . I took my first outdoor shower this
morning and it was lovely. The view is beautiful, the early morning
temperature of 82 with a slight breeze was wonderful.
The unused, harsh, blinding bright sun light and ugly utility boxes
have disappeared replace by a cool shaded and very useful side-yard.

And I finally have an outdoor shower.

raining. . . parsnip
Music. . . Walk On The Ocean, Toad The Wet Sprocket

Two Little Square Black Dogs

parley view parsnip...

square dog friday, part 2

square dog friday....

Wednesday In Japan...

parley view parsnip...

Oni wa soto, Fukuwa uchi and Square Dog Friday

Wednesday In Japan...

Goodby Sarge...

parley view parsnip...

Square Dog Friday...

Wednesday In Japan...

parley view parsnip...

square dog friday....

Wednesday in Japan...

parley view parsnip...

Square Dog Friday...

Wednesday In Japan...

parley view parsnip...

Square Dog Friday...

Wednesday in Japan...

parley view parsnip...

Happy New Year !

Square Dog Friday....

Canne Lion prize - Japanese Commercial for New bullet train

「来年は『辰者』な年に」通天閣で干支引き継ぎ（11/12/27）

parley view parsnip...

クリスマスイブ 山下達郎 Christmas Eve・Tatsuro Yamashita

Square Dog Friday....

Wednesday In Japan...

parley view parsnip...

square dog friday....

Wednesday In Japan...

parley view parsnip

square dog friday...

Wednesday In Japan...

parley view parsnip...

Random Friday

Wednesday In Japan....

parley view parsnip...

chestnuts and radishes, oh my...

Another Wednesday...

짙은(Zitten) - 곁에

Before and After...

Wednesday In Japan...

parley view parsnip...

11 . 11 . 11

Wednesday In Japan.... and update

parley view parsnip...

I'm Alive, sort of. . .

Wednesday in Japan...

parley view parsnip...

Random Friday...

Wednesday In Japan...

parley view parsnip...

Random Friday....

Wednesday In Japan....

parley view parsnip...

Random Friday....

Wednesday in Japan

parley view parsnip...

Guten Tag Waldi....

Wednesday in Japan...

parley view parsnip

Fabulous Friday...

Yorkshire 1998....

parley view parsnip...

Fabulous Friday...

Wednesday In Japan...

parley view parsnip...

flying lizards, oh my.....

Wednesday In Japan....

parley view parsnip

fabulous friday...

Wednesday In Japan...

parley view parsnip...

Fabulous Friday

Wednesday In Japan.....

parley view parsnip

Fabulous Friday....

クリスマスイブ山下達郎 Christmas Eve・Tatsuro Yamashita