It is sleepytako's birthday and oh it is groundhog's day too...

It is sleepytako's birthday and oh it is groundhog's day too..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

I am posting this a day early because if it is February 1st in Tucson
it is February 2nd,
Groundhog day in Japan. My evening is the next day morning, and
yesterday is today
oh gosh you get the idea. . .

This charming photo was taken on my last trip to Osaka. Lunch at a
Fugu restaurant.
Everyone thinks Fugu is dangerous, poisonous, blah, blah, blah but let
me tell you that is
the lest of your problems.

What is dangerous is the drink that comes with the meal.
Gasoline tastes like a fine wine next to this drink.
Hot Sake filled with the dried tail and fins of the Fugu and you are
to drink it with the meal.
The smell is overwhelming and the taste indescribable.

As you can tell from the photo the only way to drink some of Fugu
cocktail (?) was to hope the
cigarette smoke would cover the smell and dull the taste buds which is
no big deal because
Fugu is rather bland so who would know ?

Not sure if that is working !
but, Oh My Goodness I do love this photo of Japanese Son.

So Happy Happy Birthday my little Groundhog Baby I remember the day
you were born as if
it was today or tomorrow or yesterday or . . . whenever you get the
idea. . . Bigs hugs ! ! !

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

This is a great Holiday to have your Birthday on. Not big enough to
overpower you day but fun
enough to have a good laugh. Plus I think Groundhogs are rather cute.

Everyday art in Japan

Everyday art in Japan, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Everyday art in Japan.
It is always surprising to me what or where I see it from the aardvark
people of Osaka
to the manhole covers that every city has and decorates.

Most of Americas street covers are very plain and boring and how
fabulous is this one.

This is the manhole cover of the City of Nara (November 2010 post)
In the center is the city insignia, the deer because they live and
roam free all around the Temple Park
and the flowers are the Cherry Blossoms (Sakura).

I want one.

walking. . . parsnip
music. . . Road, Nick Drake

aardvark people ?

aardvark people ?, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Now that the holidays are over with, it is time to get back to Osaka !

Window display in a clothing store. I rather like this display as
there could be a wonderful
Sci Fi story behind these people after all we are in the land of my
hero Godzilla !
I rather like the way Aislewen, because that is her name, is looking
right at us.

I am thinking Aardvark people or maybe an Elephant who grew up in the
city and had
some nose work done along with an ear pin ?
The options are endless.

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

photo by mollybot

Candied Grapefruit Peel

Candied Grapefruit Peel, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

This is what happens when Daughter comes to visit at Christmas.

Mass grapefruit harvesting from my trees.
Then comes the washing, cutting, peeling and scraping. Cooking the
peel three times in boiling water then
one more time simmering in sugar syrup. A final dusting of sugar and
you have magic... Candied Grapefruit Peel.

The next photo shows the final wonderful finished product. Lovely !

Spending time with my daughter priceless.

The tasty end...

The tasty end..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

After all that work this is what you finally end up with. Candied
Grapefruit Peel ! Crunchy, sweet, tangy and totally
delicious it is worth all the work.

The Grapefruit Peel gets sent with Pistachio Cranberry Icebox Cookies and
Dutch Chocolate Icebox Cookies for
New Year gifts for our Japanese Family.

Needless to say Daughter is much loved in Japan and by me too !

happy. . . parsnip
music. . . You Get What You Give, New Radicals

Very late Christmas post with more Christmas Cards...

Very late Christmas post with more Christmas Cards..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

I have shown my love of Japanese greeting cards before on this blog.

From the beautiful seasonal cards to the Christmas ones of wonderful
old woodblock prints, twinkling stars, Tokyo Tower,
Sumo, singing animals, snow filled landmarks to lights that blink to
songs.

They can fold, pop-up or made from wonderful paper to be saved and
used year after year.
Maybe because it is an acquired holiday to Japan they have a very
interesting take on Christmas and I think make
terrific Christmas Cards.

Several Bloggers around Christmas time said they didn't like, want or
need to send cards and that is fine for them but
being born a greeting card artist ... I love any and all cards !

This year instead of putting out my favorite saved cards from several
years I just put out some of my Japanese ones.
Along with the newest card shown below.

Sending real mail rules ! and keeps me out of trouble :)

Japanese card

Japanese card, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Newest Christmas card from Japanese family.
Comes folded flat then opens up to a wonderful circle of Christmas
cheer !

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

Memory

Memory, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

evening clouds appear
the air is filled with promise
quail escapes the hawk

watching. . . parsnip
music. . . Wherever You Are, Ulrich Schnauss

Day Of The Triffids

Day Of The Triffids, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Another green onion top or I guess it is the bottom or root ?

jeanette from everton terrace guessed right !

I loved reading all the comments... " it lives " from Eryl came close
with out answering because
they were alive in the fabulous 1962 movie...

"The Day Of The Triffids"

Which is what I saw and thought of as I was chopping and cleaning up
the leftover green onions.
Cooking at my home can be an adventure in its self. I should have a
sound track that follows me
around.

The quote about Tom Goodwin is from the character description of the
scientist who figures out
how to kill the rampaging triffids ! Salt water kills them so the
music fitted the post too !
The ending in the book was better than the movie, similar to the "War
Of The Worlds". I think
they wanted a different ending for this movie.

Japanese Son bought me this fabulous new camera the night before I
came back from my trip
to visit family. But I am having trouble with the light in shots when
everything is white and with
some evening shots.
The instructions are in Japanese so trying to figure this out is
beyond my extremely limited
Japanese.

This shot came out somewhat closer to the real color but even here I
had to play with the color
to erase the yellow.

I just love the shadows the roots leave and that is what first
intrigued me.
After chopping the green onions one top was trying to escape from the
disposal and landed
on the top of my sink and the shadows from that root was fabulous !

I took around sixty shots trying to get a good one and kept about
twenty.
All I can say is thank goodness for digital cameras and the delete
button !

fragrant. . . parsnip
music. . . Look What I Found In My Beer, Quench

What did not go into dinner last night or...

What did not go into dinner last night or..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

...where is Tom Goodwin, flawed but gifted scientist when you need him.

running. . . parsnip
music. . . Down To The Sea, Doves

Lunch at Zemams

Lunch at Zemams, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

We had a Birthday lunch for my Arizona Son at Zemams Ethiopian
Restaurant.

Most people in the world eat with chopsticks, the second most popular
way is with one's hand, the third is with a knife and fork.
This is what is printed on the menu at Zemams and how you eat
Ethiopian food is the second way with your hand
no chopsticks or knife and fork.

We ordered the Combination Sampler Three different dishes, that come
with four condiment dishes.

The order came on a large flat dish, covered with Injera and the food
spooned on top.
You tear off a piece of Injera, a traditional bread that is very white
and spongy (top left of photo) wrap it around the food and devour.
After the first tentative try at picking up the food, your get the
idea and by the end of the meal you think...

" All food should be eaten this way "

The main dishes we ordered...
Kay Wat... onions, red lentils in a spicy sauce.
Yetakelt Wat... potatoes and vegetables
Yebeg Wat... lamb

The side dishes were, chick peas, greens, lentils and vegetables.

The photo does not show how really wonderful the food looks, it is
colorful, fragrant and fabulously delicious.

Tucson is filled with fabulous restaurants and Zemams is one of our
favorites.

happy. . . parsnip
music. . . Bohemian Attraction, John Hackett

p.s. they do not serve parsnips... bummer

Year of The Rabbit.

Year of The Rabbit., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

This is The Year of The Rabbit in Japan and much of Asia.

I started collecting the paper-mache zodiac animals on my first trip
to Japan with the Year of The Monkey.
Now my wonderful Japanese Family send me a new one every year. Thanks,
lovely family !

The serving plate mollybot gave me years ago is of The Year of The
Dragon.
The New Year Baby riding the Dragon is holding a Kozuchi.

On left is a little bunny sitting on Mochi, that is to be sliced,
toasted and eaten for the New Year.
On the right is a pop-up New Year card called "Kumade"

Kumade was originally used as a broom to gather fallen leaves, the
kumade is now decorated with different lucky charms
in the hope it would gather happiness, good fortune and prosperity.

There are fifteen charms and five wishes.
One of my favorite charms is " Kozuchi" a Little Drum... bang it to
bring money and shake it for luck.
Another is the "Atariya" or Bullseye, a symbol that things will go as
planned.

Oh who am I kidding, I love them all !
The Bullseye is on the right side middle and the Drums are on either
side of "Okame" the lucky mask of a Lady's face.

So I wish you all a wonderful Year Of The Rabbit... although in my
world it is really ...

The Year Of The Parsnip ! Parsnip Power ! Yea-Haaaaa !

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

Words

Words, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

On Saturday January 8th a deranged person in Tucson, Arizona decided to kill U.S Representative Gabriella Giffords and anyone who was there too.

I do not personally know Gabriella Giffords, although one of my
friends worked for her for many years and is heartbroken.

Gabriella Giffords is a interesting person, a moderate, usually
smiling and when you look at her she exude confidence.
I like her very much have voted for her and although I don't always
agree with every one of her votes in Congress,
I think she hears us and tries to follow up with our needs and concerns.

Now comes the war of words, the pointing of fingers.

I agree with much of what is being said about our words and how angry,
hurtful and deranged our voices have become.

I know the value of words from I love you to I hate you I wish you
were dead.
Words that so easily flow off our tongues and can devalue or incite a
person in a second.
You can never take your words back.
Even our President, if you go back and check his speeches, sometimes even his choice of words are not above reproach.
From Sarah Palin on one side with her easy crosshairs target reference,
to Arizona Representative Raul Grijalva
who pits the Mexico Nationals against the Arizona Citizens with words
of division, hate and words of misunderstanding.

What I see on TV is people trying to tie this deranged person to what
we as a nation have been listening to from talk radio,
political speak to even our news.
This person may have been affected by the words of hate but I think he
has been disturbed for many years.

The day before the shooting I was having lunch with a friend to
celebrate my Birthday, at a restaurant right across the street
from where the shooting took place.
That Saturday my son and I thought of going out for coffee at a
Bakery at the same shopping area. We decided to cancel
But if I had gone, I would have walked over to see Gabriella for her
sidewalk meet and talk.
I receive her newsletter and saw that she had posted about the morning
meeting.

I am not sure what to say about this and I am heartbroken over the
lost of life.
I am upset over the easy pointing of fingers of what is wrong, who is
wrong and why they are right.

Words, words, words,

Mila's Daydreams

"While my baby is taking her nap, I try to imagine her dream and capture it"
Adele Enersen

I am completely in awe over this Mum's creativity.
Her props are what is around her home and in one picture sleeping Mila
is picking the flowers the Mum was given when leaving the hospital.

The music is by the Father, Lasse Enersen

Maybe because I have children and remember just standing over them when they slept
and marveled at the wonder that a baby truly is and now have a lovely
Granddaughter Mia, this blog made me tear up.

gobsmacked. . .parsnip
music, Kelly Watch The Stars, Air

One sad note to this wonderful blog.
Adele has closed it down for now as several companies have stolen her babies photos
with out permission and used them in advertisements.

Mollybot and The Two Square Dogs...

Mollybot and The Two Square Dogs..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Sometimes life is just good...
Two of my children were home for Christmas, one came on Skype and of
course the Two Square Dogs.

Mollybot brought her paints, as we all do on any trip in my family and
stayed up late painting again as we all do.
Well for my Birthday ( the 4th ) I found out what she was doing.

A wonderful painting of my favorite photo of my charming but cheeky,
Two Little Square Black Dogs !
They sent Flowers cheeky little devils.

I had a lovely day and to make it even better my son cooked one of my
favorite dinners. . .
Lamb Chops, Potatoes and a Salad of Napa Cabbage.
I forgot to take a photo but it was lovely and quite fabulous dinner !
He is becoming a fantastic cook and the dinners lately have been
terrific plus I don't have cook, a win win for me !

fabulous. . . parsnip
music. . . Pick Up The Phone, Dragonette

Photo Book

Photo Book, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

When you live in Tucson Arizona the first thing you notice is the sky
and the clouds.
It envelopes you and holds you close.
From the soft breezes of Spring, the wild ozone fueled Summer storms,
the cool Autumn relief after the heat of summer
to the heavy clouds of Winter.
The clouds are always close. So close that you feel that you can reach
out and touch them.
They are the Castles in the Sky.

I had printed a few books of my photography for Christmas gifts.
I thought the book came out rather nice and I think I will be trying
this again and try to work out the layout better.
Possibly adding my haiku's
I forgot how fabulous it is to just spending TIME on just my art.

I usually do not make New Year resolution, apart from learning how to
wave like the Queen. (so far a fail on that one)

But this year is the "Year of the Parsnip" and my resolution is,
TIME to do more art !

So my New Year wish for everyone is to find time... carve out some
some time to do what you want no matter what.
Read, write, draw or paint ... art awaits !

Yes, I know we all say that blah, blah, blah... but take my word on
this, find that time and don't wait so long as I did.
You can't get the years back.

wishes. . . parsnip
music. . . Every Ship Must Sail Away, Blue Merel

Parsnip Power !