Friday, April 29, 2011

L' Heure Bleue


L' Heure Bleue, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

7:30 p.m. Thursday in Tucson, Arizona
No clouds today just an luminous evening sky from my back yard.
I am very lucky to live in Tucson because of Kitt Peak Observatories
we as a city have less light pollution so the evening sky is usually
clear and filled with stars.

Usually I post photos of the wonderful daytime clouds and mountains
from my home in Tucson. What is harder to convey is the evening sky
using my little point and click. The twilight in Tucson is indeed
luminous and I always think very Maxfield Parrish.
I am not sure if all the light refraction is my dirty lens or whatever
is flying in the air but I am pleasantly surprised and will take all
the credit, for what I think is a lovely photo.

twilight. . . parsnip
music. . . Stardust, Hoagy Carmichael

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Wednesday In Japan....



Last week I wrote about my favorite street food Takoyaki and I was surprised by how many people said they didn't like fish.

So I thought I would post again my favorite episode of the wonderful Japanese cooking show "Cooking With Dog" when they make Takoyaki.
If you watch several episodes of this show, you will see how excited the Dog gets when they cook with fish. I also love the way he says onions !
Just don't tell The Square Ones or I am in such trouble. . . but they love fish too so I guess I might be forgiven.
I have posted this show before but I thought it cute enough to post again.

hungry. . . parsnip
music. . . rise, Origa

Monday, April 25, 2011

parlay view parsnip...


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

Mondays post will be about Easter Sunday dinner.

I would have grilled some Lamb Chops but my son had the brilliant idea
to make Gyros. He has been talking about making them for a while now
so we found a recipe for the Greek/Lebanese style meat and away he
went !
I must say they were quite fabulous not that hard to make.
Best of all he did most of the cooking and I got to be his sous chef.

Cooking with your child at any age is truly one of the best gifts ever !

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

Friday, April 22, 2011

Happy Birthday to a mollybot !

Happy Birthday to my darling, talented, charming and all around
wonderful daughter mollybot !

Daughter and friend spent a fews days in Tucson for an early Birthday
celebration visit.

Last Sunday we drove to the Saguaro National Park in Tucson Arizona
and I will post on Monday about this fabulous Arizona National Park.

As I was walking down a path I saw this wonderful Prickly Pear Cactus
with this fabulous heart shaped pad. This pad was very near the
ground so I had to be quite the contortionist to get this shot and not
be impaled on the cactus but it was so worth it. I love this photo.

Yea Molly ! it is your day !
Love you. . .

mumzilla . . . parsnip
music. . . Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Tears For Fears

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Wednesday in Japan...


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

Takoyaki stand at Nishinomiya Gardens Mall.

If you have followed this blog long enough you know my love of all
things Takoyaki (octopus balls/dumplings).
If you ever can't find me just look for the nearest Takoyaki stand and
I will be there. The perfect street food eaten out of a handheld paper
dish with a bamboo stick.

Big very hot cast iron pans are filled with pieces of octopus, pickled
ginger, batter is poured all over the pan and then with a bamboo stick
you just start turning the batter and pulling the extra batter
in. As you swirl the batter in the pan a perfect round ball of
goodness appears and then magic... they will be devoured by the hungry
masses.... and me !

tako. . . parsnip
music. . . Hollywood, Michael Buble

making takoyaki...


making takoyaki..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Make your own table Takoyaki pan with...
cheese, tako (octopus) and pickle ginger

yummy fun !

takoyaki


takoyaki, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Finished single (but why would I share ?) Takoyaki. So much fun to
make !

I have several Takoyaki pans that I use on my stove but next time I am
in Japan I will be bringing one of these home with me !

Monday, April 18, 2011

parlay view parsnip...


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

My Monday blog about what is going around my home in Tucson. . .

Monster !
Gila Monster !

Say Hello to Ethel or Fred, since I can't tell them apart, a Gila
Monster that lives on the west side of my home with a baby I named
Ricky !
Ricky was at my front door the other day and when I open the top of my
double door he was trying out his best open mouth hiss at me. I think
he was showing off.

Gila ( HEE-la ) Monsters Named for the Gila River Basin were they were
first discovered, are the largest about five + pounds and only venomous lizard in the US.
They should be treated with caution and given lots of room... to go
where ever they want to !

It you have ever seen a 1950 Sci-fi movie with a monster/lizard that
walks like a Bull Dog across the landscape ... well that is how these
very lethargic low to the ground, heavy body lizards move across the
desert, much like an Iguana.
Unlike snakes that inject venom, Gila Monsters latch onto their
victims and by digging or chewing on the wound this allow the
neurotoxins into the bite. The bite is extremely painful and the way
their teeth are angled and their strength you have to pry off the
mouth, once they latch on they do not let go. Except for a local
Newspaperman who picked one up a few years ago ? ? ? the last known
bite was around 75 years ago.

Because of human encroachment they are considered a threatened
species. So I am very happy they are letting me share the land we live
on.
Plus, I think they are beautiful much like the designs on Pottery or
Baskets of the Navajo and Hopi people.

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

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Sabino Canyon.

The first tram stop on the ride up Sabino Canyon.

Lower Sabino Canyon


Lower Sabino Canyon, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Rest stop with bench under a Mesquite Tree by a stream.

Daughter and friend are visiting from California. Friday morning we
drove 3 minutes from my home and explored beautiful Sabino Canyon
State Park. It is the second most visited attraction in Tucson right
behind the fabulous Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.

Pack a lunch catch the tram, 45 minute loop ride, to one of eight
stops up Sabino Canyon and you can drop your feet in a melting snow/
rain fed stream. Leave the hot city behind and enjoy a afternoon in
the cool beautiful mountains.
The Park even has a evening tram that takes you to the highest and
last stop for a evening of star gazing. How very lucky are we !

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

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Wednesday In Japan...


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

Fabulous neighborhood ramen restaurant just a few steps from home.

Small, charming, wonderful restaurant that has some of the best ramen
I have ever had.
They only serve ramen with a few side dishes and are well known for
the sweeter not very hot homemade kimchi.
Everyone stops in for a quick bowl of ramen from the after school
students, moms with children, workers, business men and me !

lucky. . . parsnip
music. . . Breath, Telepopmusak

ramen


ramen, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

This is the Special House Ramen.
Seaweed, lots of green onions, slow cooked pork, kimchi, perfect egg,
miso broth with ramen.

Perfect !

Monday, April 11, 2011

parlay view parsnip....


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

Time for the Monday post about what is going on around the ranch
today.

Instead of posting about the trees, plants or wild animals that roam
around my land. . .
todays post is about the extremely wild animal who roams around my home.

Hamish the Scottie/Westie mix who is seven years old and friend to
Watson who is eleven years old.
7/11 Lucky Numbers... right ?

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww what a cute little face.
Do not be fooled, the Darth Vader side is always in conflict with the
Luke Skywalker side. The force is not with him ! It is all around him
and in major conflict !

For the last few years I have been shlepping him to the vet for test,
test, test and more tests.
I know about the stomach problems, not helped by his desire to eat
stones, twigs, various leafs and small bugs, his skin condition that I
have to medicate daily, he is allergic to many antibiotics big problem
and now he has Bladder stones that require yet another operation.
But none of this can top the latest ...

He is Diabetic !

That means I have to change his meals to a strict eating schedule. I
need to know he has eaten a measured meal so that I can give him his
Insulin shot after he eats, twice a day.
This means I have to make sure he is hungry so that he can/will eat
a meal on a medication schedule. I also have to keep checking him
after the injection to make sure he doesn't go into shock till we get
the correct dosage.

I am so glad I decided to pare my life down and lighten up my
schedule so I could have more time for my art and travels. . .
Best laid plans.
wahahahahahahahahaha !

But thats OK, I love him and Watson and all will work out just fine.
He is a good boy, lots of fun to have around and extremely endearing,
crazy conflict and all.

nurse. . . parsnip
music. . . Maybe I'm A Lion, Final Fantasy VIII OST

Friday, April 8, 2011

Happy Birthday Eryl....


Happy Birthday Eryl...., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

If it is April 8, that means somewhere in the world there is a Birthday,
specifically Eryl's Birthday !

So................ To a wonderful blog friend who always amazes me
with her wit, intelligence, kindness and courage, plus how could you
not crack-up over her avatar. . . I wish you a very Happy Birthday !

From your Arizona friend.

cake. . . parsnip
music. . . When I'm Sixty Four, The Beatles

p.s.
I love this song, it is a hoot and as I am now that age...
Last year I sent you a torn paper Prickly Pear card and this year it
is a drawing of one ? I just figured out why. In April the Prickly
Pear is in full bloom and you see them everywhere, so I think that is
why I draw them so much at this time of the year. So another cactus
card !

making the card....


making the card...., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Thanks to Eryl's Birthday I cleaned up my work desk so I could start
working working on her card without a huge mess all around !
What you don't completely see, because of very careful camera
placement... is the pile of books, torn paper and more plastic boxes
filled with projects I am working on.
Artistic License ! wahahahahahahahahah !

Happy Birthday Eryl !

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Wednesday in Japan...


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

Lawsons
Oh how I miss you. One of the most wonderful Quick Markets ever.

Many morning I have stopped by to pick up juice, the very best coffee
in a can and a rice ball (even if they are triangles) filled with,
pickled plums, salmon, shrimp or tuna.
They are packaged in such a way that when you pull the tab on top
down , then pull the sides out the seaweed wraps its self around the
rice. That way the seaweed stays crisp... so clever and tasty !
Next shelves hold different types of Rice Balls, Bento styled dishes
and Take Away food.
By late evening the shelves will be empty ready for the next morning
stock to come.

This store is like a 7/11 in America but a thousand times better ! so
much better ! really better, in fact quite Fabulous !

hungry. . . parsnip
music. . . The Path Of The Wind, Tezz

More Lawsons


More Lawsons, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

More adored shelves of Lawsons.
This one has yogurts, puddings, custards, juices and teas.

My favorite is the Creme Caramel on the second shelve, second from the
left.
I am quite good at making Creme Caramel as it is my most favorite
dessert but this store bought Custard is the best !

missing Lawsons

Monday, April 4, 2011

parlay view parsnip


parlay view parsnip, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

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

Even though we in Southern Arizona did not have much of a winter, not
enough rain and snow, Spring is really here !
This Prickly Pear Cactus just planted last year is covered with loads
of new pads and some buds. The Prickly pear that is next to this one
planted at the same time is covered with buds and a few new pads.
Each plant has a 70/30 split how strangely wonderful is that.

I love the color of the new growth and the tint of lavender on the
older pads.
We many not have all the spring flowers that burst on the trees and
pop out of the ground as some areas have, but we have our own Spring
and it is lovely.
If you check the middle of the cactus and near the bottom you will see
two pads that were chomped on by the Javelinas. They moseyed by the
first night after I planted them and had a taste. The pads never grew
bigger and they stayed the same small size.

colorful. . . parsnip
music. . . Cardiac Party, Jack Mack And The Heart Attack

Saturday, April 2, 2011

For Titus and The Poetry Bus...

the desert is our home
variegated hues color our hair
sound of tiny feet drift

Javelina

haiku. . . parsnip
music. . . Running In The Sun, Blue Merle

This is my attempt to jump on The Poetry Bus driven by Titus.

I think I might get thrown off but be sure to check out all the
wonderful poems on her blog.

Friday, April 1, 2011

friday haiku...


friday haiku..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

winter is gone now
dusty road beyond stone wall
sound of a birds wing

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