Monday, January 30, 2012

Goodby Sarge...

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


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Sunday, January 29, 2012

parley view parsnip...

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
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Friday, January 27, 2012

Square Dog Friday...

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


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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Wednesday In Japan...

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
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Sunday, January 22, 2012

parley view parsnip...

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
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Friday, January 20, 2012

square dog friday....


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
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Wednesday in Japan...

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

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