Century Plant

Century Plant, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

May growth.

The last view

The last view, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

One of the last pictures of the Century plant before I had it cut down
on 22 July 2010.
It was 35 feet tall and the birds all loved to sit on it and survey
their world.
I really miss this plant and I know nature has to run it course but It
was a very beautiful plant and I will miss it in my yard.
All the animals, birds, and the crawly things I don't like will really
miss it also.

Goodbye !

Monsoons are here !

Monsoons are here !, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

The monsoons has started !
It has been raining, thundering, lighting and flash flooding all over
town this week.

On Thursday a man had to to rescued from the Santa Cruz River when he
fell and became trapped between a steep embankment and the fast moving
river.
Now why he decided he needed to walk along the embankment by the fast
moving rain swollen river but he did and Tucson Fire Department
had to stage a white water rescue.

At the same time a local skateboarded decided he need cross a rain
swollen street was knocked over and needed to be rescued.
Thank goodness both men are fine but very lacking in the brain
department.

For the last two months all the news channels have had shows on
Monsoon, with warnings, what to do and not to do.
And yet they swim, walk, fall and drive cars and truck through the
swollen rivers, creeks, streets and underpasses.

The next person who says " but I thought I could make it " gets a
super big fine, has to repay the Fire/Rescue Department
and a rolled up paper smack across the head !

As you can see in this picture it is raining hard in the mountains and
the flash flood will appear in our rivers, creeks and streets in
minutes,
even if where you are it is sunny and no trace of rain.

It is Summer in Tucson !

dry. . . parsnip
music. . . Loopy ! Loopy !, Sky

Tama Super Cat !

Tama Super Cat !, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Pat of the blog Past Imperfect had a post on 7 July about the Minehead
Train Station and the flower bed that her friend Joy was involved in.
That made me think of the Kishikawa Train Station In Japan.

On my last trip to Japan I found this book about Tama a Calico Cat who
helped save the Kishikawa Train Station.
The separate little train paper at the bottom of this picture is a
wrapper that goes around the book
and shows the train with the Strawberries that this area is known for.

This cat is responsible for turning around the fortunes of the
troubled Wakayama Railway.
One day she showed up at the train station and started to greet the
passengers and a star was born.
She now is dressed in a uniform cap and she poses for photos with the
tourists who are flocking to the station in droves. . .

And as they say in the movies the station was saved !

Tama has done such a good job of raising revenue and passengers have
been gradually returning to ride the train,
that she was rewarded by a new title "Super Train Station Master" and
given a raise. . .

all in cat food of course !

traveling. . . parsnip
music. . . Tonari No Totoro, OST, My Neighbor Totoro

Friends...

Friends..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Summer friends.
When it is hot, the temperature at 10:30 this morning was 100 + 26%
humidity, any cool shady place is a friend/ignore zone.
The clouds are building up and I hear thunder in the distance. I hope
this means in the afternoon the rain will come. Yea !

There are Quail, Cottontails, Squirrels and various lizards cooling
off and relaxing in the shade this morning. They dig in the damp soil
and then lay down to cool off.
Squirrels and lizards are out of view to the right with more
Cottontails and Quail. I counted 15 Quail milling and more are
resting under the bushes.

I love the way the Quail were just walking around looking for seeds
and the Bunny was just laying there not a care in the world.
Can we all say Spa Day ?

With the super bright light and dark shade, this was the best shot
from my studio window without spooking everyone.

hopeful. . . parsnip
music. . . Breathe, Telepopmusik

note....
Not sure if you can see but the Quail in front of the Bunny is the
Leader and he knows I am in the house taking this picture.
He is staring me down. . . Cheeky devil !

Another Summer Another Fire...

Another Summer Another Fire..., originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Early Saturday afternoon, the starting of the Mc Fall fire in Sabino
Canyon, about 5 minutes from my home.
Living for so many years in California and having my home burned in
the big Laguna Beach fire in 1983 you know what a fire smells like
plus you can feel the vibe in the air.

I looked up from my desk in my studio and this is what I saw. It
almost looked liked the morning mist or light fog when I lived in
Laguna Beach. If you make the photo bigger you can see some flames to
the left and smoke to the right.
It is not a big fire and was very slow moving, and the Fire Department
is keeping an eye on it and will let it just burn it's self out.
That night looked like someone strung some fairy lights on the ridge
top, a sad dangerous beauty

I remember the press liked to broadcast from in front of what was left
of my home because we had a fireplace and two walls with a window
still standing.
To this day even the smell of a barbeque or a fireplace in winter
triggers memories. It is only in the last few years that I can have
a fire in my fireplace.
In the end all is well and sometimes a small fire is good, it burns
off some old growth, the summer rain will clean the air and for me
memories are just that some good and some bad.

Funny fire story and why I love Shirley MacLanie. . .

California was on fire that Fall, this seemed to to the fore-runner
of all the big fires California has been having of late. The Laguna
Fire happened just before a huge LA Earthquake and another fire in
Malibu.
Malibu is known for movie stars, beautiful ocean views, mudslides and
fires.
The news crew was interviewing Shirley and with no make-up hot fire
wind blowing her hair she is giving a great interview about the fire
and her home. With her great smile and attitude she said that Malibu
was thinking of changing their area code to 911. You gotta' love her !

Irma La Duce. . . parsnip
music. . . Bittersweet Memory, Blue Merle

Ramen Bear

Japanese son took this picture at a shop right by where he teaches in Amagasaki.

hungry... parsnip
music... we came to party, j kwon