Wednesday in Japan

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...

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....

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...

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

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...

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