Wednesday In Japan... ramen mascots

Japan is the land of mascots.
For every bank, train, bus, city, area, attraction, game, and food there will be a mascot.
I have written before about this and one of my all time favorites is of course the ICOCA JR Rail Service Mascot ( opps! if you go to link, scroll down one post ) for the smart card. It is a Platypus !  My most favorite animal of all time.

Here is another mascot who you will see everywhere in Japan.
The street ramen seller with the little black cat.

A very empty bag that held six dried ramen packets with soup.

Here is the single packet.
Why I still have them is I will use it for a gift wrapping.
Too cute to throw away !

Here he is again in a Christmas Card son sent me in 2006.
There is a small dish of ramen phone charm on the counter.
It will stay with the card because it is so cute and I don't want to lose it.
Plus the fact my phone doesn't have a hole to attach it too.
Why not American phone companies ?

Here he is again on a Mouse Pet.
A sticker type super slim mouse mat.

the post box

Japanese candy...

these can be used a variety of ways
 as shown by the very happy people on the left.

Part of my wall of phone and key chain mascots.

 A small hint at my mascots Friday post !
It is a mascot extravaganza !

Japanese. . . parsnip
music. . . Ride on Time,  Tatsu Yamashita

parley view parsnip... hey ! thats my handicapped parking spot !

Monday around my home...
I use  handicapped parking !
I wish I didn't have to use  it.  I wish my nerves, bones and muscles worked like they should.
I use it because the other parking spaces are usually so tight that getting my door open and trying to get out of the car in under 10 minutes is tough.
I kind of look like 20 circus clowns trying to get out of one very small car.
It is a hoot !
Now I really need it because this year I have taken the "two steps back" and it is easier for me to run my errands if I can park closer. I refuse to be completely house bound.



For some reason people don't understand what that striped lane means.
It doesn't mean woohoo ! more space for me ! So my pretty car doors will not get dinged !
I might give this Canadian a pass.
This was taken last winter and it rained in the valley but snowed in  the mountains, I assume they thought, because of Canadian winters, they would be snowed in and ran to the market to stock up on batteries, water and bread ?
Snow Birds got to love them !

This Arizona car is way over the line.
Had I not parked way over to the right by the curb I would not have gotten my door open.
What made me laugh or cry (?) the sticker on this car show how they "talk" a good story but do not practice what they preach.
The mother earth symbol, the "Gabrielle Giffords Continues To Inspire" sticker and a quote from the Dalai Lama about understanding.
But she/he couldn't take the extra second to park the car straight and not encroach into a handicapped spot.

I have lots more photos, I especially like the one who left their shopping cart right up on my drivers side door because they couldn't walk the 9 steps (I counted) to put the cart away.
................................................................................
On the remodel homefront.
This is my pantry. It was a dark hole with a terrible light and a vent open to the heat of summer.
I finely had the vent ripped out and had a solor tube skylight put in.
Oh My Goodness what a change.
I don't have to turn on the light during the day  or fumble in the dark anymore.

This solor tube has a light installed in it
so you don't have to have a separate light for evening.

This photo is for Norma who wrote about her stuffed animal collection.
Can you see what is on the top shelve ? a small Star Wars Jawa.

and is that a ferret peeking out from a bottom shelve ?
Yes, I do put them out and about.
I am crazy !

In the small very dark half bath by my studio I put another tube solar skylight in.
There was no place to put a window, so this lightens up the room nicely.
This solar tube doesn't have a light, I like the light that I installed, but as you can see, the room now gets a lot of daylight.
How much fun !

crazy. . . parsnip
music. . . The Love Parade,  The Dream Academy

Square Dog Friday... cousins

Here it is
the best day of the week
Square Dog Friday
so lets woof it !


 Watson's new window is finished.
If you remember this is under one of my work tables that looks out on the citrus trees.
I decided to add a window at Watson level because he loves to look at all the critters
who mosey by.
The crate was on the right but the window seemed to work better there so we switched.
I can see it better from my computer desk.
Watson is napping in front of his window.
Hamish is in the crate, for now.

This was taken at night so we have some shadows and reflections.

sweet baboo Watson is sleeping.

Now here is another sweet baboo.
Her name is Jade (her doctor named her) and daughter is fostering her during recovery.
Daughter is a foster mum !
This is what happens when you work for the Humane Society,
you always find room for any animal in need.
She was found on the street (I think) and in need of a ear operation
to remove a massive blood clot .
She is recovering at daughters home, on lots of meds and loving being in a home with lots of attention and not a kennel.
I think her name should be Petunia or Daisy because she is the sweetest doggie ever.
Or maybe Martha, such a sweet old fashion name for a lovely dog.

Here is daughters cat Bowie who is a clone of "thehamish".
"Hey wait ! why are you taking a picture of the dog and not me !"
memememememememe me !
Oh yeah, thehamish all the way.
Bowie is a rescue kitty. Beside the eye problem, he was brought into the vets with all the skin ripped off the top of his head down his neck to the shoulders.
After several operations he is doing much better and his hair is now growing back.
I never though it would, who knew ?

Here is Petunia err Jade trying to ignore the cat.
The cat being a cat will not be ignored and has to nap on Petunia err Jades leg.
What a GUD DUG she is.
All she wants is to lay her head on you lap to be petted.
Or sit next to you.
Even if a cat is there !

Waldie (a rescued dog) is staying out of it.

Here is you pretty for the weekend.
Gud dug Watson laying in the sun.

pickmememe. . . parsnip
music. . . You Make It Easy,  Air

Information on Jade
As soon as Jade's ear is healed and she is off all her meds she will be up for adoption.
She is one of the sweetest gud dug ever.
Medium size, doesn't bark, house broken, crate trained, walks on a lead and a big old softy.
All she wants is someone to love and love her back.
If you live near the Tucson area and are interested in adopting a sweet baboo
 here she is.

Wednesday In Japan...Omuraisu

With everything that has been going on lately in my life
my Wednesday in Japan
posts seems to have been put aside for awhile.
But today they are back.
Little stories about my life and travels in Japan.
Omuraisu !
Japanese Rice Omelet


Omuraisu is an example of
"Yoshoku"
 Japanese food that originated in the west but has been changed to suit Japanese palettes.
Omuraisu  is a soft fluffy omelet that has a filling with some type of stirred fried rice with chicken  with a dollop of ketchup in the filling and on top.
Usually you will find this on the children's menu.
It can also be a quick lunch or dinner, made from left over rice and meat.
This was my dinner one night along with a salad.
My filling was  kimchi stirred fried rice.
It was so good.
If you have read my blog for any time you know my love of kimchi,
and any form of chillies.
But now that I am on a nightshade and gluten  free diet, I can have the omuraisu but not with the added kimchi .
Oh woe is me ! as Hamish would say.

But I can have this dish. It is my take on Gyudon (Beef Bowl)
Slowed cooked ground turkey made with spices I can have and lots of onions, served on arugula, small amount of rice and pickled ginger.

One of the dishes I will miss is  my son's Indian (Kerala) Fish Stew with onions and chillies.
This was so good that I use to eat it cold for lunch with a squeeze of lemon.
I wonder if he can make it without the chilies and will it still be as tasty ?

and.... who is this sweet baboo ? 

You must check out the Square Dog Friday post to find out....

nightshade. . .  parsnip
music. . . One Summers Day,  Joe Hisaishi

parley view parsnip. . . this and that

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



To answer a few questions.
Watson is a 13 year old Brindle Scottie
Hamish is a 8 year old Scotty/Westie mix

Sweet Cabana Boy Watson....
but if you look in the back someone sorta slipped in the photo.
But he is really not looking at me, pretending he doesn't know  I am taking some photos of Watson.
hahahahahahahaha

ummmmmmm he sorta moved in closer...
His motto  "hey whot about me"
besides  "oh woe is me"
is on his face.

my sweet baboo. . .
He is doing better.

I have found "Nessie" and she is not in Scotland. She is in my pool !
She is really a Paloverde tree branch that  fell in the pool.

some rocks from my garden. . .

and now....
Here is your pretty to start the week

 

looking. . . parsnip
music. . . Skyfall,  Adele

Square Dog Friday. . . water water everywhere

It is Square Dog Friday
best day of the week
so lets woof it !

The Hamish speaks....


whot is this i see before me ?

not knowing'

must gets it

 urrrffet

yesh  gone

ummmmmmmmmmm

errrrkkk

yert

almost 

gots 

it

no getin' it
woe is me
woe

square old gud duggie Watson was very sick in the night and otherdays.
mum had to  hand feed him some rice
im' thinking he better now but not knowin'
hes' sleeping now.
not gud
not liken' this.
i lurve gud dug Watson
hes' gud
dug !

water. . . parsnip
music. . . Ordinary Day,  Vanessa Carlton