My Neighbor Totoro OST - 13 The Path of Wind

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 Part 2 of Monday post.
One of my favorite songs plus some stills from the  movie Totoro.

dustbunny. . . parsnip
music. . . ost My Neighbor Totoro,  Joe Hisaishi

parley view parsnip... TOTORO !

TOTORO !


One of my favorite Totoro sitting on my lap top with a scene from the movie
My Neighbor Totoro.

For my birthday daughter and partner gave me tickets to an Hayao Miyazaki
Stuido Ghibli Retrospective at The Loft.
Held in the month of January, I can see two of his movie a week.
On the big screen with sub-titles. Outstanding !
It started on my birthday with Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind, followed by
Lapuita Castle In The Sky.  Reviews to follow but today I want to review
Totoro the third movie I have seen.

One of the first Hayo Miyazaki movie I ever saw when my children where little.
It is considered one of the five best films for children by many critics but I think there is so much more to this film. Besides the animation that surprises you at every turn, there is wisdom. The human relationship  to the earth, the wonder, beauty, mystery of the world around us. This is a main point to all Miyazaki movies.
It starts off as a simple story of a father who moves to the countryside with his two girls to be near their mother who is in hosiptal.
The girls soon discover that a family of Totoros, gentle but powerful creatures who live in the forest in a huge old Camphor tree but only children can see them.
As with all of Miyazaki movies the main character is a young girl (earth, mother ) who is strong and smart and with help from others does find her way or solve the problem.
Nature especially a huge tree, forest or ocean plays a proment part.
What I also like about his movies is the animation. Released in 1988 Totoro is not dated and holds up to new viewers.
I love that in his movies there are always clouds, massive beautiful wind sweep clouds, scenes with oceans teaming with fish. A view looking down or up  into water, boats cutting through waves leaving ripples to fan out.
A feast for the eye.
Of the many seperate parts of this movie that I love, there is a scene where the Totoro is is flying through through the air, over homes field and forest. You can see the blades of grass and leaves part with the wind.  I now can never stand outside in a breeze or wind and not think that Totoro has just passed by.
Even though as a adult I can not see him, I know he has just flown by.
At the end of the Totoro movie, besides the children laughing every adult in the theater clapped. You can't help feeling happy by this movie.

Tomorrow I will post a You Tube of one of the movies songs plus the stills.
I don't know how to post a You Tube and my photos on the same post.
As thehamish would say... yert !


Here are a few of my Totoro along with other characters from his other movies

Library

studio

studio
and I have more.... I could become the crazy cat lady who lives down the street.

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And here is your pretty to start the week.
If you are one of my UK reader you will laugh at this but it dropped below freezing last night in Tucson.
Way to early in the year for us,  it should be 10 to 15 dregrees warmer this time of the year.
My little fountain in the front yard froze over. A treat for us desert dwellers but every day
hassle for the cold, wet, rainy and snow overloaded UK.

 

Fountain is now bubbleing and ice will be melted soon.

Totoro. . . parsnip
music. . .  Kaza no Toorimichi (The Part Of The Wind),  Joe Hisaishi

Square Dog Friday... toy review # 5

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squeaksqueaksqueaksqueak squeaksqueaksqueaksqueak squeak
toy toy toy toy toy toy toy toytoytoytoytoytoytoytoytoytoytoy toy
destroydestroykilleat funfunfun fun
Yert !

                          Toy review  # 5

                         Watson's review

Great toy in fact one of the best toy ever !
This toy is very similiar to the Halloween toys of 2 years ago.
A round tennis ball with a squeaky inside, plus another squeak in the tail
Great fun to play with and it last more then 3 nano seconds.

chew. . . great chew factor, mouth feel is is very good.
material. . . covered with a felt type covering, that doesn't rip and great for tug.
squeak. . .  loud good strong sound, music to a Square Dogs ears.
design. . . two places to grab and each has a squeak.
I give this toy a 10 out of 10
FABULOUS ! best toy ever.

                           Hamish's review

SQUEAK
squeakysqueakysqueaky
gud
squeakyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
mineminemineminemine
SQUEAK
GUD
yert !

                             squeaky. . . parsnip
                    music. . . Is It Any Wonder, Keane

Note from the tall person who feeds them.
No chicken strips where given as payment for this review
This toy was purchased at Target
This is really a great toy for The Square Ones.
It has two good squeaks and the material does not rip in 3 namo seconds.
I can throw the toy plus there is a great tug part.
The Boys love this toy so much that I had to take it away and only give it to them at a play time. Hamish goes so crazy he is bouncing around on all four legs at the same time while the tail of this toy is hanging out of his mouth.

Monday or Wednesday ? ? ?

Oh My Goodness !
Since 20 December 2012, I have been doing something everyday, and boy am I exhausted.
Between son birthday, dinners or lunches out everyday, Christmas Eve, Christmas brunch, then it was my birthday.....



Son cooked dinner to start off the week of my birthday extravaganza. 

I usually have these seven glasses on the table that I change for what ever is going on.
Today it was rocks from my yard some fir tree branches and filled up with water.

Simple and festive.

He cooked duck curry, tomatoes and potatoes and rice.
....................................

This is my Birthday gift from daughter and her partner.
Tickets to a Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli retrospective, held at The Loft.
Through the month of January,  I get to see 8 of my favorite Ghibli films
on the big screen !
If you have read this blog for any length of time you know my love of his films.
And now to see them on the big screen is a dream come true.
I have only seen three of these eight in the theater.
I will be reviewing these films as I see them. 

If my birthday luck holds out I will be the proud owner of this poster !

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And now the big revel,
Hey, thats me showing off my new phone !
Family received smart phones for the New Year.
Yes, I know families who buy, lose, buy, lose or  destroy smart phone like popcorn.
 But my family after all these years
finally decided to turn in our very old phones for Samsung smart phones.
Good bye ATandT
Hello T. Mobil
NO MORE DROPPED CALLS !
or charges to my bill that I have no idea what they are and could never clear up.
So far I can actually talk to my daughter who live 15 minutes away.
 I  do not have to re-dial her constantly and best of all I can actually hear her.
Yoohoo !

Here I am in the parking lot of The Loft Theater showing off my new phone with cover
before I go in to see Laputa (Castle In The Sky)
Sub-titled with original soundtrack on the big screen, what could be better.
As I said before I will be reviewing these movies through out the month of January.

But just so you know The Square Dogs will NOT be giving up their Friday post.
So many Christmas toys to review !
yert !

cloud. . . parsnip
music. . .  Laputa OST, Joe Hisaishi

Square Dog Friday... Christmas toys

Well It is Friday again,
Best day of the week according to The Square Ones.
We all know the drill so lets woof it !


What is this I see ?
Two squirrels, a beaver and a platypus I think ?
They are so cute !

"La Tarjey" strikes again.
Tennis ball with a squeaky and the tail has a squeaky too.
The Square Dog toy review will be coming soon.

This is a New England Boiled Dinner.
Yummy (squeaky) lobster, corn, potato, roll and broccoli.
In the back you can see last years tasty squirrel dinner
that never got played (destroyed) with.
This year dinner will be served through out the year when some older toys are retired.

whoohoooooo whot is this iam seein' ?
Why yes, Hamish, it is new and very tasty (squeaky) looking fun toy for us !

Yes ! I got it first for once and not Hamish !

nots for long thehamish gots it tooooooooooo
i real gud dug thehamish
need squeeeeeaky !
yert !

The Square Dog Review will be posting soon.
But I will tell you now.... it is a huge hit !
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And just because I can...
Here is your pretty to start the weekend.
Snow storm over the Catalina foothills on the last day of 2012

I get to see this view everyday.  I am so lucky..
The snow is all gone on these lower hills but Mt. Lemon in the Catalina Mountains
is full of snow.  The ski lifts are running !


playing. . . parsnip
music. . . Tell Me A Story,  Phillip Phillips

Christmas from Japan

Christmas gifts from Japan


Love my bus sign from Oyanagi.
This bus stop is no longer in use.

Here is a map showing where it use to be.  The Nara Valley is a lovely area.
From Japan all the way to it's new home in Tucson.

Son and Granddaughter went to a bus fair.
Many of the city buses from all over the region where there with their cities mascots.
They bought me a tote bag with matching mat.
Many out of date, replaced or no longer used items were for sale and son was able to buy me this great sign. I think I will put it on the outside door in my studio.

The cans in back are ready to eat cakes and bread from my lovely DIL's wonderful Mum.
These cakes in a can became very popular after the earthquake.
A wonderful tube of Wasabi.  The small green box is a very special made herb soap.
Ceramic Edamame chopstick rests and a silk thread special New Year dinner bento.

So tiny and perfect

Lovely, I can't wait to use them.

A special bottle of Ponzu sauce.
It is filled with all the spices and you have to add the citrus, vinager and soy

Here is your pretty for the day.

Snowstorm over  Thimble Peak on the last day of 2012

taken from my studio window.

winter. . . parsnip
music. . . From The Morning,  Nick Drake

2013... Year of The Snake !

update !
this is my second try at posting this blog
blogger keeps deleting the photos so we shall see if it works this time !


Goodbye Dragon enter the Snake !


In Japan everyone and I mean everyone sends New Year wishes out in the form of a postcard.
This is my very late postcard that will be mailed out on Tuesday. Very very late !

The back of the postcard. I put some years in, are you a Snake ?

Last years Ozouni : Mochi soup for the New Year,
made by talented daughter.

One of my New Year Day cards complete with explanation of all the lucky symbols.

 

Since it is New Years Eve. . .

The Square Ones want to remind you of what happens when you have too much fun
with too many bubbles.

Here is your pretty to start the week of the New Year

Moon rise over Thimble Peak.
This was taken through my studio window so you can see some reflection
but I like the double moon.

Happy New Year !
Be safe, warm and may we all be hopeful.

cheers,  parsnip
music. . . Viva la Vida,  Coldplay