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Welcome

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Make yourself at home. Put your feet up. Grab your favorite beverage and prepare to enjoy the reads.
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Monday

The Japanese Irish

Ha pi sangtu patliku day!!!!

Remember, they are both Island Nations, and both have a lot of O'Mura families.

Monday

Thieves!

I discovered my car radio had been stolen out of my car. The dashboard was partially torn out and the wiring cut.

Of course, I called the police and they took a report, but I doubt anything will be able to be done about it. I did find a small jack knife on the front seat of my car which I turned over to them. Perhaps there will be fingerprints. They told me I am not alone. I spoke with neighbors and learned that some others have had their cars tampered with, and personal items stolen.

Obviously we need to keep our car doors locked. Some of the neighbors I spoke with admitted they hadn't done so. I am going to install very bright motion sensor lights in front of my garage and over my front door.

Friday

I'm sure you've heard this piece of music before. But, not like this.

Create a bit of time, at least 20 minutes.without interruptions, where you can turn the sound up loud and nothing else will exist but you and the music.

Though, I have heard this piece before, maybe it's the performing artist, maybe it's just my own mood..... I found the experience astounding! Visceral, beyond physiological response. Am I high? At the moment.... yes!

Just remember that it is not over until it is over.

The is the piece of music I want to have in my car and play at 100 decibels on my boom-trunk speakers when the idiots drive by with their stuff. Blow them out of their hoodies!

http://www.mfiles.co.uk/downloads/leyenda.mid

Tell me if you don't think it is incredible.

Thursday

HATS WITH HOPE

Those who are making every effort to save their lives by undergoing chemotherapy often find themselves without hair. I am only too aware of how many people go through this, both men and women.

Having a nice head-covering can make all the difference in how one feels going through the process of healing.

I've enlisted some friends to join me in crocheting hats (made by creative hearts), and given with hope that they will bring some happiness to the wearer. I began crocheting again after not having done it in decades. Since my daughter has been crocheting her many projects and her beautiful crochet jewelry, she inspired me to begin on this project of my own.

I have been crocheting hats now for 3 months, and have finally delivered some to my local oncologist's office, where chemo patients were being treated that day. It captured my heart to see the smiles on faces as they made choices from some of the hats I made.

Wishing you all health, hope and happiness! May there be healing!

For Breanna

Monday

Cherry Blossoms - Sakura Sakura

When I was in the early months of pregnancy with my son, I kept having dreams that there were hanging Japanese lanterns beside the bed. One time I awoke from the dream and literally saw them hanging there. (Perhaps what they call Lucid Dreaming?) Since I lived in the Los Angeles area at the time, it was an easy plan to go to the Japanese neighborhood and seek out those hanging lamps. But, never found them until the following spring when I went there to search for them again.

However, during that first visit, I found an enchanting little music box which played an authentic haunting Japanese song that I quickly came to love. I bought it and took it home. Often throughout the pregnancy, I listened to the song. I could sing the melody, but of course never learned the words. The beauty of the song is that it is has a calm peacefulness that brings the world to a quiet place for reverie. It is about springtime in Japan where the cherry blossoms fall from the trees like snow. They have a lot of Cherry trees in order to celebrate this very traditional important time of year. In my understanding of the Cherry Blossom Festivals, it is represenative of the beauty of life, and the short period of time in which to enjoy that beauty. So, it is important to stop and live it.

I searched YouTube tonight and found the closest rendition to what the music box played. I came up with a very traditional version and then found one that had a lovely rendition which included some anime. The visuals go nicely, with a surprise twist to the song and the visuals at the end.

Saturday

Appetizing Recipe

Even though this is considered to be the finest epicurean treat for the festive autumn celebration known as Hallo'ween, it is a fun diversion for any season.


Kitty Litter Cake
Serving Size: 24
Notes:
This is a fun cake! It might look gross, but it does taste good!

Ingredients:
1 (18 oz.) box spice or german chocolate cake mix
1 (18 oz.) box white cake mix
1 pkg. white sandwich cookies
1 large box vanilla instant pudding mix
12 small tootsie rolls
1 litter box (preferably a NEW one!)
1 plastic scoop
green food coloring




Preparation:
Prepare cake mixes and bake according to directions (any size pans). Prepare pudding mix and chill until ready to assemble. Crumble white sandwich cookies in small batches in blender, they tend to stick, so scrape often. Set aside all but about 1/4 cup. To the 1/4 cup cookie crumbs, add a few drops green food coloring and mix using a fork or shake in a jar.
When cakes are cooled to room temperature, crumble into a large bowl. Toss with half the remaining white cookie crumbs and the chilled pudding. You probably won't need all of the pudding, mix with the cake and "feel" it, you don't want it soggy, just moist; gently combine. Put mixture into clean litter box.

Put three unwrapped Tootsie rolls in a microwave safe dish and heat until soft and pliable. Shape ends so they are no longer blunt, curving slightly. Repeat with 3 more Tootsie rolls and bury in mixture. Sprinkle the other half of cookie crumbs over top. Scatter the green cookie crumbs lightly over the top, this is supposed to look like the chlorophyll in kitty litter. Heat remaining Tootsie Rolls, three at a time in the microwave until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake and sprinkle with cookie crumbs. Place the box on a newspaper and sprinkle a few of the cookie crumbs around. Serve with a new and clean pooper scooper.

The results are convincing aren't they?