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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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Thursday

Talking Cats

Can cats talk? A

According to this video, they do.

I wonder if they can speak other languages?


Sunday

Germ Phobic?

I found this to be of interest. Many things mentioned I already was aware of. Some things I didn't know about.

Thursday

Life gives us Lemons

I love lemon in my tea. Adding a squeeze of lemon juice to black tea has the effect of clearing the liquid; it transforms it from a dark, nearly-opaque brown to a transparent deep red-orange in a matter of seconds. The reaction makes the tea lose not just the brown color but also the astringency, so strong black tea can be made more drinkable this way - especially with the addition of a little sugar to take the edge off the flavor. Lemon tea made this way remains tasty at any temperature, and many recipes for iced tea call for the addition of lemon. Incidentally, orange juice is also acid enough to remove most of black tea's astringency, as well as sweetening it; it sounds weird, but it's actually pretty good.

I have a lemon tree growing in my front yard, that produces the most delicious lemons. These are a special breed of lemons called Meyer lemons. The Meyer Lemon is a favorite of cooks because is a bit sweeter than the other kinds of lemons. It's skin is not so thick or rough as other lemons. It is easy to grow. I have a miniature tree. It has lots of blooms on it and produces fruit twice a year. I am very lucky that it handles cold weather well. Last two years we have had very cold, and sometimes freezing nights. And the tree did well. I have lots of Lemons on it right now, and some are as big as a naval orange!

Lemons are so good for us, and are used in many ways.

One of most people's favorite way to ingest lemons is through homemade lemonade.

These babies have been given their first taste of lemon.



You may see more lemonade recipes through the following links:

Lemonade Recipes

Blue Lemonade
This will catch people's eyes. It's bright and fun, and made with blueberries.

Brazilian Lemonade Recipe

Milk gives this lemonade an unusual and creamy touch.

Classic Lemonade Recipe
Lemons, sugar and water. A very simple lemonade recipe, and yet so refreshing.

Ginger Lemonade Recipe

Fresh ginger gives traditional lemonade a new flavour.

Green Apple Lemonade
A very tart apple lemonade, with only a hint of sugar.

Honey Limeade
A refreshing blend of sweet and tart.

Lavender Lemonade
If you like the floral taste of lavender, then this herbal lemonade recipe is for you.

Watermelon Lemonade Recipe

The mild flavour of the watermelon blends nicely with the tart lemon juice.

Wednesday

Jumpin'

Sorry, I can't resist.

Just one more Jump Jump Choo Choo Soul Video kid


Japanese days of the week

Sunday - Nichi-youbi (Sun Day)
Monday - Getsu-youbi (Moon Day)

Tuesday - Ka-youbi (Fire Day)
Wednesday - Sui-youbi (Water Day)

Thursday: Moku-youbi (Wood Day)
Friday - Kin-youbi (Golden Day)

Saturday - Dou-youbi (Earth Day)


How to say it:

nee-chee yoh-oo-bee
get-soo yoh-oo-bee
kah yoh-oo-bee
su-ee yoh-oo-bee
moh-koo yoh-oo-bee
keeng yoh-oo-bee
doh-oo yoh-oo-bee


Wednesday

Play Ball!

I think Martin might enjoy playing ball with this great ball player.

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.