Happy O'Hollows Eve

The witches fly

Across the sky,

The owls go, "Who? Who? Who?"

The black cats yowl

And green ghosts howl,

"Scary Halloween to you!"

~Nina Willis Walter~



Have a happy Halloween!

Love,
M

Halloween Fast Facts from the US Census

36 million: The estimated number of potential trick-or-treaters in 2008 — children 5 to 13 — across the United States. JR is using this as an excuse to buy more candy.

111.4 million: Number of occupied housing units across the nation in 2008 — all potential stops for trick-or-treaters. This doesn't indicate the number of houses that will turn their lights off and sit in the dark because they are party poopers.

93% Percentage of households with residents who consider their neighborhood safe. I'm part of the 93%.

1.1 billion pounds: Total production of pumpkins by major pumpkin-producing states in 2008. I've got one sitting on my table waiting for me to gut it. I can smell it's fear. Or has it been there a little too long? Nope, that's fear.

23.8 pounds Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2008. The ratio at our house; 1.8 pounds for Michele, 22 pounds for JR. And, he never gains a freaking ounce. I smell candy and the scale tips a little higher. The jerk!

This information was brought to from the fine folks at the U.S. Census Bureau: see Facts for Features for more.



Today's Spin Cycle was brought to you from Michele in cooperation with the Sprite's Keeper Foundation. "Building a better blogging world one spin at a time". Check out Sprite's Keeper for more information on how you can get involved.

Love,
M

Ma, Look What I've got!

I found this in our 1949 Houstonian yearbook.

I just couldn't pass up the chance to show it to you.

The poor thing.
Buried in the middle of the yearbook.
It deserves better than that.
Why?
Because it is too dang funny.

I think I know what it needs.
It needs a title.
If you've got a title for this photo leave a comment?
You are all so much cleverer than I am.

I could make this a contest but to tell you the truth I've got nothing to give away.
Plus, there is that new FCC crap going around.
I'd hate to get in trouble with the feds.
In fact, I'm hoping they don't catch up to me for that incident back in the 70s.
Is there a statute of limitations on interstate commerce violations?
Not that that is what I did or anything.
I'm just asking.

So, you'll have to accept my gratitude in lieu of gifts.
Give this hilarious drawing a title.

Love,
M

PS. Just in case the citation police are looking at my blog; bite me. Mr. C you were some funny guy.

RTT - Whatever You do Don't Break the Spine

Hi Kids!

What time is it?
It's Random Tuesday Thoughts time!

OMG, am I that old?
Don't answer that.

The Boy thought this was hilarious. I don't get it. Who would want to break the spine on a book? That is so wrong!

Okay, I lied. I do get it. But, I fail to see that it is funny. Okay, it's a little bit funny.



It has alternated being rainy and sunny here. I'm hoping that that is not the pattern for the rest of the winter. I've become the biggest wuss since living in Arizona for 3 winters. I like the sunshine and warm for the whole winter. Not just a day or two at a time. I know that those of you in the northern climes will not sympathize with me but tough. I spent forty + years in the Pacific Northwest. I don't do rain and 40 degrees anymore.



The verdict is in. I am a spaz.
Case in point: if there is a sharp surface on anything I will find a way to cut myself on it.
Proof:
Knifes: pleeeese.....daily.
Paper: Yeah, whatever.
Cardboard: Check.
Scissors: Yep, I'm all over that one.
Saws: What did you expect. Of course.
Foil on the wine bottle: Give me a break. Twice a week occurrence.
Foil gum wrapper: (shaking my head sadly) I even cut my finger on these. And, I regret to say more than once.

So, that clinches it; I am totally spazolicious.



Here are a couple of old house on Meeting Street in Charleston, South Carolina. They are for sale. You can't really tell from the pictures that they are in a sad state of disrepair. Peeling paint, rotting piazzas, crumbling gardens. It is pitiful.

Anyone or six of you want to go in on one?
Because I truly can't afford that.

That's it for me. And, I didn't even injure myself. Go figure. Want more randomness? There's enough to go around, honest. Head over to Keely's place. It's where all the cool kids are. And, then there's me. The one with all the bandages on her fingers.

Love,
M

Spaghetti Squash with Puttanesca Sauce

Spaghetti Squash with Puttanesca Sauce is not one of those throw together after work dinners. It takes time. Mostly, it takes time to cook the squash. I guess if you get home at 5pm and don't mind eating until 7 this could be a weeknight dinner but if you are like me, you walk in the door at 5:30 or 6 and want to have someone (preferably named Alice) serve you a drink, then serve you dinner, then clean it up. Alice doesn't show up at my house but then neither do the cleaning fairies, the little rat bas&%$ds.

For a meal the isn't hard (in fact it is downright easy. Perfect for the lazy cook like me) but takes a bit of time, it sure is yummy.

Spaghetti Squash with Puttanesca Sauce

1 small to medium, depending on your family size, Spaghetti squash
1 jar Puttanesca, spaghetti, marinara or other jarred sauce.
(sure you could make you own but hey it was Sunday, my day of rest)

• Pierce squash all over with a fork
• Bake in 350 degree oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hour depending on the size of the squash
• Cut in half lenghtwise, scrape out guts (seeds and stuff)
• With tines of a fork scrape the meat of the squash. It will look like spaghetti. Cool huh?
• Top with sauce and enjoy

One small squash make 4 servings or so.

I chose a small squash with a huge sticker.
Take said sticker off.
Wash squash.
I know you are not going to eat the outsides. I'm just finicky that way.
It has do with the piercing and the possibility of germs getting into the food via the fork to flesh process. Yeah, I'm weird. I know.
Pierce all over with a fork.
Place on baking sheet in a 350 degree oven.
This is the perfect opportunity to go all green and such by not waste electricity or heat up your house for just a single squash,
toss some potatoes or mmmmm....sweet potatoes on that baking sheet.

You know you'll use them during the week.
Be like me. Be efficient and green.
Be lazy.

This is what it looks like when it comes out of the oven and cools.
It should ooze a bit.
Don't attempt to hack this thing open until it cools enough to handle.
It will still be warm in the middle and the sauce will be hot.
Oh, don't forget to warm up the sauce.

You'll want to take the guts out.
Sort of like that Halloween pumpkin.
You know the one.
The one where you attempt to make a ghoulish face but end up with a couple of lopsided triangles and a half-a$$ed smile.
Or is that just me?

It should look kind of like this.
Your product may vary.
Manufacturer makes no guarantees of product attractiveness.

Now, start scraping with a fork.
Purty neat, huh?
Looks just like spaghetti.
Freaks me out every time.

Let's look at the amazing kungfu spaghetti action one more time.
Yep, still cool.

Uh huh, still cool.

Top with your favorite sauce.
(Let's try and keep it meatless, please)

Enjoy
Gawd, it looks so good I want to eat it again.
Oh wait, I can. I brought leftovers for lunch today.
Is it lunch time yet?

Even tho it takes awhile to cook the squash this meal comes together really quick. It is one of those sit around and wait types. While it cooks you could clean house, wash the car, take out the trash, take a nice long bubble bath, read a book, drink a glass of wine or what I did. Drink a glass of wine while reading a book in a tub of steaming water and bubbles. NOT! Or at least not the steaming bathtub of bubbles part.

This makes a wonderful meatless meal for any day that you decide to go meatless. It doesn't have to be Monday. Pick a day, any day.

Love,
M

Morning Bliss

I did a little wordle for our friend Ms. Blissfully Caffeinated. As you can see one word stands out predominantly. Ms Caff has gone and had herself a baby. As my beloved late father would have said; "Ms. Caff took seriously what was poked at her in fun".

And a beautiful little bundle she did have. Unfortunately, she had a bit of a hard time with it. I doubt that contracting pneumonia was part of the plan. Things are looking up at the Bliss household though. The baby is home, the Ms is home and everyone is feeling better. I'm pretty sure this is in part from the amount of caffeine that mama has taken up drinking. The woman loves her some coffee.

And what's not too love. Coffee is my second favorite beverage. Yes, we all know what the all time favorite is, moving on. I love coffee so much that I learned to roast my own.

Many a day I cruised the green coffee brokers looking for some (sucker, idiot) kindly broker to take pity on me and send me a sample pound or two of green coffee. This green gold came from places all over the world, Ethiopia, Sumatra, Costa Rica, Hawaii. I waited somewhat impatiently for the UPS man to bring my lovely beans. I think he might have been a little afraid of me. I can't imagine why.

Now, this wouldn't be my blog if I didn't toss in some learnin'. So here is how you can roast your own coffee beans.

1. Find the oldest heavy steel deep-sided pan with a lid you can. This is going to get all black a crusty so don't go for pretty. You want something that will distributed the heat well.

2. Fire up your gas BBQ, HOT. Sorry, briquette users, they just don't get hot enough.

3. Put the pan on the hot BBQ so it can heat up.

4. Pour beans into pan. Cover.

5. Shake like you were making popcorn over an open fire. Really, get into it. Put on a little Salsa music if you need to. This could be claimed as your exercise for the week.

6. It will start making popping sounds like popcorn. This is called the first crack. When the water in the green beans bursts from the bean. Don't be fooled. They are not done. You are waiting for the second crack. Then start checking them for doneness.

7. When the beans are almost the color you like them pour onto a baking sheet to cool. They will continue to cook. If you have not poured them out soon enough put them into the freezer on the sheet pan to stop the cooking.

8. When cool. Grind and enjoy.

There is nothing like the taste of fresh roasted, ground and brewed coffee.

Ms. Bliss have a cup of joe, give that new baby and the two other sweet girls you have a big smooch. And GET WELL!

Love,
M

PS: Want to go see others who are wishing Ms. Bliss well. Go see the blog world equivalent of a get well/congratulations card over at Oscarelli.

PSS: It has been brought to my attention that some may want to try roasting coffee in their home. I sincerely don't suggest this. Roasting coffee creates a lot of smoke. So, unless you don't have a problem with your smoke alarms going off, the fire dept. showing up and your house smelling like fresh roasted coffee for months please use an outside grill. I learned this lesson from first hand experience but that is a story for another time.

Book Price Wars; Score your Christmas Gifts Now

If you are like me you give a lot of books as Christmas gifts. It seems that now is the time to buy them.










I plan to do a little shopping online tonight. If I get lucky I could finish all my shopping early this year allowing me to coast through the season stress free.

OMG! What a concept. A stress free holiday.

Love,
M

Gaby Suntan Lotion - Wordless Wednesday

I'm not supposed to write anything but dang, I'm a librarian, we can't help ourselves.
At a $1.00 a bottle with a money back guarantee I can't lose.
For you Canadians it's higher.

Love,
M

Meatless Monday - Pumpkin Soup

It's fall though you wouldn't know it by the temperatures here in Houston, Texas. With fall comes the yummy goodness that is comfort food. Hearty soups, stews, casseroles and breads are the order of the day.

I made the first of my fall favorites on Thursday night after work. If you ever need a quick meal run don't walk for soup.

I adapted this recipe from the October 2009 Southern Living magazine. Their recipe called for half & half and chicken stock. I wanted to lighten it up, make it vegetarian and add some protein. Oh, and it had to be yummy and filling.

Yummy as in eating the guts out of a pumpkin pie and leaving the crust, yummy.
Filling as in stand alone as a meal filling.
Done and Done

Pumpkin Soup

1 - 15 oz. can pumpkin, the kind you buy for pie
1 - 12 oz package frozen cooked squash.
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 medium-size sweet onion, chopped
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped. you can substitute dried but cut back to 1 teaspoon.
2 cups vegetable broth
7 ounces or 1/2 carton of soft tofu
1 cup non-fat milk
1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar
4 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
salt and pepper to taste


1. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add onion, and saute 5 minutes or until tender. Add thyme; saute 1 minute more. Sniff the air. Yeah, that is one of the best smells. But wait, it gets better.

2. Stir in broth, pumpkin, squash and tofu. Increase heat to medium-high to bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool, about 10 minutes.

3. Process soup in small batches, either in a blender or food processor. Or do what I did. Stick your immersion (stick or hand-held, whatever you call it) blender right in the pot. Blend until smooth. If you took the soup out of the pot, stick it right back in. Stir in milk and all the remaining ingredients. Cook, over low heat, stirring often for about 3 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Taste. Adjust seasonings if needed. Serve.

Serves 4 healthy sized servings.

I served this to my friend Sally last night and she loved it. She had never had pumpkin soup before. Give it a try. It makes a wonderful Meatless Monday meal.

Bonus for me this week is that the Spin Cycle is comfort food recipe week. I try to participate in the Spin Cycle over at Sprite's Keeper but since I'm fairly lazy as well as lame I just don't participate as often I should. This week I'm gold. Woo Hoo.

Love,
M

Charleston Historical Society; one of the best hours I've ever spent

The fabulousness that is my friend Julie said; "Michele, you must stop into the Charleston Historical Society store."

I usually do what Julie tells me to do because she is brilliant. She proved it once again.

This was so much fun. I spent and I spent. I spent time and I spent a bit of money. More time then money, thank heavens.

Lovely huh?
I can't resist a Historical Society Shop.
See the pretty blue soup tureen on the table?
I lust for it.

I totally drooled over this blueware.
There is nothing sadder than a 50 year old woman standing in
front of shelves of china drooling
like a eight month old teething baby.
That small oval platter top center next to the square bowl?
It called to me.
Michele....Michele.....buy me.
Buy me now.
I resisted.
It was hard.

Then I hit the cookbooks.
Lord, help me
These salespeople know.
They just know,
I can't resist a cookbook.
Isn't it funny?
I couldn't find a Low Country Vegetarian cookbook.

Then I saw these!
And I laughed my ass off.
And immediately thought of Becky.
She has rules for this kind of thing.
Though she has never codified them,
Charlotte Hays and Gayden Metcalfe did it for her.
Wasn't that nice of them?
So thoughtful.

I'm from the Pacific Northwest where hosting the
perfect funeral involves micro-brew beer
and baked salmon.
Weddings are performed on mountains,
beside rivers and in wildflower gardens.
I don't think I've actually been to a wedding with a punch bowl.
We did go to a couple of Jewish weddings that included
some sort of chicken dinner and open bars.
That was cool.

I'm not sure if this counts as a Spin for the Spin Cycle hosted by Sprite's Keeper but if I ask real nice she may let me slide on this one. So what do you say Jen? Spin or no Spin?

Want to read more Spins? Head over the Sprite's place (she's got a poopy for princess dress party going) for the complete list.

Love,
M

My Shopping Style is a bit Eclectic

I was walking down King Street in Charleston today after cutting class. Hey it was boring and they weren't talking about anything we could use on our digital library so it was wasting my time just sitting there trying not to yawn. So I left.

Oh, I could have gone back to my hotel room; fired up my laptop and gotten some work done but I didn't. I decided to do a little souvenir shopping. I try to bring something back for JR whenever I go out of town. Or, maybe pickup up a new shot glass for DIL's collection or some sort of edible for the student workers that do our digitization.

I haven't found anything for JR yet. DIL and the Oldest Boy are moving back up to Washington state soon so I don't want to mail anything until they get settled. The student workers, while they deserve whatever I can bring them, haven't finished the chocolates I brought back from San Francisco. So, souvenir shopping was a bit of a bust for me. That didn't stop me from buying things though.

Here's my afternoon of decadence.

My first purchase, which I didn't get a picture of, were some spiced and sugared pecans. These are not going to students. I have plans for these. Big plans. Plans that include pasta and sauces and desserts.

My second purchase was these shoes. I love them. They fit all my requirements for shoes. One, they are not leather. I try not to buy leather shoes. Two, they are plaid. I am a sucker for plaid. They are actually my third pair of plaid shoes. Third, they have velcro. I can slip them off and on with ease. I don't really like wearing shoes so being able to slip them off easily is a major bonus.

I got them at the Gap for kids. Aren't I a dork? I have kid size feet. I don't even wear the largest size of kids shoe. My toes are so small it is amazing that I can balance on those freakishly small things.



My third purchase was a new t-shirt. I felt that these were words to live by. Plus, the t-shirt is pink and this is breast cancer awareness month. A life plan and a good cause. Wow! You'd think I planned it that way. You'd be wrong. I just liked the alcohol reference and the brightly colored parrot. I'm simple like that.


I wanted to buy these earrings but when I sent a picture of them to The Boy he thought they were silly. Of course, they are silly. If they weren't I would hardly be interested in them. I may still go back for them. What do you think? Don't you think they would add a touch of whimsy to my librarian outfits?


That completed my afternoon of playing hooky. Tomorrow I won't be so lucky. I'll be in workshops for the whole day. You all have a nice day today. I'll try to get around to visit. If not today then definitely tomorrow.

Love,
M

Meatless Monday while Traveling

One of the things that I find difficult while traveling is finding vegetarian choices at restaurants. Even soup, rice and sauces are not safe from meat stock. Forget about salad. You can't always be sure that the Caesar dressing doesn't have anchovies in it or that the spinach salad doesn't have bacon. I totally give up on cheese not having animal rennet in it.

When I asked the waiter at the restaurant that I choose for Sunday nights dinner in Charleston, South Carolina whether the mushroom risotto had meat stock you would have thought I was speaking a foreign language. Sure, his accent pegged him as an Aussie but I don't think my question was that hard. Mum-me; would that have baffled you? They were nice enough about the whole thing as they searched out the chef. Who had to come out of the kitchen to reassure me that the mushroom risotto was indeed vegetarian. I can not tell you how many chefs I've met this way.


I started with the bruschetta. The one a one o'clock was a tomato compote. Pretty good. Not great. The piece at five o'clock was baba ganoush. It was the best of the bunch. Or it may be that I love baba ganoush. The piece of crustini at ten o'clock was chickpeas or garbanzo beans with arugula. It was pretty good if you didn't mind that the chickpeas decided to escape. They rolled all over the plate. I gave up trying to get them to stay up and resorted to eating them with a fork.



This picture does absolutely no justice to this dish. Wild mushroom risotto. It was fantastic. There are almost no words to describe how utterly wonderful this was. It totally melted in your mouth. I'm going to be trying to recreate this one because it was that good. I promise that when I get it perfected I'll be passing it along to all of you.


So far (it's only been one day) Charleston has eclipsed San Francisco for food for vegetarians. At least for me. People of San Francisco please don't feel slighted I just never came across veggie friendly food that was outstanding like this risotto. I'm here for another 3 days and it will be hard for me to try other restaurants because I loved this so much.

Have any of you come across a mouth watering meal that you'd go back for again and again?

Love,
M

Jeff Foxworthy knows his Washingtonians

THIS IS WHAT JEFF FOXWORTHY HAS TO SAY ABOUT LIVING IN Washington !

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Washington. (I do this all the time)

If you've worn shorts, sandals and a parka at the same time, you live in Washington. (sad but true)

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Washington. (I've been known to engage in lengthy conversations with strangers, on the phone or otherwise. Just ask my friend Terry)

If you measure distance in hours, you live in Washington.(there is another way to measure distance?)

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Washington. (I've only hit one deer. When I got to work all my co-workers wanted to know if I wanted them to drop it off at the butchers.)

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' and back again in the same day, you live in Washington. (HA! Very few people have A/C in Washington)

If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both doors unlocked, you live in Washington (Why ever would you lock your doors?)

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Central, Southern or Eastern Washington. (I hope you're traveling in the slow lane or you better move your ass over.)

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a 2 layers of clothes or under a raincoat, you live in Washington. (this is so true and so very very sad)

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow and ice, you live in Washington. (In Western Washington the potholes are filled with water making it impossible to know how deep they are. Great for tire salesman)

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Washington.(sorry this is wrong. the 2 seasons are: cold rainy season and a little bit warmer rainy season.)

If you feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash, you live in Washington. (and his point is?)


If you know more than 10 ways to order coffee, you live in Washington.(only 10?)

If you know more people who own boats than air conditioners, you live in Washington. (there is very little reason to have air conditioning and plenty of reasons to own a boat. There is tons more water than there is heat.)

If you stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk" signal, you live in Washington. (It's all about following the rules)

If you consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it is not a real mountain, you live in Washington.(mountains that don't are for just hills)


If you can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and Dutch Bros, you live in Washington.(but Tully's is still the best)

If you know the difference between Chinook, Coho and Sockeye salmon, you live in Washington. (Copper River from Alaska is the best ever)

If you know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Abiqua, Issaquah, Oregon, Umpqua, Yakima and Willamette, you live in Washington. (that's Yak-ki-mah and Pu-al-lup)

If you consider swimming an indoor sport, you live in Washington. (swimming outside is advisable only after you become numb from the cold.)

If you can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Thai food, you live in Washington.(Dim Sum, enuf said)


If you never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho, you live in Washington.(and extra clothing, wellies, and Bailey's Irish Cream to put in your hot cocoa.)

If you have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain, you live in Washington.(my mountain bike has only found wineries so I can't actually attest to this statement.)

If you think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists, you live in Washington. (people who even own an umbrellas is a wimp)

If you buy new sunglasses every year, because you can't find the old ones after such a long time, you live in Washington. (sunglasses? What are sunglasses?)

If you actually understand these jokes and forward them to all your Washington friends, you live or have lived in Washington. (Done!)

We lived in Washington State for 42 of my 50 years. Most all of these statements are true.

Love,
M

Golden Gate Park - Botanical Gardens - Part 1

I was drawn to the fragrance garden within the botanical garden. I likes me some smelly flowers and plants. I thought you would like to join me on this little walk.

Here is the stone marker at the entrance.
When I loaded this onto my computer it sort of looked like a headstone to me.
It is actually laying on the ground which doesn't
preclude it from being headstone-esque.

Lovely, huh?

Lavender
I love lavender.
I love to cook with it.
I love to smell it.
I would love to roll in it.

If it wasn't so spiky.

The garden had about 4 different types of lavender.
The top picture is Yellow Lavender
The second picture is English Lavender
(I think. The picture is too small on the netbook)
The third picture is Spanish Lavender

Statuary is tucked into corners and buried deep within the shadows.
I'm not sure you can see it but there is
water falling from the monks (or possibly a saint. Let's just call him a guy in a robe) hands.
It was so lovely.

So tranquil.

The next two photos are of scented geraniums.
Have you aver planted any of this?
No?
You must do so next summer.
I plant mine by the front and back doors of my house.
That way my guests, family and myself are
greeted with the wonderful spicy scent.

I can't think of a better way to welcome people into my
home but with a lovely scent at the door.
Unfortunately, it usually raises their expectations of what's inside.

I'd roll in this.
Speaking of rolling in herbs.
Our first dog enjoyed rolling in the lemon thyme
at our front door.
She smelled all lemony fresh.
It's a nice memory.

Rosemary is another plant that usually finds a
place at my front door.
Rosemary is also a great plant to bring into the house.
Beyond it's wonderful cooking potential.
It makes a great add-in to floral arrangements.
Strip off the leaves that will be in the water so it doesn't rot.
They will also root in the water.
Then you'll have even more.
(good grief, I have to turn everything into a learning event. Sorry)

Love,
M

Golden Gate Park - Japanese Gardens

I went to Golden Gate Park this afternoon. Or yesterday afternoon since this won't post until tomorrow morning but you know what I mean. (shakes head at inane dribble) I saw a small portion of the park. It's like flipping huge. I now have enough blog fodder for about a month. Be afraid. Be very afraid. (I'll try to understand when you all stop following me. I'll just cry into my wee pilla)

I thought we would start our tour with the Japanese Gardens.

Everyone get in queue. Get out your $7


and please stay on the paths.

The place was beautiful.
The leaves on the maples were starting to turn fiery red.
I could get all contemplative and philosophical
but I won't because that would totally ensure that
you would stop following me.

The weather was warm (for San Francisco) which made the
Koi hide under one of the many stone bridges.
It wouldn't be a Japanese garden without
Koi.
(look at the dork taking the picture. It is little wonder I didn't fall in.
That would be just like me)

Lots of pagodas.
Because? Well, it's a Japanese garden.
They do things like that.
Actually, it was probably just me.
I take pictures of water and
where there is water in a Japanese garden there
is bound to be a pagoda.
I'm pretty sure they have some sort of
significance but I couldn't tell you what it is.

See!
There's another one.
Nah, I'm just kidding with you.
It's the same one.
The picture is just taken from a different angle.
It the water I's tells ya.

Let's call this one a temple.
I love the red of the building against the
green of the trees.
It's like they planned it that way.
Which I'm fairly sure they did.
The Japanese are clever that way.

Japanese gardens never cease to amaze me.
There is some sort of beautiful view at every corner.
Each aspect the you take in there is a harmony of textures
and colors.

Sorry about the over exposure.
My netbook doesn't have any photo editing software on it
and my poor little point-n-shoot tends to over expose everything.
It could be the operator.
The camera has settings and such but that
would require that I find and read the manual.
Yeah, like that's going to happen.

Look at all the pretty shades of green.
I didn't think I was a big fan of green having seen so
much of it when I was growing up in the Seattle area
but living in Phoenix for a few years has made
green the new black for me.
Plus it matches my eyes.

Quick stop in the gift shop.
For batteries and postcards.
This little bobbely head thing caught my eye.
Yes, I am distracted by shining objects.
I did resist the kittah.

Everyone line up for the obligatory photo in front of the temple.
Yes, the sun is shinning.
Yes, it is 75 degrees.
Yes, I am wearing a coat.
There was a breeze, okay!

Next up is the botanical garden. I think I'll split that one up. Hopefully, it will make it less painful for everyone.

Love,
M