Just some fun

I'd almost forgotten how good it is to just draw for fun - and I miss it. So I had some leftover watercolor paper, thick strips of 300 lb paper....so I made book marks or just narrow drawings - whatever.

Each strip is about 10 inches by 3 inches.  I had an evening of fun - which is what it's all about -right?

Animal Wednesday - a hitchhiker

This guy hitchhiked on my shoulder for a few miles as I was floating down the river on Sunday.  I am a little bit (a lot bit) afraid of bugs...but I kinda like dragonflies, so I kept one eye on him and one on the river.  He was a quiet companion, very polite and no buzzing.  After a few miles he "buzzed off" so to speak, and that was the end of our relationship.

Images from a week working in Japan

I spent this past week working in Japan - in Toyko. Quite an experience, and very different from my last trip there over 10 years ago.  Easier to get coffee and a non-fish breakfast, which was important to me!   Shown here are some street scenes and pics from an early morning visit to the Fish Market.   I have more pics on my phone which have to be downloaded, I hope some came out well.

Fish Market map - the place was teeming with tourists, and they have tours in all languages.  The market is for daily fish sales, as well as vegetables, clothes, hole-in-the-wall restaurants etc.  An amazing place

Look at those wires! 

In the middle of the market was a shrine, which we visited and did our walk around 3 times proceeded by a coin toss. 

The Hydrangea's were blooming like crazy there, probably due to the fact that it was very very rainy and humid all week.  My skin loved the weather...my hair...not so much! 

I am glad to be home, glad to sleep in my own bed and drink my own home made coffee, but honestly, it wasn't as bad a trip as I had anticipated.  More pics coming I hope.

A great day for a Bike Ride

We took a bike ride today on one of the prettiest Rail Trails that we've ever been on. We were out in Rutland, MA - and other towns around there, and I for one was completely lost but enjoyed the views.

There were lovely blue ponds and we could hear the red winged blackbirds calling.

The photo doesn't do justice to the path and the stand of pines that lined it - it was just spectacular.

 This lake fed to a dam, with a hugh stone water management building - I think it was built in the '20s, and was wonderful looking.


There were babbling brooks - with all the rain we've been having - the water was gurgling everywhere.

Another lovely lake view

And whimsical art by the side of the path.

I am off to Japan tomorrow for a week, and am packing and repacking to stay within my weight limit - it ain't easy!  One full week of business meetings and dinners.  I'll be with colleagues (thank god) but I'll be homesick like crazy.  I hate losing summer weekends, and I'm losing Sunday and the following Saturday.  One consolation - 13 hour flights with nothing to do but read, snooze, and knit.  Could be worse.

Have a lovely week.

Animal Wednesday - a story in the grass

I found these feathers outside the garden shed this weekend.  At first I saw two, then three and then saw the rest scattered around.

Looking up to a bark of noise, I saw the local fox bounding around looking for his lunch.  He saw me holding the feathers and stopped to watch. We stared at each other for a few minutes.

Quite a garden story I think.

Happy (for some) Animal Wednesday.

Perfect Weather

It was the perfect summer day for early morning work in the garden weeding and then planting potatoes - followed by an epic bike ride, and finally a relaxing lounge in the garden.

DH even did a cookout!

Perfect day