OniOniOniArt

I have just finished reading this delightful compilation of tales from medieval Japan (the bulk of them originating from the Heian era, c. 794-1185), translated by Royall Tyler. There are over 200 tales included in this translation, but the main source used by Tyler, the Konjaku monogatarishu  ("Tales of Times Now Past" c. 1100), is itself a five-volume compilation.  I won't complain further, though, as this tome in its entirety requires the investment of an exceedingly large sum of money.  (Mr. Tyler's is the affordable snack-size version, and every bit as tasty). The Heian period is generally described as a golden age in Japan when arts and culture flourished (one of the more interesting aspects being the existence of a number of renowned women authors and poets). The folk tales featured here are tiny windows into everyday life in medieval Japan spanning history, myth and fantasy, superstition, religious/Buddhist ideals, and the prevailing thoughts and desi...

The eel-like kuhli loach and neon tetras, acclimating to the temperature in a plastic bag Nothing weird about these fish, I just happen to be humming the Radiohead song of the same name (Weird Fishes). On my way home today I stopped at an aquarium store and finally brought home the tiny denizens that will populate my tiny tank.  I decided to go flashy and ended up with three neon tetras and a kuhli loach.  The loach, as expected, disappeared immediately upon release into the tank, burying itself who knows where in the substrate. I brought home a tiny sword plant and java fern as well, and in a few weeks, after the tank has cycled through its current nitrogen load, perhaps I will add two more neons...and another cherry shrimp. Cherry Shrimp ...or perhaps I will get that honey gourami...

This is my version of release... The Rabbit skittered in and out of my life as quickly and quietly as you would expect a rabbit to do.  A sweet early morning specter nibbling the grass that disappears like the mist as the sun rises; lasting perhaps more than a season, but not two.  In these dealings with the ephemeral, one can only be grateful to take joy in what joy there was, learn lessons that still need learning, and keep moving forward with one's own life.  I originally created this sign for the Rabbit to serve as a beacon on a joyous occasion - to stand out in the sea of folks waiting for their friends, families, and loved ones to exit the airport terminals: The Dancing Rabbit I held it at midsection and was found.  It is perhaps 12" by 12", composed entirely of cut pieces of paper, and remains in the Rabbit's possession so far as I know. Now the early morning mist has dissipated, the specter is gone, but despite my clearing vision, I felt compelled to...

A portion of my energy went into this today...I re-planted my bottle garden.  The palm and African violet which were its previous inhabitants had become overgrown, and the poor fern died.  So here I have replaced them with a type of bird's nest fern, a much smaller variety of African violet, and a really beautiful variety of club moss with deep green upper foliage and deep red underneath.  I have a little glass plate to put on the top to help keep the moisture in.  It's always a balancing act with the moisture when you first set them up.  I will be removing/replacing the plate multiple times over the next week or so.  I also received a small aquarium from my friend L today, and I got it up and running.  I haven't kept fish in over five years, and I am really excited to have an aquarium again.  It came with a few live plants and a wee cherry shrimp.  I intend to plant more, and next weekend I will add fish.  I would really like a...

Forgive my visual pun. I always tell my out-of-town visitors about the Downtown Chickens, but if the chickens happen to be hiding that day, they don't believe me.   They do exist!  See! Here they are all gathered in front of the Post Office with Popeye's Chicken n' Biscuits in the background.  I'm often running to the post office for my Etsy shop, so I see them frequently. They're old news with the locals, including jokes that they help keep Popeye's in business, but I post my proof for those not used to seeing chickens in a more urban setting.  It's probably good that chickens (like most other birds) don't have a sense of smell.

...here is my current tiny house on this overcast and rumbling day.  It is right around 500 square feet, and its biggest problem is that I rent it.  It is otherwise an absolute delight to live here, and I consider myself most fortunate to have stumbled into it.  (I concede that I would rather have a larger than shoebox-sized freezer and broom-closet shower, but that's another story...at least I have such things!). This is my tiny sun-scorched garden (hooray for August in Florida!) better known as the Dirt Patch, a tribute to its humble beginnings as a partially grass-covered sand box.  Most folks would probably consider weeding a chore, but the fact that I can go out there and pull weeds - from the ground and from my mind, as my grandma has phrased it - is one of my favorite things about it.  Soon I shall sow seeds for winter plantings.  Nevermind that I meant to do that in July... All of the fencing is to keep the cows in their place. ...