No name post

This is the kind of festival my dad might like. A place where you can take your family and have a nap in the shade while they run around and ogle the flowers. When i saw this guy napping there, i only thought of one person. And then i was reminded of myself too, because i had a strong urge to find an empty bench to stretch out on.

We're looking at Hekinan's Iris garden, a locally famous place where the multi-coloured irises are in full bloom at the moment. i think we were a little early when we saw them last weekend. It was kind of hilarious though because there were about a hundred photographers taking pictures of two girls who were fanning themselves in the midst of the blooms. we asked someone who they were, and the guy said that they were two models. everyone wants to be famous, even in a small town newspaper.
As usual during festival times, there are many food choices being offered along the footpaths. Here, our pal James is ordering some pork on a stick. kind of a Japanese shish-kabab. tasty!

We decided to try the snowcones. by pure chance, we all ordered different flavours, and got different flavoured cups, and then we noticed that our clothes matched each others' snow cones, just by chance! so i took a photo.
These little swallows were nested in a corner under the stairwell of our apartment building. they were always very quiet until their mom came around with tasty tidbits for them to eat. then they would chirp loud and long. i managed to catch one with his mouth wide open. i think it looks pretty funny.

i say "were nested" because the other day they were suddenly gone, and the nest was kind of wrecked. so we think that maybe the ravens got them... it's sad. but i keep telling Mandy that they moved to a condo down the street, and took part of their nest with them just for memory's sake. it's all what you believe, isn't it?
Action shot of lunch time! poor little guys.

a-bursting forth

Mandy has taken our drab, boring, concrete balcony and turned it into an Eden-like paradise, full of flowers and vegetation.  Doesn't it look like a beautiful place to take a walk (on the spot), or to have a picnic?  Japan is a place where flowers and vegetables are eager to flourish.  The whole country is bursting with foliage, out of every piece of bare earth.  We even saw a tiny plant breaking through an asphalt highway!  

Our little windowsill is where the peppers are growing.  Soon we might be able to use these ones in our salsa, if they are actually hot peppers.  We're not too sure what they will taste like.

My bonsai tree is not doing so well.  I think it's in shock.  Stand by for updates.

Mandy's concern for her plants causes her to painstakingly pick little bugs off the tiniest leaves to prevent her plants getting eaten.  This is a common scene in our apartment.  My mess of books and pencils, and Mandy tending to plants.
This is one of my two plants.  It's the one that is least likely to survive, and yet it's the one that's growing new limbs!  The little, fourth leaf is brand new into the world.  It's opening its eyes to survey its surroundings to see a toilet and that's it.  Must be kind of depressing.  But judging by its good health in such an unlikely place, maybe it likes it in there.