Flower in the Mist

Hello,

I haven't talked about it before but I love to go antiquing and go to any type of flea market or swap meet.  Both of my parents are the same and I have given the bug to my wife as well.  One day when I was visiting my parents in California all four of us went to a local one but it was all crafts and almost no antique or even vintage items. 

I finished early so I was walking around looking for things to take photos of when I found this flower.  I loved the translucent petals that perfectly showed the dark spots in the center.  I can almost see a face in the center like a dog or even an old man laughing.  The blurred green background so that it isn't boring but also doesn't distract from the flower.  Lastly the water droplets make it fresh and airy.

Thank you very much for reading.

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Fire Pot

Hello,

We have been getting a lot of snow this last week and then all day today we got heavy rain.  We have been very cold almost to the bone because of all of this.  I saw this and felt warmer because of it so I had to update my blog with it today.  Once a year there is a huge summer festival in Nagano near the train station and down from Zenkoji.  What you see is a large container that holds a sacred fire that makes the barrier of the festival.

I love the playing with the light from the orange red hot fire.  You can't see the container at all because of that light so it turns black.  It is a summer festival so it is very hot but around this fire feels warm and comfortable not hot and stuffy.  The waves in the fire also adds movement to the picture that if it didn't have it would been boring.

Thank you very much for reading.

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Bicycle Eating Weed

Hello,

Having passed by the old building in the background a few times, then noticing it was boarded up I got curious.  It is an old building on Shinshu University near my house and on the way to one of the shops that I go to.  It was easy to get to, about ten yards from the street with no fence and near by there is a well used walking path.  Inside was nothing much a big mirror, disused sport equipment and that's about it disappointing.

The lucky find was this picture though.  I took it before looking into the haunted looking building in the background. All the different aged, forgotten bicycles are parked and slowly being eaten by the weeds and plants in the area.  The healthy green plants covering the black seats and tires, moving into the area of all that chrome.  I can see in my mind in the spring all the baskets filled with flowers and the orange reflectors the only part spared.

Thank you very much for reading.

Leaf on Stone

Hello,

I have talked about Zenkoji before and now that the new year is fast coming my thoughts go to visiting it new year's eve and day.  This will be a brand new experience for me to see a temple crowded with people wishing for a great new year with me.  I am going to try to get to visit about three or four temples and shrines in those first few days if it doesn't snow too much or get too cold.

On the way to the main temple you pass many sites to see but at the bottom is a modest looking set of buildings.  On each side of the tree-lined street they sit with a little draining channel.  That's where this picture was taken during the orange colored leafs turning leafs season.  I loved the one leaf that fell early then the rest and the clear water underneath it.  I took about five photos but only this one had the bubbles that really turns it into a great picture.

Thank you very much for reading.

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Lavender Bee

Hello,

Near the Nagano Japan Railroad train station on the east side is a happy little community garden.  Even with the temperature going into the freezing every night I still see them working on it and adding a few flowers here and there.  One day my wife and I talked to someone else that enjoys it and she said that a lot of the plants actually came up on their own.  I am talking about a big rose bush, some tulips and this lovely lavender.

The deep smell of lavender gets me every time I see and even get near a plant.  The green parts change in deepness depending on the season and if they are flowering at the time.  I love these type of flowering lavender because I can easily pick up one of the purple buds and stick it in my bag or pocket and I smell it all day.  Even the bees and birds enjoys the smells and colors with them circling the plants at all hours of the day.

Thank you very much for reading.

Mean Pigeon

Hello,

Near Nagano train station there is a bus stop that has a big flock of pigeons and that is where this picture was taken.  You can see elderly people feeding the birds along side children chasing after them daily.  They are so used to people and the surroundings that you can walk right up to most of them and if you have bread they will follow you.

This was one of the first days that it reached freezing at night so I can imagine that this bird was fluffing out to stay warm.  Even though I don't feed pigeons I still find the multiple colored feathers around the neck to be intriguing somewhat like a pearl essence paint.  His red eye watching me makes me think he doesn't like me even though I was close enough to touch him.

Thank you very much for reading.

Window Fireworks

Hello,

As today is Christmas both in Japan as I am writing this and in the USA I wanted to post a Japanese Christmas photo.  Sadly I don't have any right now but I did have a festive firework picture.  I didn't have to go very far to take this picture at all.  It was taken from my house right on the front porch as a local fireworks festival was going on. 

It may sound weird but I think that what I enjoy the most about this picture is the smoke from the fireworks before.  Don't get me wrong I love the white hot bright center of the exploding firework.  Also the halo of white with the orange burst.  The sound of the sprinkling firework after the big explosion so that it stays just that little bit longer.

Thank you very much for reading and have a great Christmas!