before and after (not the tv show but i really do like that show)

looks like we might get some rain this afternoon . . . it`s a good thing i watered the garden today. and a good thing we washed and cleaned Noriko`s car yesterday. i am sure the new flowers i planted will like the rain.

before

after

and a little later after

these two flowers were lost in the transition

today`s nice sunset after going to MyCal (big shopping center in Ibaraki) to find Misa-chan a belated-birthday present. tomorrow i will add a very cute little video of a very cute little dog at the Pet Shop in the mall.

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a few more images from the summer festival in Ikeda on monday

it`s an ECO-thing (i was told by someone in the Osaka Prefectural Office)

ahhh, kakigori in a yukata at a matsuri...that means summer

which way to the kakigori?

ahhh, cotton candy

candied apple yukata girl

yosakoi dancers whirling and twirling thru the night. this was one of the "dance teams" i saw at Carre Four back in May

my, oh my this was a great Shishi-mai!

so this is natsu in Japan

where is that buzzzzing sssssound coming from?


sunlight thru pine and maple


summer Ikebana (by Noriko)

Yamamoto Cafe on the trail to the Minoo waterfall

just about to take a dip in the stream . . . and so was the dog



the grande finale of this year`s Inagawa Hanabi Taikai in Ikeda which is in Osaka which is in Japan for those of you just joining me here. it was a very warm but not too hot saturday evening. and luckily no mosquitos. and give or take a thousand people, i would say about 100,000 people enjoyed the 70 minues of fireworks. i think it was the 70th anniversay of this event. this was my second time to see this wonderful summer fireworks festival with Noriko and the first for Tony, Tori and Niji. more photos later including some more natsu (summer) yukata and yatai photos.


summer hanabi in Japan


yatai, yatai, yatai and more yatai


Ricky, the wonderful Beatles singer. that is Minoo Takey FM`s deejay taking his photo from the stair. oh, that reminds me not to forget to find about why people were coming out of the restaurant across from the stage with one long noodle coming from their mouth.