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Band-aiding over minor problems
Sometimes life throws stuff my way that’s not a major issue, but still irritates my mind, aggravates my body, or troubles my soul. I used to let these problems build up until I was overwhelmed but I am learning to take action sooner, in smaller ways. Solutions don’t have to be perfect to be effective.…
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The silent quack
Ducks are resilient and this story has a happy ending. This morning around 5:45, Maura suddenly sprung off my lap, alerted by a heavy double thump. Beryl had come through the cat door but not alone. Before I could get downstairs to stop her, she was trundling some rather large prey up into the studio.…
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Saving the orchids
Well, the black pine that roasted in the fire in 2021 finally fell over in a storm a couple weeks back. And with it went the lovely orchids, dendrobium moniliforme (in Japanese they are called setsukoku), that one of the Kawasaki ancestors had planted on it. Though the tree’s a goner, I wanted to save…
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Fanciful Toolshed
Standing at the turn of the driveway is what I call the “fishing shed.” When we first got 555, it was full of fishing nets and floats among many other random things. It wasn’t in great shape and heavy winds made it worse and worse, so last year I pulled it down to the concrete…
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Misophonic rains
I believe I inherited misophonia – a dislike of and discomfort with certain sounds – from my father. He was sensitive to chewing noises. As a kid, I learned to chew food quietly and with my mouth closed. I still eat pretty silently with minimal chewing. I, too, dislike the sounds of chewing and eating.…
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Bringing nature indoors
I am becoming the kind of person who has flowers in her house. It’s a good kind of person to be because it brings me happiness and enjoyment three ways: exploring the garden and jungle looking for pretty colors and interesting textures; puzzling out how to arrange artfully; and admiring the ephemeral beauty on my…
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Beachy days
Our friend, Matt, had a long stopover in Japan after his flight out of Delhi and he came out to visit us over the weekend. Matt works in a think tank doing ocean policy research and was eager to see the ocean and our local beaches. We were happy to comply, hitting both the Pacific…
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A Fine Evening in May
This is one of the loveliest seasons in Japan: Rikka, the beginning of summer. Days are warm, nights still cool, and humidity low. Not too many biting insects. Perfect for outdoor activities; good weather is motivating. Here is a vignette of May 11th at 555. On this fine afternoon, Tod re-mowed paths around the property…
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Fledgling, a tragedy
I was at my desk late this afternoon working when I heard the cat door thunk, followed by loud, distressed squeaks. I ran downstairs to find Beryl skulking back outside with a bird in her mouth. It looked limp and lifeless. I tried to encourage her to drop it but she kept running away. When…
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Post-GW Garden Report
Two weeks off weeding to enjoy time with guests has put me far behind the curve of growth. We had a big rain that kept me indoors yesterday so I ventured out this morning to have a look at the situation around the property. Mist was rising out of the valley and it was beautifully…
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