Life List #5: (Virtual) Rabbit Island

Imagine this.

Now multiply is by several hundred, and you have an idea of what Okunoshima
(Rabbit Island) is like.

Accessible by ferry, the island is off the coast in the Sea of Japan.

In addition to the feral but friendly bunnies...there are also trails...campsites and historical places of interest on the island.

During WWII Japan built inner island factories to produce and test poisonous gas.

After the end of the war the factories and buildings left for ruins.

There is speculation that some of the rabbits used for testing were set loose at that time.

In the 1960's several additional bunnies were let loose on the island.
Why? I have no idea. Why did anyone do many of the things that occurred in the 60's? 

Because we could.

And rabbits doing what rabbits do best...with no natural predators on the island to keep their numbers in  check...the population boomed.

Rabbit Island is now teeming with bunnies...and is a thriving tourist attraction.

Dogs are not allowed here.

 Visitors expect to be mobbed by the hopping masses and are not disappointed.

 The rabbits expectations are low,

and they are happy with alfalfa pellets and pats.

Video 

https://youtu.be/eJnuIsxy7zc

And because one journey often leads to others...I have learned that Japan also has a Fox Island and a Cat Island...which we will explore this week!

 More Anon...

And...It's Winter Again...

Well...it's INDIANA.

Last Sunday it was 60 and sunny and beautiful...since then we have has storms...wind...sleet...ice...snow...rain...and possibly even locusts.

We've finally reached 30 here today.

Baked just to get the chill off the house.

Hbernating with a couple of good books, beans and cornbread, peach pie and sweet tea this weekend.

Milder midweek and back to snow by next Sunday...because it is STILL winter.

Put some SOUTH in your mouth!

Excited, as my youngest grandson, Aiden. is now in pre-school!

It is just uncanny to me how exactly like James he looks at this age.

Their entire household spending this week battling THE PLAGUE.

James and Nicole and the kids down with Flu- Type A.

I love all of you to death...but keep it all over there until you are well...and possibly properly fumigated...lol.








Chris by earlier this week to catch up...show me his latest painting endeavors...discuss the upcoming wedding and Tina's 30th Birthday at the end of the month.

There shall be Chinese!

Describing a gaming-shop that he and Alex and Trevor have discovered that is really great...and a nice place to gather and pursue their hobby...paint...meet others who play.

I may have found my Mother of the Groom Dress...still deciding on the color...but this is the style, I think.

(...torn between Dusty Rose and a few other selections...)

Chiffon and lace- and I love love love the handkerchief style hemline.

Only 38 more days until SPRING!

Getting anxious to play in the dirt...and plants!

Soon!!!!

And lots of countdowns for this year already.

John and I, and our Valentine's Brunch next week.

 Tina's Birthday at the end of the month.

Only

 More days until our next SISTERS DAY...made even more special... as we will be celebrating Lisa's Birthday together this time.

and a mere

Days until Our (John and I) March Getaway!!!

Days left until Brenden's 9th Birthday...and 73 days until the very last year of the 50's for me!!!


Only



 Days until Chris and Tina's Wedding...and a bit less than 80, before Lennon is here! And 84 until Aiden's 5th Birthday!

Until Idgy and Rose's Spring Adventure (here)...and still working on this year's theme...

Nicole's Birthday in June

and finally

Until Rose & Idgy's Fall Adventure...there in Tennessee...and I finally get to check out The Shoppe!
 
Can't wait!

And that is only to Mid-September...

And the calendar is sure to fill as the months progress. There is always something to look forward to, and be excited about!

Tell you who isn't excited (or happy) these days...

This Guy.

Yeah...

Who knew Congressional Oversight could be so "oversighty", eh?

 I think Melania may have said it best-

To be honest, I just want it over quickly...and I am sure as time drags on...so will he.

And if you really believe that this man, who is from 75-100 pounds overweight...subsists on fast food and deep fried everything...refuses to exercise at all...and is dealing with all this stress/aggravation, is in TOP FORM...as his doctor's report states...

Well, I've got a Bridge to Sell You...

CHEAP!


(...I keep it in San Francisco...)

More Anon...

The Superbowl Post Game

Was it just me...or was that the oddest Superbowl ever????

For Tom Brady and the Patriots the 6th SB win.

Three quarters the only score on the board was their field goal.

(...later the Rams would get their own field goal tying it up at 3 and 3
in the 4th Quarter)

The Patriots would get the ONLY TD of the entire game...

Technically, from the whole defense thing...it was a brilliant game. Well matched neither team gave any quarter at all...preventing scoring.

From merely a spectator's POV though...yeah...people expect TDs and scoring during the Superbowl...just saying.

Pretty incredible half-time, though.

(...no, Not Maroon 5...or Big Boi with his car and coat...or the flames and half-naked heavily tattooed Adam Levine...)

We muted it...had our own halftime and got our snacks on for the second half...

                                ...BEST HALFTIME EVER...

And finally it was Brady to Edelman to Gronkowski to Michel for the ONLY touchdown of the game- with only minutes left on the clock...

And Belichick...almost cracked a smile.

Brady got another ring...and said he was playing until he was at least 45.

(...so I am guessing he is going for a complete set...)

Old age and treachery (...or ability) won out over youth and agility.

Edelman got MVP.

And all those people who paid thousands for good seats in Atlanta...well...they may have felt a bit cheated.

Oddest SB ever.

Fly-over magnificent, as always.

The anthem sung by Gladys Knight (sans Pips) and quite elegant. 

The commercials were equally good or terrible. No middle ground this year.

My very favorite

Harrison Ford's dog using Amazon's Alexa to order dog food...lots of dog food...and gravy and sausages...lol

"I'm not speaking to you."

And the Budweiser Mash-Up with Game of Thrones Finale 

And an honorable mention to the Return of The Dude

in the Stella Artois Commercial...


Shrimp and Good Cheeses and Crackers and Popcorn, Great Accommodations, Perfect Weather and Amazing Company...oh and a little football, too.

Looking forward to our Valentine's Brunch, John!


More Anon...

February...Groundhog's Day...Pre-Superbowl Pontification & More

The deep freeze appears to be over...and is being followed by The Big Thaw.
Looking for mid to high 50's tomorrow and Monday!!!
Most of our snow is already gone.

Today is Groundhog's Day 

"I told you what you wanted to hear...now put me the fuck down!!!"


Puxatawney Phil predicting an early Spring!

Wouldn't THAT be nice.

The Polar Vortex has taken me from

to my Seasonal Cry of

"I Could be Living on a Beach Somewhere"

in record time.

Yes.

Woke to this

On the front page of my Hoosier Topics this week!

So proud of you, Emma.

And love Nicole and Emma's new picture toegther.

You're both beautiful!

Preparing for tomorrow's Superbowl with John...running over the lists. Food to prepare...what to bring.

As well as planning breakfast before we start out.

This year's Superbowl Contenders

Face it...neither His (The Colts)
or Mine (The Saints)
or even OURS  (The Chiefs)

made it this year.

So we are stuck with

A Rams-Patriots Game

The Rams had a 13-3 Season (and spent quite a bit of it undefeated)

The Patriots had an 11-5 Season (although speculation that Brady was slowing down was proven false by his bringing the team once again to The Superbowl...if by now we've learned anything- it is that Brady does his best work under pressure.)

Some are billing this as a contest between The Young and The Old. (...I prefer the term seasoned...)

Geoff is 24 and this is his first Superbowl.

Brady is 41 and this will be his 9th (having won 5)

It looks like it is going to be a great match-up and a better than average game!

Although we are ALL seemingly suffering from

Pats in The Superbowl Burnout

(...again...really???)

The Rams beat my Saints...and one bad call put them here instead...so..yeah...
I'm going to have to cheer on The Patriots this year.

Various oddsmakers predicting 12 out of 19 for another Patriots win.

We'll see.

My post-game prattle on Tuesday.

Finishing up some baking...then settling in to watch The Replacements
(...my pre-game ritual..)

Have a great weekend...and see you after the game!

Baby, it's COLD Outside...

How COLD is it?

Cold enough that if you boil water and throw it in the air...it comes down as frozen snowy powder. Really.
Try it yourself.

Demonstrated

https://youtu.be/uAaLhr8k0bM

Cold enough that if you blow bubbles they freeze into beautiful glass-like spheres instantly.

 Slow Motion

https://youtu.be/Wqk_CKSxlyU

In Indiana today we were -12 degrees with a -40 wind chill.

In Chicago that would have seemed balmy with -27 degrees actual temperature and -50 wind chill.

and in Minnesota -37 real temperature with -60 to -70 degree wind chill.

Dangerously cold. Frostbite in <5 minutes exposure. 

Deadly cold.  

An outreach by the police and local governments to assist the homeless with shelter and warmth.  For those refusing to go...warm blankets, hats, scarves, gloves. 

Early this morning 3 deaths already attributed to the bitter cold. 

Certainly there will be more before Thursday night when (hopefully) this will break.

Emma (Tina's Niece) is ready to go...for their wedding...having found a gorgeous flower girl dress.

She is still one of the cutest Crazy-Cat Ladies in
Training.

And maybe I qualify as a Crazy Cat Lady now...because I have 2 and sometimes...they drive me a bit crazy.

Just saying.

Relaxing at home on a cold cold winter's day.

"Why yes, I am The Queen!"  ~Shelby

"Hey...You picking with ME?"  ~Sofi

Settled in for the next few days.

Hibernating. 

Good food, Snug warm home, Fresh canvas and working on a Winter Painting.

I put Soup Beans simmering with onion, butter and bacon and my DEN smells amazing!

News coming from Vietnam that Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay)  is quietly passing his remaining days in Plum Village where he trained as a monk.

And a new twist on yesterday's Before I Die Wall...

I love this!


More Anon...