Tuesday, December 20, 2022

DIY All Natural Fruit Fly Killer

 Just A Drop of Dish Soap


There has been way too much rain this month for my usual Full Moon photography.

It did make some short appearances but, avoided my fooling around with the camera.

Spending plenty of time indoors I noticed fruit flies hanging around the kitchen.



 

In Japan, this is what Apple Cider Vinegar in a bottle looks like.

It's been a while since I searched the internet for a natural way to eliminate these bugs.

So, you might want to Google it yourself for recipes.






Here's how it all started. Just put one drop of dish soap in a container.

If you like feeling silly, sing a Mary Poppins song, the pesty insects might like it, too!




The Bottle of Vinegar May Last a Whole Year!


Sometimes I'll put a splash of vinegar on my salad but, not even a teaspoon full.

For the month of December, I'm posting a photo of how many fruit flies have drowned.





 Not bad, considering I spilled the thing once after the first week, trying to count the bugs.

There aren't any more fruit flies buzzing around my apples, bananas, and pears.

Some folks would probably suggest keeping fruits in the refrigerator.

But, that would put way too much restriction on how many beers could fit in there!


Here's a Pioneer Woman's Recipe, I found for you to try.


Have Safe and Happy Holidays!

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Horrible Blood Moon November 2022

 Wind and Clouds with Camera Shake


Normally I wouldn't post terrible photography like this or, even process the images.

But, I got thinking. "Why not show the world how it really gets sometimes?"




The clouds blocked out the moon many times and the wind was blowing, shaking my camera.

This is how the moon looks sometimes after 10 too many beers.

About a dozen times I tried (unsuccessfully) to get a nice sharp image.



It Never Happened



The photo I would have liked to publish never got taken.

But, I was out there and got to witness the Full Blood Moon of November 2022.





Some photo editing was done to attempt to clear the blurred image.

But, shaky hands don't do the best job of patching things up.

If you all don't mind now, I'll go back to bed.

Sunday, October 30, 2022

Ghost of Nanachi-baka

 Located in Makishi, Naha, Okinawa


Not far from Miebashi Station on Yui Rail is a hill we'll call Nanachi-baka.

Best translated as Seven Tombs for the family burial sites which stood there.

Surrounded by the concrete of Naha, it's on private property but the woods are visible.




Thanks to Google Earth Pro you can see the terrain. There's a bit of greenery in the image.

Whenever you spot a grove of trees on a hill in the city, assume it's some sort of sacred place.

If it weren't special, developer bulldozers would have claimed the land.






Another scene borrowed from a Google Earth screenshot at ground level.

Miebashi Station is on the left side of the image frame.



Show Us the Ghost!



Alright, alright first let me do some explaining.

After three days of unsuccessfully trying to reach Banksy here's what I decided.

Draw the pictures myself or attempt to sketch them with a pencil and paper.

Should a real artist show up, these sketches will be replaced. I promise.




Nearby this grove of trees a young woman would purchase candy around closing time.

She hands the cashier Japanese yen to pay for the sweets. Then off she goes.

The problem is, the next morning the shopkeeper noticed the money had changed.

The yen note had turned into uchikabi (symbolic paper notes) given to dead spirits.




Kind of Mysterious



These little mom-and-pop stores are in competition with some big chains.

So, to stay in business, you have to keep an eye on the profits.

Next time that gal comes into the store late at night she's going to be followed home.





Sure enough, another night the woman comes by and gets more candy, paying with yen.

The store owner follows from a distance. It's dark outside.

The girl with the candy goes into the woods of Nanachi-baka and disappears. 

At one of the tombs, a baby could be heard crying. The storekeeper looked inside.

The woman who bought the sweets was dead.  Candy wrappers were near the baby.

Local villagers made sure the mother got a proper burial and raised the child.

The ghost was never seen again.

Happy Halloween!



PROMISE


This is the last time I will try doing sketches!



Sunday, October 9, 2022

October 2022 Full Moon Over Okinawa

 The Rabbit Showed Up Again




A few months out of this year the monthly full moon was hidden by clouds and rain.

Last night we got to see the lunar event and the rabbit was sitting upright, as well!






Just in case there wouldn't be any lunar events visible that night, I had a plan.





Early the morning before the full moon, I could try to catch the moon setting.




And, just in case I don't get around to posting again this month, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Sunday, August 14, 2022

August Full Moon Over Okinawa

 Last Night of Obon



For those unfamiliar with local customs, Okinawa, Japan has a three-day holiday called Obon.

It is believed that the spirits of the deceased visit their family during this time.

The light of the full moon guides them back to the heavens.







 The weather had us worried because clouds and rain periodically ruined the view.

At 10 minutes past 8 PM the shutter was snapped on the scene.

Thursday, July 14, 2022

July 2022 Full Moon Over Okinawa, Japan

 It Peeked Through Clouds at 7:47 PM






For the past few months, Full Moon Photography was practically impossible.

Last night, just a few minutes were spent on the roof, capturing this shot.

Monday, May 30, 2022

Rainy Season in Okinawa Ain't All Bad

 



Stay Home and Complain if, You Like



The full moon was hidden from us this month and that was a little disappointing.

We can't let the rainstorms ruin our whole month. So here's what we've been doing.

Call it Back Roads Waterfall Photography.



It's Therapeutic



We're not talking about some famous falls like Niagara in the USA.

Not even visiting the famous waterfalls in Okinawa.

During the rainy season, some waterfalls, just pop-up out of nowhere.

They may not be bubbling, babbling, and spitting out water in the jungles all year long.

In the hills of Kunigami, there are falls you will hear before you can see them.

Not as famous as all those tourist attractions waterfalls sound good to me.

Here, you can enjoy the exhilarating, breathtaking, calming, splashing outdoors nature.

Call it whatever you like, it's soothing to me and, an important part of Okinawa's rainy season.

Saturday, April 16, 2022

The April 2022 Full Moon Over Okinawa

 It Wasn't Easy



Living on an island the weather can be tricky.  Knowing this, I make plans for moon shots.

Like, climbing onto the roof of my house hours ahead of moonrise.

The camera and tripod are pointed  East in the general direction of the anticipated full moon.

The moon was supposed to rise shortly after 5:30 but, I knew it may take an hour to be visible.

There were thick clouds on the horizon. It would be nice to catch moonrise over the ocean.

But, I knew it would be a waste of time, walking down to sea level.  My roof would be better.






Standing on the roof, I kept looking off to the east for some gold-colored light in the sky.

It seemed as if the moon would never make an appearance. 

Eat lots of coffee candies, talk to the dog, zip up the jacket, stare off into the sky.

It must have been in the low 60's Farenheight. When it's windy that's freezing in Okinawa.

At 7:34 PM for a few seconds, the moon shined through the clouds.

A quick snap of the camera shutter and it was gone again. Miserable night!

Everything was tightened securely and, I covered the camera lens.

Downstairs, I told the wife the camera could stay on the roof overnight. 

There wouldn't be any decent full moon photos today. GROAN



About an Hour Later



Downstairs I played some Solitaire on the computer and checked email and SNS sites.

YAWN, when it's dark outside the sleep monster crawls up on my shoulders.

First, I went to the kitchen and looked outside to see if any moon had shown up.






Hallelujah!


There it was, a big bright moon with hardly any clouds around it!

Quickly, I prepared one photo for posting on Instagram and Facebook then hurried off to bed.

One good photo of the moon with the Rabbit facing upwards was all I needed.

Y'all know, I don't believe in the Easter Bunny. But, just in case.....









Saturday, April 2, 2022

Praying Mantis - It Won't Eat People

 Praying Mantis: Kamakiri (カマキリ) in Japan



We've seen these characters before. This one was found in my garden.

The photo was sent off to iNaturalist, to get a positive identification.







Over there I learned the Scientific Name: Hierodula patellifera.

The Common Name would be Giant Asian Mantis.

The experts let me know, that my subject was a female of the species.


There's Good News for Gardeners



These Praying Mantis females can lay hundreds of eggs, increasing the population.

A Mantis will devour all kinds of bugs, visiting your plants.

They eat pests like mosquitoes, flies, stinkbugs, maybe even lizards, snakes, and mice.


Along With the Good, I Must Share the Bad News, Too



Before you start running around, shopping for Praying Mantis to place in the garden, wait.

These characters will eat beneficial bugs. And, they've been known to eat little birds.

Sometimes, while they're mating, they eat their mate, too. 



More Information You Might Want to Know




A Praying Mantis can rotate its head 180 degrees and look at you over its shoulder.

After taking about 75 photos with my iPhone, I asked my wife if, she would hold it for me.

She said, "Ew, no" and almost crawled away from the kitchen, on the ceiling.

Then, I Googled it some more and learned that Mantis bugs won't bite people.



Resources for More Information





Saturday, March 19, 2022

The Full Moon Finally Showed Its Face

 Last Night's Lunacy



Capturing my first Full Moon images for the year 2022 was a bit of a challenge.

Knowing the moon would be at 100% on Friday night, I prepared early.

Standing on the roof of my house, the tripod and camera were ready an hour before moonrise.

It was cloudy and windy. Black clouds moved quickly across the sky.






Here's a Favorite Image



Close to 100 times the shutter button was pushed and held for 3 shot series.

Normally, I would use the camera timer but, tonight there wouldn't be any use.

Clouds would blow across the moon's surface and block the light.

Half of the images taken were thrown away, I only saved some of the cloudy ones for you.







Google Photos Helped Create This Animation



There are three days each month, where full moon photography may be worthwhile.

So far, this year the weather and my physical condition, haven't been cooperative.

Last night was a blessing and, I'll leave moon-chasing to someone else for tonight.

Let's hope this end-of-winter-moon brings us a warm spring.

And an improved world situation, as well!