A Sunny Day with White Clouds Blowin' By

Rooftop Scene

Walking to the office this morning, I stopped to buy some coffee at mom and pop store.

They were watching TV and got all excited about something.

Looking up, I saw what it was; Tropical Cyclone #18 might be coming to Okinawa.

The skies were beautiful today so, I climbed up on the roof to get some sunshine.

Things could get pretty dismal around here next week; lots of rain and no sun, for me.

After about two hours of soaking-up vitamin D, I had 180 photos to download.

The animated GIF doesn't have any music, to go along with it but, I like it best.

Some cool tunes were located, to spruce up the YouTube video.

Maybe, I'll go back and see if, I can make a better video, while it rains next week.

Could Use a Little More Sunshine Around Here

Somebody Opened the Spigot Again !

 

 

It was almost like a summer day, yesterday and, I got a good six hours of sun. 

Well, I must have insulted, somebody up there because, the island is getting hosed today.

To cheer myself up, I dug up this photo from last June, taken from a boat.

It's better than, walking around, outside, with an umbrella but, it didn't quite do the trick.

So, I went over to YouTube and found a tune that might tickle everybody.

Hearing Johnny Cash and June Carter, sing that tune was alright.

But, watching them, get the audience going, was even better.

Someone needs to figure out a way to re-distribute rainfall and sunshine, around the globe.

Okinawa got a fair share of water.  Give the rain to somebody, who really needs it. 

Then, I promise, I'll sing this tune in the shower, everyday !

What the Heck Is a Teru Teru Bōzu?

Spooky Looking Things

 

 

Somewhere in the past, I've run across these things hanging from trees.

Now, I can't remember if it was in a museum photo, a magazine or, online somewhere.

With Halloween approaching, I've been meaning to hunt one of them down.

And, after doing some research, give you a story about the little rag dolls.

It all came together this morning, when I saw one on Facebook.

Teru Teru Bōzu ( 照る照る坊主) are Japanese dolls, you can make from cloth or paper.

In Japan, kids are taught to make and hang them, the day before a special event.

It is believed, the next day, the sun will shine and, there will be no rain. 

This One Was Made from Two Tissue Papers

 

 

The instructions were found at Japan Reference and, I made my own in 5 minutes.

You can probably do it a lot faster; there wasn't any string in my office.

A pipe-cleaner, I found in my desk was an alright substitute.

Not certain there's any scientific evidence, to back me up but, so far, it hasn't rained all day.

We'll have to wait and see, how things turn out tomorrow and, I can hardly wait.

It's Only a Nursery Rhyme 

But, if it rains tomorrow, I get to cut doll's head off !

Hopefully, the people over at Japan Reference won't mind me sharing this translation:

"Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu

Do make tomorrow a sunny day

Like the sky in a dream sometime

If it’s sunny I’ll give you a golden bell.

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu

Do make tomorrow a sunny day

If you make my wish come true

We’ll drink lots of sweet sake.


Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu

Do make tomorrow a sunny day

but if it’s cloudy and I find you crying (i.e. it’s raining)

Then I shall snip your head off."

 

 

More at Japanese Mythology and Folklore

GIFs from a Summer Festival in Okinawa Japan

Kin Town August 2014

 

 

This is one great thing about storing photos on an external drive.

The GIFs were made from photos taken around 6PM local time and, the sun was shining.

It was hot, back then and I bet lots of folks were wishing the sun would go down.

If you look outside at 6PM these days, the sun has been long gone.

To get my required amount of sunshine, I go back and look at old photo files.

It probably, doesn't give me the right dosage of vitamin D.

But, looking at photos of the sun shining sure makes life feel better !

Some Cosmos to Look at on Rainy Days and a Dang Cocoon

Will the April Showers Ever End ?

 

Somebody needs to tell the rainmaker, we've had enough.

This photo was taken back in March.

We really don't need any more April showers to bring on the May flowers.

Flowers, bloom year round in Okinawa, Japan.

Sunshine, is what's needed.

Being Cooped Up on Rainy Days Can Make You Go Buggy

 

As a matter of fact, I'm babysitting a bug, right now.

It's some sort of cocoon, I found crawling around so, I captured it.

Instead of me getting all bloody, crawling after it, I put it in a clear cup.

That way, if it ever decides to come out, I can shoot it with my camera.

Experience Has Taught Me

 

Chasing little insects with a DSLR can ruin your day.

In the past, I have shredded my jeans, bloodied my elbows and knees and destroyed my office.

It happened because, I wanted to know what that thing, in a cocoon was.

We bought a special bug cage for it.

And, it died before I could ever figure out what it was.

Now, I wish I wouldn't have threw that stupid bug cage away.

Bug Experts Advised Me

 

Keep the thing alive until it matures.  Then, you'll be able to identify it.

So, that's the plan, this time around.

The little rascal gets around.  It escaped once.  And, I found it crawling on my ladder.

Now, it's in a pudding cup with another pudding cup taped above it.

As long as it isn't allergic to Scotch Tape, we'll be in business.

But, if the sun comes out this week, I'm outta here.

The cocoon and pudding cups, I'd give away for free.

This rainy weather make me crazy !

Related Posts:

Free to a Good Home

Ladybug in My Office

Lessons Learned From a Lizard

Banana Leaves in the Rain: Photos

Somebody has to stop the rain in Okinawa, Japan.

Outdoor photographers have minimum daily requirements for sunshine.

The sun isn't shining and it's raining so, here's what you get, today.

The photo above, was taken from the underside of a banana leaf.

Here is what it looks like out from under the leaf, in the rain.

Banana leaves make terrific umbrellas, as long as they haven't been shredded by a typhoon.

 

As a special bonus, after shooting the banana leaves from both sides, there it is.

You get to see what a banana tree looks like in the rain, too.

Around here, we get to see banana trees, everyday and probably take them for granted.

There all all sorts of things banana trees and the leaves have been used for.

Just for the heck of it, I dug this up for those who enjoy cooking

Around the World: 10 Ways to Cook With Banana Leaves

Shoot.  If it doesn't quit raining soon, my landlord will be missing one of those banana leaves.

I forgot my umbrella !

Visit my website for today's Feature Photo

Shop Amazon - Top Holiday Deals Event

Photo of the Week: From Itoman Okinawa

 

It's been a few days since anything got posted here or, on the website.

Just a quick  photo from Itoman's Tug-O-War and I have to get going.

There are hundreds more photos from the event, plus some typhoon damage pictures to work on.

More about Typhoon Jelawat, later.

All is well with the Ryukyu Crowd and it was great seeing the sun shine yesterday.

There will be some things to show and tell you about the Itoman City folks, too.

They are awesome !

Visit my homepage for today's Feature Photo

The Sun Ain't Shinin' So I Flipped Some Birds (Photos)

This November weather is rough on me.  I need my sunshine or I can get cranky.

The sun just ain't shinin' in Okinawa today.  Groan.

Here's a few bird photos I shot last year in November.

We had sunshine back then and you didn't hear me grumbling about it.

Something had to be done to cheer me up or I couldn't write a blog today.

So, I flipped a few birds....

Photo Credit: RyukyuRu

.....took a l'il nap.....

AND NOW I'M READY FOR ACTION AGAIN

Try it the next time the sun ain't shinin' where you live.

FLIP SOME BIRDS.  It's good for your health !

VISIT MY HOMEPAGE FOR THE PHOTO OF THE DAY

Sunday Photo: Dragonboats and Sunshine

This photo was taken Sunday June 5, 2011 at the Onna Son Seaport in Okinawa, Japan during the annual Dragonboat Races.  We had brilliant sunshine most of the day and I'll be developing a few hundred more photos from the event during the week. It was a blast !

Visit my Homepage for THE PHOTO OF THE DAY

Flower Photo: Hydrangea in Izumi Okinawa, Japan

What a day it turned out to be!  It started with rain but, we had several hours of sunshine today.

Another big surprise was the Hydrangea Flowers up in Izumi are still blooming. 

I thought for sure the typhoon would have wiped them out.

The hills were crawling with people. You could hardly get a photo without tourists popping into the frame. 

So, I shot a few with people in them. 

Look at that dude, smiling up there. Hah ! 

I almost cropped the girls out of the photo so I could title it "Find Herman" or "One of These Things is not Like the Rest" but, that'd be mean.  Shucks.

There are plenty more photos being processed but, this is it for today. I'm hoping the weather gurus are correct and we'll have sun again tomorrow. 

If I can manage to find a link or map to post for anyone interested in going up to see the Hydrangea of Izumi Okinawa I'll getterdun.  Then, I'm outta here.

Enjoy your weekend, wherever you are.  That's my plan.  SOLAR POWER, baby.  Gotta love it !


Here's a link with directions for anyone on Okinawa who wants to DRIVE UP THERE.