Burly Whirly

Week 11/52

When I heard a loud scratching and creaking above, I looked up anticipating a tree limb about to crash down. A large, erratic brown flash startled me until I realized it was a winter weight squirrel the size of a fat cat staring me down.

- Cassaendra

Doghouse

Week 10/52

While we were taking a walking tour in Oita, I saw a red and white bear sleeping in a house.

- Cassaendra

Cat Walk

Week 09/52

While waiting to decide how many of us were entering Kumamoto Castle, I noticed a man walking across an intersection with his pet cat on a leash. Wait, a cat willingly [insert anything human here]? I can't get my cat to step through the threshold to go outside. That's probably a good thing, I suppose.

- Cassaendra

Ride

52-08 Fall ride

Before the weather turned, we went to the park and a long ride all over town. She enjoyed it and took a long nap curled in a blanket after she came home.

- Cassaendra

Scolded

Week 07/52

Akemi was scolded for hanging out in the kitchen trying to scavenge for any dropped goodies while Bug was chopping and cooking.

- Cassaendra

Nuts

Week 06/52

I could watch squirrels for hours. I ought to feed them this winter. We have a bag of pine nuts that we won't eat because Bug got pine mouth the last time he consumed them.  It didn't affect me. I would feel guilty if a squirrel starved to death because he had pine nut mouth.

- Cassaendra

Tails

This reminds me of a commercial that aired a year or so ago where a father asks his son if he ate a bag of cheese snacks. The kid looks at him innocently with an orange ring around his mouth.

Week 05/52

For weeks, I walked by this storefront wondering if this was just a random piece of desk/table curio without practical purpose. I suppose proclaiming you're a dog lover or your attitude about your workplace counts as a purpose.

Tremont Tails

They are wall hooks!

- Cassaendra

Exposure

Ah, no. We didn't strap reindeer antlers to our dog, Akemi.

Week 04/52

We visited the zoo recently and no one could coax this reindeer to come out from behind the tree. What does one really say? Here, reindeer, reindeer, reindeer? And why would it want to come out to a bunch of screaming kids?

I don't recall ever seeing velvety antlers. From where we were standing, they appeared soft like a puppy -- it probably isn't and likely doesn't smell as adorable). The velvet is scrubbed off once the antlers are fully grown and appears as we frequently see them drawn - bony.

- Cassaendra

Damsel

There really is a live critter in this photo, not an imagined one formed by negative space. A male (blacker head than female) robin sits on a wire with straw for his nest.

Week 03/52

Without much to update beyond this picture (Week 03/52) taken 2 weeks ago, first with the wonky weather and not wishing to chance carrying my camera and encountering sporadic deluges of rain to which we've been prone, then getting out of the habit of carrying a camera, I felt much regret this morning when I encountered my very first damselfly.

With four horizontal opaque black wings and an iridescent green-yellow line along its black body, I initially thought I encountered a dragonfly. When I arrived home, I plugged my description online and found out the insect was a damselfly, something I had never heard of.

- Cassaendra

Quiet Time

Week 02/52

With everyone napping, the house was quiet with only the buzzing of and water dripping from the air conditioner, two fans oscillating, and keyboard tapping. Perhaps the house wasn't that quiet. It felt still without racing critters and slamming doors. 

- Cassaendra

Curiosity

Bug and I were startled to see a lithe black and white cat racing across the street toward Akemi as we crossed the street this morning. We'll assume the friendly feline is a she and name her Curiosity.

When Curiosity reached within two feet of us, she halted as if rebuffed by a reality check bubble. She took a cautious perimeter around us as we walked over to a bench, then hid in the bush next to us. She appeared to be contemplating her next step, or wanted some privacy to poop.

Week 01a/52 - I am not here

Akemi had been on her hind legs leaning along the bench back anxiously watching her new friend who happens to look like our cat, Yoru. A few minutes later, the curious kitty rustled out of her hidey spot and crept forward along the cement planter border. Akemi strained at her leash to nose Curiosity from the side of the bench. That dog is fearless...or naive.

Week 01b/52 - Aww...

Satisfied with meeting Akemi, our new friend quietly sat with us suffering under the sweltering morning shade. At 06:30, it was over 80°F!

Week 01c/52

The cat slunk around from behind and sat before us. She had a dusty head and I didn't know how she would react to me touching her, so I resisted the urge to scritch behind her ear. This went on for several minutes, until I leaned forward and apologized, "Sorry, we don't have any food."

Seconds later, she sauntered off toward the doorway behind us, where she sat watching cars go by for several minutes, then disappeared into the yard next door. Did she really understand what I said?

Week 01d/52

Curiosity didn't kill or scratch the cat-dog (Akemi) today.

- Cassaendra