Sunday, August 18, 2013

RETURN OF THE NINJA TURTLE


Spring is just around the corner ...
and we celebrated with lunch beside the Brisbane River ..

That's the Story Bridge, a Brisbane icon ...
Bridge Climbs an available option ..




and I was going to pass on dessert, too ...


The Red Cardinal Garden of Neglect has excelled, and produced three iris blooms ...
simultaneously ...


and I've been seen hanging about in toy stores again...
a certain little boy will be turning 4, very soon..

Did you know that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - those 80s dudes with the Renaissance artist monikers - are back in fashion?
Thought not..



Today we visited the Japanese Garden, a part of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens..





The azaleas are just beginning to bloom ..


I took a photo of a duck, only to find I also captured a lizard on a rock -
well, I hope its not a little crocodile ..


It was Japanese cultural day, with calligraphy, ikebana, tea ceremony,
 and rice cake making:




We had a little sample later - quite a tasty little morsel of dough..



Can you see the spider?
What a great web he/she has spun...


Wishing you sunshine and roses, wherever you be ..

XXXX



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26 comments:

  1. sandaAugust 18, 2013 at 9:04 AM

    A lovely group of pictures! Great shot of the spider web against the red foliage. That dessert looks delicious. Sorbet? Don't you just love Japanese gardens?

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    1. PatriciaAugust 19, 2013 at 2:40 AM

      Thanks Sanda. The dessert was a version of Strawberries Romanoff, but very different from my past experience of it. The pale pink is tinted cream, with a few strawberries folded through. The little dish is a small serve of sorbet. All thoroughly delicious, I might add. Japanese gardens are lovely; we have been to Japan a few times and gardens are my favourite thing there.

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  2. RosemaryAugust 19, 2013 at 12:59 AM

    It must have been interesting watching the rice cake making and the tea ceremony. I didn't realise that they pounded the rice up into a dough.
    Well Spring is on its way with you, have you actually had Winter?

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    1. PatriciaAugust 19, 2013 at 2:42 AM

      Despite having been to Japan a few times I had never seen the rice pounding, although my son did participate in this activity when he was on a student exchange years ago. The dough is quite smooth and light, and I realise I have probably eaten it in the past without knowing what it was. We have such a tiny bit of winter - a few days here and there. Another cold morning predicted for Wednesday: -1 degree. Have to enjoy these fleeting moments of chill.

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  3. valerietilsten59.blogspot.comAugust 19, 2013 at 5:46 AM

    How lucky you were to see the tea ceremony and the making of he rice cakes.
    I love rice cakes.. we have them here.. of course not the Japanese ones..
    The Botanic gardens look so beautiful..
    The "hostia" at mass is made of rice paper.. its amazing what comes from rice. Rice milk is good for you too. Of course rice pudding.. sushi with rice.. and lots more.
    Your first spring flowers have popped their heads out.. I bet you are looking forward to the warmer days.
    val xx

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    1. PatriciaAugust 19, 2013 at 4:02 PM

      Hello Val, I never knew the hostia was made from rice - maybe that is why it is so thin and white.
      My spring flowers are looking great - Mr C commented this morning on all the blooms. Once the summer hits the heat is too severe on the annuals.
      xx

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    2. The Silver BunnyAugust 20, 2013 at 6:29 AM

      It is so strange about the hostia, I wonder if it was always so ... I love that shot of the spider web, it is the most perfect I've ever seen !xx

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    3. PatriciaAugust 20, 2013 at 3:10 PM

      I was wondering that too - don't know the history of rice in Europe. Pleased with myself with the spider shot as I had to reach out over the bush and take it without checking the image first. xx

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  4. Red Rose AlleyAugust 19, 2013 at 7:06 AM

    The Japanese Garden is very beautiful and peaceful. It looks so green and groomed. Yes, I remember the Ninja Turtles! My son used to like them when he was a little boy. Can't believe they're coming back, how fun. I laughed when you called them 'those 80's dudes.'

    Have a blessed week.

    ~Sheri

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    1. PatriciaAugust 19, 2013 at 4:03 PM

      Hi Sheri and welcome to my blog. The Japanese garden is very beautiful, and strange to see it out of context in Australia. Our boys liked the Turtles too back in the day - I was quite surprised to see their return!

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  5. metteAugust 19, 2013 at 9:22 AM

    " Spring is just around the corner "..
    I don´t think I can take this one, as it means that winter is soon just around the corner for us here up ; ).
    Everything is so bright and exciting in your part of the world; actually it seems like another world.
    I have never quite understood the charm of the Japanese gardens ( too exotic for me ), but then I guess I don´t understand very many things in general, lol.
    What an exciting time for your grandson. Four years !
    I´d have to use a lot of imagination to buy something for a small boy, as I have had to deal with only girls so far - -

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    1. PatriciaAugust 19, 2013 at 4:06 PM

      Yes, Mette, the seasons keep on turning. Right now it is cold one day, and springtime the next. Soon it will be hot old summer (which I hate!)
      Japanese gardens look exotic to me, too, and while I love to look I could never create one for myself - I am much too messy and disorganised.
      I'm a bit jealous you have a little girl to buy for - I am good at boys now, but a girl would be lovely.

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  6. DarlaAugust 20, 2013 at 6:34 AM

    Since Iris are my favorite flowers I was happy to see those in your garden. We have often visited the Japanese Gardens in Golden Gate Park, S.F. but never attended a ceremony. I think I would have enjoyed that with you.

    Darla

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    1. PatriciaAugust 20, 2013 at 3:12 PM

      Iris are lovely; I look forward to their annual appearance here. I have never been to San Francisco but I understand there is a considerable Asian influence - I'll bet the Gardens there are excellent.

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  7. Debra TurnerAugust 21, 2013 at 6:24 AM

    That is a gorgeous area, Patricia. I'd love to visit and would definitely not pass up desert! Spending time by the water is soothing and fun.

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    1. PatriciaAugust 22, 2013 at 12:50 AM

      That is Brisbane, the sub-tropical easy-going paradise!

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  8. kristieinbcAugust 21, 2013 at 8:31 AM

    Lovely pictures, Patricia! I don't think I could have passed up that dessert either. :-)

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    1. PatriciaAugust 22, 2013 at 12:49 AM

      Thank you Kristie...strawberries are a health food, right? x

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  9. PatriciaAugust 22, 2013 at 12:04 AM

    Lovely post Patricia and gorgeous photos. The Japanese gardens are very pretty and the dessert very tempting.
    Patricia x

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    1. PatriciaAugust 22, 2013 at 12:51 AM

      Thanks P, It was quite the sensory weekend, now I think about it! x

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  10. Jenny WoolfAugust 22, 2013 at 3:03 AM

    What a load of lovely photos. My favourites are the Japanese garden ones. If I ever had a garden designed, I'd get a Japanese to do it in contemporary style and see what the result was.

    Oh and the icecream sorbet looks good ! :)

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    1. PatriciaAugust 22, 2013 at 3:22 AM

      Hi Jenny, the Japanese garden was very attractive; I find them very elegant and stylish. The sorbet was delish!

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  11. Shane PollardAugust 24, 2013 at 3:52 AM

    It looks like beautiful weather Patricia, not at all wintry like we are here.

    The Japanese garden looks lovely, I would have been interested in seeing the calligraphy and tea ceremony.

    I'm watching the All Blacks/Wallabies game - are you?!!!
    Then it's America's Cup Yachting in the morning!

    Shane xox

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    1. PatriciaAugust 25, 2013 at 3:20 AM

      Maybe I should have been watching the game, to send a bit of luck to the Aussies!
      And I see New Zealand is doing well in the America's Cup too. You Kiwis are punching way above your weight these days! xox

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  12. KathyAugust 25, 2013 at 2:35 PM

    What a super day of contrasts, Patrica - the modernity of central Brisbane and the ancient cultural traditions of Japan. What fun. :-)

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  13. PatriciaAugust 25, 2013 at 6:11 PM

    The perfect time of year for getting out in Brisbane - our very short Spring!

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