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Mid-June Update
Jun. 22nd, 2015 02:37 pmGuest #4 at Anime-ZING 2015 --- some lady who moved to the Midwest from Japan, who currently teaches Japanese and calligraphy at a local Community college, and is a self-proclaimed cultural ambassador. I am SO THRILLED that my pre-registration dollars are providing such Quality Guests this year. NOT.
Edited for Correction: I was wrong about her teaching community college classes. Apparently the lady in question operates an art studio of sorts and offers classes in Japanese, art, calligraphy, etc., and demonstrations of various Japanese cultural practices -- by appointment, although the building is open to the public on weekends for tours. Now that I think about it, this might be the same group (?) that hosted an exhibit on anime in general and Studio Ghibli /My Neighbor Totoro in particular awhile back (maybe 5-8 years ago?). They had models of the CatBus and Totoro's camphor tree that kids could climb on and pose for pictures. So maybe not such a fly-by-night, light-weight choice for a convention guest as I assumed, but still not what I'd call a Major Attraction....
On a brighter note, Daughter says we're done shopping for cosplay materials.
For the past two weeks (minus yesterday and the day before) it. has. rained. every. effing. day. There was water in our basement for most of that time. My Mom's sump-pump failed, and HER basement had water in it.... and we didn't hear about it until last night. My Mom is a very independent lady, but sometimes she doesn't quite get the point -- that sometimes, just because you can do it yourself doesn't mean you HAVE to!!! Ugh. Thank goodness for the ex-brother-in-law who, even though he and Sister split 10 years ago, had remained on good terms with Mom (and Dad).
Anyway, during the two days of mostly sunshine this weekend, Husband and I managed some more garden work. Five Tomato plants, two cukes, three bell peppers, assorted herbs, and pole beans. The pole beans are mostly on faith.... I planted the seeds, Husband put up the doubled fencing and sprayed coyote pee, errr, Rabbit & Squirrel repellent around the perimeter; but I'm darned if I can tell whether or not those are actually beans sprouting under the windmill! My porch railing flower boxes are doing well; likewise my planter lettuce patch and planter cherry tomatoes. The Butterfly/Prairie Garden has been expanded to include two blue Veronica plants, the Cone Flower is making a good recovery (Wascally wabbits!!! Nipped the flower heads right off two nights after planting!), and part of the area along the back fence has been cleared and sown with milkweed seeds and purple iris. And I indulged in a bit of whimsy by creating a 'FAIRY GARDEN' in a large planter bowl on the mudroom porch, with leftover herbs/flowers and a bought accessories kit. It was fun.
And we actually did some laundry. Finally.
Edited for Correction: I was wrong about her teaching community college classes. Apparently the lady in question operates an art studio of sorts and offers classes in Japanese, art, calligraphy, etc., and demonstrations of various Japanese cultural practices -- by appointment, although the building is open to the public on weekends for tours. Now that I think about it, this might be the same group (?) that hosted an exhibit on anime in general and Studio Ghibli /My Neighbor Totoro in particular awhile back (maybe 5-8 years ago?). They had models of the CatBus and Totoro's camphor tree that kids could climb on and pose for pictures. So maybe not such a fly-by-night, light-weight choice for a convention guest as I assumed, but still not what I'd call a Major Attraction....
On a brighter note, Daughter says we're done shopping for cosplay materials.
For the past two weeks (minus yesterday and the day before) it. has. rained. every. effing. day. There was water in our basement for most of that time. My Mom's sump-pump failed, and HER basement had water in it.... and we didn't hear about it until last night. My Mom is a very independent lady, but sometimes she doesn't quite get the point -- that sometimes, just because you can do it yourself doesn't mean you HAVE to!!! Ugh. Thank goodness for the ex-brother-in-law who, even though he and Sister split 10 years ago, had remained on good terms with Mom (and Dad).
Anyway, during the two days of mostly sunshine this weekend, Husband and I managed some more garden work. Five Tomato plants, two cukes, three bell peppers, assorted herbs, and pole beans. The pole beans are mostly on faith.... I planted the seeds, Husband put up the doubled fencing and sprayed coyote pee, errr, Rabbit & Squirrel repellent around the perimeter; but I'm darned if I can tell whether or not those are actually beans sprouting under the windmill! My porch railing flower boxes are doing well; likewise my planter lettuce patch and planter cherry tomatoes. The Butterfly/Prairie Garden has been expanded to include two blue Veronica plants, the Cone Flower is making a good recovery (Wascally wabbits!!! Nipped the flower heads right off two nights after planting!), and part of the area along the back fence has been cleared and sown with milkweed seeds and purple iris. And I indulged in a bit of whimsy by creating a 'FAIRY GARDEN' in a large planter bowl on the mudroom porch, with leftover herbs/flowers and a bought accessories kit. It was fun.
And we actually did some laundry. Finally.
