Amazing experience here out west last night. We drove 20 minutes out into the boonies to find a dark spot. The views were epic. Sensational. It's amazing to me how well iPhone cameras do. These are unprocessed, long-exposure shots:
In honor of Mother's Day tomorrow, here is a feature on Castella, a Japanese specialty that can be had from Amazon if one is not in Japan.
First, here is a just posted video from my recent visit to a Castella bakery and factory:
When Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Japan in 1854 with his fleet of Black Ships to break Japan's 250 some years of isolation, The Tokugawa Shogun's men served him a delicious Japanese cake that had been introduced to Japan by the Portuguese in the 16th Century prior to Japan's isolation. The recipe originated in Spain as reflected by the name Castella coming from the Spanish Bread or Cake of Castile. It is a soft airy sponge type pound cake with a texture closer to that of a chiffon cake. Its unique taste and flavor today is Japanese and the most sought after variety has a brown sugar crystal bottom.
The symbolism of that foreign sourced confectionary choice in conjunction with the foreign influence that would follow Perry's visit is evident.
Here in Nagasaki you can watch as huge sheets of the baked Castella cake are sliced and boxed at a Castella bakery factory:
And here are added photos beginning with the island of Dejima in Nagasaki which was the only place in Japan where foreign ships from China and the Netherlands were allowed during the isolation of the Edo Period before Commodore Perry opened Japan. On the island Castella was baked by the few Dutch merchants allowed to reside there.
Looks like fried chicken tonight. Some gravy and corn on
the cob and you have Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner.
I'll be over around 6:30 with a gallon of tea!!
Now for the backstory. The tulips are from Japan's largest theme park, Huis Ten Bosch which attempts to replicate Holland. In the Spring is the park's tulip festival which incorporates tulips throughout as evident in my recently taken photos there at the park located in Kyushu's Nagasaki Prefecture.
Plus some added bonus photos from last year's prior visit:
Returning to our just returned from Japan visit to Huis Ten Bosch here is an introduction to my Just posted video highlighting the park's new Three-Story Merry-Go-Round followed by the a link to the YouTube Video itself and some stills of the World's Tallest, and arguably largest, Merry-Go-Round:
Huis Ten Bosch, Japan's largest theme park now lays claim to having the tallest and largest Merry-Go-Round in the World. Built in 2022 its 15 Meter (50 feet) 3 stories dwarfs the previous record holder Wisconsin located "House on the Hill" Merry-Go-Round that stands at 10 Meters (35 feet) high.
The theme park marvel is Italian made and is situated in Huis Ten Bosch, a Dutch themed park named after the Royal Palace in The Hague. Watch this video to see for yourself the carousal's intricate and masterful construction.
FWIW this theme park also lays claim to having the first Robot Hotel, Henn-na Hotel which opened in 2015. Attractions include a canal boat ride through a land of windmills and tulips, a Ferris Wheel, and even a Teddy Bear Museum with a namesake Teddy Roosevelt diorama.
Watch and listen to the bubbling stream as together we follow its course to a secluded pond located in the historic Sangetsu Garden nestled at the base of a Hakone Japan mountain valley.
Today Sangetsu Garden is the property of Yoshiike Ryokan which is located close to Hakone Yumoto Train Station. Even for those who are not guests, for a nominal fee entry is allowed to the secluded garden with its magical ponds. The garden's history begins in 1904 when Iwasuki, one of the wealthiest captains of industry in Japan who headed Mitsubishi, built it in conjunction with a private residence.
Following my YouTube Video link are added scenes taken at the beginning of last month within Yoshiike Ryokan's same Sangetsuen Garden:
Join together with this American family as they experience for the first time a traditional Japanese Breakfast served at a Japanese Ryokan. On the menu are eggs, ham, and mushrooms cooked over the flames in a hot pot. Sushi is served on the side along with locally sourced vegetables and various delicacies.
The Ryokan is Yoshiike Ryokan located in Hakone Japan.
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USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
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HMS Bathtub
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These Asiactic Lillies are ln our front fower bed
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Wow, a rabbithashery.
This will be pretty interesting to some of you…
Yesterday I got a national bank note, from Asheville, where I work and close to where I live…
Anyway, today I located the actual bank that this note was issued from back in the early 1930s:
After work today, I got pictures of it.
My YouTube Channel
Lafayette Grading Set
Views of the auora borealis fom south west TN, 10:00 - 10:40.
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Task: Locating a Recipe for a "No Graham Cracker Cheesecake" like those served in Japan as pictured above.
Result: As pictured below:
300 years into the future and they still haven't solved the aging issue. The doctor with the skunk stripped hair looks terrible.
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Sgt York returning home from WWI
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Tom Selleck and Sam Elliot, 2 great actors
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...
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
Amazing experience here out west last night. We drove 20 minutes out into the boonies to find a dark spot. The views were epic. Sensational. It's amazing to me how well iPhone cameras do. These are unprocessed, long-exposure shots:
Above: 1946-48 Mercury, hard to tell specifically what year, mainly just trim changes.
Below: 1948 Mercury (Christmas 2024).
fka renman95, Sep 2005, 7,000 posts
Looks like a Full Houe
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this is really nice, and MS63 too.
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In honor of Mother's Day tomorrow, here is a feature on Castella, a Japanese specialty that can be had from Amazon if one is not in Japan.
First, here is a just posted video from my recent visit to a Castella bakery and factory:
When Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Japan in 1854 with his fleet of Black Ships to break Japan's 250 some years of isolation, The Tokugawa Shogun's men served him a delicious Japanese cake that had been introduced to Japan by the Portuguese in the 16th Century prior to Japan's isolation. The recipe originated in Spain as reflected by the name Castella coming from the Spanish Bread or Cake of Castile. It is a soft airy sponge type pound cake with a texture closer to that of a chiffon cake. Its unique taste and flavor today is Japanese and the most sought after variety has a brown sugar crystal bottom.
The symbolism of that foreign sourced confectionary choice in conjunction with the foreign influence that would follow Perry's visit is evident.
Here in Nagasaki you can watch as huge sheets of the baked Castella cake are sliced and boxed at a Castella bakery factory:
And here are added photos beginning with the island of Dejima in Nagasaki which was the only place in Japan where foreign ships from China and the Netherlands were allowed during the isolation of the Edo Period before Commodore Perry opened Japan. On the island Castella was baked by the few Dutch merchants allowed to reside there.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
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USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
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COWABUNGA
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Looks like fried chicken tonight. Some gravy and corn on
the cob and you have Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner.
I'll be over around 6:30 with a gallon of tea!!
I went back to that bank today and got a picture of the right angle to match the old black-and-white picture from around 1930:
Then I cropped it further and changed it to black-and-white to try to match the original:
My YouTube Channel
For Mother's Day here are Tulips:
Now for the backstory. The tulips are from Japan's largest theme park, Huis Ten Bosch which attempts to replicate Holland. In the Spring is the park's tulip festival which incorporates tulips throughout as evident in my recently taken photos there at the park located in Kyushu's Nagasaki Prefecture.
Plus some added bonus photos from last year's prior visit:
Returning to our just returned from Japan visit to Huis Ten Bosch here is an introduction to my Just posted video highlighting the park's new Three-Story Merry-Go-Round followed by the a link to the YouTube Video itself and some stills of the World's Tallest, and arguably largest, Merry-Go-Round:
Huis Ten Bosch, Japan's largest theme park now lays claim to having the tallest and largest Merry-Go-Round in the World. Built in 2022 its 15 Meter (50 feet) 3 stories dwarfs the previous record holder Wisconsin located "House on the Hill" Merry-Go-Round that stands at 10 Meters (35 feet) high.
The theme park marvel is Italian made and is situated in Huis Ten Bosch, a Dutch themed park named after the Royal Palace in The Hague. Watch this video to see for yourself the carousal's intricate and masterful construction.
FWIW this theme park also lays claim to having the first Robot Hotel, Henn-na Hotel which opened in 2015. Attractions include a canal boat ride through a land of windmills and tulips, a Ferris Wheel, and even a Teddy Bear Museum with a namesake Teddy Roosevelt diorama.
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
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Reading & Northern #2102 test run for the 2024 season.
INYNWHWeTrust-TexasNationals,ajaan,blu62vette
coinJP, Outhaul ,illini420,MICHAELDIXON, Fade to Black,epcjimi1,19Lyds,SNMAN,JerseyJoe, bigjpst, DMWJR , lordmarcovan, Weiss,Mfriday4962,UtahCoin,Downtown1974,pitboss,RichieURich,Bullsitter,JDsCoins,toyz4geo,jshaulis, mustanggt, SNMAN, MWallace, ms71, lordmarcovan
INYNWHWeTrust-TexasNationals,ajaan,blu62vette
coinJP, Outhaul ,illini420,MICHAELDIXON, Fade to Black,epcjimi1,19Lyds,SNMAN,JerseyJoe, bigjpst, DMWJR , lordmarcovan, Weiss,Mfriday4962,UtahCoin,Downtown1974,pitboss,RichieURich,Bullsitter,JDsCoins,toyz4geo,jshaulis, mustanggt, SNMAN, MWallace, ms71, lordmarcovan
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Second generation Carmen Miranda.
At Bright's Zoo in Limestone, Tennessee there recently was born a
spotless giraffe. The babies name is Kipekee. Translates to "unique"
in Swahili.
Watch and listen to the bubbling stream as together we follow its course to a secluded pond located in the historic Sangetsu Garden nestled at the base of a Hakone Japan mountain valley.
Today Sangetsu Garden is the property of Yoshiike Ryokan which is located close to Hakone Yumoto Train Station. Even for those who are not guests, for a nominal fee entry is allowed to the secluded garden with its magical ponds. The garden's history begins in 1904 when Iwasuki, one of the wealthiest captains of industry in Japan who headed Mitsubishi, built it in conjunction with a private residence.
Following my YouTube Video link are added scenes taken at the beginning of last month within Yoshiike Ryokan's same Sangetsuen Garden:
Join together with this American family as they experience for the first time a traditional Japanese Breakfast served at a Japanese Ryokan. On the menu are eggs, ham, and mushrooms cooked over the flames in a hot pot. Sushi is served on the side along with locally sourced vegetables and various delicacies.
The Ryokan is Yoshiike Ryokan located in Hakone Japan.
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members