Photo of the Day: Evening Cicada

I think the first time I saw one of these, it was flying wildly through the air before crashing into me. Cicada-human collisions aren't all that uncommon from mid-August on, but they're still kind of freaky. Happily, this cicada (and his wall buddy... and the dozens of others making a racket in the garden next … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Evening Cicada

Photo of the Day: Summer Sparks

Summer fireworks and sparklers never get old. We had a few families stay the other night, and they all seemed to have the same idea—everyone had sparklers. In the end, it became a bit of a fireworks party. While I didn't get any photos of that night, Hisashi and Kaede had a mini-fireworks party this … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Summer Sparks

Photo of the Day: Seaside Squirrel

North Americans may say, "So what?" But squirrels like this are a rarity in Japan. There are flying squirrels in the mountains, and this kind of squirrel in... Kamakura! Legend has it they escaped from a zoo exhibit during a typhoon and made their way to our little city. Many a high school student has … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Seaside Squirrel

Photo of the Day: Tubular

The perfect way to cool down is riding small waves in the shallows. Mama Bear doesn't stray far, though. Water safety is so important, especially with wee ones in tubes. Already this summer, there have been multiple news reports of drownings, with various ages involved. Be careful out there, and remember that drowning doesn't look … Continue reading Photo of the Day: Tubular

Photo of the Day: House Crab

Crabs aren't just found on the beach—they live in rivers, yards, and even come crawling down the roads. This particular crab made its way to the top of our neighbour's concrete wall, and was enjoying a stroll when Hisashi spied him. He didn't appreciate me getting so close, but did do a bit of posing … Continue reading Photo of the Day: House Crab