Happy 4th of July!!

That's right - smile!!  We're about to go on another computer-chair trip around the world.  Does everyone have their bow ties on?

Tea plantations are beautiful places. Pour yourself a cup and settle back for the trip.

The person who sent me this great card from Australia has "1 husband, 5 children, 1 dog, 2 cats, 8 chooks, 5 ducks, 3 goats and 30 head of cattle".  I had to Google "chooks" to find out that it's slang for chickens in Australia.

From chooks to chunks of marble, at the Athens Acropolis Museum.  Wouldn't it be amazing to see art that's about 2000 years old?  Notice how all the noses are broken off?  No one nose how this happened.

Here in the U.S. we tend to think of "Indians" as being our own, but Canada has quite a native heritage as well. This handsome fellow is an Alberta Cree Indian.

Here in Oregon, the weather on this 4th of July is very comfortable, but some of you in other locations may be experiencing a lot of heat right about now.  Just focus on this snowy Finnish scene and meditate on the word "brrrrr".

Enjoy your barbecues, fireworks, families and whatever else you experience today.

You may now unfasten your seat belts and remove your bow ties.

Looking East

A little trip to the Orient today. First stop, a Japanese castle that was built in 1611.

This is Hirosaki-jo Castle in northeastern Japan. Be sure to visit here in April or May when the 2600 cherry trees on the grounds are in bloom. Originally built with five stories, the castle was destroyed by lightning in 1627. (Remember that bad storm?)  It was rebuilt with only three stories. Apparently the lightning gods approved because it hasn't burnt to the ground since then.

Oh, one more thing: this area is known for having the best apples in Japan, so you will find apple juice, apple treats, apple-everything; eat up.

This is a painting from China called "Skillful Wife". She appears to be sewing up her cats, which I've been tempted to do a few times myself, especially when Malcolm wakes me up at 3:30 am for treats.

This is what you might have worn had you been an official or a member of the nobility during China's Han Dynasty. If anyone can translate the Chinese characters on the card, please let me know. It's probably just laundry instructions - cold water, with like colors, no starch. No, wait, it looks like starch WAS used. How would you like to stand like THAT all day?

And finally, back to Japan for one of my favorite art cards.

Asian art is so beautiful.  I love it.