a lovely flutter-by

Dear Ron,
thanks for this amazing and surprising gift...
I cannot believe that he made my butterfly move!
Love ya and heaps of hugs, Chris


using my original mosaic's pics...


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A friend can always make your days worthwhile.

"A friend can always make your days worthwhile."
~ a friend


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SIMPLE GIFTS

SIMPLE GIFTS



1. 'Tis a gift to be simple,
2. 'Tis a gift to be free,
3. 'Tis a gift to come down,
4. Where we ought to be,
5. And when we find ourselves,
6. In the place that's right,
7. 'Twill be in the valley,
8. Of love and delight

~ Ninteenth~ Century Shaker Hymn


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Prayers not felt by us are seldom heard by God.

"Prayers not felt by us are seldom heard by God."
~ Philip Henry


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To Everything There is a Season And a Time to Every Purpose

I have many handicrafts as decorations in our apartment.
This is a cross-stitch embroidery that I made in 1994.


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"I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks."

"I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks."
~ William Shakespeare


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Dear friends,

It seems so hard to imagine that my birthday has passed. I really cannot thank everyone enough for all of the lovely cards and messages.

You always help make my flickr days the wonderful!

Thank you for your thoughtfulness!

Love ya and heaps of hugs, Chris


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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

WHAT IS A MOTHER
by Helen Steiner Rice

"It takes a Mother's Love
to make a house a home,
A place to be remembered,
no matter where we roam.

It takes a Mother's Patience,
to bring a child up right,
And her Courage and her Cheerfulness
to make a dark day bright.

It takes a Mother's Thoughtfulness
to mend the heart's deep "hurts,"
And her Skill and her Endurance
to mend little socks and shirts.

It takes a Mother's Kindness
to forgive us when we err,
To sympathize in trouble
and bow her head in prayer.

It takes a Mother's Wisdom
to recognize our needs
And to give us reassurance
by her loving words and deeds.

It takes a Mother's Endless Faith,
her Confidence and Trust
To guide us through the pitfalls
of selfishness and lust.

And that is why in all this world
there could not be another
Who could fulfill God's purpose
as completely as a MOTHER!"






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"A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world."

"A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world."
~ Leo Buscaglia


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"Anything and everything is possible."

Please pick up your copy here for display on your profile.







Please pick up your copy here for display on your profile.


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2009 New Horizons Digital Breast Cancer Awareness Quilt

For anyone wanting to see more, here is a link to view it in original size.

This version has personal statements mentioning the contributor's memories to their quilt square.

Below is my square... please check the original size link to look at the other contributor's squares.










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I'm Celebrating my 4 year flickrversary!

On 29th April, 2005... I joined flickr...

I'm Celebrating! It is my 4 year flickrversary!

It doesn't seem that long ago... How time flies when I'm having fun!



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2009 Breast Cancer DIGITAL Quilt project...

This is my advertising quilt square... Please read about the story of why this project is so important to me.

--------------------------------------------

When I was 6 years old, my Mom told me about breast cancer. That was the age she told me the story of her Mom, and how she passed away from this disease in 1951 (a few years before I was born).

My Grandmother couldn't overcome this disease and twenty years later, my Mom couldn't overcome this disease. However, my Mom often mentioned her care was so much more intensive than her own Mom's. My Mom passed away in 1971 of breast cancer, too.

Here is a favor to ask... could please help us with making this quilt. Mimitalks has created some beautiful templates this year. Please share a little bit of your creativity and make your own square for this digital quilt. Last year's was so gorgeous when it was finished.

Everything helps make it one more step closer to finding the cure! And, this quilt helps as one of those steps!

--------------------------------------------

We're doing it again. Making a Digital Breast Cancer Awareness Quilt! Theme is New Horizons. To be published May 1, 2009. The Quilt is created...just waiting for all 24 squares to be filled! And Mimitalks needs your help!

Read all about it on my Flickr stream (see link), get your instructions and pick a quilt square template out of the 2 available in which to place images and/or text in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness. It's so easy this year and everything is already designed!! Go to

www.flickr.com/photos/mimitalks/3313478590/

--------------------------------------------




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To my Dad, as little girl, I was always his Princess.

This is a scanned photo of me (martian cat) at the age of 6 years old.

My Dad always treated me like his little Princess.

I scanned it for use with the 2009 Digital Quilting Project... We are all in this together...


Childhood memories are what you cherish so much!



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To dream the impossible dream...

a much younger me...




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Habit of Singing

Habit of Singing

1. Make a habit of singing,
The day won't seem so long,

2. As you sing, or even whisper
The words of a beautiful song,

3. For God has given us music
And has taught us how to sing,

4. To chase away our worries and
Find good in everything.

written by Helen Marshall Van Pelt



memories from a flower museum in Chiba, Japan...



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Our Christmas cake...

In Japan, it is a tradition to have a special cake for Christmas.
These cakes are lovely to look at and delicious to eat!

This is the cake that my hubby and I shared on Christmas eve.


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To a friend who needs our love...

Some loving thoughts... this was created because a dear friend's son passed away. I weeped tears the day he he left his Mama.


But, the sentimental meaning happens to be close to my heart.

Please cherish each and every day... they are your treasure...



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Keeping your eyes on the cure...

Please do not overlook the examinations that everyone (men and women) should have to keep their eye on their own health conditions.

hugs...


memories... more later...

Give your smiles away... they create happiness...

Give your smiles away... they create happiness...
~ a friend


another lovely memory from my 2007 trip to the States...




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Charms for a cure!

Let's work together to help find a cure...
Remember... October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.



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Light a Candle of Hope for the Cure!

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Take time to dream -- it is hitching your wagon to a star.

"Take time to dream -- it is hitching your wagon to a star."
~ Old English Prayer

**********************


Cancer has taken so many lives. My Mom passed away in 1971 (when I was only 17 years old) from breast cancer complications. In 1989, my father passed away from complications from skin cancer.

So, now... you know why this type of poster is so important to me. I only wished I had a chance to share my lovely photography which appears on flickr with my parents.

So... let's hope and pray that the researchers can find a cure for this horrible disease.


**********************


The link to my original photo which is titled ~ Daily situations reveal our love of life.




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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Both, my Mom and her Mom had this horrible disease. My Mom passed away when I was 17 years old from breast cancer.

I never met my Grandma because she passed away 3 years before I was born.

I wish I could have shared this with both of these beautiful women. I can only hope, pray, and dream that someday, there will be a cure. The most amazing thing is that this is not just a disease that hurts women. Men can get the disease, too.

Keep praying for a cure because I pray every day for this to happen!

....................

This is a photo taken by me looking in a mirror at a hotel in Nagasaki (Japan). I thought that it shows that no matter how or what you look at on the outside, you can still pray for a cure. The prayer comes from within.




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all little things matter

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Digital Quilting "Love from Martian Cat"

This is my quilt block for the digital Breast Cancer Awareness Quilt featuring a photo of my Mom on the ribbon. Two Flickr friends and fellow "quilters", helped me create my quilt block. These friends are both wonderful "Photoshopper artists".

The candle found in the ribbon was created by pareeerica and she helped me with the imaging on this quilt block using a photo of my Mom, adding a beautiful candle and hearts to the ribbon. Prairiekittin, supplied the beautiful candle with the text imaging for me for the quilt design's main candle. Please check out pareeerica and Prairiekittin's photos.

This is a joint digital quilt project and here's the link to check all that out, view a short soundless video and pick up your block options. mimitalks would love for you to be a part of it! A special thank you to mimitalks for including me in her Breast Cancer Awareness Quilt. Flickr mail mimitalks if you have any questions...

Thank yous to pareeerica and to Prairiekittin for their candle designs using my original candle photo.

One thing that mimitalks told me last week... "Isn't flickr wonderful!" And, I really believe it is!

Let's together keep saying prayers and hope that researchers do find something that can help with making a cure possible for breast cancer!


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My Mom's college photo

"One of the blessings of growing older is the discovery that some things I once believed to be a flaw have turned out in the long run to become my strengths."
~ unknown

This is a scanned photo of my Mom. The flaw that I mean above is because my Mom had breast cancer. She passed away in 1971 from breast cancer complications at the age of 44. The strength is that she gave me so much of herself that I treasure her ways now that I am an adult.

This photo is from her graduation from Syracuse University in 1949 and beginning her career at the New York State Health Department Laboratory.



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To my Dad ~~ Happy Father's Day!

"Happy Father's Day!"

There are many, many things that bring back memories.

My Dad passed away over 9 years ago. And, I did not get too many photos of him from my childhood. Many of them are old snapshots and are full of memories.

This photo is taken of my Dad feeding the birds on a beach. My problem is I cannot remember which beach it is. We so often went to the ocean for vacations and weekends.

Our destinations included beaches between Prince Edward Island (Canada) and the Florida Keys.

Dad, thanks for always listening.






And, this says it so perfectly...


This is from a photo of a photo from one of the story boards from the memorial service for my Dad. So, I apologize for the snapshot's clarity.



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Happy Father's Day! Sharing time with your memories...

Here is a cup of coffee for both of us...

Today's cup is full of delicious black coffee.

The mugs are part of my Royal Albert collection. The dish (part of my Noritake collection) has treats that are special for Father's Day.

So... Today, let's enjoy our mug of coffee and memories together...




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We support you! We are in this all together!

We support you! We are in this all together!



This is my advertising quilt block for the Digital Breast Cancer Awareness Quilt, featuring my image on the ribbon. A Flickr friend and fellow "quilter", Prairiekittin, supplied the beautiful candle and the text imaging for me. She's awesome. Don't forget to look at her stream! Here's the link to it... Prairiekittin.

mimitalks (who helped me with the imaging on this quilt block) is asking for anybody who is willing to follow her guidelines to do a block for the quilt. Here's the link to check all that out, view a short soundless video and pick up your block options. She'd love for you to be a part of it!

A special thank you to mimitalks for including me in her Breast Cancer Awareness Quilt.

Flickr mail mimitalks if any questions...

And, thank you to Prairiekittin for her candle design using my original candle photo.






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Spiritual rewards

"The world needs your help, and you'll love the spiritual
rewards that will be yours when you give it."
~ unknown


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Happy Mother's Day

"Wishing ALL Moms a Special and Happy Mother's Day!"

The teacup, small plate, dish, and spoon are part of my large
Noritake collection.
The creamer and sugar bowl are from Germany.

The mango tea treats are special for this day!

hugs...


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Life... like we never did before!

1. We should love!
3. We should sing!
4. We should dance!



On 23 Jan 2008, we had snow in Yokohama and the azaleas were blooming, too!



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Anniversary Surprises!

These were delivered to me from my husband for our Anniversary!

Life is what me make it.

"Life is what we make it.
Always has been.
Always will be."
~ Grandma Moses

I always love a nice cup of Japanese green tea in the afternoon.


My Japanese Noritake porcelain tea set is trimmed with platinum. There are mountains and cherry blossom petals on it. Each saucer is traditional Japanese reddish-brown lacquerware.

The white porcelain dishes with the traditional Japanese green tea treats are gold trimmed Yokohama china in a shell shape.

The tea treats are cherry mochi (a thin sweetened cherry flavored rice cake) a with cherry flavored Japanese an (a cherry flavored sweetened bean jam) filling and topped with a fresh strawberry. The outer covering is a fresh cherry leaf.

My traditional Japanese tea cannister is covered with cherry wood and has cherry tree branches with blossoms and leaves carved into it.

........................

1. The Japanese green tea is ready!, 2. Japanese traditional strawberry & cherry green tea treats, 3. Japanese green tea and treats for you & me, 4. A cup of Japanese green tea is ready and my tea cannister, 5. Can you come to my Japanese green tea party?, 6. A traditional Japanese cherry wood green tea cannister, 7. Can you join me?, 8. My cherry blossom Japanese teapot, 9. Your Japanese green tea is served.


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It is not easy...

It is not easy...

"To apologize,
To begin over,
To be unselfish,
To take advice,
To admit an error,
To face a sneer,
To be charitable,
To keep on trying,
To be considerate,
To avoid mistakes,
To endure success,
To profit by mistakes,
To forgive and forget,
To think and then act,
To keep out of the rut,
To make the best of little,
To subdue an unruly temper,
To maintain a high standard,
To shoulder a deserved blame,
To recognize the silver lining--
But it always pays."
~ Ohio Educational Monthly


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1. It is not easy... (1), 2. It is not easy... (2),
3. It is not easy... (3), 4. It is not easy... (4)




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Recipe for a Happy Day

Recipe for a Happy Day

1 cup friendly words
2 heaping cups understanding
4 heaping teaspoons time and patience
Pinch of warm personality
Dash of humor

Instructions for mixing:
Measure words carefully. Add heaping cups of
understanding; use generous amounts of time and
patience. Cook with gas on the front burner. Keep
temperature low -- do not boil! Add a dash of humor
and a pinch of warm personality. Season to taste with
spice of life. Serve in individual molds.

~ originally published by Marshall Field and Co.




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Glistening...

"Life has its glistening moments."
~ unknown


Some ornaments are not used as often after I added candles to my tree.


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The BEST gifts are tied with "Heartstrings!"

"The BEST gifts are tied with 'Heartstrings'!
What is the thought of Christmas?
GIVING.
What is the hope of Christmas?
LIVING.
What is the joy of Christmas?
LOVE.
No silver or gold is needed for giving.
If the heart is filled with Christmas love,
For the hope of the world is kindly living,
Learned from the joy of God above."
~ Laura Hooker

from my neighbor's garden

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1. The BEST gifts are tied with "Heartstrings!" {1}, 2. The BEST gifts are tied with "Heartstrings!" {2}, 3. The BEST gifts are tied with "Heartstrings!" {3}, 4. The BEST gifts are tied with "Heartstrings!" {4}


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Love at Christmastime

"There is love at Christmastime that brings
friendships closer and spreads happiness."
~ unknown


This is posted as a childhood memory. My Dad was a man who loved to draw me (choo-choo) trains on all kinds of paper (even restaurant napkins) when I was a child. And, I still have some of the trains he drew for me which are really precious memories from my childhood.


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25 Nov 2007 - Giving Thanks - My flickr Explore Collection including those In & Out

1. A choice..., 2. Celebration of Thanksgiving, 3. Laughing out loud., 4. It takes a lifetime..., 5. When you wish upon a star..., 6. Hugs for luvmykatz, 7. Happy people..., 8. Now, Meg is a very happy 4 year old!,

9. Happy Birthday Megumi, 10. Find the finest joy, 11. Sharing..., 12. Friends..., 13. Smiles help me..., 14. Kindnesses..., 15. Mizunomori (2), 16. Heartfelt moments...,

17. The real joy..., 18. Strength and resilience, 19. Believe in yourself, 20. If your gift..., 21. Cuddled up and relaxed..., 22. Goodness..., 23. Celebrating..., 24. Today...,

25. Enjoy the little things..., 26. Making it happen!, 27. Admiration..., 28. Making a new friend..., 29. Meiji Shrine's Inner Garden (Tokyo) [9], 30. an amaryllis, 31. Standing alone with thoughts of my own, 32. ~ Wishing you a Great Day! ~,

33. Springtime..., 34. This seems only like yesterday..., 35. Blueberry as a classy lookin' cowgirl kitty..., 36. Two lids made Meg's valley..., 37. the cherry promenade, 38. Meg... my professional inspector..., 39. Meg... her special smile, 40. Tableware Exhibition (2),

41. Meg - every new box is a new adventure!, 42. pink plum... another favorite, 43. Meg on bird patrol!, 44. Megumi & Bird Watching, 45. Megumi - her choice of a pose, 46. Christmas tree 2006, 47. Megumi cannot resist playing, 48. Megumi - a young profile,

49. Megumi's eyes, 50. Megumi - mailing box house, 51. Meg's new blanket, 52. Meg relaxing, 53. baby Megumi, 54. Meg..., 55. lake view, 56. Hey Meg - "Huh... Who me?",

57. orchid cactus bloom, 58. I breathed a song..., 59. cherry blossoms, 60. Another smile..., 61. Megumi - Happy Birthday Meg!, 62. Happy Baby Meg..., 63. Megumi, 64. Meg's first Christmas,

65. Megumi


-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*




Meg and I send on our love to you!

To answer your question before you ask... as my title explains, these are all of my photos that have been "In & Out of Explore". Over last summer, Explore allowed us to keep our photos on a separate heading which I chose to do.

Now is the time for me "To give Thanks to all of my flickr friends." Originally, I wanted to post this on Thanksgiving Day, but was so busy with other things - yes, they were flickering matters. We do not really have a Thanksgiving Day in Japan. Flickr can keep me busy, but it is a happy type of busy!

Then, I realize we should give thanks everyday! The reason behind my saying this is because I've made and met so many beautiful people on flickr.

Living in Japan puts me on a different timetable than everyone. But, you are all so special to me! Thanks for being there and you are all fantastic!

Lastly, thanks for all of your visits, comments, views, faves, and love!

hugs from Meg and me...


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