Hearts for Valentine's Day

The Kaleidoscopes appearing in this slide show were made from Martian Cat's 2012 Valentine Contact Quilt. Flickr toys gives us a chance to create presents every year which displays your contacts' names on Valentine's Day.


for your listening pleasure: "My Funny Little Valentine"
Performed by: Bill Evans & Jim Hall


Thanks for stopping by and
Happy Valentine's Day.
Remember your loved
ones today and God Bless...
hugs, Chris



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“Love is the dawning of a new day."

“Love is the dawning of a new day."
~ Anonymous




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Merry Christmas 2011

My Christmas tree this year (2011).

Thanks for stopping by
and remember the reasons
for the season...

hugs, Chris




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Autumn Blessings...

Autumn is a time to give thanks for the bountiful harvest.



Thanks for stopping by and
God Bless,
hugs, Chris




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My Irish Family

I am back from my trip to the UK. Here is a family photo that was put together using some of my photos from my visit.

Thank you, franomilano (aka Ron) and his lovely wife, Mary, for letting me stay with them in N. Ireland.

And, a big thank you to Ron for making a photo that includes (on the wall) a photo of Joyce [(aka) fantartsy JJ] and her husband, Mike, as we are all family.


left to right:
back: Ron [(aka) franomilano], Fred [(aka) Fred the Man], and Margaret (Fred's wife)
front: Mary (Ron's wife) is holding Roxy, little Lexi is with her Mum, and me [(aka) martian cat in Japan]




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Hugs and Kisses...

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"With hope people dream."

"With hope people dream."
~ Charles Sawyer





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What Is A Dad?

What Is A Dad?

"A dad is someone who
wants to catch you before you fall
but instead picks you up,
brushes you off,
and lets you try again.

A dad is someone who
wants to keep you from making mistakes
but instead lets you find your own way,
even though his heart breaks in silence
when you get hurt.

A dad is someone who
holds you when you cry,
scolds you when you break the rules,
shines with pride when you succeed,
and has faith in you even when you fail."

~ Unknown



My Papa loved tulips... they were the start of Spring.

Note: this is the original color of this tulip.




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"As a man is, so he sees."

"As a man is, so he sees."
~ William Blake





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Happy Mother's Day

created with blingee



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Spring Fantasy (a slideshow with music)

"Came the Spring with all its splendor
All its birds and all its blossoms,
All its flowers, leaves, and grasses."
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

memories of Spring along the Ookagawa in Yokohama (Japan)

Thank you for enjoying a little bit of my memories...
hugs, Chris

for your listening pleasure:
"Secret Place" performed by Dave Grusin




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"The moment may be temporary, but the memory lasts forever."

"The moment may be temporary, but the memory lasts forever."
~ Bud Meyer

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To My Dear flickr family and friends,

Thank you for my Happy Birthday Blessings!
I am so truly blessed to have such wonderful memories
from my birthday last week.

And, special thank yous to:
♡ fantartsy JJ (Joyce)
♡ ♫ joyousjoym~Blessings♥ (Joy)
♡ tracyhughes2_7 (Tracy)
♡ ღ ~❀~ CHARMERS ~❀~ ღ (Delta)
♡ mimitalks, married w/children (Mandy)
♡ sylkky2 (Sylvia)
♡ Roxie
♡ franomilano ~ (aka) Roxie's Dad, Ron
♡ forglemmigej 726 ~ (aka) Senia
for the gorgeous cards you sent and made for me.
Plus, there were many others who sent me beautiful email cards, too!

My birthday has been so wonderful with reading all the messages on your cards. And, to the friends who signed the cards that are linked above... thank you sooooo much!

I love you all...
hugs, Chris




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"The heart of the giver makes the gift dear & precious."

"The heart of the giver makes the gift dear & precious."
~ Luther


To fantartsy JJ (aka) Joyce,

Such a big thank you for creating such a wonderful gift
using my sunset image which is titled
"A Sunset's Diamonds".

This is sooo amazing... I love it!
thanks and hugs, Chris




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My birthday is next week...

Where did this year go?



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"Sometimes" (a slideshow with music)

To my flickr friends and family...
You are the best...
I am celebrating my over 80,000 views!
And, I could never have done it without your love!
hugs, Chris


music: "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell

Some of my favorite flowers... turn up your speakers & dance!


You might ask about my choice of music... did you ever wake up and have a song in your mind... something that you just cannot stop listening to?

This is the song that did that to me... I had to search thru my CD's for this song... And, the rest... well, I love flowers... some of these are on flickr and others are in my gallery of flowers on my computer... hope you can dance with me!

I am celebrating...


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Happy Father's Day

THE FAMILY

"The family is like a book:
The children are the leaves,
The parents are the cover,
Which protective beauty gives.

At first the pages of the book
Are bland and smooth and fair;
But time soon writeth memories
And painteth pictures there.

Love is the little golden clasp
That bindeth up the trust.
Oh, break it not, lest all the leaves
Should scatter and be lost."
~ anonymous

The above photo is my Dad and my Gram (his Mama) was recently sent to me by my step-Mom. My Gram passed away over 22 years ago and my Dad passed away in 1999. And, I still miss both of them...

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads... you helped create a family book.




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The kind of flower I am!

Something fun for sharing...

I am a
Sunflower

What Flower
Are You?

"When your friends think smile, they think of you. There is not a day that goes by that you can't find something good about the world and your fellow human."


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"Life is a great big canvas,..."

"Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can."
~ Danny Kaye


Today (21 Jan 2010), I received my Honorary Life Membership certificate from the Yokohama International Women's Club.

To be eligible, you must be an active member in the Club for 20 years. This last Spring, I became eligible for this honor. I joined the organization within one month of arriving in Japan. And, this March, I will be in Japan 21 years.

Sometimes, it is hard to believe that I have been here this many years...



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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


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

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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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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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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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

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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.


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




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all little things matter

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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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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


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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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Find the finest joy

"Get out of yourself into the lives of others,
and new life will flow into you."
~ Joseph Fort Newton




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