Baby plum blossom seen from the back looks up to its larger parental plum blossoms.

Single Japanese plum blossom facing forward, showing off its multiple stamen.

Horizontal view of baby plum blossom facing a branch of large and showy blossoms.

Vertical view of open Japanese plum blossoms lining a branch.

Variations on the same branch of a Japanese plum tree in my garden.

A watercolor drawing of two birds sitting on pots, around which sit two lizards. The bird to the viewer's left is blue and white; it sits on a small earthenware pot with decorative holes in the sides, and drinks from the small red and white jug held in the beak of the yellow parrot to the viewer's right, who sits on a largish black kettle.

Parrot, Blue Tit, Two Lizards, and Vases, 1706, by #TeresaBereniceVitelli (born #LuisaVitelli; Italian, active 1706–29). Held at the Palazzo Pitti; source, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresa_... #artherstory #womensart #TeresaVitelli #nuntastic #CatholicSistersWeek

Ooooh. They saw her eat the whole frog?! And she WAS okay, right?

That was terrifying!! 🫨

Haha, like the boat contest! 😅

Ooooh my goodness!

Short stories read and loved in 2024:
📚The Dead (James Joyce)
📚The Shinagawa Monkey (Murakami Haruki)
📚Cathedral (Raymond Carver)
📚The Judgement (Franz Kafka)
#BookSky #greatstories

I knew right who you were!

That is splendid! Some years ago, a Japanese dentist praised the roots of my molars. She even called in her assistants to look at them and I felt so proud. 😎

there seem to be more people to look at my bugs, please look at this one. it squeaks at you

I will look at your bugs—post more!

And five more "loved in 2024" books :

📚 Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Toshikazu Kawaguchi)
📚 Tom Lake (Ann Patchett)
📚 The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store (James McBride)
📚 The Song of Achilles (Madeline Miller)
📚 Tell Me Everything (Elizabeth Strout)

I like doing this in small tidbits.

I’m in a revival tent with Huck Finn and James (not Jim).

Hahaha!

Hmmmm, well, good for you. I think I can understand your stance. It’s hard to listen with neutrality, though, right? Esp. If there’s a flaw in the logic on the other side. 💦

What does he base his thinking on?! I’m so curious to know…

We can heart each others’ posts, right? And influence each other. 😎🥰

I’m crazy for those crazy cookies—well done!

Aaaahaha!!!

That’s funny. I find very few adults who understand how much I adore toys. Buying them and playing with them, too. 😅 Especially rubber animals.

How’s this? My amazing lunch on Sunday: seasonal pasta special with oysters and okra. It was just the right amount of garlicky. 😋

その日にいろんな楽しみ会話ができて、よかったです。😊きっとまた会えるじゃない？良いお年を迎えて下さい！🎍

Cool story!

How old is the pencil-holder who found handwriting happiness?

I enjoy listening to Murakami Haruki’s novels and short stories in English on Audible. This morning I enjoyed “The Shinagawa Monkey” while doing dishes.

Agreed: fantastic read!

I don’t know you did that, but…😍😍😍

That’s just short of magical. ✨

I hear you. ✌🏻 Let’s hang in there, alright? I think this’ll be a good place.