Thursday, April 28, 2011

Ken in Yukata Early in the Morning

Snow Monkeys or Japanese Macaque


We came to Japan this week for Ken's niece's wedding, but as a side trip, we took a few days and traveled to Nagano and spent two nights at a wonderful ryokon (hot spring hotel). One morning Yumiko and I traveled by van to
Shigakogen and then walked on a high ridge to a place where the Snow Monkeys (Japanese Macaque) live with their own hot spring. Here are a few photographs of these beautiful animals. Click photos to enlarge.









Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Spider and the Tic (Click the Bugs to Get the Real Picture)

It was a beautiful day today and so I decided to go in search of a few spring bugs. I was thrilled to find a little tick and a spider facing off on a grass stalk. They were in a stalemate. The spider was quite intimidated by the tick. He gingerly walked up to the tick but was too afraid to get by him. He walked back to his perch on the grass stalk. He kept approaching and backing away. Finally he stood up real tall on his eight legs, spun a little magic silk and slid off the grass stalk leaving the tick all alone to fend for himself.



Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Fancy Jeweled Feather Hat On A Proud Twig


Oh the things you see while walking on a rainy day. Click the feather to see those jewels.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Click to see Snapping Turtle Frothing At the Mouth

I took my camera to the pond at Eastern College today and as I was walking I came across this HUGE snapping turtle sleeping on the bank of the pond with a lot of old green leaves and twigs and moss on top of him. I bent down to take his picture and he slowly opened his big old eyes. I thought for a minute he might charge me and take my leg off, but he just stared at me with froth coming out of his mouth.

Thursday, April 7, 2011