Colors of My Heart

Truth be told, I’m a devoted cat lover. Even now, a Persian cat graces our home with quiet companionship. But today, I’d like to share the story of a Norwegian Forest Cat who crossed the Rainbow Bridge in the summer of 2015—a soul so dear, our family will carry her memory for a lifetime. Back when we lived in Los Angeles, a stray cat named Sammy wandered into our lives and became our beloved “lodger cat(イソウロウねこ).” Around that time, Olympus had a photo-sharing site called Fotopus, where I posted countless pictures of Sammy under the title The Lodger Cat (イソウロウねこ) , using the nickname Dararin Darling(だらりんダーリン). Eventually, Sammy became a formal member of our family. When we moved back to Japan, she came with us. After our daughter was born in 2013, Sammy spent just two short years with her—but in that time, Sammy was the most wonderful playmate. They were always together, inseparable. It’s been more than ten years since Sammy passed away. For all that time, I couldn’t bring myself to loo...

Mono Lake Tufa Towers Mono Lake Tufa Towers are unique geological formations located within Mono Lake in eastern California, known for their natural beauty and remarkable rock formations. These limestone pillars, called "tufas", rise from the lake and create a stunningly impressive landscape for visitors. Mono Lake itself is an ancient saline lake at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California, with a history of approximately 760,000 years. The lake's water has an extremely high salt concentration, making it uninhabitable for freshwater fish. This unique environment supports a limited biodiversity, with specialized microorganisms and salt-tolerant plants and animals thriving in the ecosystem. Tufa Tufa refers to natural limestone pillars formed underwater through the precipitation of minerals. When calcium dissolved in the lake water mixes with freshwater springs beneath the lake, these limestone towers gradually grow over time. The fluctuating water levels cont...

Located in San Marino, near Los Angeles, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is home to a beautiful rose garden. This garden features over 2,500 varieties of roses, with more than 1,300 cultivated species on display. ​​​​ ​​​Thanks to the mild climate of Southern California, roses bloom from late March through Thanksgiving (late November) and beyond. In particular, from spring to early summer, a wide array of roses reaches full bloom, captivating visitors with their beauty.​​​ ​​​At the heart of the rose garden stands the "Rose Garden Tea Room," built in 1911. This tea room accommodates up to 164 guests, and from the terrace, visitors can enjoy meals while overlooking the rose and herb gardens.​​​ Within the grounds of The Huntington Library, in addition to the rose garden, there are also a Japanese garden, a Chinese garden, and a desert garden filled with a diverse collection of desert plants.​​  During my visit, I took photographs with Nikon F Ftn, the...

Yosemite National Park is home to several species of squirrels such as California Ground Squirrel, Lodgepole Chipmunk and Douglas Squirrel, each with unique characteristics and behaviors. These photos are California Ground Squirrel. ​​The California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi) is a species of ground squirrel native to the western United States, particularly along the California coast. It is commonly found in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Arizona, inhabiting dry grasslands, rolling hills, forest edges, and even urban parks.​​ ​​It typically measures between 30 and 50 cm (including its tail) and weighs around 280 to 750 grams. Its fur is primarily gray or brown, often with white speckles on its back. While its tail is bushy, it is slightly shorter than that of tree squirrels. Being diurnal, it is most active in the morning and late afternoon. It digs burrows in the ground, forming colonies. Whether it hibernates depends on the altitude of its habitat—those in...

Whenever I visited Las Vegas, I always made sure to stop by Red Rock Canyon. The first time I went there, I was truly surprised to find such a canyon so close to the city. I still vividly remember how extremely hot it was. Located approximately 30 minutes by car from Las Vegas, the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is renowned for its breathtaking scenery shaped by striking red sandstone formations. Attracting over two million visitors annually, it has become one of the most popular natural destinations in the region. A 21-kilometer one-way scenic drive offers travelers the chance to admire dramatic landscapes from the comfort of their vehicle—including the vibrant contrast of red and white rocks at Calico Hills and sweeping views from the High Point Overlook. The area features a wide range of hiking trails, accommodating everyone from beginners to experienced trekkers, with spring and autumn offering the most pleasant conditions. At Sandstone Quarry, once an active mining sit...