H ello, and welcome back to Under The Plum Blossom Tree!  I've been away for awhile taking care of family matters, and now, happi...

    T he season of rain here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon is in full swing.  When it's raining, the sky becomes one big mass of ...

    K awaii (pronounced Kah-wah-ee) is known in Japan as the 'incredible cute syndrome'.  Dating as far back as the Late Shogunat...

     T here is always something to do in the garden, especially when the seasons change.  And now that autumn is in full swing here in th...

    A s I watch the leaves on the trees in my town turn from the lush green which provided much needed shade in summer, to the reds, yel...

    O ctober and Halloween are a big deal at my house.  My kids love Halloween, with the costumes, trick-or-treating, and time spent with ...

    B oth the autumn and the spring are busy seasons in the garden.  While mother nature brings a full display of color for us to enjoy, w...