Yes, that’s one big ol’ honkin’ lotus bud. Very springish, I thought.
In veneration of the vernal, I’ve recently added a nifty moon phase widget under the calendar on the sidebar, and I’ve updated the security on the site — mainly for my own sanity, since Spring seems to be the Season of All-Things-Spamtastic. If you, dear reader, happen to experience an inability to post comments, then mayhaps you are really a bot in denial. I’m just sayin’. 
I’m also showing a collection of new works [I'll be hanging them today at the Fairmount] for the annual Fort Worth Spring Arts Goggle. The Bud-of-Doom will be there. You should be too. Details listed below.
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Yes, yes. I know the Ninjas are in need of attention, dear readers — all good things to those who wait! 
Lately I’ve been absorbed in reading a translation of Lady Murasaki’s The Tale of Genji. Researching various intricacies of the text lead me to a lovely series of prints called One Hundred Aspects of the Moon (1885-1892) by the Japanese artist Tsukioka Yoshitoshi.
The print above illustrates the Ghost of Yugao [one of Genji's conquests on a 'dark and stormy night' in the early chapters of the novel]. Yugao means ‘moonflower’ in Japanese.
A complete listing of the One Hundred Aspects of the Moon can be found here. From the site:
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) is a pupil of Kuniyoshi’s. The first designs of his popular Tsuki hyakushi (A Hundred Views of the Moon) are published in 1885. The subjects are taken from Indian and Chinese legends, famous musicians and poets, and heroes of classic novels and plays.
As if in a dream, the Black Ninja approached his long awaited foe.
The moment swelled. The Black Ninja’s thoughts narrowed to a single pinpoint of exquisite readiness…
“Oh hey! I didn’t know you lived around here” said the Green Ninja. “Did you get anything good for Christmas?”
The Black Ninja nearly blinked.
“Such wanton commercialism! How I love to hate it!” the Black Ninja thought festively.
