Yesterday I had another fascinating day with @shimakiron.bsky.social learning how vinegar and sake are made and then hearing how nori is harvested.

Yesterday @shimakiron.bsky.social took me to the Lake Biwa museum and it was absolutely fascinating to learn about this ancient lake, the largest freshwater lake in Japan. They had everything from fish to invertebrates, parasites, plants, fossils and giant salamanders.

On my last day with @sawaharuhiko.bsky.social we visited a lovely bookshop in Kurashiki and then went to the Himeji Castle. As we left, the sun illuminated the castle, poetically ending our time together. Most of my photos are still on the camera and I'll share later.

​“Mushibunko (蟲文庫)” is a wonderful small bookstore in Kurashiki City. The owner, Miho Tanaka (田中美穂さん), wrote a book called “Walking with Moss (『苔とあるく』).” ​Reading this book made me love nature walks and insects, and it eventually led me to becoming friends with Saimi-san! ✨

I spent 3 wonderful days of Saimi-san's Japan trip with her! 🥳 @saimihanma.bsky.social Kaiyukan, Horseshoe Crab Museum, Onomichi, and Himeji Castle... every moment was so happy. My dream of visiting the Horseshoe Crab Museum with Saimi-san finally came true! ✨ Thank you so much! サイミさん！どうもありがとう！

Does anyone happen to know of a good raw photo editor android app? I tried searching but nearly all of them are AI.

On my last day with @sawaharuhiko.bsky.social we visited a lovely bookshop in Kurashiki and then went to the Himeji Castle. As we left, the sun illuminated the castle, poetically ending our time together. Most of my photos are still on the camera and I'll share later.

CLIONE CLIONE CLIONE!! I finally saw them in person! I had such a wonderful time yesterday at the Osaka aquarium with @sawaharuhiko.bsky.social and @pinesan2.bsky.social fulfilling a long-time goal of finally meeting clione. ありがとうございます!

I had such an utterly delightful day today with @sawaharuhiko.bsky.social at the horseshoe crab museum and exploring Onomichi. Unfortunately almost all my photos are on my camera, but here are a few phone photos from today.

I had such an utterly delightful day today with @sawaharuhiko.bsky.social at the horseshoe crab museum and exploring Onomichi. Unfortunately almost all my photos are on my camera, but here are a few phone photos from today.

CLIONE CLIONE CLIONE!! I finally saw them in person! I had such a wonderful time yesterday at the Osaka aquarium with @sawaharuhiko.bsky.social and @pinesan2.bsky.social fulfilling a long-time goal of finally meeting clione. ありがとうございます!

Getting this month's #InvertArtChallenge in early(ish), a Firefly. I tried to get some of the texture on the pronotum and wing covers, not entirely sure it was successful tho. #SciArt #BugSky

I had such a fun time with @hidari.bsky.social today showing me around Osaka and we ended up walking 5 miles, eating delicious food and had VERY successful anime shopping! ありがとうございますひだりさん!!

More than once, I've heard my beloved Kenshi Yonezu on speakers as I walked though Osaka, and stopped to listen and the last time I nearly got run over by a bike. He's gonna be the death of me.

@goose.art you posted recently about how there's no street parking in Japan and now I can't unsee this incredible thing everywhere I go here

We're at... 67 submissions Though technically the submission deadline is the end of the year, the sooner we reach 100, the earlier I can start doing the layout and have my holiday. So please submit early!

I had such a fun time with @hidari.bsky.social today showing me around Osaka and we ended up walking 5 miles, eating delicious food and had VERY successful anime shopping! ありがとうございますひだりさん!!

さいみさん( @saimihanma.bsky.social )となんば日本橋のアニメグッズショップをはしごした。 Ogata san!!!!!!

I know it's not #InverteFest yet, but I'm still gonna tag these cuties. Just look at that adorable sea angel!! The question is, how many sea plushies can I fit in my suitcase and pockets? Because the aquarium is calling and I must answer in a couple days. If there are nudibranchs, I'm in trouble.

Until a few months ago I had been vegan for about 20 years, then I discovered my very inconvenient food intolerances, so now I'm exploring seafood and more in Japan. A million thanks to @tutaikobushisawa.bsky.social and @shimakiron.bsky.social for taking me to delicious, local places. おいし!

I already bought a ton of anime merch, had lunch/dinner (timezoneless meal), tried (and failed) a claw machine, and found Yonezu Kenshi twice.

When you see an item of your fav character that's been sold out online forever and you lose your mind and buy it and then have to figure out how to get him home...I guess he's going to be sitting on my lap. I can't really complain.

I know it's not #InverteFest yet, but I'm still gonna tag these cuties. Just look at that adorable sea angel!! The question is, how many sea plushies can I fit in my suitcase and pockets? Because the aquarium is calling and I must answer in a couple days. If there are nudibranchs, I'm in trouble.

Until a few months ago I had been vegan for about 20 years, then I discovered my very inconvenient food intolerances, so now I'm exploring seafood and more in Japan. A million thanks to @tutaikobushisawa.bsky.social and @shimakiron.bsky.social for taking me to delicious, local places. おいし!

Everything in Japan has been above and beyond wonderful. Except for the mosquito in my hotel room several days ago who bit me SEVEN times, in one night, on my arms and face and I still have red marks when I'm meeting friends in person for the first time. I curse that mosquito to have no offspring バカ

When you see an item of your fav character that's been sold out online forever and you lose your mind and buy it and then have to figure out how to get him home...I guess he's going to be sitting on my lap. I can't really complain.

こんにちは大阪!

やった! It took us 2 days but @shimakiron.bsky.social solved the Ogata Golden Kamuy quiz at the Meiji-Mura museum and I finished both stamp rallies and we earned our prizes with only half an hour to spare.

やった! It took us 2 days but @shimakiron.bsky.social solved the Ogata Golden Kamuy quiz at the Meiji-Mura museum and I finished both stamp rallies and we earned our prizes with only half an hour to spare.

last #InvertArtChallenge goober of the year, the goth firefly 🖤 #SciArt #invertebrates

A few more photos from today. Most of my photos are on my camera and will have to wait until a later date. Thanks again to @tutaikobushisawa.bsky.social, my visit was so wonderful.

I had the absolute best time exploring the Shima Peninsula the last two days with @tutaikobushisawa.bsky.social. I saw incredible sights, many wonderful birds and ate delicious food! ありがとうございます!!!

I traveled with @saimihanma.bsky.social two days! We visited anywhere in IseShima national park. These photos is while we watched bird in this trip. Thank you very much Saimi✨ 今度は私がアメリカに行きたい…。

I had the absolute best time exploring the Shima Peninsula the last two days with @tutaikobushisawa.bsky.social. I saw incredible sights, many wonderful birds and ate delicious food! ありがとうございます!!!

Yesterday I had the good fortune to visit the Sugashima Marine Lab and meet the researchers there who then went snorkeling to find me nudibranchs. They found this adorable little slug that has recently been described in a paper from that very lab and has only been found there! Rostanga confitura.

こんにちは日本!

OK, let me join #ArtAdventCalendar, late, even if I might not catch up entirely! Gonna go for a #SciArt zine illustrations theme. 1. Kentish glory moth. No longer found in Kent, or indeed most other places in the UK. Now scarce and found only in Scotland, if I recall correctly.

Post a photo of an animal that looks Gen-AI but is 100% real. Giant Anteros (Anteros kupris), Colombia

The Nudivember 2024 zine is now also up on Itch! saimi.itch.io/nudivember-2...

Unfortunately I won't have my webshop open again for gift shopping and I'm not doing any public markets this year, but you can still give the gift of art zines in ebook format! They're available in epub/ PDF and there's no drm so you can gift the files to your favorite nature nerds. saimi.itch.io

Remember these baby octos? 🐙🦑🐡 This piece is in memory of my father, Jonathan Fay, who died suddenly in October. He took the astro photo of NGC2244 with his SeeStar. He loved when I'd message him critters I found, & joining me when he could. shop.noncompliantcyborg.com/product/baby...

maybe my favorite item included in this shop update, can’t get enough of whale falls 🐡🦑🐙 #bsnm www.microbiomearts.com/product/whal...

Unfortunately I won't have my webshop open again for gift shopping and I'm not doing any public markets this year, but you can still give the gift of art zines in ebook format! They're available in epub/ PDF and there's no drm so you can gift the files to your favorite nature nerds. saimi.itch.io

You can see all my zines so far on my Itch page and if you follow me there you should be notified when I add the rest. saimi.itch.io

I've added my August Arthropod Art zine to Itch now as well! I'm trying to get other zines uploaded, which is easier said than done because my older zines were formatted in Photoshop which I ditched, so I'm having to recreate the cover images for Itch. saimi.itch.io/august-arthr...

My Insert an Invert zine is now up on Itch as well! saimi.itch.io/insert-an-in...

Tonight I finished the final class of Japanese novice 2. This was the last assignment we had to write and then read to the class. I've made so much progress since I started in the summer. やった!

Tonight I finished the final class of Japanese novice 2. This was the last assignment we had to write and then read to the class. I've made so much progress since I started in the summer. やった!

I'm pretty pleased with my ingenuity getting my new patches from @rachelquinlan.bsky.social on my bag using a hair iron. My backpack is full of bsky friends, sea scene pin is from @aspenhearted.bsky.social, squid sticker from @thefuzzyslug.bsky.social, whalefall pin from @fossilforager.bsky.social

I've added my August Arthropod Art zine to Itch now as well! I'm trying to get other zines uploaded, which is easier said than done because my older zines were formatted in Photoshop which I ditched, so I'm having to recreate the cover images for Itch. saimi.itch.io/august-arthr...