We had 鬘合わせ=katsura-awase, or 坪合わせ=tsubo-awase this afternoon. The latter involves stage settings and properties staffer, while ours means the former to make metal bases for wigs and to measure sizes for kimono costumes. A Japanese-style wig master gauges our head to fit a base like a cap first. Then he beats it with a wooden hammer to make the best curve on our cheeks. Finally, two metal belts will be arranged on our back of the head to support the biggest front part.
One year has passed since Shin brought his wife to the horse-riding club. At first, just seeing horseies satisfied her. Their kindness to let her ride on gave the happiest entertainment. Now getting used to it, she wants more: she would like to be friends with that beautiful animal. She has only admired them so far, allowed them to do as they like. However, it might not be the right attitude toward her partners. On an equal footing, a horse and a human being should combine with each other to create great performances.
Wild flowers seem to like autumn, not only spring. They make hordes next to walking courses of Mei-Shun around 乙戸沼 Pond while along rice paddies, making her eyes deeply pleased. Her mother taught her little daughter that blue ones below are called 露草=tsuyu-kusa. Or dayflower in English, their one-day life rings a bell for morning dew, it is said. Other names include 青花=ao-bana and 月草=tsuki-kusa, meaning blue flower and moon plant respectively.
It rains hard today. Mom makes one-piece sandwiches of futon mats on such a day, the best bed for me. She puts on a skirt from early morning, none of T-shirt and pants. Her cap and scarf, with whom she often leaves me alone for around an hour, are on the coat hanger. You are to sleep as well, just follow me. Purr, I’m so much satisfied with it. You want my photo, mom? It does not matter, I’m generous. Go ahead, and let me do as I like it.
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Thank you so much, Mr. and Mrs. F. They are friendly owners of parking space we rent for guests. Tall and gray-haired Mr. F appears in person to bring summer gift to us, always greets touching his hat while small and gentle Mrs. F does for winter. Oh, please stop bowing so much. The former told Mei-Shun in June to give new rice, and really did today. Speaking of which, she found all rice harvested on walking way the other day. Does it mean she has used their private lane between paddies for free?
Mei-Shun goes ahead on diet little by little. She has continued walking and stretching exercise since April. It seems working well, giving her lower body skin moisture for example. Regarding weight, however, she lost a few with her regular eating. So she decided to refrain from sweet dessert as much as possible. She is so scared of gaining lost weight back that allows them once a week, expecting a little reward of effort to result in achievement in the long run.
It makes us feel real beginning of autumn to see golden rice harvest. However, attacked by extraordinary summer typhoons, some of rice ears lean to the ground, looked disappointed this year. Mei-Shun sympathized with them walking along. Now it is over by half: she found them dried on 稲木=inagi or inaki, bamboo hangers constructed on rice paddies after harvest. Bundled ears are spread under sunlight for longer shelflife and better taste.
Master Mei-Shu has not felt very well. She is a little eater, rapidly lost weight last year. To our relief, no problem was found after CT and MRI examinations at a hospital. We would like her to stop here, or she might be blown away by a breeze. Her current condition brought back to Mei-Shun an awful memory of several years before. She had dysautonomia with serious dizziness when she tried to make a turn-around. Japanese dance includes much of this pattern, forced her to refrain from lessons for a whole year.
Today’s highest temperature in Ibaraki was just a bit lower than 33 degrees Celsius. Yes, September is such a month these days. Most of Mei-Shun’s generation, sometimes called 昭和人=Showa-jin, people born in our previous era, remember clearer boundaries between four seasons 2 decades before. Maybe affected by global warming, recent summers appear to reside with us until winters approach just nearby. So does next-door 百日紅=saru-suberi, serving Mei-Shun a gift in eyes.
Tora-chan jumped over cat gates again. It is a matter to be scolded, yet she stayed several steps backward this time. She has learned not to reach the second floor. Her touching attitude reminds Mei-Shun of Fuku-chan, mom-in-law’s late pug girl. Her lovely eyes and amicable character changed Mei-Shun’s feeling toward dogs with flat faces. She slept at lower landing of our stairs when mom-in-law left her alone at night, asking if she was allowed to be there by those 2 round beads.
meishunkikunoe 