It is amazing to see so many of them in green on the ground. As rice grows, summer is going steadily into the next season. Actually, following photo was taken the week before last when Shin and Mei-Shun visited the nearest shrine. He has refrained from exercise including walking these several days since a sudden pain on the right back last Friday, upsetting his wife.
Meow, they have come again. I can’t stand seeing them buzz on our balcony floor. However, mom would not like me to open net windows by front paws, shuts me out from it with heavy glasses. We have 立秋=risshu, the first of autumn 二十四節気 she told me this morning. That might be why they give no chorus in such a sultry weather — humid, over 30 degrees Celsius at 8 o’clock.
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In 1965, 清流園 garden was constructed within 二条城 site to offer hospitality to visitors. Western half is Japanese style, served by 和楽庵 and 香雲亭 tea rooms while eastern half in European atmosphere. Southern lane features weeping pagoda trees which bloom in white, butterfly-shaped from late July to August. Oh, Mei-Shun nearly forgot mentioning this lady’s tress who looked waiting for her.
Mr. Avocado, we are so happy to see you again. Since you moved onto our garden last year, conditions have been harder. However, you survived growing greener, stood tightly on the ground. Even in winter, you looked all right putting off browned leaves one by one. And it stopped there — nothing seen on your stalk until yesterday, when mom-in-law found your second baby.
二条城 has vast space in the center of this ancient capital. This garden accommodates a spacious pond where a heron takes a rest, a lovely little fall twinkles. You can enjoy feeding big carps as well. 本丸=hon-maru, main building of Japanese castle, was lost by fire only with a firm foundation left. Going up stairs, you would have a nice view on mountain silhouette and lightning rods on roofs.
… to you, mom, now on vacation at her cottage in Kusatsu. It rains hard with respites for a while all day long today unlike normal years. Mei-Shun would like to e-mail her, yet communication between Ibaraki and Gunma Prefectures really depends. Mom has been surprised by messages from her younger daughter delivered at midnight. Their voice on line never sound comfortable …
Our ancestors she might be, a white lily at the shrine Shin and Mei-Shun walk to in the morning. It takes just a week for buds to be clearly recognized — three flowers could be seen on this stalk soon. Another pleasure of the couple was the luckiest omikuji, all the same in number and fortune they drew respectively.
Rice ears began to appear on the top of each green, attracting many blue dragonflies with little white flowers.
What a humor of 二条城 administration staffers! Entrance tickets are called 入”場”券 at museums, amusement parks and railway stations in Japan while 入”城”券 here, pronounced the same yet the latter meaning a castle. Well, morning walkers like Shin and Mei-Shun passed by the front gate, which accommodated night guards in Edo Period (1603-1868), headed into the wide garden.
Mei-Shun loves them so much. She often says her favorite is Japanese cherry, yet the reason owes a great deal to lovely looking and such short time of the best like its blossom. As for taste, the former wins a triumph. Oh, how beautiful they are, with the sweetest scent! They are agricultural products, yet really artworks. Thanks a million, Shin, who knows well his wife is a fruit bat.
Misaka-Hakuho
Asama-Hakuto
As it has become sultry, I gave up taking a nap at roof floor moving down to stairs one by one. Purr, it is very nice to feel breeze from the west in the morning. However, just a few days since rainy season was over, dark clouds and humid air continue to accompany the sunrise. Even recent 大暑=taisho, the last of summer 二十四節気 failed to be the hottest. Season is going like mom’s diet, meow.
Copyright © 2017 Mikan-chan All Rights Reserved.
meishunkikunoe 