Here is 治部椀=jibu-wan, simmered vegetables, duck meat and 簾麩=sudare-fu, wheat gluten cake shaped like a bamboo blind dressed with thick starchy sauce served in a soup bowl. This is one of favorite dishes for Shin and Mei-Shun at a restaurant in Shinagawa, while reminds the latter of a cooking book she bought in preparation for marriage. It featured 治部煮 among ABCs of Japanese cuisine.
Mei-Shun walked to the nearest shrine as usual. She heard a pheasant guy call his partner on the way, for the first time of this year. How nice to see you again! … oh, not really because she could not catch him in sight. They are so good at hide-and-seek games, make us human beings ever losers. No problem, you kindly tell us that we are in the middle of spring with 啓蟄=keichitsu, the third of spring 二十四節気 yesterday.
It is today, while Mei-Shun’s best party was held 2 years ago at the hospital she stayed. After operation, she started to eat from soup and fruit juice. As was rice porridge with 七分粥, 70% grain seen on the 5th day for lunch served with a tiny bag of ひなあられ=hina-arare, sugar-coated puffed rice. It is one of special sweets for March 3rd celebration, worked as a warm reminder of normal life. A lovely card was attached saying “we wish your prompt recovery.”
Here you are, mom, on behalf of dad. Mei-Shun’s mother has a chronic dizziness. Meeting once a month is their fixed rule, with latest visit planned on February 14th. However, a symptom interrupted and forced them to postpone the appointment. Well, you have learned how to treat yourself, look fine today. That makes your younger daughter feel relieved and happy. Let’s talk about the cute bird the latter saw the other day.
Maria is snowy white. Hentil is chestnut brown. When they are selected for lessons, Mei-Shun feels happy while a bit exhausted thinking about treatment of her buffer — it is navy. Many of our horseies including Madoka-chan are normal or dark brown, which requires easy wiping. She plans to purchase horsey tools little by little in orange, chocolate brown and navy. Her next target has been a gel pad or fake fur buffer, yet another buffer in lighter color might be necessary.
As written last year, Mei-Shun was born in a leap year. Just one day longer than usual, does it do something on her character? For example, she tends to be 5 minutes late for any appointment. This is of course an awful breach of manner, yet one idea went through her head. Each day has 24 hours, which counts for 288 times of 5 minutes. Has she already consumed this “given” time? Or when she eats all up, would she be released from such a curse?
They are in the same age of 13, nicely by chance. Madoka-chan gave birth to six babies while Mikan-chan with none. The former is a horsey while the latter a kitty. They will never see each other, living in all different environment. However, they share a lot in nature; sensitive, smart, shy and lovely. And their job is similar for Mei-Shun: they give great spice spread onto her life, with exciting celerity outdoors by the former while heart-warming relaxation indoors by the latter.
Mei-Shun continues piano practice, yet only 10-15 minutes a day. That means no progress in technique, even deterioration maybe. Refreshing breeze is necessary for Ms. Piano. Some of her favorite scores have many sharps and flats, while played in “Largo”. “Allegro” or “Presto agitato”, represented by the third movement of “Sonata quasi una Fantasia” by Beethoven, are never for her. Soothing music, not so complicated — oh, how about the one in animation films?
Mom-in-law recently gave up her driver’s license. That means she got off from our chauffeur list. Mei-Shun, who enjoyed good German beer and wine tonight, therefore employed 代行さん= daiko-san meaning substitute drivers for the first time. She does not want anyone other than family members to drive her own car, while mom-in-law’s is now free and looks lonely. Why don’t she utilize him? This idea worked well with kind staffs, reasonable price and safe coming home.
I feel better today, after a bit trouble around my tail from Monday. Thanks to the calling 2. 22 meow-meow-meow maybe, while nya-nya-nya in Japanese. Purr, nice sunlight. Mom walked out to hang futon mats, left me on the blanket. No problem. I’ll make a shrimp here… purr … shudder! It has got cold suddenly. Clouds began to cover the sky. Okay, I’ll move into the bed. This is my favorite, reminds me of the one I used in babyhood … meow, mom’s back!
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