Welcome to Japan, Angry Owls, yet could you please calm down? Your looks are at the opposite ends of your taste, so gentle. Shin has brought you home, leaving the U. S. just on the day of new president’s inauguration. We wish no facade like yours would reflect real emotion among them. By the way, it is rare to employ blue in food for us Japanese. Flowers, are you trying to decrease our appetite? You might be right, since shortbreads are high-caloric delicacy.
Shin’s 干支=eto, Chinese zodiac symbol is 酉=tori, rooster celebrated in current year. That is why Mei-Shun ordered ささらがた=sasaragata and 冨貴寄=fukiyose featuring 酉 respectively. Her custom to give the latter to 年女 or 年男=toshi-onna/otoko friends and family members started three years ago. 2014 was 午=uma, horse year in which her elder sister was born. On the other hand, it was Professor S who served the former when Mei-Shun visited her home for the first time.
Mei-Shun has picked up some from countless flowers Shin gave her so far. Many opportunities including her performance on stage, their wedding anniversary at Christmas and her birthday replenish her blissful arms with gorgeous bouquets and arrangements. Middle-sized roses are relatively suitable to dry for preservation, with recent best following below in bright orange. Since they bowed immediately in spite of watering, Mei-Shun hung them in headstand position for a while.
Mom found a cute 湯呑=yunomi, Japanese tea cup at her favorite tea shop. Tabby-grey-dot combination, isn’t it why you chose them? I’m your prettiest, purr. It is so cold today. Actually, such weather is not kind to me these days. It forces me to stay in the restroom from early in the morning till noon. Oh, I feel something wrong around my tail, hiss! Mom, don’t leave me alone. Hold me until gentle Hypnos comes to touch my eyelids.
Copyright © 2017 Mikan-chan All Rights Reserved.
Actually, Mei-Shun saw the second on 14th for just a moment. She found it started at just 9:00 this time. According to the weather forecast, it should have been a rainfall around here — maybe because we have 大寒=daikan, the 6th of winter while the last of 二十四節気 today. The coldest season in an year means that we have only to endure it for 2 weeks. With lunar New Year’s Eve next week, shall we enjoy this frostiness wrapped in thick coats, long boots and furs?
Such a day is called 冬日和=fuyu-biyori, mom says. My favorite time in winter comes every morning: Aladdin wakes up to give out warm wind a minute before 5:00, while mom opens the cage door calling my name. Still dark outdoors, I check around my territory. Hi, Cymby, you look fine. But how freezing your realm is in stairs hall, hiss! Hunger suddenly caught me. Mom, breakfast please. By the way, I’ve not seen dad … is he all right? Coming back from the U.S. on Sunday? That’s terrific, purr.
Copyright © 2017 Mikan-chan All Rights Reserved.
Mei-Shun visited 乙戸沼 Park — long time no see. Winter mornings are too cold and dark to be there after driving Shin to the nearest station, so she has used to walk to the nearest shrine since around 大雪, the third of winter 二十四節気. Amazingly beautiful it is. A flock of wild ducks play on the pond with white dots of swans. Yuri-kamome or Larus ridibundus, great to see you here. It looks like grey herons rest on each fountain nozzle, or are you cormorants?
of 2017, thank you so much, Master Mei-Shu. It is the best way to make Mei-Shun straighten her spine — prepare kimono, put it on with お太鼓=o-taiko, sash shaped in a square on the back. Master gave her student a new 舞扇=mai-ogi, a fan used in Japanese dance as usual. Oh, how pretty this salmon-pink is! It well encourages Mei-Shun to practice hard 京鹿子娘道成寺=kyo-kanoko-musume-dojoji. It is the set piece for our Kikunoe Ryu certificates including 段=dan, 名取=natori and 師範=shihan.
Our club has two guys who shared ex-owner’s names “Tosen”. Treasure and Applause, did you became independent from it? Mei-Shun saw the former at the first lesson of this year. When she heard his name selected, she took him as another guy. Then, we cannot call you T. T. anymore but just T, can we? It sounds a bit bizarre. All right, you would be Tore-chan from today while your junior colleague App-chan. Other surnames including “Admire” and “Taiki” would be removed soon.
It is a bit embarrassing to say so to yourself, while so happy to have family and friends who say so to you. Mom, thanks for your simple but heartfelt message. Shin, your surprise gift won an enormous success this year as well. Mom-in-law, your お赤飯=o-sekihan, steamed rice with red bean tastes the best. Now, let’s enjoy together Galette des Rois as Mei-Shun’s birthday cake. And oh, another flower featuring sakura from her best friend! Please take her sincere gratefulness.
meishunkikunoe 