Cooler Purr

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Mom overslept this morning, let me out of the cage around 7:00. Meow, it is easier to breathe than yesterday, isn’t it? She keeps the shutter of dad’s reading room facing the east closed till noon in the middle of summer, saying morning sunlight burns her. However, she opened all of them today. Oh, nice wind comes through. Are you taking a nap as well? I’m so happy to stay between your legs. The footpace of our roof floor, my second favorite napping place has been too hot in these several days. Purrrrrr …

ねむねむちゃんにゃに?

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Piano Day

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Yes, this season has come. Ms. Piano saw Mr. O. It seems to be on the hottest day every year, so Mei-Shun makes efforts to serve them the best environment as much as possible. Taking just an hour, he tuned keys, cleaned up metal bars under the lid. Ms. Piano looked friendly to him, stayed a good girl through a range of process. He never makes you feel hurt, honey. Mei-Shun envies not only your serenity but also equanimity.

+ 3Days

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It makes Mei-Shun feel a kind of thrilled to change her regular schedule — she has seen Dr. A in Friday morning so far. However, it would be in Tuesday afternoon from now on. It has been a bit difficult to find convenient parking space before noon, while she knows it is quite easy to do after lunch time. Furthermore, since her “every other month” means 8 weeks precisely, it would see October 4th for the next appointment. If kept on Friday, it would have been on September 30th to tell a lie to dear followers.

Harvest Soon

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We have 立秋=risshu, the 13th of 二十四節気 yesterday. It means autumn has come, while nobody could recognize it in the middle of summer. Still, we find it in these ripe golden ears of rice, bowing themselves into the same direction.  案山子, kakashi started their bulwark against flocks of little birds with big appetite.

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After 1Y + 18Wks

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… will be postponed to Tuesday. Mei-Shun visitied her mother staying in 草津 with a handmade birthday cake and Shin. He is always kind enough to agree with his wife’s idea — he had squeezed a vacancy out of his hard schedule, reserved bullet train seats to 軽井沢, Karuizawa with a rental car service. Just one-hour drive brought them to the cottage which Mei-Shun’s late father bought 20 years before. It is really cool and comfortable in summer there. Mom was fine, welcomed her children with fresh vegetables.

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Bowl Couple

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They are purchased at 友部, Tomobe Service Station on Joban Highway. Ms. TANAKA, Alba is from Nicaragua, graduated from Mexican National Pottery School. She built her own kiln at the foot of Mt. Tsukuba in 1992. Her works are so light that you won’t feel even a full bowl of rice held in a hand. Shin and Mei-Shun were lucky enough to find her on leading-to-Tokyo lane of the highway: only this side serves wide space featuring a few artists including Ms. TANAKA.

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Enjoy Yamanashi

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昇仙峡, Shosenkyo is one of the most beautiful places Mei-Shun recommend you to visit. White, uniquely shaped rocks give wonderful contrast with clean, emerald water especially in winter followed by simmering hoto. It is a miso stew with various vegetables including pumpkin, Japanese white radish, carrot, leak, etc. while meat and hoto noodle. We found it nice in summer as well with egg plant, cucumber, tomato and okra today.

Fountain View

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乙戸沼 Park always makes walking Mei-Shun relaxed. As water towers dance this morning, however, they reminded her of 娘道成寺, musume-dojoji. On the stage, this title accommodates a temple bell as enormous as one of these water ones. She must learn how to act the role of 花子, hanako by dancing for examination to promote toward 師範, shihan meaning a tutor of 菊ノ上流 next year. All right, she finished making a round of the pond. Now it makes Mei-Shun a little tense.

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Happy Birthday

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… to you mom, in 草津, Kusatsu on one-month summer vacation there for these several years. She often told Mei-Shun that her birthday gift was a watermelon in her childhood. She and her two younger brothers were so happy to see it cooled in a well. Yes, that fruit worked as a birthday cake for children. Even today, big watermelons seem to symbolize joy of summer, especially for big boys including Shin, his late father and Mei-Shun’s. Shall we go to a greengrocer’s shop to buy one?

Terra Cotta

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Mei-Shun sees a flowerpot sit alone at a door of the Us on the way in walking. Looking nice in the morning sunshine, while not alone sometimes — a cat relaxes next to it. Hi, do they keep you? May she name you Raco-chan after your artifact friend? You put a grey jacket on a white shirt. That combination resembles Kuro-chan, who never let Mei-Shun approach within a 5-foot circle in diameter around him/her. Such atmosphere you have as well.

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