Yesterday, Mei-Shun met Shin in that port city. They often drove to there for a museum, hotels and China Town while living in Tokyo, yet almost stopped it after moving into Ibaraki. Since the husband had a meeting, the wife used trains behind a few hours. It was interesting to watch one of the most populated area in our country, where Shinkansen bullet trains pass in a second.
Moon cake box Shin brought home from Taiwan
Yes, Shin finally brought Mei-Shun to 丸屋履物店 in Shinagawa, Tokyo. They sell many kinds of Japanese sandals including 下駄=geta, made of wood. She has put on 草履=zori, plastic ones so far in kimono. Since light and dry sound of geta steps match summer yukata better, she is so much satisfied to have one tailored for the first time in her life.
Professor S generously gave a pretty necklace made of brown agates, when Mei-Shun visited her last week. “How nice”, Shin said immediately when he saw it. Of course it is handmade by that gentle lady who designed a lot of accessories before going to a shop of precious stones in 御徒町. She is very good at finding unique, reasonable ones to feature in her next works.
Mei-Shun designed another necklace featuring a Venetian beads, as she reported the other day. Professor S put it on a special board, checked balance of color and atmosphere. “It would be better if calmed down by dark blue”, she said, picked up some lapis lazuli from her toolbox. Oh, she really means. Cute, dice-like stones removed amethysts from the first idea as well, enabled another pair of earrings.
Before
After
Professor S, please kindly take Mei-Shun’s deepest gratitude. It was a kind invitation from the former lady to visit her place for the latter today. Two pairs of “handmade” earrings motivated their appointment. They were so loosely attached onto metal parts that they have high risk to fall — her fingers are all thumbs. On the contrary, how quick and precise hands of this Madame Prof. are, to repair them!
Yesterday was our 4th Mountain Day, set on January 1st, 2016. Since it was Sunday, we have serial holidays including today. And that might make 9-day summer vacation added to obon period (13th-16th) with following weekend for some of business people. So please, Shin, take it as your privilege to enjoy enough rest at home. First shower, 2 weeks after the end of rainy season helps well.
Baltic amber in cherry shade
Mei-Shun pulled out Venetian beads which Professor S gave her several years before. When they met on weekend before last, the former put on a necklace designed by herself while kindly finished up by the latter lady. It was so much a pleasing experience that she felt like doing it again. Now, this most unique one would be her next challenge. Since many shades are included, it might require a kind of color dilution.
Mei-Shun went to a nearby hair saloon this morning. It was really hot with grilling sunlight, made her run from shadow to shadow between 5-minute walk to there. Rainy season seemed to have gone, yet it still stays around Kanto Area where Nari, the 6th typhoon of this year targets as a goal. According to weather forecasts, it would give heavy rainfall on weekend.
Snowfall on a cup and saucer
Mei-Shun found the pupa stayed at the porch already empty this morning. Yes, Shin told her last night that its color changed from bright green to brown at the bottom. So a beautiful swallowtail butterfly was safely born here. Which of you flying above our garden is the one? Anyway, let her pick up this shell to dry and keep as an amulet. Oh-oh, it sticks to the wall so tightly that requires scissors to remove.
Mei-Shun feels so happy for finding three lady’s tresses in the garden. They share microbes with lawn, often grow on it not-so-much taken care of — like the wide garden of the museum she and Shin visited the other day. Clay images shaped like ancient warrior, pot and horsey, among which she most loves the last one of course, are arranged in front of the main building.
In her garden
At the museum
meishunkikunoe 