Here are cute, round members of our garden. Mom-in-law received this big paper pot of green necklace from Mei-Shun, keeps as it is next to her cactus corner. Baby buds of opuntia greet them with shiny silver thorns still soft. Looking forward to rainy season soon, blue hydrangea also holds a lot of little balls. May we expect many flowers after your interval of last year?
Please find gifts from Mei-Shun to Maria and Madoka-chan respectively following below. The former is so noble, isn’t she? White coat allows her to look good in any color, yet the best is the simplest from one of her buffs’ viewpoint. On the other hand, the latter is in black-brown which accommodates all shade as well. Mei-Shun therefore referred to opinion from Ms. I, “mom” of Madoka-chan.
We have 小満=shoman, the 2nd of summer 二十四節気 today. It means every plant has grown up to reach standard size. Still too young to call them so, rice paddy spread along a lane to the nearest shrine seems already doubled in height. Are you kind followers capable of finding a wild duck couple, float like green boats on water? A white egret and a gray heron also greeted Mei-Shun.
Here is a photo of a cloud Mei-Shun has never seen before. She found it while walking back from the nearest shrine to home the other day. Shin is much better to take photos of mammoth creatures, kind enough to send one following below to his wife. Were you making an enormous carp stream above us? With no reply, he disappeared in a minute blown by gust.
Shin did Mei-Shun happy favors during this Golden Week. One of them is a French restaurant in Tokyo, called “Mon Petit Cochon Rose“. The chef has a great technique and sense of humor, yet one and only problem is that he serves a bit too much. It gave an excuse to treat her stomach to a feast before going into severe diet, while her husband has a similar goal.
They are so beautiful in evening sunlight. Mei-Shun must be very careful in driving toward the horseback riding club. Narrow and winding road is included in the simplest route, which accommodates woods dressed up with those purple clusters. Sometimes white ones are seen, yet impossible to watch on the most dangerous way. That is why she asked Shin to drive the other day.
Our Golden Week seems the best time for rice planting. Utilizing these serial holidays, half-and-half farmers and salaried workers let the former do it. It is so refreshing to see watered paddy, partly with green babies in line already. A wild duck couple is so quick to find their best food table and swimming pool. Thanks friends, for flying away which let Shin and Mei-Shun admire your blue feather inside wings.
White asparaguses arrived from Europe. It is only once an year when Shin and Mei-Shun can enjoy them, a genuine luxury. In order to avoid fiber streaks entering between your teeth, do not spare peeling of them. Boil them in a deep pan until ivory changes into pearl white. Mayonnaise and truffe salt would be a nice dip while melted butter, lemon juice and salt would serve for a superb experience.
みほし会 headed by Master Bando performed yesterday at 浅草公会堂, Tokyo. Everyone made Mei-Shun happy for seeing him/her successful on the stage. And yes, she felt a little envy as well — she could have joined them if only her master was in good health. According to an omikuji lot she drew this morning, it is better not to stick to the past. Her mindset must be changed to turn sorrow to pleasure.
They are ready to bloom in mom’s garden. Mei-Shun loves their simple beauty: thin petal in dark blue-purple without any lines. Such splendor might be understood among grown-ups only, not so much preferred by children. It comes from her memory at the kindergarten where she joined “Plum” and “Iris” classes, compared with her elder sister’s “Cherry” and “Rose”.
meishunkikunoe 