Mother of Mei-Shun still stays at 草津, where her eldest daughter and son-in-law kindly drove her to. Her younger daughter believes that beloved father always protects his widow wife, never worries about her sojourn there alone. Above is current image of ヤマツツジ in their garden, whom he could not enjoy since his wife found it several years before.
Shin and Mei-Shun are lucky enough to be able to see seasonal flowers at home through windows. Plum, cherry and wisteria are not planted in their garden while available in “backyard” for the 1st, at a nearby bus stop for the 2nd and similar to that chimerical ume for the 3rd. The wife recently found it tangled on the top of a tree, perhaps too high to remove from.
We have 穀雨=koku-u, the 6th and last of spring 二十四節気 today. Some of rice paddies around here in Ibaraki are already watered, perhaps waiting for neat lines of young green soon. Mei-Shun would like to walk along such a sight toward the nearest shrine, yet it seems a bit too cold to enjoy it. So Mademoiselle Vert, could you show your youngest sister instead?
Shin went to Nagano via Kofu last weekend on business. He sent Mei-Shun above photo taken through a train window, just like a postcard by a professional photographer. This light pink sash would lead to juicy peaches in summer. On the other hand, our garden princess Momo-chan has already finished blooming with her bright petals spread on the ground to make a gorgeous carpet.
Thank you so much, Dr. A. Mei-Shun asked her to introduce a good ophthalmologist the other day. “All right, she is mother of a classmate of my son, very soft-touch”, the former lady said. It is Dr. N who manages a clinic in Tsukuba, kindly took care of above patient yesterday. She enjoyed driving toward there along many sakura trees in almost full blossom, including 染井吉野 and 大島桜 breeds.
Both of solar April and lunar March start from today. Mei-Shun visited 日先神社 after driving Shin to the nearest station. Cold rain stormed out warm air, made her feel frozen in hands. She still enjoyed wet cherry blossom avoiding drops thanks to a blue umbrella full of patterns of the same flower. Now which messages would she receive from Gods by omikuji lots? … well, might be better than before.
So this is the end of our fiscal year, the same of lunar February and birthday of Professor M. Mei-Shun visited her horsey riding club for practice of canter today. It is really great to do it under 80% cherry blossom, her favorite for 染井吉野. Momo-chan, our garden princess is also in similar level, looks like dancing in a gorgeous kimono. Mademoiselle Vert opened her first bud.
Here Momo-chan, our garden princess gave the 1st flower in 2022. Mei-Shun loves this season when the former becomes a forerunner of 染井吉野 cherry blossom. The latter made a phone call to mother the other day, learned that “grandma” tree of above peach has already bloomed 30%. Yes, southern Tokyo always receives earlier message from flowers than northern Ibaraki.
Mother recently sent Mei-Shun several images of flowers newly bloomed in her garden. Above is 馬酔木=asebi, Japanese andromeda given by mom-in-law. The latter grew a gorgeous tree at previous home where Shin lived until marriage, yet did not move it toward her current place. Now one of its children is cared enough like her daughter-in-law.
Great to see you again, Maria-chan. Mei-Shun really worried about you when she heard you might be sick in upper legs. However, such feeling never works since many good staffs always take care of you. She has received no message from them so far, it would mean a fine result. Now you are ready to dance with her, shall we go into the hall made of sand?
meishunkikunoe 