Which would you like, tea or coffee along with marvelous desserts in dry and warm air, both indoors and outdoors? Mei-Shun’s favorite café around here in Ibaraki Prefecture gives you perfect satisfaction. Since the friendly owner is a flower lover, you can enjoy autumn roses both planted and in vases right now. Following strawberry-colored cup was served by another in different occupation, yet they nicely share hospitality.
It might be one of the most beautiful scene in Japan — rice paddy after harvest dotted by persimmon trees with ripe fruits left on naked branches. Mei-Shun chose a different route today to go shopping on foot, looking down her normal lane to the nearest shrine from opposite side. Still before 15 o’clock, sunlight cannot warm her shoulders any more. It stops at yellow leaves to make them shine in gold.
We have clear 十三夜, a moon on lunar September 13th tonight. 十五夜, another on lunar August 15th, is rare to be like this. Although rounder, she tends to keep shy wrapped in a cloudy dress. By the way, “Twelfth Night” by Shakespeare is translated into Japanese as 十二夜. 尾上菊之助 or Kikunoe Ryu head Sensha has played it on stage in kimono, directed by late Y. Ninagawa.
Mei-Shun’s hairdresser is a pottery lover. She often visits Kasama City, famous for good products, to choose pretty cups served to her customers. Recent one used for green tea was excellent with patterns of lotus flower, on a piece of lovely wooden coaster which looks like to be made of origami, art of folding paper. Such a space of relaxation, her shop is called a “hair room”.
It continued to rain for 6 days from last Thursday. We saw beautiful sunlight only in the morning of yesterday, followed by a lot of clouds in late afternoon. That’s was why Mei-Shun rushed to walk in 乙戸沼 Park, worried a little if all leaves frozen and browned. To her great relief, a scarlet friend found the first step of her getting off the car. A flock of wild duck swam lively beside wind-distorted fountain traces.
We would be able to see them all in gold soon at 乙戸沼 Park. Still 40%-60% in green and yellow right now, gingko lines serve walkers and joggers a clean road in early mornings. Cherry trees put on colorful coats; green, yellow, orange and red. It seems the last one means a kind of graduation, because many scarlet leaves have already fallen on the ground to make friends with Mei-Shun’s shoes.
Oh, she comes up from tree tops. Mei-Shun feels so happy to have such a clear sky, which slight shower washed crossing sunshine yesterday. We can enjoy 十五夜 or 仲秋の名月=chushu-no-meigetsu, the most beautiful moon in the middle of autumn tonight. Thanks to Shin who brought tasty 月餅 from Hong Kong on weekend, his wife passed by sweet rice dumplings this year.
Named きららの極み=kirara-no-kiwami, Extremely Shiny, they arrived into Mei-Shun’s arms. How pretty, and how tasty you are left in room temperature for three days! Growers recommend to have them immediately after delivery, yet she prefers softer mouthfeel. Interested in environmental difference, she put tags on each fruit to recognize time before stored in the refrigerator.
That sweeeet scent comes from neighborhood these days. Our horseback riding club has some trees around the field, makes lessons more romantic and comfortable especially at night. Not only give charming aroma, they also look lovely in bloom. Those little orange flowers keep beauty even after falling on the ground. Such sight reminds Mei-Shun of her high school festival held in the middle of September.
They have grown green again. Several 彼岸花 or 曼珠沙華, red spider lilies trim current rice paddy. According to Shin, those dried bunches of rice were for growers themselves. Such care is too high-maintenance to serve for mass consumption. Oh, regarding newly harvested rice, Mei-Shun received some the other day from a police officer who was involved in a traffic safety campaign.
