Mei-Shun found mimosa bouquets at a flower shop in Ueno Station. We had grown two mimosa trees before 2013, yet neither of them survived in freezing Ibaraki wind, called Tsukuba-oroshi … Hi, friend. Would you join our family for a while?
beauty
Beautiful Songs
Standard“Lieder ohne worte” by Mendelssohn seems to welcome any lyrics. No. 20 Allegro non troppo, called 浮雲; uki-gumo meaning “clouds floating in the sky” is one of the most favorite pieces of Mei-Shun. She has begun to recall the melody after around 30 years!
Spring Taste
StandardSuch beautiful green peas! Mei-Shun boiled them in sincere accordance with grower’s instruction. He told us to keep the peas in hot water until it gets colder. So, they have no wrinkle on the face. Let’s enjoy their baby-skin texture and sweetness.
Green Bride
StandardMei-Shun is good at growing green necklaces (only). Today is the “marriage” date for the best-grown one; Professor S, an admirable lady who kindly friends with Mei-Shun, would like that pot. Well, drink much water, relax well in the sunlight, daughters. Who would be the next?
Hello, Buds
StandardThis cymbidium is named “Yellow Card”, a gift from Kasumi Kikunoe, a “sister” student of Mei-Shun. Despite such dangerous name, it beautifully gleams in full bloom. Last summer, Mei-Shun took devoted care of it, which had got black at the end of leaves. It survived well, and greets her today with one, lovely cluster of buds.
After 2 Years
StandardShin has brought home a wild vine when he had a business trip to Nagano. The fresh fruit tastes nice, yet a bit too sour. Mei-Shun therefore made it soaked in white rum. We tried this beautiful violet color at the end of 2013 – it gave a fine scent as well. And to date, it has been separated into bottled liquid and fruit.
Happy Birthday
Standard…to Mei-Shun today. Her family gave a tiny party at night, and flower gifts. Bigger one is from Shin, fresh while smaller one from mom-in-law, preserved. They are like two peas in a same pod, choose as they look. What a beautiful combination!
Shiokumi; Fisher Ladies
StandardMaster Mei-Shu gave Mei-Shun the first lesson of this year. They’ve picked up “Shiokumi” for the stage in autumn. This is a love story between a nobleman from Kyoto and fisherwomen sisters named Matsukaze and Murasame. In noh stages, older Matsukaze is the leading role shite while younger Murasame the supporting one waki.
Portable Art
StandardA covering piece of acrylic glass has been set on “Christmas Tree” by Kaori-san, who advised Mei-Shun to use that material for maintenance of colorant quality. It would also work as a locket – whose photo shall be put behind?
Japanese Culture@holiday
StandardAs one of entertainments of the new year, we have 百人一首, Poetry by 100 Celebrities. Each poem has 5+7+5+7+7=31 syllables. Players would remember the latter 7+7 part of a poem, look for and take the card on which it is written. A reader would help with the illustrated cards of whole poems. The winner is a player who takes the most number of cards, yet the real joy of this game seems to be in the reading.
meishunkikunoe 