Autumn has already reached 乙戸沼 Park. Fortunately, these pale orange fruits, perhaps blown together on the brick lane by storm, were not ripe enough to emit that odor — you have only to be wary not to step on them. On the other hand, your hats would be safe passing under these red candies whose mother tree might be a 楠=kusunoki, camphor grown in our backyard.
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.
Shin reserved a hotel in front of 二条城 this time. It is very nice to see such a popular sightseeing point through a window, avoiding crowd. Early in the morning, they enjoyed walking around the garden after breakfast. Another pleasure to stay here is a nice French restaurant “C’EST SYMPA“. They serve really beautiful dishes and wines for amazingly reasonable price, while net shopping is available.
Though we have serial hot days since this weekend, fog is often seen in early mornings around here. Mei-Shun found a couple of wild duck swimming together on 乙戸沼 the other day. Softly coated with mist, they looked so romantic. A cormorant stood still on a fountain head. One thing she learned after driving her car for 8 years is that fog lamps work very well in this condition.
Mei-Shun loves 橘寺. Shin prefers 飛鳥寺. In detail, the former admires 六臂如意輪観音 while the latter 飛鳥大仏. Thanks to heavy rainfall on Saturday, air was washed up for clear Sunday. Starting from 石舞台, they enjoyed cycling with rental bicycles assisted by electric motors. Oh, we can see pretty 蓮華, Astragalus sinicus still left on rice paddy ready to be watered.
熱川バナナワニ園 have many greenhouses accommodating tropical fruits, flowers and the manatee boy of course. They knock Mei-Shun and Shin down with such lovely round shapes — that’s why they named him Mammal-kun. Not only for his species, mal means “round” in Japanese written 丸 or 円. Other examples include banana, coffee and papaya as well. Sorry to exclude you, star fruit, while we love your unique looks.
Mei-Shun walked to the nearest shrine as usual. She heard a pheasant guy call his partner on the way, for the first time of this year. How nice to see you again! … oh, not really because she could not catch him in sight. They are so good at hide-and-seek games, make us human beings ever losers. No problem, you kindly tell us that we are in the middle of spring with 啓蟄=keichitsu, the third of spring 二十四節気 yesterday.
I feel better today, after a bit trouble around my tail from Monday. Thanks to the calling 2. 22 meow-meow-meow maybe, while nya-nya-nya in Japanese. Purr, nice sunlight. Mom walked out to hang futon mats, left me on the blanket. No problem. I’ll make a shrimp here… purr … shudder! It has got cold suddenly. Clouds began to cover the sky. Okay, I’ll move into the bed. This is my favorite, reminds me of the one I used in babyhood … meow, mom’s back!
Copyright © 2017 Mikan-chan All Rights Reserved.
Such a day is called 冬日和=fuyu-biyori, mom says. My favorite time in winter comes every morning: Aladdin wakes up to give out warm wind a minute before 5:00, while mom opens the cage door calling my name. Still dark outdoors, I check around my territory. Hi, Cymby, you look fine. But how freezing your realm is in stairs hall, hiss! Hunger suddenly caught me. Mom, breakfast please. By the way, I’ve not seen dad … is he all right? Coming back from the U.S. on Sunday? That’s terrific, purr.
Copyright © 2017 Mikan-chan All Rights Reserved.
Shin and Mei-Shun visited her mother’s home, one week later than expected. Now let’s enjoy mom’s best 黒豆=kuromame, sweet-simmered black soybean and 数の子=kazunoko, hot herring roe marinade. A tree of 蝋梅=robai or Japanese allspice welcomed them in full bloom. It was her beloved father who fell in love with this winter flower soon after its market introduction. Bright yellow petals look like art works made of wax, giving the sweetest scent around — you can recognize it at a distance of 10 feet.
meishunkikunoe 