My Day

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!

Fluffy Sunlight

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.

Japanese Culture@holiday

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.

Second Challenge

Mei-Shun drove mom-in-law to one of major shrines in Japan 八坂神社=yasaka-jinja whose headquarters is located in Kyoto. It is called 祇園さん as well, since the famous Gion Festival is hosted by them. Our nearest branch of 八坂神社 was late dad-in-law’s favorite. He used to buy something at a food stand along a path to the shrine to warm up our hands during midnight queuing for hours. 17 years later, we quietly spend 30 minutes in sunshine to worship.

On TV?

Purr, it’s so comfortable. We have 大雪=taisetsu, the third of winter 二十四節気 today I heard. They say it snows a lot hereafter, that we felt in this chilly morning. Didn’t we, mom? I slept in her 半纏 till noon, when clouds in the sky had been blown away to give sunlight. She likes to dry bed items outside, while I love to bask in the sun on them. I am quick enough to slip onto futon mat. Let me relax and warm my coat for a moment, mom.

Warm Arms

Purr, I love it. Dad, cotton T-shirt is Okay, but won’t you put on a sweater yet? Mom’s legs are my normal place, while his arms in winter especially. He often relaxes on the sofa at night, Aladdin stove works hard in our living room. Sunlight makes me happy as well, when mom spreads blankets and cushions on the floor. She would like to keep luster of wooden flooring, original color of tatami edges by covering them up with fluffy items including me.

Ripe Gingko

A bit smelly, it prevents Mei-Shun from walking on fallen fruits. 乙戸沼 Park is a public one, which Tsuchiura City is in charge of, regularly cleaned and treated. Weeds are well cut in summer to avoid vexatious flies and mosquitoes, serve us a fine environment to walk and jog. However, this autumn has much rain. Many of workers who take care of parks are gray-haired maybe, give labor in clear days only. Thanks to it, beautiful cherry leaves turned into red were kept under the trees.

My Heart

Permission to find it on my hip. Today’s rainy and cool, makes me much sleepier than usual. It might be caused by Typhoon 10 or Lionrock. It is very bizarre one, which has wandered around for a while before approaching us. Currently going up north, it left Kanto area under charcoal gray clouds with sporadic shower. Mom’s legs are the best place in such weather. Purr, I love her.

Japanese Culture@wkday

… or holiday it seems this year. When Mei-Shun drove Shin to the nearest station in the morning, it was almost empty. That reminded her of obon leave which many of us would enjoy till tonight. 乙戸沼 Park had, on the other hand, a few more walkers and runners than usual. Three water funnels danced giving nice sound, looked like a couple and another — oh? You’ve been taken as identical triplets so far. Or some of you are on vacation as we do?

Cooler Purr

Mom overslept this morning, let me out of the cage around 7:00. Meow, it is easier to breathe than yesterday, isn’t it? She keeps the shutter of dad’s reading room facing the east closed till noon in the middle of summer, saying morning sunlight burns her. However, she opened all of them today. Oh, nice wind comes through. Are you taking a nap as well? I’m so happy to stay between your legs. The footpace of our roof floor, my second favorite napping place has been too hot in these several days. Purrrrrr …

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30

meishunkikunoe

… loves Japanese dance, cat and piano.

comfortable