We are so happy to see you two in the garden. And it was lucky for Mei-Shun who found you standing straight up in green before Shin used the lawn mower. Ah, that might be why she often saw butterfly couples these days. They were messengers sent by you to let us know today’s festival, weren’t they? All right, let’s wish 織姫 and 彦星 would be able to meet tonight crossing a bridge made by magpies over the galaxy.
congratulations!
Junto
StandardThey chose this name for the lovely Amazonian manatee at 熱川バナナワニ園. Meaning in Portuguese “together”, they express thankfulness to him staying with us so far and hereafter. It reminds Mei-Shun of a dog kept by the landlady of the residence Shin and she lived just after marriage. From 4th floor balcony, she often called him Jun-jun who never looked up to find her.
Minazuki
StandardSo this date has come to Shin and Mei-Shun. They miss a little 茅の輪=Chi-no-Wa and paper doll ceremony at Kiji (=Pheasant) Shrine in Gotanda while never stopped enjoying this sweet delicacy in the morning. After that, he went aboard for Hong Kong on business while she visited Master Mei-Shu. She said that her own instructor passed away at 91 yesterday, meaning that 師範 test for her student could be postponed for a while.
Vanilla Arc
StandardHe is a thoroughbred guy in shining white coat. His tail is so beautiful — long, blonde and straight, cut neatly at the bottom. Gentle-touch and friendly in mind, he has a lot of fans including Mei-Shun of course. However, she had to postpone reservation of his time for a lesson today, since Mr. Shin will come back from the U. S. She is too busy to go out, with his birthday party planned at night.
Happy Birthday
StandardIt is from me and mom, though daddy Shin is still in the plane to the U. S. right now. That means he sees two birthdays this year, doesn’t it? Mom practices Japanese dance after taking care of me. All right, go ahead. I’ll stay here not to make you panicked at losing me, while to keep quiet.
Meow, are you going to take a nap? Let me join on your futon mat. Purrrr …
Copyright © 2017 Mikan-chan All Rights Reserved.
Happy Birthday!
StandardTo you respectfully, Professor S. Mei-Shun is so happy to send you flowers while receive a small gift from the shop owner. It was a bouquet of sweet peas, arranged into two vases at her home. Now 染井吉野 has gone, 枝垂桜 or weeping cherry is in full blossom and 八重桜 began to bloom. The last one bloomed 80% a year before, amazing us by such an enormous difference between 2-3 degrees Celsius.
Sakura Bouquet
StandardMei-Shun loves cherry flower blooming directly on trunk. It seems like saying “here you are” to viewers. She sometimes touches them softly, enjoys cold and fresh feeling. And oh, 乙戸沼 gingko babies, you are ready to grow. When they become awake, each branch might put on green air which soon change into real leaf buds. Ours in backyard is a slow starter, not yet … what, you too already?
Full Bloom!
StandardJust beautiful, isn’t she? Our garden princess has made her pink dress shining more and more day by day to reach this goal. Rain, gale or even storm cannot hurt her beauty. Speaking of which, Mei-Shun’s mother told her younger daughter the other day that Queen Peach, mother of our princess, looks deteriorating these days. So they also have life expectancy while alternation of generations has been firmly established.
Thanks, Mothers
StandardHappy birthday, mom-in-law! We have 小寒=shokan, the 5th of winter 二十四節気 today. It means we rush into the coldest season called 寒中=kanchu until 立春=risshun, the beginning of spring. Mei-Shun’s mother gave birth to her younger daughter in 寒中 as well, made her share zodiac sign (Capricorn) and 干支=eto, Chinese zodiac symbol (申=saru, monkey) with her mother-in-law. That means we have to eat birthday cakes twice a month, with new-year feasts and alcohols …
Great Honor
StandardShe is blooming. How pretty her first bud is! We have been worried about her health since she was found hurt. Thanks to warmth, all buds left have shown their faces within today. Actually, Mei-Shun failed to move her into bigger pot: she stays in her first place. So severe an environment for these grown-up roots, has not nourished them enough. It is why some leaves turned into yellow, as they are called in flowers. Your highness, please keep patient a little more.

















