Autumn brings a happiness to Mei-Shun. As she sits on the sofa, Mikan-chan immediately comes onto her lap. Still in August, we have been enjoying cool weather from yesterday. It seems a bit too soon, yet it would be hot and humid again in a few days. Let’s make a good preparation in mind and body, baby.
Sweet smile
Torrid weather gives us good chances to enjoy water melons. Vertical cut is normal for them, yet Mei-Shun had a little dream — yes, a horizontal cut to make the sweetest disk. And this morning, her dream finally came true. Thank you, Shin. He ordered it to a corporation called Tele-farm. They grow organic fruits and vegetables based on customers’ command via PC.
Before
After
We visited Namari onsen (=hot spring) in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture this weekend. It takes 2 hours and a half from Ueno by Tohoku shinkansen (=bullet train). Our first trip to there found several ryokan (Japanese-style hotel) spread along a winding mountain path. Nicely alkalescent water and quiet environment give you a genuine relaxation.
Mikan-chan’s favorite pieces include Nocturne Op. 9. No. 2 by Chopin, Pavane pour une Infante Défunte by Ravel, Clair de Lune by Debussy, etc. When finger exercises are finished, she comes back to the living room. Here is her expression of satisfaction at mom’s performance.
Well done.
Today is Marine Day, the 3rd Monday of July. Mountain Day would be added to our list of national holidays on August 11th next year. One of the reasons for these recent enforcement seems that summer vacation for schoolchildren are set from late July to the end of August. Parents would like to share joyful time with children as long as possible.
It stopped raining in the morning. We might be able to see Orihime and Hikoboshi stars at night; the former is Japanese name of Vega while the latter Altair. Mei-Shun’s wish to bind on our tree is to have good sweets symbolizing this romantic festival.
Shin started to cultivate vegetables on our roof floor. Tomatoes and cucumbers have bloomed in one month, yet corns look a bit sick. They grow too fast to keep themselves healthy? We hope the phosphate fertilizer would work well — hey, pretty guardian, please let mom take their photo.
For a “trip” to Tokyo, Mei-Shun always reserves a window seat of Joban line train to enjoy nice views. Ushiku Pond soon appears on the right. Nisshin Co. factory follows with steam from Cup Noodle-shaped chimney. Many river banks serve as sport fields. And the Sky Tree of course, as colors turn from green to gray.
Our next-door neighbor has a unique hydrangea. Petals (not really, sepals) are colorful ranging from pale blue to pink, different from each sprig. They say acid soil grows blue hydrangeas while alkaline one pink ones. Ours is the former, so we wonder which nature their garden has.
These are Japanese sweets to celebrate Children’s Day, sent from Tane-ya, including chimaki (=sweetened rice cake wrapped in a piece of bamboo grass) and kashiwa-mochi (=rice cake filled with bean jam). The former was found in a paper bag on which a carp streamer is printed.
meishunkikunoe 