… to eat they are. Mei-Shun’s elder sister kindly send a box of pears the other day. It takes a long time to ripe, let her wait with watering mouth. On the other hand, our backyard gingko suddenly turned yellow. She cleaned half of the eastern balcony while just prepared to do another. Nearly an hour later, here are prettier ones spread on “令”, kanji of 2019.
Weight at the point of no return Mei-Shun came. Or less half bag of sugar, made her rejoice. She chose calvados again for dinner dessert, had no problem this time. Dear handmade cakes by mom-in-law stored in a freezer, please wait a little more. She would be happy to see you once a week, in the morning after she checks herself on a scale at previous night returning from the horsey riding club.
Handmade trail mix, a fiasco
Oh-oh, a scale tells a truth. Mei-Shun recognized some sugar around her waist — it was a bit like a nightmare for her at the end of last month. Shin made a business trip to Vietnam from 24th, immediately after enjoying Kyoto. Rainfall continued for a whole week, for the first time in 69 recorded years, that prevented her from going out for walking or horsey riding.
Weighing one bag of sugar
… of you seems to have already lost, Shin. He asked Mei-Shun to prepare thicker suits for winter. Many of his previous ones were discarded months before when he put off more than several bags of sugar. Now she has to think about white shirts, stored in a wardrobe well ironed. “Ha-ha,” here he comes. Oh-oh, he can hold another half of him within it.
Rainfall through midnight has stopped by this morning, left humidity and warmer air. It was really nice to see clear blue sky appear from gray clouds, let Mei-Shun walk out to greet following 赤まんま=aka-manma, persicaria longiseta. Their lovely figures reminded her of a plate served at 季楽 the other day. If they meant such a pattern was a match for her, she would be very happy.
Here she comes up. Her shining, perfect round shape means that we are in the middle of lunar October, doesn’t it? Mei-Shun went up to the roof floor after months to see her above backyard gingko tree. He has grown so tall and wide that all eastern view is covered by leaves. Oops, fallen ones almost clogged drainage. It is time to clean them up to stop making a dangerous pool here.
Shin and Mei-Shun expected to stroll around 竹泉荘 in early morning before heading for Mikan-chan at home. Although a bear prevented them from it last year, they would have a chance this time. However, not only calicobacks but that fluffy animal welcomed the couple again. A small garden is available at Room 301, while it looks safer to keep following tiny door closed.
Room 301 at 竹泉荘 accommodates 2 baths; a big tulip indoors, a spa surrounded with rocks outdoors. The former cannot be filled with natural hot water, yet accompanied just beside by a glass shower box. The latter has no washing space, only to warm yourself feeling nice breeze. However, nature gave Shin and Mei-Shun a challenge: it is too hot to stay for 5 minutes!
It was 3 weeks before when Shin brought cookies from the U.S.A. for Mei-Shun. However, she normally refrains from sweets aiming at a whole-body health check scheduled soon on November 5th. He does as well, yet his prohibition is more against a bowl of rice — his favorite. It is the reason why Pumpkin Patch is regularly consumed while Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake is still untouched.
A pumpkin made of horseshoes
Lunar October starts from today. Mei-Shun walked to the nearest shrine on weekend, found smaller 鳥居=torii gate missing God — seriously, a kind of name tug attached to it lost “神” letter. It seems some of Gods living there were in a hurry, departed for 出雲 a few days earlier. Others might leave later through larger front gate, next to a stone monument explaining history of the shrine.
“Lucky” omikuji she drew.
