Mei-Shun finally ate up above bag of 金平糖=konpeito, sugar plums or confeito in Portuguese. It was brought home by Shin from Nagasaki months before, while too cute to go at once into mouth of his wife. She put it on a dining table to let her eyes pleased, waited until they say thanks and enough. Shaped like a little hydrangea; violet stars are grape, blue cider, green melon.
Here we are on Chocolate Day — or precisely, St. Valentine’s Day. Mei-Shun gave Shin once-an-year delicacies of course, from one of his/her favorite makers. She also ordered various products including tiny trial bags of orange peels coated with dark chocolate, found them amazingly delicious. And Professor M would kindly visit her tonight for his regular chocolate liqueurs.
We have 立春=risshun, the 1st of spring 二十四節気 today. Yes, it means that winter has gone, spring starts. However, it is colder than yesterday 節分=setsu-bun, one of 9 雑節 which informs season alteration more clearly than above. Mei-Shun would have liked to get a bag of baked soy beans to spread both outdoors and indoors, while only smaller bags of assorted ones were available.
Thank you so much, Mr. Calvados. He is the eldest at the horsey riding club Mei-Shun lately visits on Thursdays. There seems to be several ways to change his 27 years old into human age, from 78 to 89. Yet his coat, eyes and muscle look much younger in cold 大寒 air, perhaps never minding such a little matter. She purchased that bottle of alcohol respectful to him.
Above is the 3rd gift from Shin to Mei-Shun, from which he won a cock-shape fève. 4th is a cute pair of crystal cats; bigger one is mom, smaller another is Mikan-chan, according to dad. And a warm message via e-mail from mother arrived in the morning, while a pretty basket full of spring flowers at night from Professor M. Oh, the 1st full moon of 2022 appeared in the sky.
It continued toward dusk yesterday, forced Mei-Shun to cancel today’s reservation for horsey riding. She actually saw awful numbers on a scale on Wednesday, resumed exercise at home while cooking full of vegetables. お節料理=new-year feast beautifully arranged into tiered boxes, sake, rice cakes and ice cream are too tasty to refrain from. Now is the time of labor to allow Ms. Scarlet to move forward.
Shin and Mei-Shun dropped in famous 笠間稲荷神社 before visiting a pottery shop serving soba noodle as well, yet opens at 11 : 00. They wake up early in the morning even on weekends, got on Ms. Scarlet around 8 : 00. The husband always has a clear schedule; visit 三昧塚古墳 first, then turn to 友部, one of rest areas on 常磐 Motorway to satisfy the wife who craved for a soft serve.
Mei-Shun was so happy seeing above title on a scale last night, that treated herself to 瓦せんべい from Tokushima Prefecture again. Six weeks have actually passed since she enjoyed this delicacy before, left just in one piece shaped like Mt. Fuji. Prepared a cup of coffee, she looked cookie package on the back by chance. What, below a postcard, its flavor and crispness is due by Nov. 18th?
The 1st Tuesday of a month like today would be titled for Mei-Shun. She visits Master Bando in the morning, takes her lesson in 羽織, kimono jacket on normal pants style. Then she has to head toward Dr. M for teeth check. A molar on her upper right jaw is already cracked within, needs regular care and cleaning. It is 13 : 30, she drops in a bakery on the way home.
Mei-Shun is a fruits lover. She normally prefers them in 旬=shun, meaning season best; strawberry in spring, cherry in early summer followed by peach and melon, grape and pear in autumn, table orange and apple in winter. However, Christmas calls for the first one in our country. It is a bit too hard and sour to enjoy in the raw, often served dried, preserved and mixed in cream.
meishunkikunoe 