Happy 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 …
happy
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.
Japanese Culture@holiday
あけましておめでとうございます。A Happy New Year!
This has become 寝正月, sleepy new-year holidays for Shin and Mei-Shun. He brought a cold to home, making her have the same symptom — sore throat and a slight fever. It is never seen to affect their first omikuji of 2017, yet he drew 小吉 while she did 半吉. The latter means half lucky, the worst among 吉 lots. They therefore tied them on a 南天 branch grown in the shrine garden to avoid such ill-fated souvenirs.
Happy Riding
StandardToday’s lesson was the last of this year for Mei-Shun. Thank you, Madoka-chan. She has learned so much from you. Image of the first day they met with each other is still clear in her mind: you were so shy that never let her see your front face. Ms. I, your main “mom” in our club always had to prepare something tasty to lead you out of the stall. It is once upon a time for you, smart girl? And to you as well, dear Dreamer. It is a kind of surprise luck to see you again after 10 months.
Triplets First
StandardIt looks twins would follow these cymbidium princesses. Since flower buds put on transparent honey dew, we can distinguish them from leaf ones. Oh, Mei-Shun was so careless that she hurt a bit of the eldest. Your highness, please kindly let her stay grateful for your generosity. Younger ladies are safe, growing day by day. Mom-in-law’s crab cactus pot also holds many buds in bright pink at each top of leaves. Our Christmas might see some of them bloom as called.
Happy Riding
StandardMore than 2 weeks have passed since Mei-Shun rode horseback before. She was a bit tense until seeing Admire Serena for the first time, yet such a feeling immediately flew away when she found her round eyes with brown, long eyelash catching her own. Yes, all you have to do on horseies is to trust them. They are so clever that you should just relax to inform them of the next action. By legs, spurs and short- or long-whips if necessary, although Mei-Shun does not like the last one.
Acknowledgement
Dear Shin, Master Mei-Shu, Mother, Professor M, Mr. and Mrs. M, Ms. S and Ms. T,
Please let Mei-Shun express her most profound gratitude to you.
Warm Arms
StandardPurr, 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.
Copyright © 2016 Mikan-chan All Rights Reserved.
Garden Avocado
StandardIt is Mei-Shun’s great pleasure to report on current avocado. He is a descendant of the first couple who flew away hand in hand during her hospitalization. Moved from a pot to the ground, he survived difficulties in competition with other members rooting nearby. Yes, he has made it. Taught by mom-in-law how to help him grow, Mei-Shun dug a hole approx. a foot in diameter, spread fertilizer on the bottom of it. Her next job is to arrange his winter place.
Family Lunch
StandardMei-Shun, her mother and elder sister met with each other today finally: They enjoyed an okonomi-yaki party after almost a whole year. They had gathered for celebrating mother’s birthday in early summer, before Shin and Mei-Shun made visit to her in 草津 one of their happy regular excursions. The only problem of this idea is that Mei-Shun lacks a chance to see her sister. Mother worried about it, offered her younger and freer daughter to arrange a lunch at her home.
meishunkikunoe 