It does not mean to say good-bye but hello. So she is the youngest among the Yellow Card. Her closest sister moved into a vase throne with sweet pea maids of honor. And another princess in our garden has finished her performance, gives her kimono little by little to a friend still asleep at her feet. The latter is called 姫空木=hime-utsugi, also a princess to put on white dress early in May.
Yes, it starts from today. That might be why our garden princess gave her first bloom. It is so interesting that the more distant a bud is from the trunk, the sooner it blooms. That makes her look like putting on a melon kimono from the bottom. Now it gets dark, your mother would play piano in moonlight scores to help you — we do not have it in the sky tonight.
A phone call came from Master Mei-Shu’s husband. He said his wife looked sick, had to cancel today’s lesson. That is terrible for her, yet what is going on? Just a second before, Mei-Shun sent an E-mail to the master, asking to let her student put kimono on after driving. It was so windy that long sleeves and tight wrapping of legs seemed to disturb safe handling of a car. Master replied simply, “I see”. Anyway, please take care. Such a stormy weather must be hard for her to endure.
For today’s lesson, Mei-Shun put on the amber 帯留=obi-dome, ornament for a string on kimono sash while a 簪=kanzashi, hair accessory beside her chignon. Both of them are gifts from her generous husband who always encourages good practice. It would be perfect with the silk kimono, yet there is a serious obstacle: she has to drive to Master Mei-Shu’s residence. That textile is so smooth that it easily come down on the floor. She cannot stand such a danger and — dirt on it.
Mikan-chan, you look fine this morning. May mom go out? It is warm and windless, the best condition to play with horseies. Would you sleep under mom’s 半纏 kimono coat? All right, see you later, sweet girl. Well, Madoka-chan, you refuse to give us lessons today. Ms. I said that you might have frightened at something small in woods next to the field. Such a sensitive girl, your nose bled last week as well. No problem, take enough rest on carrots and apples.
of 2017, thank you so much, Master Mei-Shu. It is the best way to make Mei-Shun straighten her spine — prepare kimono, put it on with お太鼓=o-taiko, sash shaped in a square on the back. Master gave her student a new 舞扇=mai-ogi, a fan used in Japanese dance as usual. Oh, how pretty this salmon-pink is! It well encourages Mei-Shun to practice hard 京鹿子娘道成寺=kyo-kanoko-musume-dojoji. It is the set piece for our Kikunoe Ryu certificates including 段=dan, 名取=natori and 師範=shihan.
Thank you so much, Professor M. He is good at calligraphy designing, sometimes works as a manager of Shimanekoya studio. These chic pieces were sent from Kaori-san last year, enclosed with a letter of 寒中見舞い=kanchu-mimai, a winter greeting. Her husband is from Kyoto, might be the reason why her gift is always accompanied by scent of that ancient capital. At a glance, Mei-Shun decided to make them her name cards.
We are in November, aren’t we? Somebody in the sky should have made a mistake, pushing buttons for a snowfall to bring white Christmas. Meow, everyone would be happy if the same come one month later. It started around 7:00 when dad finished preparation to leave. He told mom who were also ready to drive him to the station, “stay home today, I’ll use mom’s car”. I agree with him, because Aladdin is murmuring that he was hungry. Please go ahead, mom, to feed him. I’ll stay a good girl here.
Copyright © 2016 Mikan-chan All Rights Reserved.
We had 鬘合わせ=katsura-awase, or 坪合わせ=tsubo-awase this afternoon. The latter involves stage settings and properties staffer, while ours means the former to make metal bases for wigs and to measure sizes for kimono costumes. A Japanese-style wig master gauges our head to fit a base like a cap first. Then he beats it with a wooden hammer to make the best curve on our cheeks. Finally, two metal belts will be arranged on our back of the head to support the biggest front part.
It is so big that Mei-Shun was nearly shocked at first. Shin, take her most profound gratitude please. They say your face oil serves for better luster on this gemstone. She therefore takes everyday care of it, anticipating an excellent debut on kimono — it is a 帯留, obi-dome accessory for obi sash. 久慈, kuji in Iwate Prefecture has one of the oldest amber-embracing strata in the world, Santonian, Late Cretaceous. How romantic it is to see Mother Earth memory of more than 85 million years ago!
meishunkikunoe 