Mei-Shun’s favorite tea shop, one of branches closed recently, sent her a letter of invitation. 蔵出し新茶=kuradashi-shincha, stored tea of the first harvest, has been “ripened” in a refrigerator for half an year since 八十八夜, they say. With a discount ticket enclosed, she would like to visit another shop at the nearest train station soon to reserve some.
Mei-Shun walked around 乙戸沼 Park after a long time — almost one month and a half since she visited there in July. Yes, she missed you, Mr. and Mrs. Cormorant. Great to see fountains make upside-down umbrella in the center of the pond again. Oh? it looks a bit distorted by just a breeze, depending on direction maybe. And mom, they are the flowers you mentioned before, aren’t they?
It was the first time for Shin and Mei-Shun to see a chimerical 百日紅=saru-suberi, crape myrtle. When they went to a nearby community center to cast ballots recently, it took her curious glance. She has met many peaches and plums in such colorful blossom, yet never for this summer flower. On the way to home yesterday, she by chance walked by it again. So you kindly look forward to her visit, dear strawberry and vanilla cream.
Mei-Shun found it spread over left-over soil –she took care of tomatoes and cucumbers in three pots on the roof floor. It might have seen two summers there, humidity of current one helped as well. Nobody knows if sultry weather in this July comes back, that would hurt this plant anyway. Hi, new friend, would you come to a balcony downstairs? Your green friends say they cannot wait to see you.
Our ancestors she might be, a white lily at the shrine Shin and Mei-Shun walk to in the morning. It takes just a week for buds to be clearly recognized — three flowers could be seen on this stalk soon. Another pleasure of the couple was the luckiest omikuji, all the same in number and fortune they drew respectively.
Rice ears began to appear on the top of each green, attracting many blue dragonflies with little white flowers.
We are so happy to see you two in the garden. And it was lucky for Mei-Shun who found you standing straight up in green before Shin used the lawn mower. Ah, that might be why she often saw butterfly couples these days. They were messengers sent by you to let us know today’s festival, weren’t they? All right, let’s wish 織姫 and 彦星 would be able to meet tonight crossing a bridge made by magpies over the galaxy.
Upper pair of shoes following below walked in Tunisia raining. Such a rare experience is only for them. Quite likened by Mei-Shun, they have worked hard debilitating themselves under sultry/frigid conditions, far away from normal obsolescence. Darlings, it was in 2010 spring that she asked Shin to purchase you on Internet. Seven years with you gave much to her. Farewell and thanks a million, take good rest.
Not meaning those who live there with the nationality, Mei-Shun visited her favorite dian-xin restaurant in Shinbashi today. She and Shin enjoyed a lunch course including appetizer, soup, shrimp dish, beef one, steamed rice ball, fried rice and dessert. She would not like to mention that place, in order to keep it quiet. This is therefore especially for you kind followers.
Mei-Shun made it: she finally found piano scores which she had been looking for at a musical instruments shop! “A Maiden’s Prayer” by T. Badarzewska reminds her of long-forgotten tune by her mother who sometimes played this and Beethoven’s “For Elise”. Others include “Le Cygne” by C. C. Saint-Saëns and a best album featuring Studio Ghibli‘s animation films by J. Hisaishi.
Mei-Shun walked to the nearest shrine. She had few coins in the purse, was able to afford only one omikuji saying as follows:
The 14th A Little Lucky. For those who see this sacred lot, it would start from severity like digging deeply into a mountain to reach a gold mine. Just believe in the God, do the best, and they would be well rewarded.
meishunkikunoe 