Recent wet and cool Obon season taught Mei-Shun that summer is going, autumn is coming. For example, she was really happy to hang futon mats outdoors after waiting as long as 10 days. However, no warmth was left when she brings them in around 17 : 00 — they kept heat within even at dusk a month before. Sunset is getting sooner, sunrise later. More and more sunlight is creeping into rooms.
nature
Baseball Boys
StandardO-bon period of this year was a bit atypical. Heavy rainfall prevented Shin, mom-in-law and Mei-Shun from burning 麻幹=ogara as 迎え火=mukae-bi in 13th evening to welcome beloved dad-in-law. 送り火=okuri-bi, to say good-bye might be feasible tonight, yet it seems weird to do for them who did not say hello. On the other hand, cooler weather might be kind to those gather at 甲子園.
Japanese Culture@holiday
StandardYes, it is today. Or precisely was yesterday which became Mountain Day to close the big sports event held in Tokyo. This national holiday is normally fixed on August 11th, moved toward above date to give us a little summer vacation. However, Typhoon Mirinae hit Kanto Area while Lupit made a landfall on Kyushu. The latter still roars giving us the second reason to stay home.
Clear or Cloudy
StandardMs. Piano, it was really difficult for you and Mei-Shun to choose scores to sing together yesterday. Weather changed from all clear in the morning to evening thunderstorm, made them wonder which was better; rainy one composed by Master Chopin, or moonlight by Masters Debussy and Beethoven. As a result, the latter was featured according to Shin’s request.
Stay or Stray
StandardMei-Shun sees many baby geckos these days; their parents live outdoors, themselves indoors. So cute they are, so little that easy to be Mikan-chan’s target. When she meows weirdly, it means one has been locked on. If it is on the wall for example, it would be safer yet on the floor — fluffy honey, you do not need to hunt foods. Tora-chan did before to survive in the field.
Bright Blossom
StandardWe have 白露=hakuro, the 3rd of autumnal 二十四節気 today. It means dewdrops on grass leaves, as a bushclover in our garden has this morning. Mei-Shun loves such a halcyon sight, yet hot southern air soon came into Kanto Area after powerful Typhoon X or Haishen roared north off western coast of Kyushu. Perhaps it is too busy to care about social distancing.
CU Again
StandardThe pupa on a grapefruit pot Mei-Shun grows had emerged a few days before to fly away. Summer is really full of new lives — cicadas sing from early in the morning, born one after another. Most of them around here have simple buzzing voice, while some say mean-mean, what-shah-shah and tuk-tuk-ossy. Her favorite is the last one with green body and crystal-clear wings.
Oops!
StandardOh, no, Mikan-chan, please do not run through a glass slide door open to a verandah. It is a place for green pots and futon mats, not for bare paws like yours. Are you all right? Come to mom. We hear thunder from minutes before, under such a blue sky. However, it took less than an hour to change into grey. Cumulonimbi seem to approach. Well, Mei-Shun wishes a good rainfall after 11 all-dry days.
Mountain Day@dusk
Green & Blue
StandardCalled by many names including 露草, 青花 and 月草, these blue flowers always make Mei-Shun happy. Now with rice paddy grown into bright green, where is the Queen Egret? She looks forward to seeing them nearby, while has seen them fly gracefully over the horsey riding field. And you, blue-eyed Siamese, please do not fight with that black fluffy.
Best Soup
StandardHi, a larger package of 羅臼昆布, welcome onto the table of Shin and Mei-Shun. The wife has to take good care of you from now, since weather forecasters said minutes before that rainy season seemed to start today in many areas of our archipelago including Kanto. However, it is clear with strong breeze. Well, it often occurs as soon as we come into that period of humidity.
meishunkikunoe 