Mei-Shun went to Tokyo for a lecture and test to keep a certificate necessary in her job. And today has the summer solstice, yet dark clouds prevented us from seeing the latest sunset of this year. As always, we have to say — it comes in the middle of rainy season. A little bit lonely.
nature
Following Babies
StandardAmazing. How many grapefruit seeds did Mei-Shun plant? They took 2 weeks more to come out than the first one. Oh, you are twins. Would you like more space? And you are too close to your eldest sister — do we have to remove such little, cute ones?
Watermelons
StandardWhole ones are still in the field for finishing sunbath. If you are on the waiting list, find cut ones at stores. They are reasonable and ripe enough, but might be too cold for some stomachs. Nature knows what to eat right now.
Roof Vegetables
StandardShin started to cultivate vegetables on our roof floor. Tomatoes and cucumbers have bloomed in one month, yet corns look a bit sick. They grow too fast to keep themselves healthy? We hope the phosphate fertilizer would work well — hey, pretty guardian, please let mom take their photo.
Grapefruit Baby
Standard桃栗三年柿八年、柚は九年で花盛り、梅は酸い酸い１３年、柚のばかめは十八年
Peach and chestnut trees take three years to bear fruits. Persimmon does eight years while yuzu orange nine years to bloom. Ume plum takes thirteen years to give their sour fruits, and orange the longest eighteen years.
So did our garden princess, we expect this one grows up to become a fruitful tree. Oh, please find green-necklaced babysitters.
Thorny Rose
StandardWe found a camellia tree in the backyard of our neighbor full of toxic caterpillars! That tree is not ours, but blooms nicely in winter. It therefore seems our duty to keep her healthy. And our own health must be cared as well.
In Series
StandardWe have two-day summer from yesterday. The weather forecast said that it is since 1994 — the year we married — to have such hot days in May. In our memory of younger days, summer started from June. Grey sky, humid air and sometimes a bit cold we felt. On the contrary, May has been dry, sunny, full of young green …
An Earthquake
Standard… occurred at around 14:30 today, with the epicenter just below our feet. A shock has been felt “at the bottom of the stomach”, and a quite strong, lateral vibration immediately followed. Such one reminds us of the scary experience we had 4 years ago.
Rainy Season Approaches
StandardOur next-door neighbor has a unique hydrangea. Petals (not really, sepals) are colorful ranging from pale blue to pink, different from each sprig. They say acid soil grows blue hydrangeas while alkaline one pink ones. Ours is the former, so we wonder which nature their garden has.
Taller than Daddy
StandardOur baby avocado is very flexible. In sunny morning, he tries to face to the east. As the sun comes up toward the south, he turns to the right. Mei-Shun changes place of their pot, expecting his straight growth.
meishunkikunoe 