New Year

And Again

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Lunar December 2024 starts from today, 大晦日=New Year’s Eve on solar calendar. Mei-Shun hoped to visit the nearest shrine accompanied by Shin and Mikan-chan, yet the former dad coughs too hard to go out. She therefore stayed home, did what could not on Christmas Day: baked a chiffon cake. It was served as dessert with hand-whipped cream after 年越し蕎麦=year-crossing soba noodle.

Party Preparation

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Mei-Shun wrote up and brought all 年賀状=nenga-jo, New Year’s greeting cards to a post office yesterday as well, before cooking. Her signature stamp rarely appears from a drawer; used only for Mr. O, husband of beloved Master Mei-Shu and Professor M, the last student of that charming lady. By the way, are you kind followers able to find Mikan-chan in above image?

Dear Dragon

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Mei-Shun visited a credit union to change used bills into new ones. It is normal for many of us adults to prepare them as お年玉, New Year’s allowance to children. She quite likes this custom, yet more and more financial institutions refrain from above service. By the way, nephews and a niece of Shin and his wife are all grown up; 3 of them are university students, other 2 already working.

Pink Piggy?

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Thanks a million, sweet Mikan-chan. Yes, we are on the 1st of solar February today following yesterday of course. Mei-Shun cleaned up a dining table featuring seasonal celebrations including 干支=12 symbols of the year. Since 2023 is 卯年 to take care of rabbits, please find above her collection from “Arles“, the Netherlands via Shin and the same made in Fukushima.

Clearer Chance

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As sweetest Mikan-chan kindly posted yesterday, lunar 2023 started on Sunday. Shin and Mei-Shun visited the nearest shrine, greeted Gods before receiving omikuji lots from a priest. On solar 元旦=New Year’s Day, the husband was given 小吉=sho-kichi, a little lucky while the wife 吉=kichi, lucky. This time both of above couple saw 吉=kichi in different numbers.

花鳥風月

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Ms. Piano, what new shall you and Mei-Shun do this year? Since it has been raining for recent several days, moonlight scores were picked up a lot. Rain and snow falls are featured by Masters Chopin and Debussy, chosen for fine weather. Her repertoire therefore covers 照る日も降る日も=both clear and wet days. How about adding windy one? Oh, she already learned “Nausicaä“.

Celebration Continues

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Yes, it does for Mei-Shun until lunar Christmas Day next year. On the other hand, she recognizes that most people in our country immediately turn to new-year preparation after that day on solar calendar. Moreover, many of them take December 24th main — including mom-in-law who replaces garden bells and ribbons by pine branches on 25th.