Before seeing Vanilla-san and Madoka-chan in the afternoon, Mei-Shun walked to the nearest shrine. Since a priest was sitting at a reception desk, she had to put off all of warm items to pray to Gods for a safe day. One nice thing is that the 手水鉢=chozu-hachi, washbasin frozen in normal winter mornings, is full of clear water during 松の内=matsu-no-uchi, new-year week.
Shin and Mei-Shun visited the nearest shrine yesterday for 初詣=hatsu-mode, new-year greeting to Gods. The former drew an omikuji lot of 吉=kichi, lucky while the latter dai-kichi, the luckiest as following below. It might be the first time for her to see one with both the 1st number and the luckiest there. She feels so happy, takes it as the best words of protection in 2018.
A Happy New Year! Did you see the first sunrise of 2018? Of course Mei-Shun did, while never had thought of her goal of this year before 24 : 00 of last night. It is because they say 来年の事を言えば鬼が笑う= when you talk about matters of next year, demons would laugh at it. That means your future cannot be foreseen. She agrees with the idea, told herself not to have any pipe dream. Oh, what a beautiful 十五夜 moon!
So this is the last post from Mei-Shun in 2017. How was it for you — full of pleasure? That is great! For the writer, half of her goals have been accomplished. She therefore put another eye onto this だるまさん, daruma doll. It is freezing outdoors, while wind stopped today to give us relief in shoulders. She wishes you, kind follower a happy new year from the bottom of her heart.
Mei-Shun put on a thick track suit under a down jacket, followed by earmuffs, gloves and a cap. Tall trees around her home were swaying a little at the top in the morning, allowed her to be in good time to walk out. 日先神社 has already begun preparation to serve us from coming new year. Tiny reception desks for 巫女=miko, shrine maidens are covered with snow-white cloth.
Oh, she comes up from tree tops. Mei-Shun feels so happy to have such a clear sky, which slight shower washed crossing sunshine yesterday. We can enjoy 十五夜 or 仲秋の名月=chushu-no-meigetsu, the most beautiful moon in the middle of autumn tonight. Thanks to Shin who brought tasty 月餅 from Hong Kong on weekend, his wife passed by sweet rice dumplings this year.
It is 酉= tori, rooster as mentioned before. Shin and Mei-Shun have made it a rule to visit Fukushima Airport at the beginning of the year. They are always happy to see twelve cute 干支 animals made of paulownia sawdust there, while a tabby kitty joined this year. Apples, another target were not available, so they chose kumata-pan, buns with sweetened bean paste filling. Yes, sweet … coated with white sugar, sized in your palm. It may easily make you round-shaped like our 丸酉!
… on lunar calendar it is today. We have been able to see the moon early in the morning, becoming thinner and thinner. It was impossible to find her high in eastern sky, even with Shin’s good eyesight. We miss her a lot while Mei-Shun is a bit happy thanks to the bathroom scale: she lost one sac of sugar. Has she been paralleled with the moon in shape? Then she has to be very careful not to do so from today! Anyway, shall we have a little tea party on ささらがた and 冨貴寄?
Shin’s 干支=eto, Chinese zodiac symbol is 酉=tori, rooster celebrated in current year. That is why Mei-Shun ordered ささらがた=sasaragata and 冨貴寄=fukiyose featuring 酉 respectively. Her custom to give the latter to 年女 or 年男=toshi-onna/otoko friends and family members started three years ago. 2014 was 午=uma, horse year in which her elder sister was born. On the other hand, it was Professor S who served the former when Mei-Shun visited her home for the first time.
Actually, Mei-Shun saw the second on 14th for just a moment. She found it started at just 9:00 this time. According to the weather forecast, it should have been a rainfall around here — maybe because we have 大寒=daikan, the 6th of winter while the last of 二十四節気 today. The coldest season in an year means that we have only to endure it for 2 weeks. With lunar New Year’s Eve next week, shall we enjoy this frostiness wrapped in thick coats, long boots and furs?
meishunkikunoe 