Shin and Mei-Shun visited her mother’s home, one week later than expected. Now let’s enjoy mom’s best 黒豆=kuromame, sweet-simmered black soybean and 数の子=kazunoko, hot herring roe marinade. A tree of 蝋梅=robai or Japanese allspice welcomed them in full bloom. It was her beloved father who fell in love with this winter flower soon after its market introduction. Bright yellow petals look like art works made of wax, giving the sweetest scent around — you can recognize it at a distance of 10 feet.
Mei-Shun drove mom-in-law to one of major shrines in Japan 八坂神社=yasaka-jinja whose headquarters is located in Kyoto. It is called 祇園さん as well, since the famous Gion Festival is hosted by them. Our nearest branch of 八坂神社 was late dad-in-law’s favorite. He used to buy something at a food stand along a path to the shrine to warm up our hands during midnight queuing for hours. 17 years later, we quietly spend 30 minutes in sunshine to worship.
あけましておめでとうございます。A Happy New Year!
This has become 寝正月, sleepy new-year holidays for Shin and Mei-Shun. He brought a cold to home, making her have the same symptom — sore throat and a slight fever. It is never seen to affect their first omikuji of 2017, yet he drew 小吉 while she did 半吉. The latter means half lucky, the worst among 吉 lots. They therefore tied them on a 南天 branch grown in the shrine garden to avoid such ill-fated souvenirs.
Mom, I’m still hungry. Why you take so long a time to clean my restroom? Please serve me crispy food, rather than wet one. I finished up all gel around them. Meow, that’s it. You weigh and pour it onto my bowl, before leaving again? Okay, I’ll help myself.
Now, on behalf of my mom, I would express the most profound appreciation to you gentle followers. Today’s post is the last for 2016. Looking forward to finding you well next week and year, please kindly let us say 良いお年を！=Purrrrrrr …
Copyright © 2016 Mikan-chan All Rights Reserved.
Yes, she has slept in the closet for years. Mei-Shun brought her home a time ago, let her join Christmas ornaments for a cypress tree in the garden. It was blown down by a storm, forced us to give up joy of outdoor decoration. Now she finds us well once more, so sweet to say she is happy to serve for a new mistress. Honey, we thank for your benevolence. Please keep patient for a while, this post will be transferred to another one with a new-year item atop soon.
Today is the first day of the year on lunar calendar. It is said in our country that new moon days are the best for you to make a wish to a god. That is why Mei-Shun postponed the procedure to renew her driver’s license to date.
These lovely monkeys came to us in different routes; fluffy one with a red ribbon is from “Arles“, smaller one with golden ears from Fukushima. They take after each other in friendly visage, yet one is made of felt while the other of wooden chips.
This is Mei-Shun’s second 2016 omikuji.
第四十四番 吉 The 44th Lucky
このみくじにあう人は 碁に黒白の石が置いてあるように 吉凶はないが 心遣いと努力があれば 後にはすべて良くなる 物事先んずれば良く 遅れれば利なし 神仏の御加護を信じ 熟慮断行すれば 幸せ来る
For those who see this sacred lot, lucky and unlucky matters share their existence as go game has black and white stones on the board. Take good care of other people while making efforts for yourselves. Everything would be better in the future. The sooner the better, no delay for profit. Believe in the protection of the God, consider before implementation. Happiness would soon come.
A stone of passion, carnelian was attached to the lot. It would bring triumph to your business and sports, they say.
Many of us enjoy 七草粥 (=nanakusa-gayu) today. 5 kinds of wild, edible leaves and 2 vegetables are cooked in rice porridge. This simple dish is gentle for our tired stomachs after feasts of new-year celebration.
Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu. This is Mei-Shun’s first omikuji (=sacred lot) of 2016.
第二十二番 吉 The 22nd Lucky
このみくじにあう人は たちこめていた雲間に 再び月の明るさが射し込むように 万事気短にする事なく よくよく思慮すれば 神仏の御加護の下 幸せが訪れる
For those who see this sacred lot, consideration on every deed: never being in a hurry would lead to bright happiness under the protection of the God, as moonlight breaks through night clouds.
meishunkikunoe 