It is so nice to see them grow day by day. Mei-Shun is so happy to see many birds including this wild duck couple. Or a mother and a child, bigger one was waiting for the other slimmer flying across the lane between rice paddy to slide onto water. You finally meet, congratulations. And Ms. (or Mr.) White, nice to see you here. We cannot recognize you crouching among grown-up greens.
Ohhhh, you are so cute. This breed survives freezing winter in our garden, grows these little babies on each “leaf” around 八十八夜=hachiju-hachi-ya, 88th day after 立春 when the last frost might cover the ground, every year. You might not feel better than a few days before — it remains raining all day today, with continued cold air from yesterday. Expected 十五夜 full moon cannot see you tonight.
Willow, gingko and persimmon. It is so nice to see you become greener and greener day by day. Oh, regarding progress, Mei-Shun and Madoka-chan share happy promotion: the former would go up to gallop classes while the latter graduate from training program. Senior instructors gave formal approval to Madoka-chan, yet they did not for Mei-Shun who feels a bit worried about the next lesson …
Mei-Shun enjoyed walking under 八重桜 in the best blossom and fresh green at 乙戸沼 Park. When she saw the “symbol tree” with light-pink flowers half open a week ago, others in brighter shade looked still sleepy. Or they had become senile she worried, yet it was proved to be wrong. After that she met Dr. M for a checkup in every half an year. One tooth was found in a poor condition, not caused by sweets.
To you respectfully, Professor S. Mei-Shun is so happy to send you flowers while receive a small gift from the shop owner. It was a bouquet of sweet peas, arranged into two vases at her home. Now 染井吉野 has gone, 枝垂桜 or weeping cherry is in full blossom and 八重桜 began to bloom. The last one bloomed 80% a year before, amazing us by such an enormous difference between 2-3 degrees Celsius.
It was the first time for Dr. A and Mei-Shun to meet with each other this year. The former told the latter that if today’s test results were fine, their appointment would be made every three month. How nice it sounds! The longer a patient can be relieved from memories of any disease, the smaller pressure she/he would have. And it would mean seasonal visits to a hospital — quite normal for Japanese in good health, living in a country of 春夏秋冬=spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Thank you so much, Professor M. He is good at calligraphy designing, sometimes works as a manager of Shimanekoya studio. These chic pieces were sent from Kaori-san last year, enclosed with a letter of 寒中見舞い=kanchu-mimai, a winter greeting. Her husband is from Kyoto, might be the reason why her gift is always accompanied by scent of that ancient capital. At a glance, Mei-Shun decided to make them her name cards.
Happy birthday, mom-in-law! We have 小寒=shokan, the 5th of winter 二十四節気 today. It means we rush into the coldest season called 寒中=kanchu until 立春=risshun, the beginning of spring. Mei-Shun’s mother gave birth to her younger daughter in 寒中 as well, made her share zodiac sign (Capricorn) and 干支=eto, Chinese zodiac symbol (申=saru, monkey) with her mother-in-law. That means we have to eat birthday cakes twice a month, with new-year feasts and alcohols …
Mei-Shun’s first riding boots are leather ones, made of lace-up short boots and chaps. If she puts them on after rain or — snow, muddy water directly comes through the little holes. It is so disastrous that she has used rental boots so far. However, they are for everyone, not for her only. Unfit boots seriously hinder communication between you and horsies. She therefore bought a pair of long rubber boots as a Christmas gift for herself. By the way, please find a chic tree handmade by our club staffers.
風流堂=furyu-do, based in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture is on Mei-Shun’s favorite Japanese sweets shop list. When their products were available at the nearest department store, she used to visit there to buy seasonal gifts; 御中元=o-chugen in summer, 御歳暮=o-seibo in winter. However, as informed that the store will be closed soon, she started internet shopping. 風流堂 is so kind to send her a handwritten letter and a little gift attached to ordered goods.
meishunkikunoe 