Half and Half

Standard

乙戸沼 Park accommodates a lot of waterfowls during winter. Interestingly, southern side of the pond is frozen on surface, no life seen floating. Old cherry trees planted along waterside might have grown too much, shut down sunlight to warm water. Northern side is in contrast, quite vigorous full of wild ducks, swans and black-headed gulls. Mt. Tsukuba gently looks at them, not only from sky-high but from the ground.

Snowy Messenger

Standard

Here is Mr. Snowman I by mom-in-law. He was born on Tuesday, keeps his style in a white coat with a cabbage hat on his blue hair. He lives next to our post box, kindly observes paper delivery service. Thanks to him, Mei-Shun learned this morning that one of Tokyo Metro lines plans to give users classical music aboard. Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” is on the top of examples.

Winter Messenger

Standard

乙戸沼 Park began to accommodate wild ducks and ユリカモメ=yuri-kamome, black-headed gulls who Mei-Shun’s mom taught her prefer polluted water. Well, it seems quite right. That is why this pond has to be aired by fountains regularly, while gives uplifting view for visitors. Small falls bubble a stream which goes on the ground under cherry trees, might contribute to water refining as well.

Orange Change

Standard

Ah, she might be the mom. Mei-Shun saw a big mantis on a blanket hung in southern balcony, asked her to leave. She slowly climbed the wall to the roof or over in sunshine; finished a great job, saying good-bye to her children. And that might be why our biggest grapefruit has grown thorns on green branches around the egg. They say this armor proves an adult citrus tree.

She Made It

Standard

Since we have 立冬=ritto, the first of winter 二十四節気 today, Mei-Shun decided to wake Mr. Aladdin up. So heavy and powerful he is, she must be very careful. In order to protect tatami mats, she spread them with two bathmats. Tipping his cardboard box toward her side, she put it on a mat before bending her knees to hold and set him on another. Now, it’s become easy to pull him to the living room.

Happy Tone

Standard

Good for you, Ms. Piano. When Mei-Shun plays “Merry-go-round of Life” by J. Hisaishi these days, you sound like having a little sore throat. That is why she contacted Mr. O to give you a tuning. In spite of cold rain, he visited them in the morning, asked what is going on for you. He touched you a moment, immediately caught the problem and started his job — oh? You cough as well?

Lucky Owl

Standard

Please call him Fuku-chan. Drew Mei-Shun into his round eyes the other day, he sits on a 座布団=zabuton, Japanese cushion handmade by mom-in-law from her son’s Aloha shirt. It has become not only too big for Shin but also out of his summer trend. Yet as a textile, it is very smooth in 100% silk while with lovely goldfish and flower in nice coloring. Why don’t we make the most of it?

Autumnal Garden

Standard

Our 萩=hagi, Japanese bush clover is in 80% bloom. Roses are in half, normal pink and vine white. What attracted Mei-Shun’s attention most was that the latter looked salmon pink a few days before, turn to white with red trimming later. It has not been recognized in such unique shades. Hi, little boy, did you flush stared by a woman? Please relax and grow further to reach the brick wall facing to a street.

Cats, Cats

Standard

They came from 陶柿園 in 神楽坂. Which one do you kind followers like? For Mei-Shun, the one accommodating two cats looking up cherry blossom. Shin prefers another featuring black patches on a white coat, plays with a black friend and a colorful ball. An elegant bone china cat, looks a bit like Mikan-chan, attracted eyes of the former who gave up bringing her home shocked at the price tag.

Welcome, But…

Standard

Oh, please do not scare Mei-Shun, darling. She put off glasses, prepared to bathe when she recognized something moving up on the wall. It was a lovely little gecko, not the awful creature in similar size. Actually, she fought with a family lived under green necklace pots, sprayed pesticide all over balcony floor the other day. So your vague silhouette was a light punishment.