Mei-Shun found it spread over left-over soil –she took care of tomatoes and cucumbers in three pots on the roof floor. It might have seen two summers there, humidity of current one helped as well. Nobody knows if sultry weather in this July comes back, that would hurt this plant anyway. Hi, new friend, would you come to a balcony downstairs? Your green friends say they cannot wait to see you.
welcome
Brush Her Up
StandardMs. Piano would see Mr. O soon, looks happy after Mei-Shun arranged an appointment with the skilled tuner for her. She recently sounds better in “A Maiden’s Prayer” by T. Badarzewska, gives Mei-Shun a good finger practice. Then she moves into Debussy, Chopin and J. Hisaishi. In the last album, “Fantasia for Nausicaä” has almost been completed, next one would be “Merry-go-round of Your Life”.
Welcome, Greens
StandardMei-Shun’s favorite tea shop closed yesterday. She visited there with Shin to get bowls respectively; she asked him to choose one as a gift, he did the same to her. On the other hand, a saddle pad below is for Vanilla Arc only — oh, lovely Maria, you may share this with him. Mei-Shun’s current one is in navy, meant to be specific to Madoka-chan at first, yet used on every horsey who played her partner so far.
Brought Autumn?
StandardHello, dragonfly. You would always love to stay on our laundry stand, or on car antennas especially when we spread water to cool them down in sunbathing. Actually, following photo was taken last week when it was clear. Their transparent wings seem to work better on such days, not in the rain. Mei-Shun feels so sorry for them, with weather forecasts calling current one the coolest obon in 40 years.
Glittering Guest
StandardHi, how are you? He often knocked our window these days, perhaps bring some message from beloved ones. Mei-Shun’s father visits us in a red hornet, Shin’s uncles in dragonflies. Black swallowtail butterflies seem to be haunted by her grandmother. Mikan-chan, why you “bark” at him? You stopped when mom came to take a photo. Do you mean to call her asked by this new face? What a good girl!
Hello Again
StandardMei-Shun gave Princess Cymby pots 2 kinds of fertilizers; one is liquid for once a week, the other solid once a month. Satisfied at their livelier looks, she found smaller (=younger?) princess accommodates an unique friend, another baby mantis. Can you kind followers recognize him/her below? Interestingly, he/she has tabby in legs, seems to camouflage him/herself as a plant.
Baby Mantis
StandardHello, darling, welcome to Mei-Shun’s bed. It is so nice to see you, yet she has already started repellent steamer here. Indoor air is dangerous for you. Would you let her bring you onto shutters, outdoors in half? When she closes smaller windows, you will be isolated in safe space. And oh, great to find you stay there all through the night. Sunbathing place is ready to the east, please go ahead.
Rice Baby
StandardIt 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.
Petits Cactus
StandardOhhhh, 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.
Japanese Culture@holiday
StandardThey watered rice paddy at the beginning of this Golden Week. It seems to take a few days to calm down ground surface, because planting of young rice started from yesterday. Mei-Shun enjoys looking such process to grow our dietary staple, walking along a lane through baby greens. Oh, here comes a wild duck couple. A beautiful white egret as well, joining pheasants and swallows.










