Mei-Shun loves cherry flower blooming directly on trunk. It seems like saying “here you are” to viewers. She sometimes touches them softly, enjoys cold and fresh feeling. And oh, 乙戸沼 gingko babies, you are ready to grow. When they become awake, each branch might put on green air which soon change into real leaf buds. Ours in backyard is a slow starter, not yet … what, you too already?
welcome
Spring Messengers
StandardPheasant, Chinese partridge and bush warbler started to sing for their lovers. Cherry trees began to loosen their buds. Mei-Shun cooked a 筍=takenoko, young bamboo by herself for the first time. She found that 乙戸沼 Park also accommodates white magnolia trees arranged like a big one full of fist-size flowers by the pond. Narcissus blooms one after another under our garden princess.
Welcome Home
StandardMei-Shun attended a funeral today with mom-in-law on behalf of Shin. Such a stormy weather made them feel more depressing. Soon after they came home, he emailed that he would do the same in an hour. You could not sleep at all in the plane? That might be because your late aunt wanted to let you know her start of a long journey. Oh, father of our baby elephant found in Thailand? Good for you, darling.
Joy of Sweets 2
StandardWelcome to Japan, Angry Owls, yet could you please calm down? Your looks are at the opposite ends of your taste, so gentle. Shin has brought you home, leaving the U. S. just on the day of new president’s inauguration. We wish no facade like yours would reflect real emotion among them. By the way, it is rare to employ blue in food for us Japanese. Flowers, are you trying to decrease our appetite? You might be right, since shortbreads are high-caloric delicacy.
Waterfowls
StandardMei-Shun visited 乙戸沼 Park — long time no see. Winter mornings are too cold and dark to be there after driving Shin to the nearest station, so she has used to walk to the nearest shrine since around 大雪, the third of winter 二十四節気. Amazingly beautiful it is. A flock of wild ducks play on the pond with white dots of swans. Yuri-kamome or Larus ridibundus, great to see you here. It looks like grey herons rest on each fountain nozzle, or are you cormorants?
Aunt Bear
StandardYes, 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.
Best Orange
StandardCalled 山下紅=yamashita-beni, they are so beautiful both in taste and appearance that Mei-Shun cannot wait until she meet them at the beginning of winter. Mikan-chan, here are mini-moms you are named after. You are clever enough to know that, greet them peacefully while normal cats do not like them. One of Mei-Shun’s cat fancier friends loves oranges so much. However, he has to go to another room for this dessert since his boy always get angry at it and hit dad by paws.
Tropical Family
StandardMr. Banana stands quietly in morning sunlight, with a new leaf looking half-frozen. How’s Baby Avocado? … Oh, he looks safe, upheld in snow-covered garden. It is awful that current cold wave forces Mei-Shun to arrange protector against frost for them so soon. On the other hand, she found five flower buds of Princess Cymbidium just after returning from the roof floor to watch Mr. Banana. Kindly let her show great pleasure, your highness.
Garden Avocado
StandardIt is Mei-Shun’s great pleasure to report on current avocado. He is a descendant of the first couple who flew away hand in hand during her hospitalization. Moved from a pot to the ground, he survived difficulties in competition with other members rooting nearby. Yes, he has made it. Taught by mom-in-law how to help him grow, Mei-Shun dug a hole approx. a foot in diameter, spread fertilizer on the bottom of it. Her next job is to arrange his winter place.
Cicada Lady
StandardShe is so small that Mei-Shun’s thumb fits her size in half. You are a lady who gives no voice, aren’t you? Thanks to keep silent, Mikan-chan is very much interested in you. Your peaceful repose let us go on quiet in mind. As for her mom, she is a bit scary at your buzzing to rush toward her. However, she takes you nearly cute today. What is your breed, honey? If you are the romantic 蜩, higurashi who sing at dawn and sunset, she feels quite lucky to see you.















