Good morning 0615

 We were able to harvest mulberries from our garden this year.

My home library

 

I have opened a room in my house as a small library for our neighbors and friends. Unfortunately, not many people visit it.

Over the last two days, I have been reorganizing the room and reducing the size of the book corner. I also asked the owner of a secondhand bookstore I know to take away three boxes of books.

She is a real book lover and has a keen eye for both English and Japanese books. I'm sure the books will find their way into the hands of people who will truly enjoy and cherish them.

Good morning 0608

 

by Mieko

by Yuki

We are fine. Last week a typhoon came. It  caused big drops in pressure, and I struggled with dizziness during the typhoon. It made me realize how grateful I am not to be alone at times like this.

Yuki was able to have chemotherapy last Friday.

Anyway, we have a good appetite.

It is a good thing, isn't it?

Good morning 0601

 June has come!

by Yuki

by Mieko

Last week, Yuki couldn’t receive treatment because his white blood cell count had dropped. But he’s okay—he’s still able to enjoy steak.

Good morning 0528

 Yesterday I took part in an online English conversation meeting . There were four members who are all Japanese.

The topics are "park".

◆How often do you go to a park? What do you usually do there?

We sometimes go to parks to see seasonal flowers such as wisteria, azaleas, roses, and so on. And when some events are held there, we also go to enjoy them.

When our children were little, and when my granddaughter used to visit often, we would often go to parks because they wanted to play outside.

◆What kinds of things are not allowed to do in parks?

At small parks, playing catch is not allowed. Fireworks are, of course, prohibited too.

Even at big parks, fireworks are prohibited, and BBQs are basically not allowed. However, it seems that they are permitted in some areas.

◆Have you ever been hiking in a National Park? How far did you hike?

I once hiked in Oze National Park. I don’t remember how far I hiked, but I walked for most of the day. It was when I was a student.

◆Have you ever been to an amusement park? What’s its name and what is inside it?

My most recent memory is of Tobu Zoo & Amusement Park. we enjoyed the rides and the goose parade. It was quite interesting. I’m not sure if they still have it now, because it was quite a long time ago.

We used to go to Tochinoki Family Land . Even now, its roller coaster  seems to be popular.

◆Are parks generally clean where you live, or do they have a lot of trash and litter?

I think they are generally clean. In the small neighborhood park near my home, there is a sandbox. It is always covered to prevent cats from using it. Picking up litter and weeding are done regularly as part of our local community activities, so the park is kept clean.

Parks managed by the city, such as Hachimanyama Park, and those managed by the prefecture, such as Tochigi Wanpaku Park, are also kept clean, I think.

◆What kinds of plants and animals have you seen inside your local park?

In this season, we can see wisteria, azaleas, and roses. Soon, hydrangeas will bloom as well. There are many different kinds of flowers. The nearby Chuo Park may have the greatest variety.

As for animals, at Hachimanyama Park, we can see peacocks, cranes, and rabbits because there is a small zoo in it. 

Good morning 0525

 

by Yuki

The snap peas in our garden have started to bear pods. We are surprised to find we can harvest more than we expected.

by Mieko

This photo is Dorayaki. Dorayaki is a typical Japanese sweets. It is a kind of soft pancake like sweet sandwiches.

Good morning 0518

 

by Yuki

by Mieko

This week has started. Yuki is having some side effects, but he is doing all right. He is planning to go to a jazz café to play bass, piano, or guitar. According to him, he can’t play the instruments as well as before, but he can still enjoy playing in sessions with others. That’s a good thing.

I have a rehab appointment at the orthopedic clinic.