Lavenders

This weekend is just around the corner. Do you have any plans for this weekend?
Last weekend, luckily early morning it was rain. So -- Yuki's golf meeting was canceled, though around 8 it cleared up. He had nothing to do on the day. So I asked him to take me a lavender farm. ( I was going to go there by myself, even though it would have rained)

 

I knew the farm three years ago. They open their farm only 20 days in June and let people pick them up by themselves. When I knew that three years ago, it was the last day. So I couldn't go there.

Last year, I couldn't manage to go there.

And this year -- finally I could go there.

 

As soon as I got home --- I had to do deal with the lavenders.

I made some small bunch of lavenders to make dry lavenders.

I also infused lavender essence by oil, and with liquor.

Season word 0629

 

 

"food poisoning", though it is a season word, it sounds difficult to make HAIKU (the shortest poem)


Food poisoning, not be afraid, boiling disinfection

Do you disinfect kitchen clothes or cutting boards by boiling?
In this season, I sometimes disinfect them by boiling.
And I sometimes wash T-shirts (especially Yuki's) by boiling with soap not synthetic detergent.

As

English picture books

I god a direct mail.   -- so I visited a small exhibition & sale of foreign picture books. The firm which held it is in Tokyo. And they came to Utsunoiya after an interval of three years..

 

They showed very interesting foreign picture books. The books are written not only in English bust also in Spanish, in German, in French, and in Greek. Of course they brought some Asian books.

Of course I would like to have bought some ones.

 

However the way to sell books is not from one book, at least one set which includes 30 books.

Well, well, now I don't need 30 books. And though foreign picture books are interesting, I need only English picture books.

 

So I checked some books and "clicked" at home. --- of course Amazon site.

 

This books shows the concept of number "0" .

This time I went there with Yuki.

He also shows interested in this book. So I bought one at home.

 

In July I'll do volunteer reading on the third Sunday at the library. Usually on Sunday reading days. many fathers join in my activity. So probably this book will catch their attention.

 

And another book is this one.

It is the book to find alphabet letters from photos.

 

When I find such books, I always understand that alphabet letters are pictorial figure, so it is possible to find letters from sceneries.

On the other hand Japanese letters, especially HIRAGANAs are not.

Though I have looked for such books for many years, I don't find one yet. Japanese letters are "sound" letters.

 

The Family precepts of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

My friend sent this photo and asked me what it means.
This is her friend's.

Well, as soon as I have a look, I thought it would be difficult for me to read "too" beautiful letters.
Nowadays, we don't use this type of -- it's not right, I'm not getting used to reading this type of cursive style.
However I read some words, --- and I noticed this might be famous words.
I "googled".
I'm right!

This is Ieyasu Ikun,
Ieyasu is the first shogun of Edo Bakufu.
This words are said to be the last words of Ieyasu.
The reason why I noticed it -- I learned history very much???? no, no, no.

Here in Tochigi, we have TOSYOUGU shrines which are registered as a world heritage site. And they dedicate Ieyasu. I have attended the study meeting about TOSYOGU some times. So I have a little knowledge.
(Additionally one of my friends who were with me at the meeting is now a professional interpreter-guides.)

And the meaning is ---
I also "gooled".

I found it from here.

The Family precepts of Tokugawa Ieyasu.


The life of human is just like walking long way with heavy baggage. Never rush.
Stay in inconvenient situation all the time, then you will never feel your circumstance inconvenient. If you have unnecessary desire in your mind, remember when you have nothing but hard situation.
 Patience is the most important for keep everything safe and longer. Anger is the enemy. Thinking of victory all the time and never experiencing to be loser is not only good thing, but also that false ideal will harm your future.
Be responsible all the time for all things. Never blame to other people. Be less is always better than too much.

---well, well, English is easier than Japanese.

Two art exhibitions

Now it is the last week in June. In the middle of June I visited two art exhibitions.
One is this one textile art exhibition. I got the information from my elder daughter T.
The artist is from Tochigi prefecture, and it was the first time for her to hold her individual exhibition in Tochigi. Probably it was the last day when I visited , so her family were there. Probably her parents seem to be in the same generation as ours. They looked very happy with being there with their daughter.--- On the other hand anyway --- T refuses  (politely) me to accompany with her in any her exhibitions. (I seem too noisy).

And another one is this one.

It was a group exhibition, and there, our elder daughter's works were also displayed.

Fortunately, this time one piece was sold.

Anyway I always root for  the young artists on the side. (well, I don't know whether they are young or not, because both of them are around 30. However they are getting by on making their works.)

I wish I would offer to help sponsor.

Coffee shops

It's Saturday, now I'm spending usual Saturday.

Last week   I  often went to Tokyo to pick my mother up and see her off.
I had no time to do some things for me in Tokyo, however I enjoyed coffee at a coffee shop or a coffee stand.
This is Yanaka coffee. It is served at Yanaka coffee stand we don't have in Utsunomiya. The coffee stand is in a department store near Nakano station, where my mother gets on a train. 

They serve very simple coffee, don't serve arranged coffee like ones at Starbuck. It costs 260yen, though compared with coffee at a convenience  store, it is expensive. But we enjoy the atmosphere at coffee shop (though it is a coffee stand), and the smell of coffee.

And another day, I dropped by TSUBAKIYA coffee -- probably restaurant.

First a set of empty cub and saucer is delivered. So of course I appreciated them.

Then, a waiter brought coffee with siphon.

 

 

At that time Yuki and I were in Ueno.

While Yuki was shopping at AME-YOKO with abut 1000 yen, I took a rest at this coffee restaurant drinking this coffee which costs 1000 yen.

 

 

 

 

Season word 0622

Electric fan without brads , a wind bell rings,  magically!

( I was reallly suprpised that  blameless fan  appeared from Dyson  ) 

A wall-mounted fan, watching each other , with Ah-chan

 

Here in this article, wall-mounted fans are not introduced. However since our daughters were little, we have fitted (?)  wall-mounted fans in mostly each room. They are really suitable to get enough space, and not dangerous for kids. Do you know this type of fans?

 

 

Though usual weekdays have started --

 

 

Though usual weekdays have started, though I go to the library to do volunteer reading in 20 minutes, I'm getting irritated a little.

The special weekend was finished. My mother came here after an interval of 3 years. The main object was to see an art group exhibition in Toubu department store. My elder daughter join in it.



 

 

 

And the hidden main object is shoppinb at Toubu department store.



She lives in Tokyo, so there are lots of big department stores.
For the youth shopping something in Tokyo is entertaining, however for my mother who is 83 years old, it gets stress. Because too many people, and too many goods.
Compared to Tokyo, Utsunomiya is not a big city, and not a small city. It is very suitable size for elder people. Actually at Toubu department they target the senior.
So she enjoyed selecting her cane (finally she decided to have her cane), some clothes, and some foods.
Of course she goes shopping in Tokyo to the nearby supermarket.
The goods  and service are different from one at the supermarket. Though the cost is high (but it is low compared to departments store in Tokyo) , she was able to enjoy her leisure time calmly there.

What makes me irritated is --- anyway I have to visit her often to stop her proceeding senile, and release her stress. So I have to struggle my stress.

season word 0615 loquat

 

In my garden there is a tree of loquat, however before it bears fruit , we always trim it.

Why we keep it?

Because we use the leaves to care our skin.

I planted the seed when our daughters were very small. They used to have atopy, and I relied on Japanese herb medicine while I took them to a clinic.

Since then I use the leaves for skin care.

And nowadays I also apply the lotion to Ah-chan.

 

 

 

Sorry, trim you, before bearing the fruit of loquat

Thanks, enjoy this summer, with the leaves of loquat

Before my mother coming

This week my mother is going to come --- if she is in good condition.
Probably I'm going to pick her up at TOKYO station ( it means I'll go to TOKYO by grain from Utsunomiya early morning) and come back with her by SHINKANSEN (bullet train).
And probably when she goes back to Tokyo, Yuki will give her  a ride and probably we'll also visit Yuki's mother on our way home.

Anyway I cooked pre-cooked dishes.

And, just a few minutes ago, our elder daughter T came here on her car (It means she drove her car from Tokyo to Utsunomiya, of course it was the first time)

She joins a group exhibition here in Utsunomiya. She has to carry her works in to Tobu department, so She came here earlier than my mother.
And my mother, of course will come here to see the exhibition.

---my unusual week has started.

Discarding 10 things

 I still continue  discarding 10 things once a week .  

 

 

The brown one is TATAMI mat. I got it from a TATAMI- shop for free. because it is just the fringe of TATAMI. so it doesn't work as TATAMI. At that time I thought I was going to use it for something. But until now I haven't used it.

This time in according wit "konmari" method, I handled it (it's important to have the items with hands once)  and made sure it didn't spark.

And I also discarded other 9 things.

 

 

And I also discarded other 10 things.
I subscribe the newspaper, and when a news letter is inserted, I always do this.
--- I donate something.
This time the company collected kids clothes and stationery. So I donated "Ah-chan"'s clothes and some unused stationery.

In Aiken I saw recycled boxes for clothes at street. I thought it was a good idea. Here in Japan recycled box for cans, bins, and paper are here and there, however the ones for clothes are not seen at street.

hydraingea jelly

 

As I told you, last Tuesday two women came and enjoyed talking about TSUYU (mainly in Japanese and sometimes in English)

And instead of making crafts we made ---

 

And we also arranged "konpeitou"-candy like this.

Next morning, I served the jelly for our breakfast.

It was the activity of last Tuesday.
This Tuesday I go to KARAKU as a pianist.

Currently I seem to be a little bit busy, though I don't like the word busy.
I don't have many things, however some new errands (visiting my mother, calling to my mother, etc) are added, and I'm being pursued by preparing for my activities .
Anyway, after this I have to practice the piano for tomorrow, and have to go to the bank before it closes.
(which is faster??? going to bank is the first thing???)

tree frog

a word of this week from the SAIJIGI literary calendar is "tree frog".

 

Tree frog, how are you, you bring me smile

Tree frog, where are you going, I'll catch you with my hand net.

 ( I don't have a net so try to catch it with my hand)

Ah-chan , which one is bigger?  you or tree frog?

 

 

Ah-chan lives in Tokyo, and her area is no "land". So it was the first time for her to "see" frogs at the small mountain site.

A man managed to catch some frogs, and showed one on his hand to her, She couldn't approach him.

So he put them into a the water in the bucket  --- and

 

Ah-chan could just dip her finger into the water.

BANKAN

These are not grapefruits, they are called "bankan". And it has also another name "Japanese grapefruit".
Coincidently I got them.
Ho do I eat them --- too much.

 

Anyway we had some for our breakfast.

 



 
 



And  --- I remembered that I had a gadget called MUKI-chan".




So I peeled them.

 

 

I make sweet peel and bankan jelly.

 

 

Are you interested in this gadget?

 

 

 

A workshop with a dictionary at a used bookshop

Though in 1 and half hours a work shop will start here, last Tuesday I joined in another workshop.
Once a month I visit a used book shop (and café) with my collection of English picture books.
The books in the photos are the books for June.



On the day I visited a work shop was hold. "Enjoy Japanese with a Japanese dictionary".
If you are students, probably you often use some dictionaries.
In my case, actually because I even study English, I always use electronic English dictionaries, however I seldom use Japanese dictionaries, especially paper dictionaries. When I need to look up Japanese words, I "google" Internet.

At night I joined the event with "my younger daughter's Japanese dictionary" which was used when she was a junior high school student.
It is the only one paper Japanese dictionary in my house.

First, just I opened the dictionary and picked a word. 

KORIKOU which means clever but a little bit tricky.
I laughed at myself. It is "me".

Well, as you know I study English, so I look for a KATAKANA word.
KURE-MU  it comes from claim. As you see the English word is also introduced.  However the mean is make a complaint. The English original meaning is changed.

And, my major was industrial chemical, though it was in the past. So I look for an chemical word.
To be surprised the chemical formula is introduced.

Using dictionaries, browsing dictionaries, we (there were three attendee) talked a lot.
It was a good time.
It is sometimes  good to "read" dictionaries. 

Monday has started

Monday has started with lots of chores.
This weekend I visited my mother in Tokyo, so I didn't do usual weekday chores.
So As I got up, I started doing them.

First I cooked pre-cooked dishes for this week.
The top of picture is Tofu biscuit.

I got these carrots. The main is "leaves". Probably tempura is the most suitable way to cook them. However yesterday I had no power to make tempura. --- Of course Yuki "can't" do that. And if he tried to do it, I would deny, because it's troublesome to tell him how to cook and how to dispose the oil after that. Today it is Monday so it is the day to take out burnable garbage. It means it was a good day to make tempura yesterday --- but it was troublesome.

 

So I flash-cooked the leaves and bake them with Tofu and pancake mix.

 

Next I prepared this for tomorrow.

Tomorrow two ladies are going to come to join in my workshop.

I'll make hydrogen  yoghurt  jelly with them.

 

Then, I vacuumed the rooms,   and ---- I'll go out to do errands.

Monday has started.

 

Satoyama festival

Though this week end is coming, I'm writing about last weekend.

Last weekend, we went to SATOYAMA festival.

Satoyama is Japanese, I don't know such word exists in your country.

Sotoyama is traditionally an area where farmland meet forests.

This festival is hold in Ichikai town where it takes 40 minute drive from my house.

It's not a big festival, very calm but entertaining festival

 

Why did we went there?

Because --

We know a young (means he is younger than us) farmer. And We are a regular customer of him.

He delivers his vegetables once a week by himself.

And my mother and our younger daughter M ask him to send a box of vegetables twice a month.

In Ichikai, there are some farmers who try to grow their vegetable in organic ways. (Don't ask me what is organic ways, I know they have various understandings. Anyway we know one of them, Kobayashi-kun, and we have visited his farm.)

This time the farmers and some restaurants who supports them held this festival to enjoy themselves.

So it was not advanced well.

So we went to see Mr. Kobayashi. We, We, We, --- though I use the word many times, it means Ah-can also came.

To tell the truth, my mother Hiroko-san also wanted to come, but it was too hot for to come.

 

 

Such meals were served.

What a beautiful "turnip" it is.

The same turnip was cooked last week, but---."no problem".

 

 

It was "satoama farm " festival.

So some hens also join in --.

After more than 10 minutes passed, finally she gave food to hens.

 

And she couldn't catch frogs. A men caught frogs and put them in the bucket. -- however she couldn't touch them, just dip her finger into the water  timidly. Can you see she hold her another hand with her mother's.

This Sunday I'll go to Tokyo to see my mother.

Practice Teaching

I'm not sure whether your country you have this system or not.  I did it when I was a college student . So I had a certificate to teach math and chemistry at high school,  on the other hand I don't have one to teach English at school . I took some official English grade exams  and got enough score  to run this branch school.

Practice teaching, reminds me of my young period , with bitter smile

 On the other hand my junior high school  was a model school for education in Japan 

So they often accept young practice teachers.

The class by a practice teacher, make a racket, in friendly atomsphere 

Untill seven years ago, teaching certificates user to be permanent, but now ithey aren't. So probably my certificate has already expired. One of my friend, when she got 50, decided to become a teacher because she has a certificate to teach music st highs school.and she was hired as a part time teacher, and now she works as a regular teacher at high school. She is as old as me. Once I thought I would work as a math teacher at high school, but , as you know I keepthis English school,