群馬歴史博物館に展示されてる私の生家の地

　先日、孫娘たちと群馬の森の中にある歴史博物館に行ったとき驚きました。それは江戸時代の倉賀野町の模型が常設展示されてます。中央を横切る太い道は中山道です。

　その模型の中に、手前中央の広い屋敷は私の生家があった場所です。私は２０才までそこで暮らしてました。その証拠が分かるのは右上に赤い大きな鳥居があります。その上の道は１５０年経過した今でも「大門」と言われてます。

　なお、下の私の生家があった右の細い道は九品寺の参道です。たまたま、私の生家があった場所は、現在、広い空き地になっており、私は時々ウォーキングで訪れ、子供の時代を家族８人で暮らした場所なので懐かしく感じます。それが今一人なのですから、時代が経過すると人間の生活も変化することを実感です。

Dear my Facebook friends

T　he other day, I went to the history museum in the forest of Gumma with my granddaughters, and I was surprised. There is a permanent display of a model of Kuragano-town during the Edo period. The wide road that crosses the center is the Nakasendo road.

　In the model, the large house in the center foreground is where my childhood home was. I lived there until I was 20 years old. I can see the proof of this place in the large red torii gate in the upper right. The road above it is still called "Daimon" even after 150 years.

　Incidentally, the narrow road to the right of where my childhood home was located is the approach to Kuon-ji Temple. By coincidence, the place where my childhood home used to be is now a large vacant lot, and I sometimes visit it for walking, and it brings back memories as it is where my family of eight lived when I was a child. Now I am alone, so I really feel that people's lives change as time passes.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

ハイビスカスと芙蓉の花は瓜二つ

　不思議なことに、樹木や葉は異なるのにハイビスカスと芙蓉は花が殆ど同じです。花弁の大きさと言い、また、花弁の枚数はどちらも５枚です。雄しべや雌しべの形も殆ど同じです。ただ、我が家の芙蓉の色は白ですが、ハイビスカスは概して、色彩的に華やかに感じる程度です。実は、今日の写真はどちらもハイビスカスで明るいです。

　同じようなことは人間社会でもあります。以前に倉賀野駅のプラットホームで知人に会ったので、いつものように声を掛け挨拶しましたが、彼は全く反応しないのです。一瞬、どうしてしまったのかと私は感じました。ああそうか、彼は一卵性双生児の双子であったことを思い出しました。ですから、私に反応しなかった方はもう一方の方だったのです。知ってる方に無視されたような気持になりましたが、彼は私を知らなかったので納得できました。

　一方、現在、私の家の比較的近くに一卵性双生児と想われる女子中学生がおり、しかも、仲良くいつも一緒にいます。なるべく私から声を掛けてますが、区別がつきません。これとは別に、以前に、近くに男子の一卵性双生児の方がいました。健ちゃんと康っちゃんで、二人併せて健康です。私には今でも区別がつきません。それにしても、似てるって不思議です。

【こちらが芙蓉の花です。】

　

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

..............................

　Curiously, even though they are different trees and leaves, hibiscus and Confederate rose have almost the same flowers. The size of the petals and the number of petals are both five. The shapes of the stamens and pistil are also almost the same shape. However, the Confederate rose in my garden are white, while the hibiscus are generally more colorful. In fact, both of today's photo are bright hibiscus.

　The same thing happens in human society. I once met an acquaintance on the platform at Kuragano-Station, so I called out to him as usual, but he didn't respond at all. For a moment, I wondered what was wrong. Then I remembered that he was an identical twin. So the one who didn't respond to me was the other twin. I felt that I was ignored by him I knew, but since he didn't know me. So I could convince his behavior.

　On the other hand, there is a junior high school girls who are an identical twins who live relatively close to my house, and they get along well and are always together. I try to talk to them as much as possible, but I can't distinguish them. Apart from this, there used to be a pair of identical twin boys living nearby. Their name are Take-chan and Ya-cchan, and their kanji is consisted of healthy. I still can't tell them apart. Still, it's strange how similar they are.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/... 　

一年点検を終え、山道をスイスイ登るＴＴクワトロ

　午後になったら余りにも暑くて、室内にいても汗を掻き、4時頃になってお気に入りの「吉井ドリームセンター」へ向かい、入浴してサッパリしてきました。内心は、夕食の生ビールが美味しくなることを夢見てました。

　先日、一年点検をした愛車ＴＴは調子よく、山道をどんどん登ります。背の高い私にとって、何と言っても、室内が広くて運転が楽です。

　それはそうと、最近はどこを走っても、同じ車種にすれ違うことがなくなりました。それは寂しいというより独自性が感じられ、いいものです。私の車はコーテイング済みなのでピカピカです。道路で私の車とすれ違ったら合図をお願いいたします。

Dear my friends

　It was so hot in the afternoon that I was sweating even indoors, so at around 4 o'clock I headed to my favorite Yoshii Dream Center and had a bath to freshen up. Secretly, I was dreaming of a delicious draft beer for dinner.

　My beloved TT, which had its annual inspection the other day, was in good condition and was climbing the mountain roads. As you know, I am tall, the interior was so spacious that it is easy to drive.

　By the way, recently I have never passed the same model of my car wherever I go. It's not lonely, but rather a unique feeling. My car has been coated so it is shiny. If you pass my car on the road, please signal though it is in NZ.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

３年前、思い切って幹を剪定・・・今年は柿が鈴なりです

　拙い体験上、知り得たことですが、柿は枝を剪定をすると実が良く付きます。しかも、甘くなりました。元々、この柿の木は少々渋く、あまり甘くなかったことから人間は食べないで、野鳥に自由に食べさせてました。

　しかし、考えた挙句、実は３年前に地上から１mの所に新芽が出たのをチャンスと捉え、そのすぐ上から幹そのものを思い切って切断しました。結果的に、根はそのままなので養分は充分にあり、新芽は見る見るうちに大きくなり、早くも昨秋から生り始め、味は以前より甘かったです。

　今年は一層成長し、写真は全体の一部ですが、今のところ実は鈴生りで、樹勢も生き生きしてます。昨年も少し生りましたが、果たして、今秋には、私カッキーのように渋くなく、甘い柿が収穫できるでしょうか。

　思い切って柿の木を剪定したように、私たちが生きる上でも時には大改修が必要不可欠でしょう。健康法も勉強法も、時間帯を変えたり場所を変えたり、あるいは方法をいろいろ変化させることで、思わぬ好結果が得られるかもしれません。

　日常生活においてもマンネリ化のままでなく、興味関心を広げたり、方法を変化させると思わぬチャンス到来があるかもしれません。「自己改革に年齢は関係なく」、明日を夢見て生きたいものです。今気づきましたが、柿が「生る」という字は「生きる」と同じです。

Dear my friends who are fond of persimmon

　From my own clumsy experience, I know that pruning persimmon branches makes them bear more fruit. What's more, the taste becomes sweeter. Originally, this persimmon tree was a little astringent like me, so humans did not eat it, but allowed wild birds to eat it freely every years.

　However, after thinking about it, I actually took an opportunity when new shoots appeared 1m above ground three years ago, so that I boldly cut the trunk just above the sprout. As a result, the quantity of roots were still intact, so there was plenty of nutrients in the roots. Therefore the new shoots grew rapidly, and the fruits began to appear as early as last fall, and they were sweeter than before.

　This year, it has grown naturally even more, and although the photo is only a part of the whole persimmon tree, the fruits are currently bearing in clusters and the tree is thriving. A few fruit came out last year, but I wonder if I will be able to harvest sweet persimmons that are not astringent and bitter like me.

　Just as I boldly pruned the persimmon tree, major renovations are sometimes indispensable in our life. Whether it's health or study methods, we may get unexpected positive results by changing the time, the place, or the method.

　In our daily life, if we don't stay in a rut and by expanding our interests, try different methods, unexpected opportunities may appear themselves. "Age is not a factor when it comes to self-improvement", and we should dream a new tomorrow. I just realized that the kanji for persimmon "生る" (to grow) is the same as "生きる" (to live).

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

今日は梅雨本番です。

　花の多くは春に咲くものと思ってましたが、梅雨の季節でも庭では、ご覧の通り、何かしら咲いてます。生前に父が育てていたグラジオラスが４０年以上経過しても毎年、球根から芽が出て咲くのですから生命に永遠性を感じます。実際には球根が当時より増え、これからが開花の本番です。

　今日は朝から雨で植物に水を与える必要がなく、カッキーラッキーです。このため晴耕雨読と行きたいところですが、こんな時こそ昨日訪れたお気に入りの喫茶「さんぽ道」に行きたい心境です。女性店長さんと知り合いになれましたが、我慢して来月にしましょう。これもフェイスブック友人「あつこ」さんのページで紹介されたお陰です。

　ところで、ニュースによると山開き直前の６月２４日、富士山山頂【標高３７７６m】の火口内で、登山者とみられる３人が心肺停止の状態で見つかり、救助隊員も命がけとのことです。標高が日本一高いことから平地とは自然環境が全く異なります。それは降雪、低温、気圧の低さ、強風などです。

　原因は究明されてませんが、富士山は活火山であり、火山性有毒ガスの充満もあり得ます。火山ガスは1.2〜2.2倍重いために低い場所にたまりやすい性質があります。若き日、浅間山に登頂した体験では、火口から常にガスが噴出してました。楽しみとは、何事も「安全性が確認」された上で、実践されなければなりません。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

.................................

　I thought that most flowers bloom in spring, but as you see, even in the rainy season, some flowers are blooming in the garden. The gladiolus that my father raised when he was alive still sprouts from the bulbs and blooms every year, even after more than 40 years, which makes me feel the eternity of plant's life. In fact, the number of bulbs has increased since then, and the real blooming season is just beginning from mow on.

　Today, it has been raining since morning, so I don't have to water the plants, so Kacky which is my name is lucky. Proverb says when it rains we should read in the home, but if it is fine we should work in the field. In my real intention, I feel like going to my favorite cafe, "Sampomichi," which I visited yesterday. I got to know the lady manager, but I'll hold off and go there next month. This is all thanks to the fact that it was introduced on the page of my Facebook friend "Ms. Atsuko."

　By the way, according to the news, on June 24th, just before the mountain opening ceremony, three people, who appeared to be climbers, were found in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest inside the crater at the summit of Mt. Fuji [altitude 3,776m], and rescue teams are also risking their lives. As it is the highest altitude in Japan, the natural environment is completely different from that of the flatlands. These include snowfall, low temperatures, low air pressure, and strong winds, I guess.

　Although the cause has not been determined, Mt. Fuji is an active volcano, so that it is possible that it is filled with toxic volcanic gases. Volcanic gases are 1.2 to 2.2 times heavier than normal air, so it tend to accumulate in low areas. When I climbed the active volcano Mt. Asama in my adolescence, the gas was constantly spewing out from the crater. Anything, our fun should only be done after safety has been confirmed.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

自然に恵まれリラックスできる喫茶店「さんぽ道」

　午後になって、倉賀野の街中にあるお目当ての喫茶店【蔵人】へ歩いて行ったら扉が閉まっており、もう一軒ある上町の喫茶店に行ったら、こちもclosedの札が下がってました。

　仕方なく、一旦家に帰り、改めて今度は先日行った「さんぽ道」へ愛車Audi ＴＴで行き、アイスコーヒーを味わってきました。立地環境は自然に溢れ広々し、木造建築の室内はとても静かでよい雰囲気です。

　女性店長さんが私を覚えていてくださり、今日も「ピアノを弾いてください」と言われました。

　他に女性客が２～３人いたのですが、勇気を奮って今日は「愛の賛歌」をg mollで、そして、１７番の「雪が降る」をd mollで弾いてみました。演奏は良くなくても、室内の響きはよく、皆さんよく聴いてくださいました。今後、週に一度くらいは行きたいです。

Dear my friends who like to listen to piano performance

　In the afternoon today, I walked to my destination coffee shop named "Kurato" in the town of Kuragano, but the door was closed. So I went to another coffee shop in Kami-Cho, but there was also a closed sign hanging at the entrance.

　I had no choice but to go home and then went to "Sanpo-michi" where I had been to it the other day by my beloved Audi TT to enjoy iced coffee. The environment here is spacious and full of nature, and the interior of the wooden building is very quiet and has a nice atmosphere.

　The lady manager remembered me and asked me to play the piano again today.

　There were two or three other lady customers, but I mustered up my courage and played "Hymne à l'amour" in g minor and a little favorite "Snow Falls" in d minor. Even though my performance was not good, the room had a good acoustics and everyone listened carefully. I would like to go there about once a week from now on.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

楽しみは待っていないで、創り出す。

　男の一人暮らしで楽しいことは、三度三度の食事です。大変と思ったことはなく、お腹が空いての食事ほど美味しいことはありません。今日の昼食は大好きなお赤飯のお結びです。

　調べてみると、もち米には、カリウム、リン、マグネシウムなどのミネラルが豊富に含まれ、特にカリウムは、体内の余分なナトリウムを排出し、高血圧予防に役立つと言われます。

　赤飯を食べても、特にお祝いすることはないのですが、何か楽しくなります。今日の午後は暫くぶりに倉賀野の街中にある喫茶店でコーヒーを戴きながら音楽を聴いてきます。

Dear my Facebook friends

　The best daily event about living alone as a man is having three meals a day. I never find it difficult, and there's nothing more delicious than eating on an empty stomach. Hunger is the best sauce for lunch today, I'm having my favorite red rice balls.

　After researching, I found out that glutinous rice is rich in minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. In particular, potassium is said to help flush excess sodium from the body and prevent hypertension.

　Eating red rice isn't anything special for me to celebrate, but it does make me happy. By the way, this afternoon, after a long interval I'm going to a coffee shop in Kuragano-town and listen to music while having coffee.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

今年の真ん中の瞬間はいつでしょう。

　いよいよ6月も終盤になり、庭では薄紫のアガパンサツが清々しく咲いてます。この花が咲くと、もうすぐ１年の真ん中です。ところで、令和６年の丁度真ん中の瞬間は、一体、いつでしょう。

　今年はオリンピックがある年なので閏年です。しかし、オリンピックがある年が必ず閏年とは限りません。閏年が４年に一度ならば、４００年に閏年が１００回の筈ですが、このまま繰り返すと、閏年が多過ぎて、遠い未来に暦と季節がずれてくることを人類の先達は知ってました。

  

　このため「閏年を４００年に９７回」と決めてくれました。これで季節がずれることなく、人類は安心して当分の間、過ごせるようになりました。しかし、これでも数千年後には季節と暦がずれます。これについては未来の人類に考えてもらいましょう。

　今年は閏年なので一年が３６６日です。これを２で割ると１８３日です。１月から６月までの日数を合計すると１８２日ですから、あと丸１日です。つまり、今年のちょうど真ん中の瞬間は７月２日午前０時です。もうすぐです。

　ところで、私自身、この半年を振り返ってみると、年頭に立てた目標に対し、あまり成果は出てません。心の中に自らに甘い部分が見られます。今年の後半は自らに厳しく生きたい。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

........................................

　The end of June is finally approaching, and the pale purple agapanthus is blooming in the garden. When this flower blooms, it's almost the middle of the year. By the way, when exactly is the middle moment of 2024?

　This year is the year of the Paris Olympics, so it's a leap year. However, the year of the Olympics is not necessarily a leap year. If leap years occur once every four years, there should be 100 leap years in 400 years, but our predecessors knew that if this repeat continues, there will be too many leap years and the calendar and seasons will become out of sync in the distant future.

　For this reason, they decided on "97 leap years in 400 years." This means that the seasons will not be out of sync for the time being, and humanity can live in peace. However, even so, the seasons and the calendar will still be out of sync in a few thousand years. Let's leave this problem to future humanity to think about.

　As you know, this year is a leap year, so there are 366 days in a year. Divide this by 2 to get 183 days. If we add up the number of days from January to June, it's 182 days, so there's one full day left. In other words, the exact midpoint of this year will be midnight on July 2nd. It's almost here.

　By the way, looking back over the past six months, I haven't seen much progress in terms of my purpose I set for myself at the beginning of the year. I've been too lenient on myself. I should be stricter with myself in the second half of this year.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

　

・・・・・「ノーメディア 今日は家族と 会話しよう」・・・・・ これは母校・倉賀野中学校前に大きく掲げられている標語です。

"No media, let's talk with family today"...

This is the slogan that is displayed in large letters in front of my alma mater, Kuragano Junior High School.

　今日の日の出４時２８分【群馬県】で夏至の日より２分遅くなりました。しかし、日の入り時刻は１９時０６分であり、夕方については、今日が年間で最も日が伸びてます。庭ではこの長い一日を謳歌するように「ねむの木」が一斉に咲き誇ってます。未だ、生後３年の若木です。先日書きましたように、「ねむの木」は他の植物の花と雰囲気が違い、まるで極楽浄土を彷彿させるようです。針のように細い花の殆どは雄しべと言われます。

　ところで本題です。一昔前の人間社会と比べると、人はどこへ行っても何をしててもスマホと共にあり、ひと時も離せないようです。電車に乗っると約９割の人が首を斜め１５°下に傾け「全員が同じ姿勢」でスマホに集中してます。この光景を見ると、これから世の中はどうなるのか末恐ろしく心配でたまりません。

　と言う私も時代の趨勢に流され、スマホを使いますが、常にスマホから離れられない心境にはありません。ラインで必要な場合のみです。

　先日、若い母親が乳母車を片手で押し、スマホを見ながら歩いてました。道ではどんな突発的な事態が生じるか分かりません。本来、赤ちゃんや幼児には子守歌を歌ってやったり、常に言葉を掛けつつ過ごすことが大切と思われます。同様に、コンビニの駐車場で若い母親がスマホに集中してました。そばでは２才位の女の子があちこち行ったり来たりしてる様子が目に入り、私は極めて危険に感じました。スマホは優れた文明の利器ですから安全に有効利用したいものです。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

　..............................

　Today's sunrise was at 4:28am [Gumma Prefecture], two minutes later than the summer solstice. However, the sun set will be at 7:06pm, making today the longest day of the year. In the garden, the Silk tree is blooming all at once, as if to celebrate this long day. This silk tree is still young trees, only three years old. As I wrote the other day, the Silk tree has a different atmosphere from other flowers, and it seems to be reminiscent of paradise. Most of the needle-thin flowers are said to be stamens.

　Not change the subject, but compared to human society from a generation ago, people are with their smartphones wherever they go and whatever they do, and they seem unable to let it go for even a moment. When I get on the train, about 90% of passenger tilt their heads 15 degrees downward and concentrate on their smartphones in the same figure. When I see this scene, I can't help but feel terrified and worried about what the human's world will become in the future.

　I also use my smartphone, swept away by the trend of the modern times, but I'm not in a state of mind where I can't stay away from it. Only in the case of necessary, I use it such as on LINE.

　The other day I saw a young mother walking while pushing a stroller by one hand and looking at her smartphone. We never know what kind of unexpected situation might arise on the street. I think it's important to spend time with babies and young children, singing lullabies or talking to them at all times. Similarly, I saw a young mother concentrating on her smartphone in a convenience store parking lot. Nearby, I saw a girl of about two years old pacing back and forth, so that I felt it was extremely dangerous. Smartphone is an excellent tool of modern civilization, so we should use it safely and effectively.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

掛け替えのない地球・・・すべては子々孫々のため

　豪快に一気に4つの花が咲き出した新たなユリです。暑くて蒸して人間の気持ちが鬱陶しくなってる梅雨の時季に、ピンクの色彩で大きくパッと咲き、私は想わず眺めています。誠に生き生きしてます。日々、こせこせ生きてる私に対し「もっと、ゆったり堂々と生きなさい」と説諭しているようです。

　ご存知の通り、花の中心にあるものが雌しべで、それを取り囲むように茶色の雄しべが６本あり、蝶や虫が飛んできて受粉します。よく観察すると下の花弁に色が付いてます。これは虫が来た証拠です。一方、花弁が６枚ありますが、大きい３枚の花弁と、その間にあるちょっと小さい３枚の花弁は元々蕾だったものです。

　ところで、昔のように、毎日しとしと降り続く梅雨ではなく、降っては、その後、真夏の太陽が降り注ぎます。このため、「光合成」が盛んになり、植物の成長には都合がよいです。結果的に空気中の二酸化炭素を吸収し、酸素を生成し、私たち人間は植物によって生かされてます。

　私たちは建築物を除いて、可能な限り、地上や庭にコンクリートを敷き詰めず、植物に満ち溢れた環境を作らねばなりません。これが未来の子々孫々への最大の贈り物と考えます。

Dear my overseas friends who consider that photosynthesis is indispensable

　A new lily has bloomed with four flowers at once. Though it's the rainy season, it's hot and humid and people's feelings tend to depress. In this circumstance, I can't help but stare at the big pink flowers that have bloomed. She is so lively. It's as if she is admonishing me, who lives a husky life every day, to "live a relaxed and dignified life."

　As you know, the pistil is in the center of the flower, and there are six brown stamens surrounding it, which butterflies and insects fly to and pollinate. If you look closely the photo, you will see that the lower petals are colored. This is evidence that insects have come. On the other hand, there are six petals, but the three larger ones, and the three slightly smaller ones between them were originally buds.

　Not change the subject, but the rainy season is no longer one in which it rains continuously every day like in the past. It rains and then the midsummer sun pours down. This increases the activity of "photosynthesis," which is good for plant growth. As a result, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air, produce oxygen, as a result, it allow us humans to live.

　Whenever possible, we should avoid filling our gardens with concrete and create an environment filled with plants. I believe this is the greatest gift which we can give to our future generations.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

今の時代、入浴料２００円は安い

　写真は畳３丈ほどの大きな絵が日帰り温泉施設「吉井ドリームセンター」内に飾ってあります。絵の中の後方の山が標高４９１mの牛伏山で、景色は抜群、高崎市街地がよく見えます。初日の出の場所としても有名です。しかし、最近、この頂上近くで熊が出没したとのことです。

　小生は１週間前から風邪を引いて、汗を掻いたので、今日、この日帰り温泉に行ってきました。熱も下がり、風邪はもう大丈夫です。ここは昼食も美味しく戴けますし、宿泊もできます。倉賀野からドライブで片道３０分程です。吉井の町から南に入り、上信越道よりさらに南です。周囲は自然に囲まれてます。ここはお薦めですが、熊にご用心！

Dear my friends who like nature in Gumma Prefecture

　The photo shows a large painting painted by a famous painter here about the size of three tatami mats that is on display inside the Yoshii Dream Center in the photo. The mountain in the background of the painting is Mt. Ushibuse, and the altitude is 491m. From the summit you can taste the spectacular view of Takasaki-city. It is also famous as the place to see the first sunrise of the year. However, it seems that a bear has been appeared near the peak recently.

　However, I caught a cold a week ago and was sweating a lot, so I went to this day-spa today. My fever has subsided and I'm no longer suffering from a cold. You can have a delicious lunch here and stay the night. It's about a 30-minute drive one way from Kuragano-town. Head south from the town of Yoshii, and it's even further south than the Joshinetsu Expressway. It's surrounded by nature. I recommend you to visit there when bear doesn't appear.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

呼吸筋を鍛え、残気を胸に溜めない工夫

　庭は今ほど緑色濃い季節はありません。この中で無意識のうちに「深い呼吸」ができれば酸素が充分に肺に入り、延いては各種の不調を解消し、より健康に繋がると考えてます。

　このため、胸の周囲にたくさんある「呼吸筋」を日々意識してしっかり鍛えると「呼吸を深くして、その数を減らすことに」繋がり、延いては残気量が少なくなると考えられます。不調解消に呼吸ストレッチを生活の中に取り入れたいものです。

　1、足を肩幅に広げ、「両肩を上げながら鼻呼吸で息を吸い」、肩を下げながら口から息を吐く。【以下いずれも、ゆっくり１０回ほど】

　2、左肩を上げ、手は斜め下に伸ばし、「左胸を伸ばしつつ息を吸い」、吸い終わったら肩を下ろし、息を吐く。続いて、右肩でも同様に行う。

　3、両腕を前に伸ばして組み、「背中を丸め」つつ、ゆっくり吸い込む。息を吸い切ったら、吐きながら戻す。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

................................

　The garden has never been greener than this season now. If we can unconsciously "breathe deeply," oxygen will enter our lungs sufficiently. I am of the opinion that this training will eliminate various ailments and lead to better health.

　For this reason, if we consciously train the many "respiratory muscles" around our lungs every day, we will be able to "take deeper breaths and reduce the number of breaths," which will reduce our residual air volume. We should incorporate breathing stretches into our daily life to eliminate ailments.

　1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, raise both shoulders and breathe through your nose, then lower your shoulders and exhale through your mouth. [Do each of the following slowly about 10 times]

　2. Raise your left shoulder, stretch your hands diagonally downward, and breathe in while stretching your left chest. When you finish inhaling, lower your shoulders and exhale. Next, do the same with your right shoulder.

　3. Stretch both arms in front of you, clasp them together, and inhale slowly while "curling your back." When you inhaled all of your air, exhale and return to your original position.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

今日の予定は「サクランボ」を直植え・・・果たして生るか

　従来より、庭は花桃やシャクナゲ、サルスベリといった植物が多く、花木センターのようでしたが、近年は、それと共に果樹園のようにも変化しつつあります。このため、夏季は庭全体が直射日光を防ぎ、木陰が出来てる状態です。

　写真は今春から現在にかけての様子で、梅がよく生りました。概して、果物の植物は年々良く収穫できるようになり、庭での生活に作業に楽しみが生じます。

　先日、山形の甥から送ってもらった美味しい「サクランボ」に、いい年をして目覚めた私は、早速、前橋農協で鉢植の苗を手にしたので、今日は庭に直植えします。群馬県はこれから暫く雨が多いので、植える季節として相応しいでしょう。

　手にした「サクランボ」は2品種を混植しなくても実が生るものです。あまり日光を受けず、特に西日が当たらない場所が好ましいとされてます。今後は施肥を研究します。果たして、赤い実の「サクランボ」が庭で収穫できる日が来るでしょうか。高齢になりつつある現在、私にとって大切な生き方は期待感です。生ったら味見にいらして下さい。

Dear my friends who like western classical music and fruits

　Traditionally, the garden was like a flowering tree center with many plants such as flowering weeping peaches, rhododendrons, and crape myrtles, but in recent years, it is also changing into an atmosphere of orchard. Because of this, in the summer the garden is shaded by trees that block direct sunlight.

　The photo shows the garden from this spring to the present, with loquats, plums, persimmons, and kumquats growing well. In general, fruit plants produce better harvests year by year, therefore, life in the garden and working there is fun beyond expectation.

　As I wrote the other day, I was awakened by the delicious cherries sent to me by my nephew in Yamagata- Prefecture, even though I am a grown man. I immediately bought a potted seedlings of cherry from Maebashi Agricultural Cooperative, so I will plant them directly in the garden today. Gumma Prefecture is expected to have a lot of rain from now on, so it will be a suitable season to plant it.

　This time, the cherries I have in my hands will bear fruit even if I do not plant two varieties together. It is said that they are best grown in places that do not receive much sunlight, especially it dislikes to be exposed to the western sunlight. In the near future, I will study fertilization. I wonder if the day will come when I can harvest red cherries in my garden. As I am getting older, a sense of anticipation is indispensable to me in life. Please come from NZ and taste them when they are ripe.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

車の安全対策に国境はない

【画像をクリックし拡大すると臨場感が出ます。】

　昨日、愛車Audi TT Quattroの１年点検【購入以来４年経過】を行いました。点検に約１時間半かかるとのことで、ディーラー内で新聞を読んだり、CAさんと雑談して待ってましたが、途中、ちょっと愛車の点検作業を見学したくなり、工場内に行ってみたところ驚きました。

　それは、私の車を点検作業している人が日本人ではありませんでした。すぐに「どちらの国の方ですか」と英語で尋ねたところ、バングラデッシュから来日し、すでに１５年ほど日本でスポーツカーを中心に点検し、この会社では１年半ほど前から働いてます。」とのことで、外国の方に愛車を点検してもらってるとは私には全く予想外の状況でした。

　すぐに彼に「私も２０代のとき、あなたの国に比較的近いインドのカルカッタ市にある日本人学校に勤務してました。」と伝えたところ、彼は目を丸くした驚いてました。私も暫くぶりに、「アップカ・ナーム・キアハイ」(お名前を教えてください。)と、つい、懐かしてヒンズー語が口から出てしまい、彼は更に目を丸くしてました。

　今回、「日本人」が運転する「ドイツ車」を、図らずも「バングラデッシュ人」が点検作業するというグローバルな関係を感じ、国が違っていても「車をいつまでも安全に走らせたいという人間の目標は同じである」と認識を新たにしました。すでにドイツで生産中止となり、日本でも販売終了となったＴＴを「いつまでも大切に乗っていたい気持ち」が私に一層強くなりました。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

...........................................

　Yesterday, I had my beloved Audi TT Quattro inspected for one year [four years since I bought it]. The inspection took about an hour and a half, so I read the newspaper and chatted with the. receptionists while waiting inside the dealership, but I wanted to take a look at the inspection of my car, so I went inside the factory and was surprised.

　The person inspecting my car was not Japanese. I immediately asked in English, "Where are you from?" and he said, "I came to Japan from Bangladesh, and have been inspecting mainly sports cars in Japan for about 15 years, and have been working at this company for about a year and a half." It was a completely unexpected situation for me to have my car inspected by a foreigner.

　I immediately told him, "When I was in my 20s, I had also worked at a Japanese school in Calcutta, India, which is relatively close to your country." His eyes widened in surprise. I also blurted out "Upka Namu Kya Hai" (Please tell me your name) in Hindi which is the nostalgic language, and he widened his eyes even more.

　This time, I felt the global relationship of having a Bangladeshi person inspect a German car driven by a Japanese person, and I was reminded that even though we are from different countries, the human purpose of keeping cars safe is the same. This situation made me feel even more strongly that I wanted to keep driving this TT Quattro for as long as possible, because The TT has already been discontinued in Germany and is no longer on sale in Japan.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

昼の長さは１４時間３９分・・・今日は夏至

　

　今日６月２１日は二十四節気の「夏至」です。今日の日の出は４時２６分、日の入りは１９時０５分、昼の長さは１４時間３９分、太陽高度は７７.１°【群馬県】です。私と一年間交流を深めたスペンスさん一家が住むニュージーランドなど南半球では今日は「冬至」です。今でも、彼と娘さんとはフェイスブックで交流してます。

　

　地球は太陽から約１億５千万㎞の距離を保ちつつ、やや楕円の軌道を、北極星側から見て反時計回りに、秒速約２９kmで公転しています。夏至の今日、地球は春分の日にあった位置から９０°東に移動し、「射手座」の方向に来ています。一方、地球から見る太陽は「双子座」の方向にあります。ご存じの通り、「双子座」は真冬に日本のほぼ頭上に輝く巨大な「冬のダイアモンド」の東端にあります。

　

　写真は今朝撮影したユリです。蕾が急に膨らみ、明日には開花する気配です。誠に生命力の漲る光景で、私まで期待感でいっぱいです。開花したら写真をアップいたします。

　

　ところで、先日、山形の甥から贈られてきた「サクランボ」を食したところ、その美味しさに久々に感銘した私は、「そうだ、サクランボ」を庭で育てようと思いつき、善は急げで、早速、前橋農協の植木センターで高さ１メートル程の苗を購入してきました。ですから、大きく成長した「サクランボ」の木に真っ赤な実が生る日を夢見ています。

　

　一般的に、夢がどうしても少なくなりがちです。しかし、高齢期に大切な生き方の一つは「期待感」ではないでしょうか。どんな分野でもよいから「今まで体験しなかった新たな環境」に自分を置きたいです。それは「こんなこともあるのか」という驚きある生活です。

　

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

..........................

　Today, June 21st, is the "summer solstice" according to the 24 solar terms. Today's sunrise was at 4:26, sunset will be at 19:05, the length of the day will be 14 hours 39 minutes, and the solar altitude is 77.1° [Gumma Prefecture]. At the same time, today is the "winter solstice" in the southern hemisphere, including New Zealand, where Mr. Spence and his family live. I have been in contact with for a year while he was working in Takasaki High School of commerce. I still keep in touch with him and his daughter through Facebook.

　The Earth maintains a distance of about 150 million km from the Sun, and revolves in a slightly elliptical orbit at about 29 km per second counterclockwise as seen from the North Star side. Today, on the summer solstice, the Earth has moved 90° east from its position at the vernal equinox day and is in the direction of "Sagittarius". Meanwhile, the Sun seen from the Earth is in the direction of "Gemini". As you know, "Gemini" is at the eastern end of the huge "Winter Diamond" that we could see almost overhead in midwinter in Japan.

　The photo is of a lily I took this morning. The buds have suddenly swelled, and it looks like they will bloom tomorrow. It's a sight that is truly full of vitality, so that I am filled with anticipation. I will upload a photo when she blooms.

　Not the change subject, but the other day I ate some cherries that my nephew from Yamagata presented me, and I was so impressed by the deliciousness that I thought, "That's it, from now on I'll raise cherries in my garden." I quickly bought a seedling about one meter tall at the Maebashi Agricultural Cooperative's tree center. So I am dreaming of the day when the cherry tree grows big and bears bright red fruit.

　In general, people tend to have fewer dreams. However, I think one of the important ways of living in old age is to have a sense of expectation. I would like to put myself in a "new environment that I have never experienced before." No matter what field it is. it is a life filled with surprises, such as "I never knew something like this opportunity could happen."

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

健康管理・・・・「気づき難いもの」に気をつけましょう

　気象庁から発表がありませんが、関東地方も今まで、かなりの降水があり、連日に亘り気温・湿度共に高く、実際には梅雨の季節と同様と言えます。私たちは健康面から考慮して、この季節に忘れてならぬことがあります。それは「カビ」の恐ろしさです。

　ご存知の通り、特に台所や洗面台の表面、浴室内の壁、天井など、常に湿気の多い場所を中心に「カビ」が発生し、日に日に増殖していることです。

　カビの胞子は、増殖に都合のよい気温と湿度により２～３日で目に見える塊になり、１週間もするとたくさんの「胞子」を作って周囲に撒き散らし、再び発芽し発育します。このくり返しであちこちに広がります。胞子は空中にも広がり、私たちは吸い込んではなりません。

　カビは、食品にも付着し、「パン、ジャム、菓子類」などの澱粉や糖分を好み、その他、人の垢も栄養源にして発育すると言われます。ですから、特に家庭内の水回りの箇所を徹底清掃し、手洗いはいつも以上に励行したいものです。

Dear my overseas friends who are interested in hygiene

　Although there has been no announcement from the Japan Meteorological Agency, the Kanto region has seen a lot of rainfall so far, and both the temperature and humidity have been high for days, which is actually the same as the rainy season. There is something we must not forget during this season, from the perspective of our health. That is the danger of mold.

　As you know, mold grows in various places that are always humid, such as the surfaces of kitchen and washbasin, and the walls and ceilings of bathroom, and grows day by day.

　Mold spores grow in visible clumps in 2-3 days when the temperature and humidity are favorable for growth, and after a week they produce many spores and scatter them around, where they germinate and grow again. This cycle spreads everywhere. The spores also spread in the air. Therefore, the most important matters are that we must not inhale them unconsciously.

　Mold attaches to food, preferring starch and sugar in bread, jam, and sweets, and is said to grow by using human dirt as a nutrient source. Therefore, it is important to thoroughly clean areas around water in the home. And We must wash our hands more than usual.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

生産中止になったＴＴ・・・いつまでも乗りたい

　咳がまだ出ますが、風邪が一段落し、熱が下がったので午後になってから吉井ドリームセンターの日帰り温泉に行ってきました。風邪で寝てても気温が高く、湿度もあり、風邪の３日間は汗を掻きました。それにしても、ドリームセンターは空いてて広い浴槽で極楽です。

　ドリームセンターへの道路は良く、スイスイ走ります。今日は往復共に山名の東の新鏑川橋を通過したので、景色は最高、榛名山や赤城山がよく見え、楽しいドライブでした。

　実は、この車はドイツで生産中止になりました。このため、次第に街中から姿を消すでしょう。街を通過すると「あっ、カッキーの車だ」と言われるほど、いつまでも乗ってみたい。

Dear my Facebook friends

　I am still suffering from cough, but my cold has subsided and my fever has gone down, so in the afternoon today I went to my favorite Yoshii Dream Center for a day trip of the hot springs. Even though I was sleeping due to cold, the temperature outside was high and the humidity was high, so I sweated during the three days of my cold. But the Dream Center was empty and the bathtub was spacious, so it was heavenly.

　The road to the Dream Center is good and it's a smooth ride. Today, I passed Shin-Kabra-River-Bridge east of Yamana-town on both going and back, so the scenery was amazing, with clear views of Mt. Haruna and Mt. Akagi, and it was a fun drive.

　By the way, this Audi TT is no longer produced in Germany. For this reason, it will gradually disappear from city streets. I want to ride it until people say, "Oh, that's Kakki's car" when I pass by town.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

今後、Persimmon Grove を目指したい

　２０年ほど熱が出たことがなかったので体温計を使おうと思ったら壊れてました。このため、昨日は隣に住む看護師さん宅で体温計を借り彼女の家で測ったら３６．５°と分かり、私の風邪もどうやら下火になったようです。しかし、未だ、夜中に咳が出ます。体温計を借りたお礼に彼女に「枇杷」を捥いで差し上げました。

　実は、私は今まで、花桃やシャクナゲなど「花が咲く樹木」のみ育てており、果物の木にあまり興味がありませんでした。しかし、庭に柿や金柑、そして枇杷が生って、それを捥いで食べることほど楽しいことはありません。しかも、タダです。先日、山形県の甥から贈られてきた「サクランボ」がすごく美味しく感じたので、今度は「サクランボ」の苗を植えることにしました。

　医師によっては、果物は糖分があるので糖尿の関係から好ましくない食べ物と考える人もいますが、高齢期になった今、私が考えることは、年齢を重ねてからは「いろんな楽しみを持つことが生きる張り合いになる」と悟ってます。要は量の問題ですから食べ過ぎないで、季節の果物を味わう程度なら、却って健康的と考えます。

　柿の木は３本あり、品種はそれぞれ異なります。近未来は３本とも生るので一人では食べ切れません。捥ぎにいらして下さい。３本とも私カッキーと違い、「渋柿」ではありません。

Dear my Facebook friends abroad

　I haven't suffered from a fever in about 20 years, so I tried to use a thermometer, but it was broken. Because of this, I borrowed a thermometer from the nurse's house next door and measured my temperature at her entrance, as a result, it came out to 36.5°, so it seems that my cold has subsided. However, I still have a cough in the middle of the night. As a thank her for borrowing the thermometer, I picked some loquats and presented to her.

　Actually, so far, I only raised flowering trees such as peach blossoms and rhododendrons, so that I have never been interested in fruit trees. However, there is nothing more fun than picking and eating persimmons, kumquats, and loquats in my garden. And it's free. The other day, I received some cherries from my nephew in Yamagata Prefecture, and the taste was so good that I decided to plant some cherry seedlings from now on.

　Not change the subject, but some doctors consider fruits to be undesirable foods because of their sugar content and the relationship with diabetes. Now I'm in my senior years, I realize that as we get older, having a variety of fun things gives us a reason to live. It's a matter of quantity, so I think it's actually healthy to not eat too much and just enjoy the taste of seasonal fruit.

　In fact, I have three persimmon trees with different varieties. All three will bear fruit in the near future, so I wouldn't be able to eat them all by myself. Please come and pick them for you and for your sweetheart. Unlike me, none of the three persimmons are "astringent."

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

低気圧から高気圧への推移

午後６時の段階で、雨を降らせた低気圧が通り過ぎ、西から太陽が差し始めてます。明日は晴れでしょう。しかし、東の空には未だに真っ黒な低気圧の雲が目え、群馬県は現在、丁度、高気圧と低気圧の間にあることがよく分かります。

　写真は上が活火山・浅間山です。その写真内の左下に見える像が高崎観音です。長い山は榛名山です。いずれの写真も３階の窓から撮りました。

　私の風邪もこの天気のように、明日は回復するでしょうか。

Dear my Facebook friends

　As of 6:30 pm, the low pressure system that brought the rain has passed, and the sun is beginning to shine from the west. Tomorrow will be a fine day. However, the pitch black clouds of the low pressure system are still visible in the eastern sky. Therefore, I can recognize that Gumma Prefecture where I live is currently located exactly between high and low pressure systems.

　The photo at the top is of the famous active volcano, Mt. Asama. The figure visible in the bottom left of the photo is Takasaki Kannon. The long mountain is Mt. Haruna near the well-known Ikaho spa. The photo with the black clouds at the bottom right is my Kuragano-town. All of these photos were taken by me from a third-floor window.

　I wonder if my cold will go away by tomorrow, like this weather.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

珍しく肉を食するカッキー・・・１０年振りか

　お陰様で、昨日３７．１°あった体温は今日は３６．５°になりました。しかし、今度は咳が出てきたので、先程、近所の医師から咳止めを処方してもらいました。身体は未だ怠いです。

　普段、私は肉を殆ど食べませんが、体力が付くようにと考え、昼食として珍しく豚カツを買ってきました。豚カツは約１０年振り位です。果たして、体力が回復し、昔のようなカッキーになるでしょうか。

Dear my Facebook friends

　Thanks to you, my physical temperature, which was 37.1° yesterday, has dropped to 36.5° today. However, I'm suffering from coughing now, so I've just been prescribed the cough medicine by the local doctor. I still feel exhausted.

　Normally, I hardly eat meat, but I bought some pork cutlet for today's lunch, which is unusual for me, in the hopes of building up my strength. It's been about 10 years since I last had pork cutlet. I wonder if my strength will return and I'll be feeling more energetic again as usual Kakky.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

今日も未だ体調不良、花と音楽によって生き延びる

　写真はすでに２ヶ月以上も咲いてるゼラニウムです。「カーキーの家はここですよ」とばかり、庭の入り口で、情熱的に真っ赤に咲いてます。私に不足する「情熱」の大切さを教えているのでしょうか。

　調べてみると、原産地は南アフリカのケープ地方で、その後、ヨーロッパで盛んに育てられ、日本に伝わったのは江戸時代末期と言われます。私は今春から咲かせてますが、驚くことに、次から次へと蕾が生まれ、いつになっても花が終わりません。花期が長いと言われ、もしかして１２月まで咲く気配です。

　ところで、いよいよ梅雨入りです。毎朝、多くの植物に水遣りしてる私には仕事が減り、自然の恩恵に浴してます。実は、水遣りは１０m以上の長いホースを持って、あちこちに行くので、朝からよい運動です。自然の観賞、対話や世話を通し、結果的に運動になるので植物を育てることは健康的です。

　と言うものの、私は昨日から２０年振りに珍しく発熱してしまい、原因が分かってるので、今後、同じ失敗はしません。今朝も、未だ体全体が怠いです。近所の医師に処方された薬を飲んでます。こんなとき、一人暮らしは惨めですが、私には花や音楽があり、それにより、どうにか生き延びてます。

Dear my friends abroad who are crazy about flowers and western classical music

　The photo shows a geranium that has been blooming for more than two months. It is blooming passionately and bright red at the entrance to my garden, as if to say, "This is Kaky's house." Perhaps it is teaching me the need for "passion" that I lack.

　After researching, I found out that it is native to the Cape region of South Africa, and was then cultivated widely in Europe and introduced to Japan at the end of the Edo period. I have been raising her since this spring. To my surprise, buds are appearing one after another, and the flowers never finish blooming. They are said to have a long flowering period, so if possible, she may bloom until December.

　By the way, the rainy season of Japan has finally begun. As I water many plants every morning and evening, I have less work to do, so that I am enjoying the benefits of nature. In fact, watering plants requires going from place to place with a hose that is over 10 meters long, so it is good for my training in the morning. Raising plants is healthy because it is exercise through observing nature, talking to them, and caring for them.

　However, I have had a rare fever since yesterday for the first time in 20 years, and I know the cause, I will not make the same mistake again. This morning, my whole body still feels heavy. I am taking medicine prescribed by the doctor in my neighborhood. Living alone at times like this is really miserable, but there are flowers and music around me, thanks for them, I am somehow surviving.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

今朝から身体か怠かった・・・珍しく熱が出る

　珍しく風邪を引きました。今朝から身体がだるくて、近くの内科で疲れをとるビタミンの注射をしてもらいました。ところが、午後になったら一層体調が変になり、体温を測ったら３７．１°です。このため、再度同じ医院で診てもらい、解熱剤を処方してもらいました。この20年間ほどは熱が出たことはありませんでした。

　原因は昨夜から今朝にかけての就寝中、エアコンをつけたままだったのです。キジバトに負けず、水分もしっかり摂取します。どうにか夕食の用意もできました。

Dear my friends

　I've caught a cold, which is unusual for me. I've been feeling fatigued since this morning, so I went to a nearby internal medicine clinic and got a vitamin injection to relieve fatigue. However, in the afternoon, I felt even worse, and when I took my temperature, it was 37.1°. Because of this, I went back to the same clinic and was prescribed a fever reducer. I haven't had a fever in about 20 years.

　The reason was that I left the air conditioner on while I was sleeping from last night to this morning. I'm going to drink water like turtle doves. Somehow, I've even managed to prepare dinner.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

長い昼間の時間・・・・一日を有効に過ごしたい

　

　今日６月１７日の日の出は４時２５分【群馬県】、日の入は１９時０４分です。このため今日の昼の時間は１４時間３９分です。日の出時刻は、早くも明日から１分遅く４時２６分になります。６月２１日の夏至まであと5日です。

　調べてみると、今日の太陽の背景は、冬季によく見た巨大な「冬のダイアモンド」の東端にあった「ふたご座」の方向です。また、私たちを載せてる地球の公転上の位置は「射手座」の方向です。深夜０時に真南を見れば「射手座」があり、宇宙における私たちの現在位置が分かります。

　一方、今日の正午の太陽角度は一年で最も頭上に近く地面に対し７７°です。つまり、真上より１３°南です。このため昼間の時間が本当に長く「心身ともなる健康」をめざし、一日を有効に使いたいものです。

　若き日に滞在してたインドのカルカッタ市は北緯２２°で、北回帰線より少し南に位置しているので、正午前後に外に出ると自分の影が周囲にありません。私はインドに来て、影のない人間になったのかと思いましたが、自分の影は自分で踏んでいました。正式には影は少し南にできました。日本では考えられないことです。

　温暖化の影響でしょうか。日本でも、近年は暑くじめじめしてます。時にはエアコンを使い、水分補給をこまめに行い、熱中症を防ぎましょう。それではこれから公園でのラジオ体操会に行って参ります。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

.................................

　Today, June 17th, sunrise is at 4:25 [Gumma Prefecture, Japan] and sunset will be at 19:04. Therefore, the daytime hours today are 14 hours and 39 minutes. The sunrise time tomorrow will already be at 4:26 which is one minute later than that today. ​​There are five more days until the summer solstice on June 21st.

　When I looked it up, I found that the background of today's sun is the direction of Gemini, which was at the eastern end of the huge "Winter Diamond" that we often saw in winter. Also, the position of the Earth's orbit on which we are riding is in the direction of Sagittarius. If you look due south at midnight, you will find Sagittarius, and you will know our current position in the universe.

　On the other hand, the angle of the sun at noon today is the closest to overhead all year at 77° to the ground. In other words, it is 13° south of directly overhead. Because of this, the daytime hours are really long, so that we should make the most of each day to aim for "health in both body and mind."

　The city of Calcutta, India, where I had stayed in my younger days, is located at 22° north latitude, which is a little south of the Tropic of Cancer, so when I went outside around noon, I couldn't see my shadow. I thought that I had become a person without a shadow in my heart when I came to India, but I was stepping on my own shadow. Officially, my shadow was a little south. This would be unthinkable in Japan.

　Is it the effect of global warming? Even in Japan, it has been hot and humid in recent years. We should use air conditioning from time to time, drink water frequently, and prevent heatstroke. Now, I'm off to a radio gymnastics session in the nearby park.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

　　

第４３回新みかぼフィル定期演奏会・・・満員の聴衆

【写真は群馬県南部に聳える東御荷鉾山と西御荷鉾山、どちらの山頂にも数回登頂しました。特に、西御荷鉾山頂では冬の吹奏楽部合宿中に、リクリエーションとして部員全員が登頂し、北アルプスが望める頂上で金管打楽器と木管群に分かれて雪合戦しました。彼らはすでに５０代後半。日頃、高崎、前橋からよく見える山なので、御荷鉾山を見るたびに、あの山の山頂で雪合戦した青春を思い出すことでしょう。 】　

................................................

　昨日６月１５日、第４３回新みかぼフィルハーモニック定期演奏会が藤岡市みかぼみらい館大ホールで開かれました。先ず、７０名を超す楽団員全員によるFの音で始まる「エグモント序曲」の出だしに圧倒されました。このようにユニゾンで始まる楽曲は珍しく、響はシンフォニックで壮大この上もなく、直後にディミヌエンドした移り変わりは、天から地の底へ吸い込まれるようでした。

　その前に楽員全員がＡの音でチューニングしてることから、指揮者登場後、タクトが下りる第一拍目の音の高さＦを想像するのも楽しいものです。

　曲は途中、二刀流奏者【直子さんか】の解説通り、悲劇性から歓喜へと推移し、恰も、同じベートーベンの第５交響曲「運命」を彷彿させるかの如くです。このように「エグモント序曲」は変化の連続であり、拍子と表情が次々と変わる謂わば「指揮者泣かせの曲」ということが分かります。このため、指揮者コンクールの課題曲して用いられることが頷けます。

　このように本格的に芸術音楽に打ち込んでるシンフォニックオーケストラが藤岡市に存在することは群馬県の誇りです。楽員は平素、仕事と家庭を持ちながら、更に土曜日の練習会で腕を磨いてるとのことで頭が下がります。次回の年末には、「ウィリアムテル序曲」及び「未完成」が予定され、また、楽しみが出来ました。楽員の皆様いつも楽しみを有難うございます。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

............................

　Yesterday, June 15th, the 43rd New Mikabo Philharmonic Regular Concert was held at the Mikabo Miraikan Large Hall in Fujioka City, Gumma prefecture. First of all, I was overwhelmed by the opening of the Egmont Overture, which began with the F sound by all 70 members of the orchestra. It is rare for a piece of music to start in unison like this, and the sound was symphonic and magnificent, and the immediate diminuendo that followed seemed to suck me from the heavens to the depth of the world.

　Because all the musicians had tuned to the A pitch before playing music, it was fun for me to imagine the pitch of the F on the first beat of the conductor's baton as he came on.

　As explained by the dual-wielding player [if possible, Ms. Naoko], the music seemed to progress from tragedy to rapture as if it were reminiscent of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, "Fate". In this way, the Egmont Overture is a continuous series of changes, and the beats and expressions change one after another, so it is a piece that makes the conductor cry. For this reason, it will be used as a set piece in conductor's competition.

　The existence of a symphonic orchestra in Fujioka City that is so seriously dedicated to artistic music is the pride of Gumma Prefecture. It is admirable that the musicians hone their skills at Saturday practice sessions, in addition to their regular jobs and families. Next time at the end of this year, their concert is scheduled to perform "William Tell Overture by Rossini " and "Unfinished Symphony by Shubert ," so there is something for us to look forward to. Thank you to all the musicians for always giving us so much fun.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

ピアノがある喫茶店「さんぽ道」オープン

　午前中、家から車で５分のところに、最近オープンした喫茶室「さんぽ道」に行ってきました。環境は抜群で周囲は広々した田園が広がり、その中にポツンとあります。今度は誰かを誘い一緒に行きたくなる雰囲気です。実は、フェイスブック友人「あつこさん」のページに紹介されていたので行ってみました。

　室内にピアノが置いてあり、店のスタッフさんに「ピアノを弾いてもいいですか」と尋ねたら、「どうぞ」と言われ、店内には女性客ばかり１０人ほどいましたが、恥を忍んで「東北大震災復興曲」を弾いたところ、どうしたことか、スタッフさんから、「もう一曲弾いてください」とのことで、外は暑かったので少し涼しくなるように「雪が降る」を弾きました。天井も高くて室内によく響きます。

　比較的近くに、よい雰囲気の喫茶店ができ、特にピアノが置いてあるとは今風です。スタッフは全員女性のようでした。また、行きたくなりました。

Dear my friends abroad

　In the morning, I went to a recently opened coffee shop called "Sampo-michi" that means a path of taking a walk which is a 5-minute drive from my house. The environment is excellent, surrounded by spacious fields. It has an atmosphere that makes me want to invite someone to come with me next time. Actually, today I went because my Facebook friend "Atsuko-san" introduced it on her page.

　There is a piano in this room, so I asked the staff if I could play the piano, she said "Sure." There were about 10 lady customers, but I played "Tohoku Earthquake Recovery Song" without feeling embarrassed. After playing for some reason the staff said "Please play one more music." It was hot outside today, so I played "Snow Falls" to cool down a little. The ceiling is high and the sound resonates well in the room.

　A nice coffee shop has opened relatively close by, and it's very modern due to having a piano. All the staff seemed to be ladies. I'd like to go again.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

無意識のうちにも「鼻呼吸」の習慣化

　６月１５日、今朝の日の出は夏至より１分早く４時２５分【群馬県】でした。写真は日に日に開花してるグラジオラスです。グラジオラスは年々球根が増え、今後は黄色も咲き始めます。私の役割は水遣りです。

　ところで、愛読書「天声人語」２０２４春号には今年の１月１日から３月３１日までのコラムがまとめられてます。毎日、午前と午後に分け二日分読んでます。来月の誕生日に読み終えるよう目標を立ててますが、果たしてどうでしょう。内容は最近の内外に亘る事象と共に、森羅万象を対象とし、私にとって興味関心が薄い分野も含んでおり、自己改革には刺激があって良いです。

　しかし、私の記憶力は年々衰退の一途を辿り、難解漢字や英単語の学習は記憶との闘いです。それでも覚えられると喜びに通じます。この喜びが次への挑戦力になればよいと思います。

　記憶力は五感をフル活動させ、肉体的には「スムースな血流」及び「鼻呼吸」が大切に思います。脳のすぐ下にある「篩骨洞と蝶形骨洞」に空気が通過し、脳を冷やすと効果があるように感じます。　

　

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

.................................

　On June 15th, the sunrise this morning was 4:25am, this time is one minute earlier than the summer solstice [Gumma Prefecture]. The photo shows gladiolus blooming day by day. Gladiolus bulb increases every year, and yellow one will soon begin to bloom. My role is to water them everyday.

　Not change the subject, but the 2024 Spring issue of my favorite magazine, "Tensei Jingo," compiles columns from January 1st to March 31st of this year. I read two days' worth every day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I've set a goal to finish reading it by my birthday next month, but I wonder if I'll be able to finish it. As you know, the content covers the universe, as well as recent domestic and international events, and includes areas that I have little interest in, so it's stimulating and good for self-improvement for me.

　However, my memory is steadily declining with each year, and learning difficult kanji and English words is a battle against memory. Still, it leads to joy when I can memorize them. I hope this joy will give me the motivation to the next challenge.

　I am of the opinion that to improve memory, it is important to fully utilize the five senses, and at the same time, physically it is important to have smooth blood flow and to breathe through the nose. It seems that passing air through the ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses which are located just below the brain, is effective in cooling the brain.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

ヴィヴァルディ―「四季より夏」‥・サクソフォーン四重奏団

 

　今日は、今夏一番の暑さになると予報されてます。しっかり水分補給をし、一日を健康に乗り切りましょう。

　演奏は、サクソフォーン四重奏団によるヴィヴァルディ―の「四季より夏」です。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udoe3h_ovQ4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhzodB3zY3w

　Today is forecast to be the hottest day of the summer so far. Make sure to stay hydrated and stay healthy throughout the day.

The performance will be Vivaldi's "Summer from the Four Seasons" performed by a saxophone quartet.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

こどもを虐待から守るのに、理由は要らない

　昔、私は現在とは違う場所に住んでました。その隣りの夫婦には子供がいないので夫婦は小1くらいの男の子を貰い育ててました。しかし、その後２年ほど経ったら、何と、この夫婦に待望の赤ちゃんが生まれました。昔はこのようなケースがよくあったらしく、後で生まれた本当の子供を「やきもちっ子」などと言ったようです。

　さあ、それからが大変。母親は貰ってきた子が未だ小学低学年なのに度々大きな声で𠮟りつける声が聞こえました。実は、毎日のように「暗い物置」の中に入れました。入れられた子供は中で大きな声で泣き、中から「出して」と戸を叩いているのが隣の私の家にも聞こえ、若かった私も可愛そうに思いました。今考えるとこれは「虐待」です。

　しかし、現在でも、このようなケースは起こり得ることで、周囲から見ると「子供にあんな言い方をしなくてもいいのに」と感じたり、「躾けにしては厳し過ぎる」と感じたり、「体罰か」分からず、近所にとってはどうしていいか分からないです。

　介入しても、逆恨みされることも起こり得るし、もしかして、こちらの勘違いかも知れず、他人の家のことには、なかなか口を出し難いことです。

　しかし、現在では、「子ども家庭庁」が中心となり、国を挙げて、「子供を守る社会の実現」をめざしています。「こどもを虐待から守るのに、理由は要らない」の旗印の下、「一早く、先ずは連絡を」と呼びかけてます。つまり、電話１８９(いちはやく)で地域の児童相談所に繋がります。

Dear my friends abroad

　A long time ago, I lived in a different place from now. The couple next door didn't have any children, so they adopted a boy about 1st grade of elementary school and were raising him. However, about two years later, the couple had a long-awaited baby. It seems that cases like this were common in the past in Japan, and their real child born later was called a "jealous child" in old days.

　Now, things get tough. The mother would often be heard scolding the child she had adopted, even though he was still in the early grade of elementary school. In fact, she entered him in a "dark storeroom" almost every day. The child would cry loudly inside, and I could hear him banging on the door begging to be let out. I felt sorry for him at the time. Looking back, this was "abuse."

　However, even today, cases like this can be occurred, and people in the neighborhood may feel that "mother shouldn't talk to children like that," or that "it's too harsh for discipline," or neighbors don't know if it's corporal punishment, so the neighbors don't know what to do.

　Even if intervening, neighbors may be met with resentment, or may have misunderstood something, so it is difficult to intervene in the affairs of other people's homes.

　However, today, with the Child and Families Agency at the center, the nation is working to "create a society that protects children." Under the banner of "There is no need for a reason to protect children from abuse," they are calling on people to "contact them as soon as possible." In other words, calling 189 will connect to your local child consultation center.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

金と健康、そして妻・・・シルバー川柳

　梅雨近し　川柳いつも　笑いの種

・・・・シルバー川柳より・・・・

〇 先寝るぞ　「安らかにね」と　返す妻

〇 金貯めて　使う頃には　寝たっきり

〇 子は巣立ち　夫は旅立ち　妻女子会

〇 いびきより　静かな方が　気にかかる

〇 確かめる　むかし愛情　いま寝息

〇 僕の嫁　国産なのに　毒がある

〇 妻の声　昔ときめき　今めまい

〇 朝起きて　調子いいから　医者に行く

〇 忘れ得ぬ　人はいるけど　名を忘れ

〇 まだ生きる　つもりで並ぶ　宝くじ

〇 医者と妻　急に優しく　なる不安

〇 デイサービス　「お迎えです」は　やめてくれ

★There is no English translation.

偏見を持たず、本質をよく観察してみたい

　６月中旬の今、庭には一面「ドクダミ」が咲いてます。毎朝、私が植物たちに水を与えることから、それが功を奏し、繁茂しています。

　「ドクダミ」という名から来る印象でしょうか、一般的に、人には嫌われてるようで、雑草として除草の対象になります。もっと良い名前を命名しておけば、大切に扱われたでしょう。しかし、ドクダミには毒はなく、例えば、ドクダミ茶など使い方次第では解毒作用があり、健康と美容に役立つと言われてます。

　一般的に、私たち人間は植物に限らず、このようにその名によって物事を評価してしまったり、あるいは偏見を持つことがあり得ます。しかし、どの植物でも花を咲かせ、香りを出し、その上、何と言っても「光合成」により、人間が生きる上で欠くべからざる酸素を生成し、人間が出してる二酸化炭素を吸収しています。ドクダミは人間に大いに寄与しています。

　この事を考えると、私もすぐに除草の対象とすることを改め、今後はよく観察してみます。それにしても、ドクダミの繁殖力の凄さには驚きます。

Dear my friends abroad

　It's mid-June and Houttuynia cordata is in bloom all over my garden. I water the plants every morning, so that it's prospering.

　Perhaps it's because of the name Dokudami in Japanese "Houttuynia cordata," but people generally dislike it and it's treated as a weed and removed. If it had a better name, it would have been treated better. However, Houttuynia cordata is not poisonous, and it is said that it can have a detoxifying effect when used in ways such as Houttuynia cordata tea, which is beneficial for health and beauty.

　In general, we humans tend to evaluate things by their names, and to have prejudices, not just about plants. However, all plants bloom, give off fragrance, and above all, through photosynthesis, they produce oxygen which is essential for human's life, and absorb the carbon dioxide emitted by humans. Houttuynia cordata contributes greatly to humans.

　In light of this, I have decided not to immediately remove it from my weed list, and will observe it more closely from now on. Still, I'm amazed at how quickly Houttuynia cordata grows.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

早朝の健康習慣は不変

　ますます高齢化する社会を生き抜くため、私は消化器系統の健康、スムースな血流、そして姿勢よくしっかり歩けるサルコペニア対策を研究・実践し、これらは延いては認知症対策の一つになると考えてます。

　私も時に近くの医院に行きますが、患者は圧倒的に高齢女性が多いです。今後の日本は、若者より高齢者がますます増加する傾向にあり、現代社会の特徴として、概して、高齢者は子どもとの同居しない生活です。こうなると結果的に、施設の職員や医師や看護師が頼りです。

　毎日を健康で生活するには「薬は必要最低限にして」、可能な限り、薬漬けを避け、効果的な健康増進はどうあるべきか、考えたいものてす。私の場合、群馬大学医学部教授による「がん対策の講義」を拝聴して以来、考えが一変しました。トマトや大豆を中心とした飲み物を、既に７～８年間、早朝の空腹時にコップ一杯飲用してます。これらには抗酸化作用があります。

　中でも、管理栄養士推奨による「１日分の野菜」や、私が選んだリコピン豊富な「グレープフルーツジュース」、βーカロチンを含むニンジンジュースは味も良く、一日約１００円は長続きします。空腹時のため、これらは一気に食道～胃壁～十二指腸～腸へと流れます。

　高齢化社会の真っ只中を生き抜くため、早朝にこれらを飲用し、今日も身体を良く動かし、「音楽演奏、多くの植物との共存生活、英作文」など、興味関心ある領域を通して生活します。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

..................................................

　In order to survive in the increasingly aging society, I research and practice measures to prevent sarcopenia, such as maintaining a healthy digestive system, smooth blood circulation, and walking with good posture. And I believe it will eventually become one way to prevent dementia as well.

　I often go to a nearby clinic, but the majority of patients are elderly women. In the future, the elderly population in Japan will tend to increase more than the young. And as a characteristic of modern society, elderly people generally do not live with their children. As a result, people end up relying on facility staff, doctors, and nurses.

　To live a healthy life every day, we should "use the minimum amount of medicine necessary," avoid drug addiction as much as possible, and I think how to effectively promote health. In my case, my thoughts changed completely after listening to a lecture about cancer prevention by a professor at Gumma University's Medicine. I have been drinking a cup of tomato and soy-based drinks on the empty stomach early in the morning since 7 to 8 years ago. These have antioxidant properties.

　Among them, the "day's worth of vegetables" recommended by the registered dietitian, the lycopene-rich "grapefruit juice" that I chose, and carrot juice containing beta-carotene which are good taste, and it costs about 100 yen a day. Because I'm hungry in the early morning, these flow all at once from the esophagus to the stomach wall to the duodenum to the intestines.

　In order to survive in the midst of the aging society, these beverage early in the morning, keeps moving my body well, and I live my life through areas that interest me, such as "playing music, living in harmony with many plants in the garden, and writing English composition."

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

人間は毎日顔を合わせると、自然と親しくなる傾向

　梅雨の晴れ間ではありませんが、今日の群馬県はよく晴れてます。私は二階が生活の中心で、窓から下の庭を見ると「ねむの木」の花が、おっと、これは花でなく雄しべでしたね。いずれにしてもピンクの色彩がよく目に入り、思わずシャッターを切りました。

　ところで、先程、近くのスーパーで今宵の食料を仕入れてきました。レジの女性とは毎日顔を合わせるので親しくなってます。このため、他の客が後ろに並んでないときは、ちょっと話し込むのが私の一日の唯一の楽しみです。しかし、今後はもっと大きな喜びを探そう。

Dear my friends abroad

　Although it's not a sunny day during the rainy season in our nation, it's a beautiful sunny day in my Gumma Prefecture today. I mainly live on the second floor, so when I was looking the garden below through the window, I could see the flowers of a Silk tree. Oh, I'm sorry, those aren't flowers but stamens. Either way, the pink color caught my eyes, so that I couldn't help but take a picture of her.

　By the way, I just bought some food for tonight at the nearby supermarket. I've become friendly with the lady at the register because I see her every day. Because of this, when there are no other customers in line behind me, my only enjoyment of the day is having a little chat. But from now on, I'll be looking for an greater joy.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

今が旬の枇杷・・・老化防止に効き目があるか

　梅の実と枇杷の実が熟するのはほぼ同時であり、庭では１０年ほど以前に植えた品種名「長崎クイーン」の「枇杷」が食べ頃です。梅の実と違って、甘いことを野鳥たちは知っており、早めに捥がなくては多くが嘴で傷つけられたり、食べられたりしてしまいます。

　実は、野鳥は今が子育ての真っ最中であり、彼らも餌探しは真剣です。レース鳩を半世紀以上に亘り飼育してた私としては、レース鳩のお陰で、中国内モンゴルへ行けたり、イギリスが世界に発行してるレース鳩月刊誌「ピクトリアル」の表紙を飾ったこともあり、そんなことを想い巡らすと野鳥との「共存が大切」で、高い位置の枇杷を残しておくことにします。

　毎日、庭の樹木に野鳥が飛来し、ピーチクパーチク声を聞かせてくれてます。私は彼らに飲み水を用意してますが、たまには餌も与えましょう。とは言うものの、人間が食べるために植えたのですから、今日は熟した下の枝の実を収穫します。私は未だ食してませんが、先日、娘が来たとき味見したら「とても美味しい」と言ってました。

　調べてみると、枇杷には「β−カロテン」「β−クリプトキサンチン」が豊富に含まれ、これらは強力な抗酸化作用があり、老化の原因となる「活性酸素」を除去する働きがあるとされてます。これは現在の私には欠くべからざることです。何はさておき「老化を防がなくてはなりません。」やはり、野鳥には少しにして、早く捥いで自分で食べましょう。最後は生存競争だ。

Dear my friends abroad

　Plums and loquats ripen at almost the same time in our nation, and in my garden, the loquats of the variety "Nagasaki Queen" that I planted about 10 years ago are ripe to eat now. Unlike plums, wild birds know that loquat is sweet, so that if I don't picked early, many of loquats will be damaged by their beaks or eaten.

　As you know, the wild birds are in the middle of raising their young birds right now, so they are also serious about finding food. By the way, I have been raising racing pigeons for over half a century, and thanks to them I have been able to go to Inner Mongolia, China, and even appeared on the cover of the British racing pigeon monthly magazine "Pictorial." Thinking about such things, I must think "coexistence is important," so I have decided to leave the loquats of high branches.

　Every day, wild birds fly to the trees in my garden and let me hear their chirping. I provide them with drinking water, but I also feed them occasionally. However, since the loquat was planted for humans to eat, today I will harvest the ripe loquats from the lower branches. I haven't eaten any yet in this season, but the other day when my daughter came she tasted some and said it was "very delicious."

　After researching, I found that loquats are rich in "β-carotene" and "β-cryptoxanthin," which have strong antioxidant properties and are said to have the ability to remove "active oxygen," which causes aging. This is indispensable to me now. Above all, "I must prevent aging." I give only a small amount to wild birds, therefore, I will pick them quickly and eat them myself. In the end, it's a battle for survival.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

毎日の床磨きで、衛生的な室内空間を！

　ここは我が家の玄関を上がったところで、広さ３畳ほどのフローリングです。このため、来客があった場合、最初に目にするところで、私としては、床を常にきれいにしておく必要があります。いつか、ぜひ、きれいな床を見にいらして下さい。おっと失礼、床見学のみでなく、お茶と拙いピアノ演奏も可能です。

　実は、３日ほど前に、幅が８０cmほどある大きな床拭き用モップを手に入れたら、掃除が捗り「床磨きが楽しくなりました。」ご覧の通り、モップの幅が広いため、例えば、広い廊下を何度も行ったり来たりしなくても、すぐに磨き終わります。「大は小を兼ねる」とはこの事をいうのでしょう。

　床の清潔さや室内の清掃は、肺呼吸をしてる私たちの健康に直接影響します。庭は新緑に覆われ、森の中に住んでる環境でも、同時に、室内の空気はいっそう衛生的でありたいと思います。

　ところで、人間の一日の呼吸回数は2万～2万5,000回です。このため、生涯では気が遠くなるほど呼吸を繰り返し、言うなれば、人生とは呼吸の連続です。この絶え間ない呼吸で私たちは生命を維持してます。

　この一回ごとの呼吸を、声楽家や管楽器奏者が行うように「腹式呼吸」にできれば、知らず知らずのうちに肺の機能が活発になると考えます。学生時代に音楽の授業で習った腹式呼吸を取り入れ、健康な生活習慣にしたいものです。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

................................................

　This is the flooring of the entrance in my house, about 3 tatami mats in size. Therefore, when I have guests, it is the first place they see, so that I need to keep the floor clean at all times. Please come and see my clean floor someday. Oh, excuse me, you can not only look at the floor, but also have tea and listen to my humble piano performance.

　Actually, about three days ago, I got a big floor mop that is about 80 cm wide, and it has helped me clean and "scrubbing the floor has become fun." As you can see, because the mop is wide, I can finish scrubbing quickly without going back and forth many times in a wide hallway. This is real saying "bigger is better."

　The cleanliness of our floors and the cleanliness of our rooms directly affect our health as we breathe through our lungs. Even if my garden is covered in fresh greenery where I live in a forest, I would like the air inside the rooms to be as hygienic as possible.

　Not change the subject, but we humans breathe 20,000 to 25,000 times a day. For this reason, we breathe countless times throughout our lives. So life is continuous stream of breath. This constant breathing keeps us alive.

　If we can make each breath into "abdominal breathing," as vocalists or wind instrument players do, I believe that our lung function will be improved without realizing it. We should incorporate the abdominal breathing that we learned in music classes as students and make it a healthy lifestyle habit.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

車の調子維持に「みっけもん」へ

　最近は愛車の調子を維持するために運転することが多くなりました。それでも、一つの目的地を持つようにしてます。今日は藤岡市の西部に位置する本動堂(もとゆるぎどう)のスーパーへ行きました。スーパーはその名も「みっけもん」です。若者のように元気が出るエシャレット、シイタケ、そしてアシタバなどを買いました。

　帰路はわざわざ藤岡インター方面に回り、続いて倉賀野バイパスへと、広い国道をぐるりと大回りしてエンジンの調子を維持しました。あと10日でオイルとバッテリーを交換し、いよいよ購入4年目に入るので、車本来の調子が出るでしょうか。

　この車ＴＴは常時四輪駆動で法的には４人乗りですが、後部座席は狭く、実際には二人乗りです。残念にも、まだ、2人乗りで出かけたことはありません。そんなことはあるのだろうか。

Dear my friend abroad

　I often drive my car these days to keep it in good condition. But I try to have one destination in mind. Today I went to a supermarket in Motoyurugi-do, located in the west of Fujioka-City. The supermarket is called "Mikkemon." This word means that I found out good items beyond expectation. So I bought shallots, shiitake mushrooms, and Japanese angelica, which give me the energy of a young person.

　On the way back, I made a detour to Fujioka Interchange, then to Kuragano-Bypass, taking a long detour around the wide national road to keep the engine in good condition. In 10 days, I will have to change the oil and battery, it will be four years since I bought it, so I wonder if the car will be in its essential condition.

　This Audi TT is always in four-wheel drive and legally can seat four people, but the back seat is narrow, in reality, it seats two people. Unfortunately, I have not yet gone out with a lady in it. I wonder if that will be happened from now on.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

花弁と思っていたら、実は「雄しべ」だった

【画像をクリックし、拡大してご覧ください。】

　写真は連日「ねむの花」で申し訳ございません。しかし、今朝は余りにも優美に目に入ったので、思わずシャッターを切りました。誠に細く下方は白く、上の方はピンクで、しかも、拡大して見るとそれぞれの先が黄色くなってます。

　「ねむの花」について調べてみると、花びらは花の基部にあり黄緑で小さく5枚です。実は、「美しいピンクで糸状に多数伸びているのは雄しべ」とのことです。長さは3～4cmあります。この写真でははっきりしませんが、雌しべは1本、白くて雄しべより長めとのことです。また、よく観察してみます。

　右に１０個ほと固まってる蕾があり、暫くの間、咲き続けます。昨日書きましたが、この「ねむの木」は３才位の幼木なので、今後、樹木も大きくなり、毎年、入梅頃に楽しませてくれるでしょう。梅雨の時期で、人間の心は、とかく鬱陶しい日々になりがちですが、優美さでちゃんとバランスを取ってくれてます。

　ところで、今日の日の出は４時２５分(群馬県)です。実は、夏至の日より今日の日の出の方が１分早くなってます。日の入りは１９時０１分です。日の入りについては夏至の日より今月末が最も遅く１９時６分です。現在は、昼間の時間が年間で最も長い日々です。健康維持に、そして自らの目的に沿って有効に使いたいものです。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

............................................

　I am sorry for taking photo of the Silk flower every day. However, this morning, it was so graceful that I couldn't help but take a picture. It is very thin, white at the bottom and pink at the top, and when I look at it closely, I can see that the tip of each petal is yellow.

　As the matter of fact, when I looked up the Silk flower, I found that the petals are small and yellow-green at the base of the flower, with five petals. In fact, the stamens are beautiful pink and extend in a thread-like pattern. They are 3 to 4 cm long. It is not clear in this photo, but the pistil is one, white, and longer than the stamens. I will look at it more closely.

　There are about 10 buds clustered together on the right, and they will continue to bloom from now on. As I wrote yesterday, this Silk tree is a young tree about 3 years old, so it will grow larger and I will be able to enjoy it every year around the start of the Japanese rainy season. During the rainy season, people's hearts tend to become depressed including me, but Silk flowers are keeping balance.

　Incidentally, today's sunrise is at 4:25 (at Gumma Prefecture which is the center in Japan). In fact, sunrise today is one minute earlier than on the summer solstice. Sunset today is at 19:01. The latest sunset this month is at 19:06, compared to the summer solstice. Currently, the days of daylight are the longest of the year. Therefore, we should use this long time effectively to maintain our health and in line with our own purposes.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

入梅を前に梅の収穫作業

　今日の夕方、娘たちと梅を捥ぎましたら、想っているより大きな実がたくさん収穫できました。これだけ捥いでも、ほんの一部で未だ推定２０Kほどは生ってます。世間では今年は梅が不作と聞きますが、我が家では実も大きく豊作です。娘は梅酒にすると言ってます。

Dear my friends abroad　　　　

　This evening, I picked plums with my daughter's family, and we were able to harvest a lot of plums that were bigger than I expected. Even with all the picking, there are still about 20kg worth of plums left. In general, I've heard that the plum harvest is poor this year, but ours is big and plentiful. My daughter wants to make plum wine from them.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

夢があるから・・・明日がある

　合歓木(ねむの木)の幼木は、今春から咲いてますが、最初は花が小さかったですが、今朝見たら大きな花になっています。やはり、日々に成長してることが分かります。

　今朝、５時３０分頃に撮影したところ、葉は半分ほど未だ眠っている状態です。それでも、細いピンクの花は空に向かってパッと開き、私も暫し観賞です。高さ１メートルほどの幼木ですが、生き生きし、見るからに将来性が感じられ、私は水を与える事だけで後は自力で生き、予想を超えよく咲いてます。

　一方、私自身は、果たして「日々、少しは成長してるか」と自問してます。どうしても容易い方向に流れがちで、２０年も一人暮らし故、怠惰な生活になってしまいます。

　ところで、今や、６５才以上の５人に１人、７０才以上の４人に１人、８０才以上の３人に１人と推定される認知症です。私にとって本当に他人ごとではありません。その対策をしっかりしているでしょうか。

　医学的にも現在、その原因はあまり究明されてないようです。今、私が考える認知症対策の一つは「記憶力の増進」に絞ってますが、覚えても忘れてしまい、繰り返してます。しかし、人間とは「その必要性を強く感じたとき」覚えられる気がします。一方、血流の良さがポイントと考え、特に、下半身の血液を上半身にまで上げる「キャフレイズ」という脹脛の運動をしてます。これにより心臓の負荷が軽減すると考えてます。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

.......................................

　The young Nemunoki that means Silk tree in English has been blooming since this summer. At first, the flowers were small, but when I looked at her this morning, She had grown into large flower. Silk tree can be seen that she is growing day by day.

　When I took this photo at around 5:30 this morning, about half of the leaves were still asleep. Even so, the thin pink flowers opened up towards the sky and I admired them for a while. She is a young tree about one meter tall, but she is lively and has a promising future. I only give to water, and she is growing by herself and blooming better than I expected.

　Meanwhile, I ask myself, "Am I growing a little each day?" I tend to take the easy way out, because having lived alone for 20 years, I have become lazy.

　By the way, it is estimated that senile dementia affects one in five people over the age of 65, one in four over the age of 70, and one in three over the age of 80. For me, this is not about anyone else. Am I taking proper measures against that?

　It seems that the cause has not yet been fully investigated medically. Now, one of the measures I am thinking of for senile dementia prevention is to improve memory, but even if I memorize something such as English words, I forget it and must repeat it. However, I feel that humans can remember things when I feel a strong need to my life. On the other hand, I think that good blood circulation is the key. Therefore I am doing calf training called "calf raise" that raise blood from the lower body to the upper body, in particular to brain. I think that this training reduces the burden on the heart.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

　

「プチ節約術」値引きシールの商品活用・・上毛新聞「ひろば」より

　本日の群馬県・上毛新聞の読者投稿欄「みんなのひろば」に、このブログのコメンター「時計屋の隣りさん」の文章が掲載されました。誠におめでとうございます。

　つきましては、群馬県外の皆様にもお読み戴きたくご紹介いたします。

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

　物価高騰が続く昨今、節約術の探求は重要だ。スーパーで値引きシールの付いた商品を購入することは経済的にも有益、食品ロスの削減にも寄与する。賞味期限が迫った商品はお得で、冷凍することで日持ちする。

　以前は、値引きシールが他人に見えないように、商品を買い物籠の底に隠すことが多かったが、節約志向が高まる中で、最近では気にしなくなった。他店より早く閉まるスーパーでは、夕飯の支度に間に合うタイムサービスを実施しているので大変ありがたい。特に酒の肴の刺身や生ものを目当てに利用している。半額シールが貼られた399円の生姜焼きのパックは、レシートで確認すると、半額が200円ではなく、199円になっていた。1円の差は小さいが積み重ねると大きな違いとなる。

　スーパーには、魅力的な商品が並んでいる。衝動買いをしないよう、また、余分なものを買わないように事前に必要なものをリストアップして行くようにしている。

　節約とは、無駄を省くことであり、必要なものを削ることではない。健康と生活の質の維持を図りつつ、賢い「プチ節約」の買い物を心掛けていきたい。

梅の実が赤くなると梅雨入り近し

　私の庭は倉賀野では「梅林」のようで、2～3月は色彩の異なる梅の花が５本咲きます。つまり、その多くは花梅です。しかし、写真の大きな梅の木１本には実が生り、現在、鈴生りです。推定１０００個以上が生っており、ぼちぼち落ち始めてます。

　ご覧の通り、実が赤くなり始めてます。昔から、梅が赤くなり始めると梅雨入りです。今日も天候は梅雨空の気配で、梅雨という言葉には梅の字が入ってます。明日は娘たちも来て梅捥大会です。

　ところで、梅という言葉を使っただけで、口の中が酸っぱくなるのも不思議です。ご存知の通り、梅には唾液の分泌を促し食欲を増進させる働きがあります。

　一方、梅は腸内環境を整え、便秘予防、肥満や糖尿病予防、免疫力アップ、抗アレルギー効果など様々な効果が期待されてるといわれます。

Dear my friends abroad

　My garden is like a plum grove in Kuragano-town in Japan, and five plum trees with different colored flowers bloom in February and March. In other words, most of them are flowering plums. However, one large plum tree in the photo is bearing fruit, which is currently hanging in clusters as you see. It is estimated that there are over 1,000 plums, and they are starting to fall one by one.

　As you can see, the fruit is starting to turn red. Since ancient times, when the plums start to turn red, it means the rainy season begins. Today, the weather is also looking cloudy like rainy season, and the word "rainy season" contains the Japanese character of "plum". Tomorrow evening, my daughters will come and have a plum picking contest. and my second daughter's birthday party will be held.

　By the way, it is strange that just using the word "plum" makes our mouth sour. As you know, plums stimulate saliva secretion and increase appetite.

　On the other hand, plums are said to have various effects such as improving the intestinal environment, preventing constipation, preventing obesity and diabetes, boosting immunity, and having anti-allergic effects. If you need plums, please come and pick them for you. I will give you plums as a gift.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

誰一人、取り残さない社会の構築は子供のときから

　今日の午後は予定通り、地元・倉賀野小の校区を約２Kほど徒歩で巡回しました。気温も高くかなり汗をかきました。目的は3つあり、1、交通安全指導、2、不審者対策、3、声掛け運動です。

　特に、重点にしてることがあります。多くの子供は数人まとまって、楽しそうに話をしながら下校します。しかし、時には、一人ぼっちで、寂しそうに帰宅する子供も幾人か見かけます。

　このような時こそ、私たちの大切な仕事と考え、こちらから必ずはっきり声を掛け、挨拶だけでなく、例えば「今日、学校で何が楽しかった？」などと問い掛けるようにしました。

　大人も含め、現代社会で大切な要素は「誰一人、取り残さない社会の構築」と考えるとき、「友達同士は互いに支え合うもの」と小学生のうちから導きたいです。

Dear my Facebook friends abroad

　This afternoon, as planned, I walked about 2km around the school district of the Kuragano Elementary School. It was hot and humid today, so that I got quite sweaty. I have three purposes. 1) to teach traffic safety, 2) to take measures against suspicious people, and 3) to encourage pupils to speak to others.

　In particular, there is one point that I emphasis on. Many children walk home from school in groups with chatting happily. However, sometimes I see a few children walking home alone and looking lonely.

　I believe that it is precisely important opportunity like these case that is our just the job, so I make sure to speak to the children clearly, not just saying hello, but asking questions such as, "What did you enjoy at school today?"

　When we consider that an important element in modern society, including adults, is "building a society in which no one is left behind," I want to teach elementary school children that "friends support each other."

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

今年初めて開花した「ねむの木」の幼木

　写真は今年初めて咲いた「ねむの木」の幼木です。高さは未だ１mほどなので、花は若干小さいようです。３年ほど前に実生から生え、昨年の秋に築山の西端に植え替えたところ、日当たりがよく成長が逞しいです。近未来には高さ３mほどになるでしょう。

　亡き母は「ねむの木」の木のことを「ねぶたの木」と言って、花の風流さや就眠運動を気に入ってました。原産地は南国と考えられ、すでに日本の風土に順応し、ご覧の通り、花の色はピンクで花弁は針のように細く、他の植物の花とは趣が異なります。

　概して、このように日本の風土に合う植物は耐寒性があり、剛健ですが、比較的遅く日本にやって来た植物は日本の風土に合わず、枯れることもしばしばです。私の体験では西洋シャクナゲを育てるのが難しく、今までに幾本が枯らしました。その点、日本の山岳に自生していた日本シャクナゲは寒さに強いです。

　ところで、今日は令和６年６月６日と６が続く日で大安です。私の予定の一つは、午後、倉賀野小児童の通学路における下校指導があります。

　最近つくづく感じることは、知人が病気で亡くなったり、自然災害で亡くなる人が多く、健康維持や安全確保ほど大切なことはありません。輝く未来ある子供たちの安全と共に、自らも健康に留意して暮らしたいと強く感じます。

Dear my friends abroad

　The photo indicates a young Silk tree that bloomed this year for her first time. It is still only about 1m tall, so that the flowers seem a little small. It was grown from seed about 3 years ago and replanted by me at the western end of the artificial hill last fall, where it is well-lit and growing well. It will probably reach a height of about 3m in the near future, I guess.

　My late mother called her "Nebutanoki" and loved the elegance of her flowers and sleep-inducing movement. It is thought that originated place was in the south countries and has already adapted to the Japanese climate. As you see, the flowers are pink and the petals are needle-thin, which are giving a different feel from other plants.

　In general, plants that are suited to the Japanese climate are hardy, but plants that came to Japan relatively late do not adapt to the Japanese climate and often die. In my clumsy experience, it is difficult to raise Western rhododendrons, so that several of them have died so far. In that respect, Japanese rhododendrons, which grow wild in the Japanese mountains are resistant to the cold.

　Not change the subject, but today is June 6th, Reiwa 6 in Japanese calendar which means three consecutive sixes. furthermore it is a lucky day named Taian. Today, one of my plans is to supervise the children of Kuragano Elementary School as they walk home from school this afternoon.

　Recently, I have come to realize that so many people died from illness and natural disasters, there is nothing more important than our maintaining health and ensuring safety. I strongly feel that I want to live my life paying attention to my own health, as well as ensuring the safety of children with bright futures.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

花を見ただけでは区別が難しい「芙蓉」と「ハイビスカス」

　今日から芙蓉が咲き始めました。一見、ハイビスカスに似てます。どちらも大きさや花の形がほぼ同じで、５枚の花弁があり、花を見ただけではこの両者の区別は難いです。葉の形態は異なります。

　しかし、よく観察すると、芙蓉の雌しべは、先っぽが上向きに曲がってます。 ハイビスカスは、雌しべの近くに雄しべがまとまってます。今日はたまたま芙蓉だけが咲いでおり、今度、ハイビスカスも咲いたら、比べた写真をアップします。

　それにしても、どちらの花も直径が１０ｃｍほどあり、特に芙蓉は幾度も咲き「幸せの再来」のようです。

Dear my Facebook friends

　The Confederate rose started blooming today. At first glance, she looks similar to hibiscus. Both are almost the same size and shape, with five petals, so it is difficult for us to distinguish just by looking at the flowers. The leaves are different in shape.

　However, if I look closely, I notice that the tip of the Confederate rose pistil bends upwards. In hibiscus, the stamens are grouped together near the pistils. Today, the Confederate rose is blooming, so next time when the hibiscus blooms, I will upload a comparison photo.

　Even so, both flowers are about 10cm in diameter, and the Confederate rose in particular blooms many times, so it seems like a "return of happiness."

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

６月５日、今日は二十四節気の「芒種」です。

　二十四節気の一つ「芒種」の今日、タチアオイが隣同士で紅白に咲いてます。比較的花の少ない今の時季にあって愛嬌を振りまいてます。この植物は多年草で庭で寒い冬をどうにか越し、春に再度、地中から芽を出しました。これから暫く咲いてます。

　ところで、今日が「芒種」とは太陽黄経が春分の日から７５°(h５)移動した日です。もちろん、実際には、太陽は動かず、私たちを載せた地球が公転軌道上を反時計回りに公転しています。

　この地球は秒速約２９㎞で公転し、それにより、太陽の背景に存在する１２個の星座が次々に変わって行きます。これが黄道十二星座です。しばしば、星占いで「私は何々座です。」と言う星座です。ですから、誕生した日の夜に出ていた星座ではなく、「誕生したとき、太陽の背景にあった星座」です。

　ところが、星占いを決めた時代からすでに２０００年以上も経過しており、地球の歳差運動により現在では少々ずれてます。今日の太陽の背景にある星座は「牡牛座」です。「牡牛座」は巨大な「冬のダイアモンド」の西端に位置し、有名なオリオン座の右上にあります。ですから、「牡牛座」が実際に良く見えるのは半年後の夜です。「牡牛座」の中心は有名な一等星アルデバランです。ですから、現在、太陽とアルデバランは同じ方向にあります。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

........................................

　Today is "Bohsh", one of the 24 solar Japanese traditional calendars, and as you see, the hollyhocks are blooming in red and white next to each other. They are charming in this season during there are relatively few flowers. This plant is a perennial that somehow survived the cold winter in the garden and sprouted again from the ground in the spring. It will be blooming for a while from now.

　By the way, today is "Bohsh", which means that the solar ecliptic longitude has moved 75° (h5) from the vernal equinox point. Of course, in reality, the sun does not move, and the earth carrying us revolves counterclockwise on its orbit.

　The earth revolves at a speed of about 29 km per second, and as a result, the 12 constellations that exist behind the sun change one after another. These are the 12 zodiac constellations. These are the constellations that are often said to be in horoscopes. Therefore, it is not the constellation that was visible on the night of our birth, but "the constellation that was behind the sun at the time of our birth".

　However, more than 2000 years have passed since the horoscopes were established, and due to the precession of the Earth, they are now slightly different. The constellation behind the Sun today is Taurus. Taurus is located on the western edge of the giant "Winter Diamond", and to the upper right of the famous Orion. Therefore, Taurus will actually be best seen on the night of six months from now. The center of Taurus is the famous first magnitude star named Aldebaran. Therefore, currently, the Sun and Aldebaran are in the same direction.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

現在、都市部でネギが高騰か、しかし、安い所もある

　どうしたことか。最近、高崎のスーパーではネギの値段が高騰し、１本９０円もします。このため、吉井の日帰り温泉「牛伏ドリームセンター」へ行く途中、藤岡市の農協スーパーに立ち寄ったらネギが１束で１５０円でした。場所によって随分値段が違うものです。

　私の昼食は、うどんか、蕎麦か、パンなので、今日はうどんの予定で薬味としてネギが必要なので安くて助かりました。

　しかし、その後、ドライブしつつ日帰り温泉「牛伏ドリームセンター」に行ったら臨時休業でした。それでも、バッテリーの関係で、平素、あまり乗らない車を動かす必要があったのでドライブできて良かったです。

Dear my friends who like Japanese green onion

　What's going on? Recently, the price of green onions has skyrocketed in supermarkets in Takasaki-city, costing as much as 90 yen per stalk. Because of this, on my way to the day-trip hot spring "Ushibuse Dream Center" in Yoshii-town, I stopped off at the agricultural cooperative supermarket named "Mikkemon" in Fujioka-City and found a bunch of green onions for 150 yen. Prices vary greatly depending on the location.

　My lunch is usually udon noodle, soba, or bread, so today I am planning to have udon, so that I needed green onion as a condiment, so this was cheap and helpful.

　However, afterwards, I went to the day-trip hot spring "Ushibuse Dream Center" on my drive, but it was closed. Still, I needed to move the car due to battery issues, so I was glad I was able to drive.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

月面から見る地球の満ち欠けを想像する

　写真左は、今朝４時２０分に東の空に出ていた月齢２８の下弦の月を撮影しました。今日６月４日の日の出時刻は４時２６分(群馬県)のため空はすでに明るく、こんな細い月を見ることは稀です。日の出直前の太陽光が左下から当たってることが分かります。

　一方、写真右は、アースヴューで調べた同時刻の「月から見た地球」です。先日も「月から見た地球の満ち欠け」について書きましたが、その時は約半月の状態だったので、「月から見る地球」も半分ほどが光ってましたが、光ってる部分と暗い部分の「左右が逆」でした。

　今回、地球から見た月は誠に細いので、私の予想では、月から見る地球は暗い部分が細く、地球の殆どの部分は明るいと思いました。すぐに、アースビューで調べたところ、予想通り、地球の暗い部分は極めて細かったです。このため「地球から見る月の満ち欠け」と、同時に「月から見る地球の満ち欠け」は左右が逆であることが今回も確認できました。

　ところで、月の直径は約3,476km、地球の直径は約12,742kmであり、地球に比べ、月は約4分の1の大きさです。 地球をサッカーボールとすると、月はテニスボールくらいの大きさです。このため、月から見た地球はかなり大きく見えるでしょう。半世紀以上前に、人類は月面に立ちましたが、近未来の人類も月面から地球の満ち欠けを実際に見ることができるでしょう。そして、日本列島の姿は意外と大きく見えるでしょう。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

.....................................

　The photo on the left shows a waning moon with a phase of 28 that appeared in the eastern sky at 4:20 this morning, Japan time. Today, June 4th, the sunrise is at 4:26 (Gumma Prefecture), so the sky is already bright, and it is rare to see such a thin moon. We can see that the sunlight just before sunrise is hitting the moon from the bottom left.

　On the other hand, the photo on the right shows the Earth as seen from the Moon at the same time, as checked on Earth View. The other day, I wrote about the "phases of the Earth as seen from the Moon", but since the moon was about half-moon at that time, about half of the Earth as seen from the Moon was also lit, but the lit and dark parts were "reversed left and right".

　This time, the Moon was very thin as seen from our Earth, so I expected that the dark parts of the Earth as seen from the Moon would be thin, and most of the Earth would be bright. I immediately checked it on Earth View. As a result, as expected, the dark parts of the Earth were extremely thin. Therefore, it was confirmed that the "phases of the Moon as seen from the Earth" and the "phases of the Earth as seen from the Moon surface" are reversed left and right.

　Incidentally, the diameter of the Moon is about 3,476 km, while that of the Earth is about 12,742 km. Therefore, the Moon is about one-quarter the size of the Earth. If the Earth is a soccer ball, the Moon is about the size of a tennis ball. For this reason, the Earth will be quite large when viewed from the Moon. Over half a century ago, humans stood on the Moon's surface. Humans in the near future will also be able to see the phases of the Earth from the Moon's surface. The Japanese archipelago will be larger than our expectation.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

孫娘のお陰で、毎晩楽しい夕食

　一昨日の午後、暫くぶりで2人の孫娘(小4、小1)と一緒に過ごし、最初は、アウディーに立ち寄り、そこでの昼食後、広い群馬の森まで行き歴史博物館を見学し有意義に過ごしました。ところが、帰路では2人にせがまれ、１００円ショップに立ち寄りました。店内に入るや否や、彼女たちはすぐに自分たちの興味ある陳列棚へ行きました。

　ところが、店頭で私の目に飛び込んで来たのが写真のお皿です。実は１ヶ月ほど前にこのお皿が気に入り、大小一対購入したところ、図柄と言い、持ちやすさと言い、気に入ってしまい、日々、使ってました。今回も店に入り、目に入った途端にどうしてもこのお皿が更に(皿に)欲しくなり、大小一対を衝動買いしてしまいました。と言っても、消費税を入れ２２０円で安いです。

　この大きい方のお皿に大好物の「肉ワンタン」を載せると夕食が豪華になり、最近の夕食では度々「肉ワンタン」を味わってます。一方、小さなお皿では玉ねぎを温め和風ドレッシングを掛けたものを入れたり、お刺身の醤油に使ったりしてます。

　当初、１００円ショップに行くのは気が進まなかった私ですが、２人の孫娘のお陰で、その後一人での食事でも、この皿を使うことで、より楽しくなってます。単なる皿であっても、赤い線の入った単純の図柄が私にとっても気に入ってます。お皿も芸術作品です。尚、私が生涯において食器を買ったのはこのお皿だけです。

Dear my Facebook Friends throughout the world

　The day before yesterday, I spent the afternoon with my two granddaughters (a fourth grader and a first grader) after a long interval. First, we stopped at Audi dealer, where we had lunch, then played in the vast Gumma forest and visited the history museum, so we were spending a meaningful time. However, on the way back, they begged me to stop at a 100-yen shop. As soon as we entered the store, my granddaughters immediately went to the display shelves that they are interested in.

　However, what caught my eye in the store was the plate in the photo. Actually, about a month ago, I liked these plates so much that I bought a pair, one large and one small. I liked the design and how easy it was to hold, so that I used them every day. This time, I went into the store and as soon as I saw them, I really wanted more of these plates, so I impulsively bought a pair, one large and one small. That said, it's cheap at 220 yen including consumption tax.

　When I put my favorite "meat wonton" on this larger plate, dinner becomes more sumptuous, and I have been enjoying "meat wonton" that is Chinese cuisine often at dinner recently. On the other hand, I use the small plate to warmed onions with Japanese dressing, or as soy sauce for sashimi sliced raw fish.

　At first, I was reluctant to go to the 100 yen shop, but thanks to my two granddaughters, I have enjoyed using these plates even when eating alone every time. Even though it is just a plate, I like this simple design with the red lines. The plate is also one of the arts. Incidentally, this is the only piece of tableware I have ever bought in my life.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

果物が生る日を夢見て、生きる力が湧いてくる

　昨日、裏庭にイチジクの苗を植えました。昔、倉賀野の仲町に住んでた子供の頃にもイチジクがありました。柔らかくて甘かったその味が今でも忘れられません。もちろん、イチジク以外でも忘れられないことはあります。

　裏庭でも、比較的に陽がよく当たるのでよく育つでしょう。しかも、ご覧の通り、車庫の屋根に降った雨水を貯めた防火用水が近くにあり、水には事欠きません。

　実が生るまでに数年かかるでしょうが、生ったら食べに来てください。それまで、お元気にお過ごしください。

Dear my friends abroad who like a fig

　Yesterday, I planted a fig seedling in my backyard. I used to eat figs when I was a child living in Kuragano-town at Nakacho. I still can't forget how soft and sweet figs were. Of course, there are other things I can't forget besides figs.

　The fig tree will grow well though in the backyard, because there is relatively good sunlight. Moreover, as you can see, there is a firefighting water nearby that collects rainwater that falls on the garage roof, so there is no shortage of water.

　I guess, it will take a few years for the fruit to grow, but when it bears, please come and taste it. Until then, please take care of yourself.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

収穫する季節の到来・・・枇杷と梅が豊作

　今年は梅と枇杷が大豊作です。特に、梅は枝が折れそうなくらい垂れ下がっており、私は下から竹の棒で支えてます。梅の木の下には半日陰を利用して牡丹と日本シャクナゲがあり、梅の枝が折れたら、これらの大切な植物も傷ついてしまうでしょう。

　推定１０００個ほど生ってる梅の実は1週間後に娘たち家族が来て誕生会するので、日中、全員ですべて捥ぐ予定です。写真はほんの一部です。一方、枇杷は１０年ほど前に植えた「長崎クイーン」という品種が育ち、もうちょっとで収穫できそうです。こちらは食べ頃になったら早く捥がないと野鳥が狙ってます。昨年、私は枇杷酒を作り、今でも時々飲んでます。

　ところで、実が熟す季節が半年ほど異なり、冬に生る「金柑」は現在も１日５個程食してます。これらの果物は太陽エネルギー、雨、そして土のみで自然に生ります。消毒剤や除草剤を一切使ってないので、安心して食べられます。

　この他の果物は柿の木があり、これは父が植えたもので昔からあります。今春、新たに幼木を２本植えたので、８年後には実るでしょう。品種名は「太秋」と「富有」です。近未来、柿沼家の柿を食べにいらして下さい。なお、梅がご入用の方はすでに収穫期ですから、捥ぎに来てください。プレゼントします。

Dear my friends abroad

　This year, I have a bumper crop of plums and loquats. In particular, the plums are drooping so much that their branches look like they might break, so I'm supporting them from below with bamboo pole. Under the plum tree, there are peonies and Japanese rhododendrons, which take advantage of the partial shade, and if the plum branches break, these precious plants will also be damaged.

　The estimated more than 1,000 plums are growing. My daughters and their families will visit here in a week for a birthday party, so they plan to pick the plums all together during the daytime. The photos are just a few of them. Meanwhile, the loquat variety "Nagasaki Queen", which was planted about 10 years ago, is growing and will be ready to harvest soon. If I don't pick them quickly when they are ripe, wild birds will be after them. Last year, I made loquat wine, and I still drink it as an aperitif occasionally.

　By the way, because the ripening seasons are about six months earlier, I still eat about five kumquats a day, which grow in winter. These fruits grow naturally with only solar energy, rain, and soil. No disinfectants or herbicides are used by me, so I can eat them without anxiety.

　Other fruits include persimmon trees, which were planted by my late father a long time ago. This spring, I planted two new young trees, which should bear fruit in eight years. The varieties are "Taishu" and "Fuyu." Please come and try to taste the Persimmon family's persimmons in the near future. By the way, if you would like plums, it already have a harvester, so please come and pick some. I will give you some as gift.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

久しぶりに孫娘たちと過ごす

　今日の午後は孫娘(小４、小１)を二人預かり、アウデーの会社でお昼を食べ、その後、群馬の森の歴史博物館へ行き、二人とも群馬の歴史の説明を結構よく聞いてました。私自身も群馬の森は時々ウォーキングで行っても、歴史博物館に入館したのは数年振りでした。

　帰路に、百円ショップに立ち寄り、それぞれ自分の小遣いで必要品を買い、その後は私の家で過ごしました。私もちょっと疲れました。

Dear my friends abroad

　This afternoon I looked after my two granddaughters and had lunch at the Audi's office. Afterwards we went to the Gumma Forest History Museum, where they both listened attentively to the officer's explanation about Gumma's history. I sometimes go to Gumma Forest for walking, but it had been several years since I last visited the history museum.

　On the way home we stopped at a 100 yen shop and each girls bought some necessities by their own pocket money, then spent the rest of the day at my house. I was a little tired too.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...

季節は鬱陶しくとも、気持ちは爽やかに！

　今年もブーゲンビリアが咲き、青春時代のインドを思い出します。一見し、全体的にきれいなピンクの花のように見えますが、実は、このピンクは殆ど薄い葉であり、本当の花はその中に小さく咲いてます。しかし、それとは別に青い葉もあり不思議な植物です。ブーゲンビリアは明るいピンクで前の道を通る人も立ち止まって眺めてます。このため昨日も見知らぬ方と会話ができました。

　南国の植物ゆえ、日本の冬の寒さには耐えられず枯れてしまったこともあります。今年の秋には植物用の温室を作る予定なので、ブーゲンビリアの他、君子蘭や、ハイビスカス、芙蓉、ジキタリス、アマリリス、西洋シャクナゲなど寒さに弱い植物たちはその中で冬を過ごします。

　ところで、今日から６月です。群馬県の今朝は久しぶりに晴れてます。しかし、気温は高くじめじめする梅雨の季節なので食中毒にならぬよう食品の衛生管理には気を配りたいと思います。

　一方、気持ちも鬱陶しくなる季節ですが、室内の清掃を心掛け、７月中旬の梅雨明けまで心身ともに健やかに生活したいものです。そのため時々は日帰り温泉までドライブしてサッパリし、時々は、夕食に馴染みの小料理屋で気分転換し、話に花を咲かせ、梅雨を乗り切ります。

Dear my friends abroad

　The simultaneous interpretation for your understanding will be after my radio gymnastics held in the nearby park and breakfast in Japan time.

.................................

　The bougainvillea bloomed again this year, this plant is reminding me of my youth in India at Calcutta-city. At first glance, she looks like a beautiful pink flower, but in fact, most of the pink is made up of thin leaves, so that the real flower is small and blooming among them. However, she also has blue leaves. Therefore she is a mysterious plant. The bougainvillea is bright pink, and people passing by on the path in front of the garden stop to look at it. Because of this, I was able to talk to a stranger yesterday.

　As you know, since she is a tropical plant, so she has withered because she could not withstand the cold of Japanese winters. I plan to build a greenhouse for plants this fall, so in addition to bougainvillea, plants that are sensitive to the cold, such as amaryllis, hibiscus, foxglove, amaryllis, and western rhododendron, will spend the winter there.

　Not change the subject, but today is the first day of June. It is sunny in my Gumma Prefecture this morning for the first time in a while. However, it will be the rainy season, and the temperature is high and it is humid, so I should be careful about food hygiene management so as not to get food poisoning.

　On the other hand, although it is a season that makes me feel depressed, I want to keep my home clean and stay healthy in body and mind until the end of the rainy season in mid-July. To that end, I sometimes take a drive to my favorite day spa to refresh both body and mind, and of course, sometimes I go to a familiar small tavern for dinner to change my mood, have a good conversation with friends, and get through the rainy season.

https://ttsreader.com/ja/...