捨てる神あれば、拾う神あり

　主夫として食料品の買い出しに、毎日、スーパーへ行ってます。私の小さな喜びはレジの女性と暫し話すことです。もちろん他の客に配慮しつつです。ところが、日に日に急激な値上がりです。４～５品を購入すると今までより合計額が５００円ほど増えてる感じです。トランプ大統領の関税をきっかけに、波状的に厳しくなった物価高に多くの年金生活者は逼迫してます。

　それでも生きていくために、そして、特に高齢者に大切なことは「痩せないこと」です。このため、栄養バランスを考慮し、食料だけは必要量を確保しなくてはなりません。

　ところが、捨てる神あれば拾う神ありです。嬉しいことに昨日と打って変わり、空が晴れ上がった今朝、庭の果物をカメラに収めました。未明に降った雨で未だ濡れてる「サクランボ」です。いよいよ赤くなり始め、美味しそうです。この生き生きした光景に世の物価高とは逆に何か希望が湧いてきました。

　私としては、サクランボは今年初めての挑戦です。他の植物で知り得た知識で、よい土、時々水遣り、そして、風通しを良くし虫が付かないよう工夫してます。食べ物ですから農薬は絶対に使いません。未だ、木が小さくても１００個ほど生ってます。食べ頃は今月中旬です。近くの方は味見にいらして下さい。

　左下は１２月から毎日のように昼食時のデザートとして５～６個を食した金柑です。１月には鈴なりでしたが、いよいよ食べ終わります。含まれてるクエン酸やビタミンは身体の疲れが取れると考えられます。その右は梅の実です。そして、枇杷はかなり生ってます。

Dear my friends who are crazy about raising fruits and great music.

　The simultaneous interpretation into English for your understanding will be done after my breakfast in Japan time.

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　As a househusband, I go to the supermarket every day to buy groceries. My little joy is to talk to the lady cashier for a while. Of course, I am considerate of other customers. However, prices are rising rapidly day by day. If I buy 4-5 items, the total amount is about 500 yen more than before. I guess that many pensioners are struggling with rising prices, which have become severe in waves due to President Trump's tariffs.

　Still, in order to survive, and especially for the elderly, it is important to "not lose weight." For this reason, we must consider nutritional balance and secure the necessary amount of food.

　However, old saying that there is a god who throws things away, there is a god who picks things up. I was happy to take a picture of the fruits in the garden this morning, when the sky cleared up, entirely different from yesterday. These are cherries that are still wet by the rain that fell before dawn. They are finally starting to turn red and look delicious. This lively sight gave me a sense of hope, contrary to the rising prices in the world.

　For me, this is my first attempt to raise cherries this year. Using knowledge I have gained from raising other plants, I use good soil, water occasionally, and keep the soil well ventilated to keep bugs out. Because they are food, I never use pesticides. Even though the tree is still small, there are still about 100 fruits growing. They will be ripe to eat in the middle of this month, I guess. If you are in the area, please come and have a taste without hesitation.

　On the bottom left are kumquats which I have eaten five or six every day since December as a dessert with my lunch. In last January they were hanging in clusters, but I'm finally finished eating them. The citric acid and vitamins are contained to relieve physical fatigue. To the right of them are plums. And there are quite a few loquats growing.