これ位の雪なら、投票率に影響ないでしょう。

　今日は日本の未来を決定する衆議院選挙です。しかし、今朝の光景は暫くぶりの銀世界です。昨夜遅くから未明にかけ、群馬県南部も５cmほどの降雪となりました。山岳地帯のダムも水位が多少回復するでしょう。１２月より井戸水が時々涸れていたので、こちらも水位が高くなるでしょう。平野に住んでる私たちは雪に慣れてないことから交通が大変ですが、幸い今日は日曜日で子供たちの通学に影響しません。これくらいの雪でしたら投票率に影響しないでしょう。

　平素、水道の蛇口を捻れば水は出るものと当たり前に考えてます。しかし、水源地に雨や雪が降ってこそです。これでカラカラだった湿度も５０％を回復し、健康面からも今回の雪は私たちにとって自然の恩恵と考えます。

　立春が過ぎると、気候は三寒四温となり、体調が狂う傾向です。実はここ数日間、私は腰痛でした。日々、楽しみな庭仕事に明け暮れてることから、原因は無意識のうちに不自然な力が腰に働いたのでしょう。貼り薬を貼っても治らず、腰痛は気持ちまで暗くなります。ところが一昨日、近くの内科で痛み止めの「飲み薬」を処方してもらったら噓のように回復しました。もう大丈夫で選挙に行けます。皆さんも、春先は体調にご留意してください。

Dear my friends who are anxious for Japan's political stability in the future

　Today is the House of Representative election, which will determine our Japan's future. However, this morning's scene was a snowy white here after a long time. Southern Gumma Prefecture where I live received about 5cm of snowfall from late last night through the early hours of this morning. Dams in mountainous areas will likely see some recovery in water levels, I guess. My well has been running dry at intervals since December, so the water level here will likely rise as well. Living on the plains, we're not used to snow, so making travel difficult, but fortunately, today is Sunday, so it won't affect our children's commutes to school. This level of snow won't affect voter turnout.

　We normally take it for granted that water comes out when we turn on the faucet. However, actually it only comes with rain and snow falling in the water source. The previously dry humidity will return to 50%, and I consider this snow a blessing from nature, even from a health perspective.

　After the Risshun that means beginning of spring in Japan, the weather changes from cold to warm repeatedly, which can be disruptive. I've actually been suffering from lumbago for the past few days. Since I spend my days doing the gardening I enjoy, I think the cause was an unconscious unnatural force exerting on my lower back. No medication helped, and the lower back pain even made me feel depressed. However, the day before yesterday, I went to a nearby internal medicine clinic and was prescribed some oral painkillers. As the result, I felt better like magic. I'm fine now and can vote. Everyone, please take care of your health in the early spring.

　

年の数だけ豆を食べられなくなりました。

　節分とは本来、立春・立夏・立秋・立冬の前日を意味しますが、現代では、その中でも立春の前日に行なわれる節分の「鬼払いの風習」が残っており、今年は２月3日の今日です。

　今の時季は、冬から春に転じるときで変化が大きく、特に、病や災禍をもたらすとされ、そこで家の中から疫鬼を駆逐し、福を家に取り入れようと願う古くから行われてる行事です。「悪いことが起きませんように」、今の時季に心をリセットするのでしょう。

　私も今夕は声を出してしっかり豆撒きます。特に、「今年こそいいことがありますように」と「福は内」を中心に行います。果たして、効果があるでしょうか。ただ、年の数だけ豆を食べることはできなくなりました。

Dear my friends who desire real fortune

　Setsubun originally referred to the days before the beginning of spring, the beginning of summer, the beginning of autumn, and the beginning of winter, but in modern times, in Japan, the custom of "driving away demons" on the day before the beginning of spring remains only, and this year it is on February 3rd, today.

　This season of year marks the transition from winter to spring, so that is a time of great change, tends to bring illness and disaster in particular. Therefore, this ancient event is held to drive out evil spirits from the home and pray for bringing good fortune into the home. Perhaps it is a way to reset our minds for "hoping that no bad things will happen."

　I will also scatter beans out loud this evening, focusing particularly on wishing for good things to happen this year and wishing for good fortune to come. I wonder if it will actually be effective? However, I can no longer eat the same number of beans as my age.

いよいよ膨らみ始めてます。・・・紅梅

　自称「倉賀野梅林」も、ご覧のように、いよいよ蕾が膨らみ始めてます。紅、白、枝垂れ梅のピンク、薄い肌色、そして１本の梅が紅白二色に咲き分ける「思いのまま」の５本の花梅のうち、庭先の紅梅が他の群を抜いて膨らみ始めてます。殺風景の真冬にあっても、徐々に春が近づいてることが感じられ、梅が人間に与えてる希望です。

　例年、庭に出て「あっ、咲いてる」と開花した後、私は気づくのですが、可能ならば、今年は開花する瞬間を捉えたいものです。しかし、おそらく私に気づかれないうち、日の出前の未だ暗いうちにそっと開くのでしょう。２月中旬に５本とも満開になると予想します。今年は見にいらして下さい。外のテーブルでお茶が入ります。

Dear my friends

　As you can see in the photo taken by me, the buds are finally beginning to swell in myself-proclaimed "Kuragano Plum Grove." Of the five flowering plum trees, such as red, white, weeping pink, pale skin-colored, and "one tree that blooms in two colors, red and white. The red plum in the entrance of the garden is beginning to swell the most. Even in the bleak days of midwinter, I feel spring is gradually approaching, and plums offer the hope for humans.

　Every year, I noticed them after they've bloomed when I went out to the garden, but this year, I'd like to capture the exact moment she blooms. However, she'll probably open quietly, before sunrise, while it's still dark, without being noticed by me. I expect all five plum trees will be in full bloom by mid-February. Please come and see them this spring including from NZ as well. Tea will be served at the table outside.

外気温が下がってます。

　おっと、この写真は数年前に撮ったもので驚かないでください。日本シャクナゲと庭が雪を被ったものです。ところが、先程スーパーまで歩いて買い物に行ったら、今までとは異なり外気温がかなり低く、おまけに風花が散ってました。

　私は群馬県平野部の倉賀野町に住んでますが、現在、気温がかなり低くく、空は雪雲が接近してます。皆様、温かくしてお過ごしください。今宵、私は清酒「谷川岳」と焼き鳥で温まろうと思います。

Dear friends

　Oh, don't be surprised, this photo was taken a few years ago. It shows Japanese rhododendrons and the garden covered in snow before. However, when I walked to the supermarket earlier, I noticed that the outside temperature was quite low, unlike usual, and there were snowflakes falling.

  I live in Kuragano-Town in the plain of Gumma Prefecture, in any case, the outside temperature is quite low at the moment, and snow clouds are approaching the sky. Everyone, please stay warm. Tonight, I'm warming up with Japanese sake named Tanigawadake with chicken kebab. 

晩秋は植物の織り成す色彩に満ちる

　最近は毎日少しずつ、と言っても一日に数坪の面積を除草してます。この方法は、スポーツと同じでやり過ぎると反動として身体にマイナスになるからです。私の場合は腰を痛めるので、一度にすべてやることはしません。除草はどうしても屈むことから１時間くらいです。

　明日は二十四節気の一つ「小雪」です。群馬が誇る「谷川連峰」は先日の寒波で、すでに初雪に覆われ、見事な冬景色へと一変してます。一年の中でも晩秋から初冬の今は自然が織り成す色彩の変化に魅せられます。庭の菊は表情豊かに何か語りかけるかの如くパッと咲き、つい、寂しい気持ちになりがちな私に「もっと元気を出しなさい」と勇気づけているのでしょうか。一方、多くの樹木は紅葉し、落葉寸前で秋の深まりを感じさせてます。写真は左下から、八重桜、マユミ、ハクモクレンです。

　それにしても、この晩秋は花も落葉樹も自ら織り成す色彩を醸し出し、人間の心は救われます。これは音楽に共通し、美の真髄は豊かな音色による旋律、及び和声なのでしょう。

　ところで、今日は勉強しに、講演会「魅力的人生のススメ」を聴きに行きます。日々の自らの生活と照らし合わせつつ拝聴したいです。

Dear my friends who are fascinated by natural beauty

　Lately, I've been weeding a little bit every day, which means several places per day. This method is similar to sports, if I overdo it, the backlash can be detrimental to my body. In my case, I tend to hurt my back, so I don't do it all at once. Weeding requires bending over, so I take about an hour a day.

　As you know, tomorrow is "Shosetsu" in Japanese calendar which is one of the 24 solar terms. Gumma's pride the "Tanigawa Mountain Range", has already been covered with first snowfall due to the recent cold wave from the continent. It is transforming into a magnificent winter landscape that I like. At this time of year, from late autumn to early winter, I am fascinated by the changing colors of nature. Such as the chrysanthemums in my garden are blooming so vigorously, as if expressively speaking to me. Perhaps she is encouraging me, who often feel lonely, to "cheer up." Meanwhile, many of the trees have turned red and are on the verge of losing their leaves which are bringing a sense of deepening autumn. From the bottom left, the photo shows a double cherry blossom, a Japanese yew tree named Mayumi, and a white magnolia.

　Even so, in late autumn, the flowers and deciduous trees create a multitude of colors of their own, which is relief to the human heart. This is similar to music, so that the essence of beauty is melody and harmony created by rich tone quality.

　By the way, today I'm going to learn something new by attending a lecture titled "How to Live an Attractive Life." I'd like to listen to the lecture with relating it to my own daily life.

午後のひと時を「さんぽ道」でリラックス

　午後２時頃より１時間ほど、お気に入り喫茶「さんぽ道」へ行きました。喫茶室に入る前に前の畑にママのお父さんがいたので私も広い畑に下りて、彼の話を聞きつつ、植木をいろいろ見て楽しんでいたら、生ってる柿を捥いでくださり、お土産に戴きました。

　畑にはブドウなど各種の果樹が植えてあり、写真の黄色い実はザボンです。今日は風がなく温暖ですが、気温は低く感じました。室内ではカフェラテを飲みつつ、私は一人なので本を読みつつリラックスできました。

　I went to my favorite cafe named "Sampo-michi" for about an hour starting around 2pm. Before entering the cafe, Mama's father was in the field in front of cafe, so I went down to the large field as well. I enjoyed listening to him talk and looking at the various plants, then he picked a persimmon for me as a souvenir.

　The field is planted with various fruit trees, including grapes, and the yellow fruit in the photo is shaddocks. Today, It was windless and fine, but the temperature felt low. Inside, I was able to relax, sipping a cafe latte and reading a book due to alone

喫茶「さんぽ道」で、季節の移り変わりを堪能

　午後、お気に入り喫茶「さんぽ道」でカフェテラを味わいつつ、１時間ほど過ごし、周囲に広がる自然を満喫しつつ、読書もしました。ご覧のように、この喫茶の駐車場の樹木には赤い実がたくさん生っており、次第に殺風景になりつつある秋にあって、色彩的なバランスを保ってます。この果実はヤマボウシです。実の表面には点々があり、ちょっとイチゴに似てますね。

　周囲の田んぼでは、すでに稲刈りが終わり、今まで以上に広々した感じです。これからの半年はこのような光景が続くのでしょう。

　調べてみると、ヤマボウシの実は糖度があり、マンゴーやバナナのような甘みと酸味の少なさが特徴で、ビタミン、カロチン、アントシアニンを含み、滋養強壮や疲労回復、整腸作用などの効能があると言われてます。今度行ったら味わってみます。

Dear my friends

　In the afternoon, I spent about an hour at my favorite cafe, Sampo-michi, sipping a cafe, reading a book, and seeing the surrounding nature. As you can see, the tree in the cafe's parking lot is covered in red berries, maintaining a chromatic balance amid the increasingly bleak autumn weather. The fruit is a yamabohshi. The surface of the fruit is dotted, somewhat resembling a strawberry.

　The surrounding rice fields have already been harvested, and they feel more spacious than before. I imagine this scenery will continue for the next six months.

　After researching, I found that yamabohshi berries have a sweet, similar to mangos and banana with a low acidity. They also contain vitamins, carotene, and anthocyanins, and are said to have benefits such as nutritional tonic property, fatigue relief, and intestinal regulation. I'll taste it next time.

喫茶「さんぽ道」で今日一日を振り振りかえる

　今宵は良く晴れ、旧暦では１０月７日ですから月齢７の「上弦の月」が出てます。この月のかなり右に「宵の明星」も一番星として出てます。月は、大統領選挙で湧いた地上の人間社会とは無関係に４６億年ほど大昔から地球の周囲を約３８万㎞の距離を保ちつつ、反時計回りに周遊してます。もしかして、近未来に日本人宇宙飛行士がこの月面に立つ可能性があると伝えられてます。

　今日は先程５時まで１時間ほど喫茶「さんぽ道」でホットコーヒーを戴きつつ、静かに一日を振り返ってました。それにしても、喫茶店に向かう頃は太陽が一際明るかったですが、帰路にはもう西の空に沈んでしまい、立冬の日没の早さを感じます。

　今日は暫くぶりに、１０分ほどピアノを弾きました。夕刻であったことから女性客が３人程でした。弾いた曲はゆっくり「イエスタデー」、定番である「雪が降る」などです。

Dear my friends abroad

　It's a clear evening, so that since it's October 7th on the lunar calendar, the waxing crescent moon is its seventh phase. The evening star is also shining to the far right of the moon. The moon has been orbiting counterclockwise for about 4.6 billion years, maintaining a distance of about 380,000 km from our earth, regardless of the human society on Earth that has arisen due to the presidential election. It is said that Japanese astronauts may land on the surface of the moon in the near future.

　Today, I spent about an hour at the cafe "Sampo-michi" until 5 o'clock, quietly reflecting today while drinking hot coffee. Even so, the sun was particularly bright when I headed to the cafe, but on my way back it had already sunk into the western sky, therefore I felt how early the sun set on the Rittoh that is beginning of winter.

　Today, I played the piano for about 10 minutes after a long interval. Since it was evening, there were about three lady customers. The music I played included the slow version of "Yesterday" and "Snow is Falling" which is one of my favorite melodies.

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季節は日々、夏から秋へと進んでいる

　暑い暑いと言っても、夕方、日没時間がすでに早まってることに気づきます。調べてみると、今日８月９日の日没は１８時４１分です。しかも、群馬県の西方は山岳なので、実際には６時半には暗くなってます。因みに夏至の日没は１９時０５分でしたから、すでに３０分程度、日の入り時刻が早まってます。

　この原因は、地球が太陽系を囲む黄道十二星座の「やぎ座」の方角から、今度は「水瓶座」の方角へ向かって公転しているからです。

　また、明日は、日本で昔から行われてきた本来の七夕です。織姫星【琴座のベガ】と天の川を挟んで対岸にいる彦星【わし座のアルタイル】がほぼ日本の頭上で出会います。しかも、天の川で二人を乗せる月齢「七」の月が「夕」刻に西南の空に小舟のような形で浮いてます。

　一方、庭で耳を澄ましていると、秋の虫たちがすでに鳴き始めてます。これから晩秋まで秋の夜長を通奏低音の如く鳴き通すでしょう。私たちも虫には負けていられません。人間には芸術の秋がやって来ます。いくつか聴きに行きたい音楽会があり、若き日から音楽の好きな私は今から楽しみにしてます。私自身もピアノに向かう時間を今まで以上に多く取ります。

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.

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

　Even though it's hot everyday, I noticed that the sun was already setting earlier in the evening. After checking, I found that the sun was setting at 6:41 p.m. today in Gumma Prefecture, August 9th. Moreover, since the west of Gumma Prefecture is mountainous, it actually gets dark at 6:30 p.m. Incidentally, the sunset on the summer solstice was at 7:05 p.m., so the sun was already setting about 30 minutes earlier.

　The reason for this phenomenon is that the Earth is now revolving around the solar system from the direction of Capricorn, one of the twelve zodiacal constellations that surround the solar system, toward the direction of Aquarius.

　Also, tomorrow is the original Tanabata that means Vega festival which has been celebrated in Japan since ancient times. The star of Vega (in Lyra) and the star of Altair (in Aquila), who are on the opposite bank of the Milky Way, will meet almost overhead in Japan. Moreover, the moon which is seven days old and carries the two of them across the Milky Way, is floating like a small boat in the southwestern sky at dusk.

　Meanwhile, listening carefully in the garden, autumnal insects have already begun to chirp. They will continue to chirp like a basso continuo through the long autumn nights until late autumn. We cannot be outdone by the insects. For humans, autumn is the season of the arts. There are several concerts I would like to attend, and I have loved music since I was young, still young in heart now, I am looking forward to them. I myself will be spending more time at the piano practice than before.

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現在の地球の公転上の位置はどこ？・・・深夜に真南を見て知る

　昨日は、度々訪れてる吉井町の「牛伏山」付近での熊の目撃情報について書いたので、実は、私がもっと関心あることが書けませんでした。昨日は二十四節気の一つ「穀雨」でした。

　地球が太陽の周りを一周(公転)する３６０度を２４等分すると、一つの角度が１５°になります。このため、地球が反時計回りに１５°進むと次の「二十四節気」になります。

　昨日の「穀雨」で「地球は公転軌道上の一体どこに浮かんでいた」でしょうか。

　と言えば、深夜の午前０時に真南の空を見れば答えが出ます。つまり、太陽から約１憶５千万㎞の距離を保って周遊してる私たちの地球は、太陽系の周囲にほぼ等間隔に存在する「黄道十二星座」の「乙女座」の少し東の方角に現在来ています。「乙女座」には一等星スピカがあり、この星は黄道上にあります。

　穀雨の頃になると、日本を含む温帯では春の雨が穀物を潤し、農業を営む人は、この時期に種まきをすると植物の成長に欠かせない雨に恵まれます。私の庭でも、ご覧の通り、赤紫の藤が咲き始め、各種西洋シャクナゲが咲き誇ってます。どうぞ、見にいらして下さい。

Dear my friends abroad

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

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

　Yesterday, I wrote about a bear appearance near Mt. Ushibuse in Yoshii Town, which I often visit, so I couldn't write about something more interesting to me. Yesterday was "Kokuu" that means the season of grain rain which is one of the 24 solar calendars.

　If we divide the 360 degrees that the Earth goes once around the sun into 24 equal parts, each angle will be 15 degrees. Therefore, when the earth moves 15 degrees counterclockwise, the next "24 solar calendar" will occur.

　What on earth, where was our Earth floating in its orbit yesterday's "Kokuu"

　Speaking of this question, if we humans look at the sky of due south at midnight, we will find the answer. In other words, our Earth which travels around at a distance of about 150 million km from the sun, is located slightly eastern direction of Virgo, a constellation of the zodiac that exists at approximately equal intervals around the solar system. So our earth is currently heading towards this direction. There is a first-magnitude star named Spica in the constellation Virgo, and this first-magnitude star shines on the ecliptic.

　At the time of "Kokuu", spring rain moistens grains in temperate regions including such as Japan, and farmers who sow seeds at this time are blessed with rain, which is essential for plant growth. In my garden, as you can see in the photo, the reddish-purple wisteria is beginning to bloom, and various Western rhododendrons are in full bloom. Please come and have a look without hesitation.

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