Momiji Matsuri in Rakan-no-Sato, Aioi City, Hyogo Prefecture

Driving about one hour from our place, my husband and I visited Rakan-no-Sato, Aioi City.

 

Left side: Ms. Naoko Amanaka, and Right side: Mr. Goro Tani

It was a good 30-minute walk from the parking lot to the stage.  Along the way, I was amazed to see 1,000 dolls of scarecrows! 

It was raining, and my husband stayed at a rest place on the way.

A walk to my neighborhood on Nov. 8

Every month I listen to a 10-minute radio program about Wildbirds in Hyogo Prefecture.

 

Ms. Satoko Marutani, aged 51, the leader of Hyogo Branch of the Japan Wild Bird Society shares the trend of birdwatching in our area.   Her deep knowledge and experienes intrigue my heart.

 

During the program last month, she gave us a chance to join her 3-hour tour on Nov. 11 in Akashi Park, Akashi city.  Only 15 people can join the tour.  I sent my application for the tour, and fortunately I was chosen as one of the participants.

 

I haven't fully recovered from Herpes now.  My doctor recommended that I had better visit his clinic everyday, so I am trying to do so as much as I can. 

 

I am getting excited to the tour two days later from today.  Before participating the tour, I was wondering if I can walk my neighborhood yesterday.  During the walk, I took many pictures, and uploaded below.

 

No. 1 - The pale pink flowers were beautiful.

No. 2 - Some of the houses are growing Japanese persimmon trees. 

 

No. 3 - They are riped, and look delicious.

No. 4 - The cotton is ready to be harvest.

No. 5 - The pink flower looks gorgeous.

No. 6 - Here's another Japanese persimmon tree. 

They don't have many leaves now.

No. 7 - At the center of the picture, you can find a male Jobitaki or Daurian redstart

No. 8 - This place is a pond, but the water is empty now.

No. 9 - I usually find turtles there, and I am wondering where they are now.

No. 10 - I believe that seeds of some flowers were blown from somewhere,

and grown natural. 

No. 11 - Cosmos flowers (thick Pink), chrysanthemum (white pink)

No. 12 - Japanese pampas grass

No. 13 - I visited another pond.  I was happy that it was filled with water this time.

No. 14 - Karugamo or Spot-billed duck is flying away. 

No. 15 - I was fortunate enough to have the shot of the duck.

No. 16 - I know that Karugamo usually live in a group. 

No. 17 - This is Mt. Asou, Himeji city, (Height 173 meter) I used to go up. 

About a 30-minute walk from its foot to the top.

No. 18 - The clouds look like waves in the ocean.

No. 19 - Rice field after harvest

No. 20 - Here's Seguro Sekirei, or Japanese Wagtail at the center of the picture.

No. 21 - Kosagi or  Little Egret

No. 22 -  Aosagi or Grey heron   

No. 23 - We can find several kinds of herons in Japan. 

Among them, the grey heron is the biggest kinds. 

No. 24 - Now the grey heron is approaching to the Little Egrets.

No. 25 - I think the little egrets don't welcome the grey heron. 

(They are afraid of the bigger companion coming near.)

No. 26 - Karin or Chinese quince ? or Lemon? 

No. 27 - Hiyodori or Brown-eared bulbul

No. 28 - Hiyodori from another angle

Surrounded by nature, I fully enjoyed a 45-minute walk.

 

I will look forward to taking more pictures with the veteran birdwatcher.   

Cosmos Festival in Himeji

Introduction - How I get to know the festival?

One day in early November several years ago, I found a place filled with cosmos flowers while I was riding my bike to do some errands in the neigorhorhood. 

I felt wonderful looking at those white and pink cosmos flowers.

The place was owned by a local religious group.  On that day, they happend to have their festival on the site.  Many cars and bikes were parked in the entrance, and various food stalls were inside.

I noticed a sign saying "Instant food shops from all across Japan.  Enjoy the food!  Anyone can enter this place for the festival today."

I was very curious about the food, so I went into their site.  Soon after that I immediately found Yakisoba and hot coffee shops.  Yakisoba was half of the price compared with local restaurants. 

I was glad when I found Yuba, a very thick tofu taste which is famous in Kyoto, and Ise noodles, thick shoyu taste with softer noodle which comes from in Mie Prefecture.  These are the foods we cannot easily find in local restaurants in Hyogo Prefecture.   Their prices were reasonable, so I tried various dishes until my stomach became full. 

On visiting their building for free coffee, I had to write down my name and address, so I wrote and left the place.   In fact, I was more curious to enter the unfamiliar building than being afraid of asked to join their religious activities. 

Instead of being asked to donate for their religious activities, I receive their invitations to the Cosmos festival every year. 

The flower blossom season is late October to early Novemeber.  They hold the festival on the first Saturday of November so that many people can enjoy the flowers.

Bad weather for the festival this year! 

When I woke up early in the morning, it was raining heavily.  I felt unlucky because of the bad weather as I was looking forward to this day of the festival.  I wondered if I could visit them.   Fortunately, the rain had stopped before the festival began. 

 

My husband also had the appetite to try different foods, so both of us wnet to the festival today. 

I wrote about the last year's festival in the previous entry.    (<--- please click )

 

The host had prepared the tents for food stalls,

however the site became slippery,

so they transferred the stalls inside the building.

Here are the food stalls.

 

 

My husband wanted tuna sashimi in a rice bowl.

 

I bought a pet bottle tea which I have never seen its label. 
It says "Fujieda," which is located in Shizuoka,
a famous place for Japanese tea production. 

It also reminded me that one of my friends lives there.  

I had a bowl of Yuba - a thick tofu with citrus seasoning.

Peas in the pod
Coming back home,  I boiled them with water for 5 minutes and ate them. 

I had a cup of red beans soup.  It was so sweet. 

The white stuff floating in the soup is omochi or rice cake.

 

 

 

  Before leaving, we took photos of flowers. 

The board says "We are growing flowers. 

If you pick them up, leave 100 yen in the box for 10 pieces of flowers."

 

 

 

The pink and white color of cosmos delighted us on a cloudy day.



Oct. 28

Handmade Book Cover

I went to a Red Cross hospital this morning.

My fever went up 37 degrees on October 16, then rose more than 38 degrees on Oct. 17 until 21.

I felt very tired these couple of days.  I thought that it is the beginning of my menopause as I am already 48 years old.

I always feel blue when my husband comes home because he always expects me to prepare dinner for him even though I feel tired and just want to stay in bed.

Every time, he tells me, "Don't worry.  I can wait one hour or two so take it easy."

If only he would say, "Don't worry.  I can cook supper myself,” or "I will go and buy something to eat at the grocery,"  I would feel happier.

But he is not that kind of man.  He would rather sit down and go online and check the flower auction sites than help with the kitchen chores.

I felt happy when he had a day off from work today, and he took me to the hospital.

 

The entrance of the hospital

 

He even accompanied me to the doctor’s clinic room.
  
The doctor told me that I am seriously affected with  herpes and this was caused by excessive stress and working hard.

"Don't work too hard.  Take a good rest.  Please have enough sleep." That was what the doctor said.
She prescribed some medicines to me, and I reserved an appointment with her on the following Friday.

My chicken pox in the childhood days evolved to herpes because my physical strength became weaker.

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My original sentences

I went to a hospital this morning.  

My temperature went up to more than 37 degrees on Thursday 16, then rose more than 38 degrees on Friday 17 to Tuesday 21. 

I knew I was very tired these days.  I thought that I felt the timing of my monthly period is ending at the age, 48, that is menopausal generation.

I have felt blue when my husband comes home around 5 or 6 p.m. because he only waits me for preparing supper even though I feel like tired and want to remain staying in bed.

Everytime he says, "Don't worry.  I can wait one hour or two so easily."

If he would say "Don't worry.  I can cook supper very quickly," or "I will go and buy something to eat at the grocery,"  I feel happier.  But he is not the man who can act as such.  He prefers to check  flower auction sites on the Internet rather than kitchen chores.

I felt happy when he had a day off from work, and took me to the hospital.  He even accompanied me to the doctor room.  

The doctor told me that I am seriously affected that herpes and this was came from excessive stress and hardworking.

"Don't work too hard.  Take a good rest.  Please have enough sleep."

She prescribed some medicines to me, and I reserved an appointment with her next Friday morning.