最近の冷え込みは厳しいですが、今朝は風が無かったので日向にさえいれば何とか凌げました。公園入口の林はすっかり落葉して寒々とした印象です。
It has been really cold recently. However, so long as you are in the sun with no wind to bother you, it can be bearable. Leaves of the deciduous trees at the entrance of the park are all gone, and the wood land looks bleak.
At the deep end of the woodland, there was just one tree, a kind of maple tree, still with leaves. This tree being young and small, it is buried among the tall neighbours, and it was still green several days ago. Only after the taller trees have lost their leaves, can this tree catch the sun.
トウカエデを上の反対側から眺めると、いかに埋もれているのか分かります。
Looking at the same maple tree from the other side, its disadvantage is obvious.
ここは石神井川の向こうの工事現場を見渡せる場所。まだ草地だった頃、毎夕方に集まる犬の飼い主たちが元旦の日の出を見るためにこの場所に集まって、昇り始めた日を眺めながら小さなカップで清酒を飲んだことがありました。早く工事が終わって草地を眺めたいです。
From this higher ground, I get the whole view of the construction site across the Shakujii River. They are building an underground anti-flood reservoir but, when the place was still a green field, we used to gather every evening to let the dogs play. One New Year morning, dog owners gathered here to watch the sunrise. As the top of the sun became visible, we toasted with tiny cups of sake. I cannot wait to see the place restored to grassland.
陽だまり広場で小休止。タイガは子犬の頃からこの「オネエ座り」をしていましたが、年をとった今これをすると疲労感が伝わってきます。
We went up to the higher ground and had a short rest. Taiga has always sat in this posture even when she was a puppy. Now that she is old, sitting like this makes her look tired and sad.
満足そうに休んでいるので放っておいたら、
As she was enjoying her rest,
急にいつものスリゴロが始まりました。
she started her usual thing.
ホコリだらけ。年末シャンプーまであと数日、スッキリしてから正月を迎えます。
She is covered with bits of dry grass. Never mind, she will have her last shampoo of 2024 in a few days.
帰ろうとしたら、向こうからヒナ・セナがやって来ました。久しぶりです。
As we were heading towards the park exit, Hina and Sena came along.
セナはさらっとタイガの臭いを嗅ぐだけ。
ヒナ（左）は幼い頃からタイガとは馴染みなので二人して大はしゃぎですが、セナはタイガと遊んだことがないのでクールな反応。
As usual, Hina (left) and Taiga are all excited - Hina has known Taiga since puppyhood. However, Sena, having never played with Taiga, does not feel any loyalty towards her.
Sena's interest in Taiga was just to take a quick sniff.
うちの近くまで来て、近所のペキニーズのユキヤ君に会えました。上品な室内犬なので、自らの足で歩くのを好みません。自分のコートと同じくらいモフモフの防寒着が、いかにもお上品なワンコの雰囲気を出しています。
帰り道、歩道脇の花壇では「寒椿」が綺麗に咲いていました。この辺りでは道路脇の植え込みやマンションの垣根としてありふれた植物ですが、花はうっとりするほど綺麗です。椿とサザンカの交雑種だそうで、咲き方に大きなばらつきが見られ、この↓サザンカらしい花に加え、いかにも椿っぽい花もあります。
It is the season of sasanqua flowers, and this variety is most commonly used in fences in Tokyo. This is a cross between sasanqua and camellia and, as such, there is some variation with some flowers looking more like camellias. I like this↓ version, looking like a sasanqua flower.
鑑賞用の大実金柑が鈴なりの木がありました。
An ornamental kumquat tree laden with large fruits. This variety is for its show only, and not suitable for eating.
Near our home, we met Yukiya, our neighbour's Pekinese. He is a perfect indoor dog who does not like walking outside on his own feet. He looks superior with a blue coat that is as fluffy as his own fur.
