去年の夏に梅干しを仕込んだのをすっかり忘れていたので、物置から出してみました。
I had forgotten that I prepared pickled Ume plums last summer. Since they become ready for consumption after about 6 months, I took the jar out of the pantry.
Last year, I took great care in sealing the jar before storing it, and I was pleased to see that the inside was completely free of mould. Unlike the ones sold in the shop, I use minimum amount of salt (about 10%), which can result in getting mouldy while being stored. In the jar, the Ume plums are covered with the leaves that give a red colour to the plums, and I covered the leaves with honey before sealing.
去年は小さめの梅が安く買えたので2kg漬けました。一人で食べきるには相当時間がかかるので、今年はパス。
I pickled 2 kg of Ume last summer, since it was a bumper year for Ume plums and they were cheap. It will take a long time for me to consume all this, so I can go without making them this year. Pickled Ume plums are indispensable with rice porridge when we have a cold.
外で退屈していたタイガ。目で「散歩」を訴えています。夕方には雨、との予報だったのでその前に出かけました。
Outside, Taiga was itching to go for a walk. As it was forecast that it would rain in late afternoon, we went out before that.
石神井川沿いを城北公園とは逆方向に歩いていたら、初めてみるポメの子がいました。柴カットで人形のようです。
We walked in the opposite direction to the Johoku Park, along the Shakujii River. We met a new face - male Pomeranian with a Shiba Inu haircut.
この短いシッポを電気仕掛けのように振ってタイガを見つめています。
The tiny tail was wagging like an electrically driven piece, as the dog watched Taiga's approach.
自分から身を乗り出して鼻と鼻の挨拶。福丸くん、7歳だそうです。
タイガが近づいても動じない。
He did not flinch when Taiga got closer.
He stretched himself towards Taiga and had a nose-to-nose greeting. His name is Fukumaru, aged 7 years old.
何とも綺麗。同じ「シラー」の分類でも、このタイプは威厳のある美しさ。
その先を歩いていると、以前見たことのあるシラーの仲間の花が咲いていました。
As we walked on, I saw a flower in the planting strip that I had seen a few years ago - Scilla peruviana.
So beautiful. Although within the same 'scilla' family, compared with the one in my garden, this flower looks majestic.
さらにその先を行くと、植樹帯を耕して一年中花が咲いている区画があります。
根元に名札が付けられていて、「オオツルボ」というのだそうです。石神井川に面した遊歩道の脇は基本的に桜やサザンカのための植樹帯ですが、色んな園芸種の花も勝手に植えられているので目の保養になります。
Close to the roots, someone put a piece of paper with the Japanese name. The plant strip next to the walkway along the Shakujii River is meant for cherry trees and sasanqua bushes planted by the Ward Office. However, many people silently add pretty flowers which make our walk more enjoyable.
Walking further, we came to the section that is dedicated to flowers, with something in bloom all year round.
地元のボランティアの方々が管理している区画で、練馬区承認のもとで維持されているそうです。
この区画を説明する看板。
There is a plate at the back to explain the existence of this section.
This flowerbed is created and maintained by a group of volunteers in the neighbourhood, and it is kept under the permission of the Ward Office (we are not supposed to plant favourite flowers at will in the plant strip).
帰りは金魚の水槽が道端に置いてある家の前を通りました。
On our way home, we passed by the house with two goldfish tanks by the road.
左側のは白系が目立ちます。タイガが顔を近づけてきたので驚いたのか、一瞬ハデな舞が繰り広げられました。水中ショーを見ているよう。
２つの水槽のうち右側のは、赤系の個体が多め。
The fish tank on the right has more red individuals than white.
The tank on the left has more white ones. When Taiga's face got too close to the tank, the fish seemed disturbed. They moved rapidly and it looked like a water show.
でも直ぐに落ち着いてきたので安心。
Not to worry - they soon calmed down.
近所の中学校脇のツツジがほぼ満開です。
Closer to home, there was a long row of azaleas in bloom along the grounds of the Junior High School.
ゆっくり見ながら歩きたかったのですが、雨がポツポツきたので急いで帰りました。2, 3日前の夕方の雨では、玄関前に出してあったタイガの座布団がずぶぬれになっていて、それを洗濯した後、乾かすのに時間がかかりました。
近所の中学校脇のツツジがほぼ満開です。
Closer to home, there was a long row of azaleas in bloom along the grounds of the Junior High School.
I wished I could walk leisurely to enjoy the sight, but I felt rain drops on my face and we hurried home. A few days ago, when we had a downpour during our afternoon walk, Taiga's cushion outside the porch was drenched. I washed it but it took a long time to dry.
