5月に「芯まで食べられるパイナップル」を美味しく頂いたあと、クラウンを挿しておきました。
In May, I bought a Taiwanese pineapple, famous for the soft and delicious core. After eating it, I planted its crown in a pot.
I kept the pot on the upstairs balcony, where it becomes like a scorching desert in the summer. In the recent heat wave, the crown started to grow quite visibly. Since it was essentially a cutting, I did not put any start-up fertiliser, except occasionally using the home-made liquid fertiliser when watering. Looking at the current state, perhaps I should start giving some organic fertiliser and bone meal.
想像していたよりも、葉っぱの幅が細い。花芽が出るまで３年くらいかかりそうなので、その間、観葉植物だと思って気長に世話します。
The leaves are narrow and delicate looking - a little different from what I had expected. It may take about 3 years before flowering, so I am going to treat it like a foliage plant so as to keep my patience.
冷凍保存してあったナバホブラックベリーの残り半分を、今日ジャムにしました。最近の暑さで甘いものが欲しくなると、角氷と一緒にスムージーを作って飲んでいたら、あっという間に瓶が空になってしまったからです。味付けは、ジャムの他にハチミツと小さじ１杯の米酢です。
I used the remaining half of the Navaho blackberry that had been kept in the freezer, to make more jam. In the recent heat wave, I have often wanted something sweet, and ice smoothy has become my favourite drink. To make the ice smoothy, I use the blackberry jam, honey, and a teaspoon of rice vinegar.
日中は大変な猛暑でしたが、夕方散歩の時間には風が出てほんの少し過ごしやすかったです。四中横の草地では赤トンボが飛んでいました。
After another hot day, the temperature in the evening became tolerable with breeze. In the field near the Kaishin No. 4 Junior High School, there were lots of red dragon flies in the air, which reminded me of autumn evenings.
道の向こうの四中（開進第四中学）は、夏休みなので静かです。普段は土日でもスポーツクラブの生徒たちが出入りしていますが。
The Junior High School was quiet, due to the summer holiday. Normally, pupils belonging to sports clubs come and go even at weekends.
草地で一息ついたあとは、川向こうの城北中央公園へ移動することにしました。その前にオヤツ。近くの道を通りがかった人が背後から声をかけてきて、甲斐犬なのか聞かれました。今日で３人目です。最近、タイガと歩いていると「甲斐犬？」の質問をよくされるようになりました。この犬種の認知度が増してきているのでしょうか。
After resting in the field, we decided to go to the Johoku Central Park, across the river. Before that, Taiga's treat. A person passing by asked me from behind if Taiga was a Kaiken. This was the 3rd such time today. Recently, I often get asked the same question by strangers when walking with Taiga. The Kai breed has been almost completely ignored in Japan, but is it now getting some recognition?
橋を渡って中央公園を歩いていたら、後ろから近所のジャーマンピンシャーのリアちゃんがやってきました。
When we crossed the river and started walking in the Johoku Central Park, Leah, our neighbour's German Pinscher, caught up with us.
最近知り合ったシュナウザーのジョン君と一緒です。
She was with John, the Schnauzer we met recently.
リアちゃんとジョン君はお揃いの保冷剤つきジャケットを着ています。リアちゃんの首回りを見て笑ってしまいました。金属製のものでジャラジャラに決めているので、獰猛なドーベルマンのような雰囲気です。
Leah and John are wearing the same jacket with cold pack. Leah's collar and chain made me giggle. They are made of shiny metal which made her look like a vicious Doberman Pinscher.
テニスコート横の草地で、川風に当たりながらくつろぎました。夕日は丘の向こう、ここは日陰になるので、ハンモックがあったら即 眠りたいくらい。
We rested in the field next to the tennis courts, where there was a cool breeze coming from the river. The sun was on the other side of the hill and this field was in the shade. It was so comfortable that, if I had a hammock, I would have happily gone to sleep there and then.
