猛暑を象徴するかのようなサルスベリの花が近所の公園に咲いていました。
Crape myrtle flowers symbolise the height of summer - they always remind me of hot and humid days with ringing sounds of cicadas.
夕方散歩で城北公園へ。近くの小学校で5時半を知らせる音楽がなっていましたが、その時間でも暑いのなんの。
When we arrived at the park, there was music coming from the nearby elementary school, announcing the time 5:30 p.m. It was still very hot.
石神井川と林に挟まれた道を歩くと涼しいことがあるので歩きましたが、
We walked the road sandwiched by the Shakujii River and woodland, since we often get cool breeze coming from either side of the road.
今日は全然効果なしでした。
No such relief today.
尻尾の毛が柴らしからぬ長い毛足です。
でも、公園でよく見かけるチワワと柴ミックスの仲良しの子に会えました。
However, we ran into a familiar face - a Chihuahua and Shiba Inu mix boy whom we often see during our walk.
The long hair on his tail is a giveaway - the tail is not Shiba-like.
学校が休みのわりには子供たちの姿が少ないです。
公園上のほうの広場に到着。
We went up to the higher ground.
Not many children in spite of the school holiday season
日陰は蚊がたくさんいるので、写真奥のほうの開けた場所のベンチを目指します。
As there were many mosquitoes in the shade, we headed for the bench in the open space, near the tree on the right.
ベンチで一休みしていたら、ゴールデンのテス君がやってきました。テス君は私が今まで見たゴールデンレトリーバーの中で最も大柄の個体です。タイガよりも１歳上の13歳。この大きさと年齢で、まだ歩いているのが素晴らしいです。飼い主さん夫婦がオーストラリア在住だったときからの子なので、オーストラリアの生まれ育ちです。
日陰は蚊がたくさんいるので、写真奥のほうの開けた場所のベンチを目指します。
As there were many mosquitoes in the shade, we headed for the bench in the open space, near the tree on the right.
As I was resting on the bench, Tess, a male Golden Retriever, arrived. He is the largest of the breed I have ever seen. Tess is one year older than Taiga, at 13 years. Considering his size and age, walking like this is remarkable. His owners got him while they were living in Australia, so he was born and raised in Australia.
He came closer to Taiga with a smile.
タイガは臭い嗅ぎで挨拶。
タイガは臭い嗅ぎで挨拶。
Taiga greeting Tess.
テス君が草の上で横になったのを見て
When Taiga saw Tess lying down on the grass,
タイガもそばで腹ばいになりました。
she crouched beside him.
テス君が去ったあとも私がベンチから動けないでいると、初めて見る黒柴の子がやってきました。２歳のメリーちゃんだそうです。
After Tess leaving us, I still could not get up from the bench. There came a new face, a 2-years old female Black Shiba Inu, named Merry.
いきなりタイガの臭い嗅ぎ。タイガは初対面のチワワにずかずかと臭い嗅ぎされても怒ることはないので、私は安心して見ていられます。メリーちゃんの足先に着目。
Merry immediately started sniffing Taiga. Taiga never gets upset, even when a tiny Chihuahua takes a sniff at her on their first meeting, so I never have to worry about her reaction. Merry's toes caught my eyes.
突然メリーちゃんが唸り始めました。
ツメも黒いですが、足の指のそれぞれに、まるで毛に色付けしたかのように黒い点があります。
Her nails were black, as is expected of a Black Shiba Inu. What intrigued me was the black dots on her toes - they look as if someone painted the hair of each toe with black ink.
４本の足すべてがそうなっています。本当にユニーク。
All the toes of her 4 feet have those spots - so unique.
Suddenly, Merry started to growl.
黒柴の子が近づいてきたのですが、双子のようにそっくり。
A Black Shiba Inu was approaching us, but it looked like Merry's twin.
サクラちゃん、生後７か月だそうです。２歳のメリーちゃんと体格が同じ。
She is a 7-months old girl, named Sakura. She looks as large as Merry who is 2 years old.
唸られた後なのにサクラちゃんがいきなり臭い嗅ぎするので、メリーちゃんが困惑。
Even though Merry had just growled at her, Sakura immediately started sniffing Merry. Merry was left confused.
メリーちゃんはサクラちゃんと打ち解けるところまではいきませんでしたが、サクラちゃんの一家とは友好的でした。サクラママが差し出した手の匂い嗅ぎ。
ゼロ歳児のサクラちゃん（左）のほうが堂々としています。
Although Sakura (left) is less than one year old, she looks more confident than Merry.
今度はふたりしてタイガを獲物にしているようです。
Now, they are both 'hunting' Taiga.
Although Merry did not quite make friends with Sakura, she was friendly towards Sakura's family. Merry gladly sniffed the hands extended by Sakura's mom.
サクラちゃんのお兄ちゃんとお姉ちゃんに撫でてもらって笑顔。
Merry also looked happy as she was being stroked by Sakura's brother and sister.
しまいには目がうっとり。
しまいには目がうっとり。
She ended up looking dreamy.
