夕方５時半をまわってから散歩に出ました。だいぶ日が短くなってきたのを感じます。
We left the house after 5:30 p.m. for our evening walk. I can really feel that days are getting shorter.
It was raining this morning when we went out, and Taiga had to wear her rain coat. It stopped raining soon, but the sky remained overcast looking unstable.
隣の６丁目を歩いていて目に入った、広い敷地のお屋敷のケヤキの木。相当の樹齢のようで巨木ですが、真っ直ぐに立っています。道からも見えるように標識のようなものが掛けられています。
タイガの抵抗にあいました。タイガが年をとってからは散歩でタイガがリーダーになるので、こうやって頑固になることがよくあります。それなら私は四さ路に戻って、
近所の小さな公園の石の上で、いつもは散歩帰りのオヤツタイムです。タイガが楽しみにしている場所ですが、今日は出てきたばかりなので、タイガの引っ張りは無視して歩き続けます。
We passed by the small park in the neighbourhood. Normally, we come here at the end of our walk. I sit on the rock and Taiga gets her treat. So, this place is something Taiga looks forward to. However, today, we had just started walking, so I ignored her pleas and pressed on.
When we were walking in the neighbouring district, we came across an ancient Zelkova tree at a large house with a large garden. It really was ancient but standing upright. I could see a plate on the tree trunk, which looked official.
「保護樹木」として、練馬区から指定されているようです。もっと保護樹木を広く認めて欲しいですが、東京の住宅街のように再開発の需要が常に存在するところでは、所有者にとっては不都合なことかもしれません。
The plate shows that the tree has the preservation order from the Nerima Ward. I wish there were more trees like this. However, in a residential area of Tokyo, where there is constant need to redevelop, for the owner, getting such an official restriction could be a nuisance, not an honour.
坂を降りて地形的にはかつての谷底にある四さ路に来ました。今年の春にここを通ったときには、このスポットで白いレースフラワーが満開になっていましたが、今はルドベキアの仲間のような花が咲いていました。白花レースフラワーは一年草、ルドベキアは宿根草なので、レースフラワーが終わるのを待って伸び始めたのでしょう。
We walked down the hill to the bottom of the former valley until we came to a crossroad. When we passed here in spring this year, this box was full of white lace flowers in bloom. Now, rudbeckia-like plants were in bloom. The white lace flower is an annual plant, while the rudbeckia is perennial. So, the rudbeckia must have waited until the lace flowers were all gone.
ここまで来ると、この先の
Since we were here,
この路地の先、地球柑の木が植わっている家を目指そうとしましたが、
I wanted go through this narrow alley to see the current state of a citrus tree that produces globe-like fruits.
But Taiga had another idea. I allow Taiga to be the leader in walking in her old age, and she sometimes becomes stubborn like this. Well, if she did not want to see the globe citrus tree, I wanted to go back to the crossroad
左の坂道を登って行きたかったのですが、
and turn left to go up the other side of the valley.
タイガは真っ直ぐ向こうの道を選びました。途中の畑の向こうの丘にあるケヤキの巨木。これも是非 保護樹木にして欲しい。
However, Taiga wanted turn around 180 degrees and stay in the bottom of the valley. Near the crossroad, there is a farm land, and on top of the hill beyond, is the old Zelkova tree towering over the farm. I wish that tree were also officially protected.
手前の畑ではイチジクの実が生っていました。横を通ると葉っぱの臭いがしてきます。あの臭いは季節の風物詩と思っているので、決して嫌いな匂いではありません。
In the farm field, there were fig trees with fruits ripening. When we passed by, I could smell the leaves. I regard that distinct smell as one of the things representing summer, and I do not mind it.
３丁目に戻って家を目指していたら、初めての子に会えました。チョコたん、生後６か月の女の子。マルチーズが入っている子だそうで、コートはフワフワの直毛、体形はトイプードルっぽいです。
When we came back to our 3-chome district, we met a new face - a 6 months old Toy Poodle and Maltese mix girl, named Choco-tan. She has the coat of a Maltese, but her stature is more like a Toy Poodle.
微風を受けて柔らかい毛がなびくたびに、顔の表情がトイプーに見えたり、次の瞬間にはマルチーズの目になったりで、まるで遺伝子の手品を見ているようです。
Her coat was blowing in the breeze like silk. At one point, her expression was that of a Toy Poodle, but in the next instant, her eyes looked like those of a Maltese. It was like watching a DNA magic play.
天真爛漫な性格でとても懐こいです。
She is a carefree, happy child, and extremely friendly.
タイガにも挨拶しようとしますが、タイガは偏屈ばあさんのようにそっけない態度です。自分だって子犬の頃は、相手の年齢おかまいなしに寄っていったのに、今ではおこちゃまには興味なしという反応を示すようになりました。
She tried to say hello to Taiga, but Taiga behaved like a cranky old woman. She is like that these days, when faced with an overzealous puppy, forgetting that she was exactly like this girl when she hereself was a puppy.
