散歩 Walks

 朝散歩の帰り道、家の前に金魚の水槽が置かれているところを通りました。最近 水槽の掃除をしたらしく、白っぽい個体が多かった前回とは異なる顔ぶれでした。掃除のたびにメンバーチェンジするそうです。

On our way home from the morning walk, we passed by the house where they had fish tanks in front of the house.  The family keeps a lot of goldfish inside the house, and they change the members on display every time they clean the fish tank.  

全身が金色（ここでは白っぽく写っていますが）の個体が綺麗で、写真を撮りたかったのですが、

This morning, there was a beautiful golden individual with sparkling yellow (it looks pale in the photo) and I wanted to capture its beauty.

赤い個体たちが前へ出てくるので撮れませんでした。

Unfortunately, the red ones were eager to come forward, and the golden one was hidden in the back.

その先を少し行くと、家の前の道にまではみ出して、バラの鉢植えがズラリと並んでいるところがあります。この玄関先だけでなく、

Moving on, there was a house with lots of roses.  The potted roses occupied the space in front of the porch as well as on the road.  Not only that,

何メートルも続いて並んでいる。道路に並んでいる苗の根元をみると、挿し木苗で増やした感じです。

there were small pots of roses lined up for meters.  These little ones looked like they were developed from cuttings.

角を回ってその家の横側をみると、ペラルゴニウムの鉢がズラリ。用土の管理の秘訣を知りたいです。

Turning the corner of the same house, there were pots of Pelargoniums.  I would love to know the secret of managing the soil to keep these plants looking so healthy.

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連休以来ずっと良い天気が続いているし、タイガの獣臭が気になり始めていたので、午後にシャンプーしました。ドライヤーをかけるまえに、高温・乾燥のなかを自然乾燥の散歩です。

The weather has been good since the Golden Week, while Taiga was beginning to smell like a wild animal.  So, I gave her a shampoo in the afternoon.  Before using the dryer, we went out to take advantage of the warm and dry weather.

歩いているうちに抜け毛が浮き上がってきます。触ろうものなら塊で抜けてくるので引っ張りたい気持ちを抑えて歩く。

As Taiga walked in the hot sun, her loose hair started to rise to the surface.  I had to resist the temptation to pull it out (it would be bad manners to litter the pavement).

公園に着くまえに近くのコンビニで、シャンプーのご褒美のアイスクリームを買いました。

Just before we reached the park, I got an ice cream from the shop nearby - a treat for Taiga to associate shampoo with an ice cream.

「マイスプーン」　以前はステンレスのスプーンを使っていましたが、それだと滑りが良いのでタイガが一気にアイスを飲み込んでいました。この百均のプラスチック製のだと、スプーンに縁取りのようなものがあってアイスが引っ掛かるので、タイガが舐めても用意にアイスが取れてこず長持ちします。

As usual, 'My Spoon'.  I used to use a stainless steel spoon, but it was too smooth and Taiga managed to get the ice cream in one lick.  With this cheap plastic one, there is a lip around the spoon, which prevents the ice cream to be licked off in an instant.  This means that the ice cream lasts much longer.

顔の向きを変えながら舐めても、ちびりチビリと減っていきます。

Taiga may change the direction of her face to get at the whole lump, but the ice cream disappears bit by bit.

最後の一番美味しいところも、ゆっくり無くなるよう私がしっかり掴んでいます。

Now the tastiest part.  So as to make it last, I held it tight.

午後散歩 Afternoon Walk

 タイガのシャンプーをしたあと、自然乾燥の散歩に出かけました。天気が良いし空気が乾燥しているので、散歩中にかなり乾きます。帰宅してから仕上げのドライヤーをかけると、時間短縮になって助かります。

After shampooing Taiga, we went out for a natural dry.  It was sunny and the air was dry, so we took advantage of it.  By the time we came home, Taiga's coat was almost done, and it did not take me long to finish the drying process with a hair dryer.

家を出て数分しか歩いていないのに、もう抜け毛が浮き上がってきました。春の換毛期が始まっているので、シャンプー後のすすぎ段階で風呂場の排水口が詰まってフタが浮き上がってきたほどです。家を出る前にブラッシングした後でも、このように白っぽい毛が浮き上がってくるので、引っ張らずにはいられません。

Within a few minutes after leaving home, patches of loose pale hair began to surface.  She has started moulting and while I was rinsing her coat in the bathroom, the drainage got blocked with loose hair.  Before leaving home, I gave her a quick brushing, but these pale lumps of loose hair came out, nevertheless.  It was satisfying to pull them out.

城北中央公園手前の草地に到着。午後4時頃なので、草の上を歩くと空気が涼しくて心地よかったです。

We arrived at the field near the Johoku Central Park.  This is the field with cherry trees, and the place was packed with people during the cherry blossom season.  Now the season has moved on, it was pleasant and cool to walk on the grass.

城北中央公園に移動。

We moved to the Johoku Central Park.

石神井川を挟んで向こう岸は工事中。洪水発生時のための地下調整池を建設中ですが、かつてのような草地に戻るにはまだ何年もかかる予定です。

On the other side of the Shakujii River, the field where Taiga and friends used play is under construction to build an adjustment underground reservoir for floods.  It will take many more years to finish, by which time Taiga will not be there to enjoy the restored field.

清々しい空気のなか、公園の上のほうへ向かいました。

The air was cool and we went up to the upper part of the park.

帰る前にベンチで一休みして、お約束のオヤツ。

We had a rest before going home, for Taiga's treat time.

家の近くまで来たところ、友達にばったり。左から、トイプードルのポニョ君、ポメラニアンのヤマト君とクルミちゃん、大きなシェルティーのジョン君です。

When we came back to our neighbourhood, we met some friends.  From left to right, a male Toy Poodle named Ponyo, Pomeranians named Yamato and Kurumi, and a large Shelty named John.

このジョン君は３代目。初代ジョン君は黒と白のコートで、やはり大柄でした。２代目は今のジョン君と同じ配色と体形。初代のジョン君を散歩させていたのは当時高校生だった息子さんでしたが、今はすっかり社会人のオヤジ（飼い主さんの言）になっているそうです。

This John is the 3rd one in the family.  The first John was a large, black and white one.  The second one was the same colouring and size as the current one.  The family's son used to take the first John out for walks, who was at the time a Senior High School student.  According to the current walker (his father, now retired), his son is now a middle-aged corporate worker.

クルミちゃん（左）とヤマト君（右）。ポメは吠える子がよくいるけど、この子たちはまったく無駄吠えがありません。

The Pomeranians - Kurumi (left) and Yamato (right).  Unlike many other Pomeranians, Kurumi and Yamato are well trained and never bark unnecessarily.

ポニョ君が年上のクルミちゃんに甘えています。

Ponyo, the Toy Poodle, loves Kurumi like a big sister.

午後散歩 Afternoon Walk

 今日は練馬区の最高気温が19℃で比較的涼しくて過ごし易かったので、早い時間の午後散歩に出かけることにしました。タイガは玄関前の冷たいタイルの上でリラックスしていましたが、「散歩」と聞いて大喜びです。

It was a relatively cool day today with the maximum temperature in our Nerima Ward reaching 19℃.  Such a pleasant weather to go out for an early afternoon walk.  Taiga was excited to hear the big word.

城北公園へ向かう石神井川沿いのハナミズキは今が満開です。川岸は基本的にソメイヨシノが植えられていますが、一部だけハナミズキの区間があります。

The flowering dogwood trees along the Shakujii River are in full bloom now.  The riverbank is basically lined with cherry trees, with the exception of this strip where there are about 10 dogwood trees.

写真左の木は赤い花（ガク）のハナミズキで、たぶん「チェロキー」という品種。

The tree on the left is probably the variety called 'Cherokee', with red calyx.

公園の上の広場は新緑が美しいです。

We went up to the upper part of the Johoku Park, where trees were in fresh green.

林の道を歩いていたら、柴犬のヤマトに会えました。私の坐骨神経痛が始まる前以来なので、もう半年以上も会っていませんでしたが、随分と痩せて容貌の変化にびっくり。肝臓疾患がみ見つかったそうです。タイガよりも４ヵ月あとに生まれて、ふたりとも今年で13歳になるので、他人事ではありません。

As we were walking through the woods, we met Yamato, a male Shiba Inu.  The last time we saw him was before I got my sciatica, so it has been more than 6 months.  I was startled to see how thin he had become.  According to his mom, he now has a liver problem.  Yamato and Taiga are of the same age - Taiga will reach 13 in May this year, followed by Yamato in September.  So, his ailment is not entirely someone else's problem.

ヤマトの飼い主さんにタイガが馴れ馴れしく挨拶したので、ヤマトがヤキモチやいて大声で抗議。

Taiga greeted Yamato's mom in a clinging manner, and he protested with a howl.

飼い主さんにたしなめられました。

He got told off by his mom.

帰りしな、公園出口の広場で白柴のオモチちゃんにも会えました。いつも穏やかで、人生に満足そうな表情です。

In the field near the exit of the park, we saw Omochi, a female White Shiba Inu.  She is always so calm that she looks totally satisfied with her lot.

狂犬病注射の日 The day for rabies shot

 今日は曇り時々雨の暗い一日でした。朝散歩で家を出た後で、ペットボトルの水の補充を失念していたことが分かったので、水道を利用するために強制的に公園へ向かいました。桜の木が集中している草地の奥に蛇口があります。

It was dark all day today, with heavily overcast sky and occasional rains.  Soon after we left home for our morning walk, I realised that I had forgotten to refill the water bottle.  With the bottle less than 1/4 full, I changed the course and we went to the Johoku Park, so that I could use the tap water (it is part of the dog walking manner to sprinkle water after the pooch has urinated, and when you have made a little mess in picking up the poop).  At the deep end of this field, there is a place offering running water.

この木は遅れて咲いて今朝やっと満開でした。今年は桜が長持ちした春でした。

This tree at the entrance is one of the Somei Yoshino variety but comes into bloom behind everyone else.  In all, the cherry blossom season has lasted long this year.

草地の奥のほうにはソメイヨシノではない木があって、毎年遅れて咲きます。

Near the end of the path, there is a tree that does not belong to the Somei Yoshino variety, and it always starts flowering after the Somei Yoshino has started to fall.

この写真では真ん中の小振りの木で、花の色がソメイヨシノと比べて白っぽいです。

Even the growth habit is different.  All the trees were planted in one go some 20 years ago, but this tree has been dwarfish, and its flowers are almost white.

これがその木。初夏には真っ黒いサクランボが鈴生りになります。小粒ではあるけど濃厚な味で結構美味しいですが、野鳥が見逃すはずありません。毎日ヒヨドリが群がって大騒ぎです。

This is the tree up close.  Unlike Somei Yoshino, the branches of this tree will be laden with black cherries in early summer.  The fruits are small but has a strong flavour and taste.  No wonder wild birds love them and every day we see birds feeding on the cherries.

帰宅途中の屋敷林に寄りました。ここは以前 畑として使われていたところで、所有者の老夫婦が亡くなってからは練馬区の管理下で一般に提供されています。

On our way home, we stopped at the field that used to be a farmland.  After the old couple passed away, the land has been managed by the Nerima Ward Office so that general public could enjoy the green space.

草地の奥に紅一点。

A red speck among the greenery in the distance.

チューリップです。畑だった頃は野菜だけでなく花の栽培もされていた名残です。

A tulip flower.  When this was a farmland, they used to grow flowers for the market as well as vegetables.

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狂犬病注射の会場は午後１時から３時半までだったので、お昼ご飯のあとで向かいました。散歩でよく横を通る高稲荷神社公園が会場。普段はワンコの連れ込み禁止です。

Today was the annual rabies inoculation day.  The event was held between 1p.m.-3:30p.m., so we left home after lunch.  The venue was set at the park we often pass by during our walk.  Normally, dogs are not allowed in this park.

会場に入る直前に仲良しのダイフク君に会えました。私の坐骨神経痛のせいで、あまりこの方角には来れなくなったので、ダイフク君に会うのは半年ぶりです。以下の写真はタイガもダイウク君も無事注射が終わったあと。

Just as we arrived at the park, we met Daifuku who also came for the shot.  Both Daifuku and Taiga were excited to see each other after more than 6 months, due to my sciatica which made it hard to come this far.  

The photos below are after getting the shots, since Daifuku's mom and I were too occupied with coaxing the pooches before the shots.

ダイフク君の注射のされ方が相当痛かったようで、興奮さめやらぬ状態です。その雰囲気に圧倒されてタイガの耳が後ろに倒れたままでした。

After the shot, Daifuku was very upset - apparently, the injection was given in a very painful way, and he could not get over it.  Taiga was overwhelmed by Daifuku's indignation, and her ears were pushed backwards.

ダイフク君と別れたあと、帰りは近くの民家の庭先にある水槽の金魚を見に行きました。

After parting with Daifuku, we headed home via the place where we could see the goldfish in front of a private house.

家の人の話では、水槽の掃除をするたびに外に出すメンバーを換えるそうです。今日は頭数がいつもより少ないです。

According to the owner, they change the members on display when they clean the tanks.  Today, there were fewer fish than normal - but I prefer this since it means they can swim more freely.