最近 公園の草が伸び伸びで、タイガのような中型犬でも草地に入りたくありません。歩きにくいだけでなく、もしもマダニがいたら大変なので、皆さん敬遠しています。
The grass in the open fields of the Johoku Park has not been cut for weeks, and it is too long even for medium-sized dogs like Taiga to walk in. Moreover, there is the risk of getting ticks, so we all avoid walking in the tall grass right now.
それにしても湿度の高い朝です。シャワーに入った後なのに、もう汗で首や二の腕がチクチクするほど。
It was another sticky morning. I had taken a shower before I came out, but already the sweat was stinging my neck and upper arms.
桜の木の下はオープンスペースほどには草深い状態ではないので、となりの草地へ移動しました。
We moved to the field across the road, where the grass underneath the cherry trees was not dense or too tall.
タイガは冷たい草の上で満足そうな顔をしていますが、顔をみただけで草風呂の開始寸前だと分かります。
Taiga looking happy on the cool grass. I can read on her face what she is about to do - rolling on the grass.
満足?
Satisfied?
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帰宅して、昨日のリンゴの続き。右側の汚損果が単なる齧り傷なのか、それともムシが中に入り込んだのか、突き止めたいです。
After getting home, I went back to the business of apples. I wanted to see whether the damage was done by simply nibbling, or some larva burrowing into the fruit.
これ以上被害のないよう、袋を掛け直しました。100枚入りの商品だったので余裕です。
Having removed the damaged fruit, I bagged the apples once again. Luckily, the packet I bought contained 100 bags, so I had more than enough left.
台所で半割にしてみると、単純な傷でした。でも、3日間くらい連続で穴が拡大していたので、どんな虫が物好きに通っていたのでしょう。野鳥なら、陽光面を突いたはずなので、鳥ではないと思っています。
I cut the damaged apple into half and found that it was simply a bite damage. Considering that the damage became larger and deeper over 3 days, I wonder what bug had such tenacity. The reason why I think it was a bug is because, if it were a bird, it would have pecked on the sunny side where it should have been the sweetest.
念のため糖度をチェック。左のは16.6度でした。
Out of curiosity, I applied the Brix meter, and it indicated 16.6% with the one on the left.
右の陽光面を含む片割れは、28.9度。これは単に、一定の糖分があったけど、未熟果なので水分が無く、甘さが凝縮されていてこのような高い数値が出たのだと思います。
With the one on the right, which was getting most sun, it showed 28.9%. However, there is no need to get overexcited. For a given amount of sugar, the young fruit had little moisture, so the sugar content was highly concentrated, thus the high Brix result.実がムダにならないよう、紅玉の幼果も1個採って来て、市販のペクチンを加えてジャムにしました。香りがいかにも青リンゴの美味しいジャムです。
In order not to waste the apple, I made jam, by adding another apple and store-bought pectin. It was delicious with a strong green apple flavour.
今朝もハダニがうようよ動いていました。今のダニは灰色か黒の、肉眼で見える大きさのものです。いつものようにベーキングソーダの溶液を作ってスプレーして、30分放置。その後シャワー水をかけると、このようにオレンジ色の液体が袋についていました。ハダニの死骸からのものだと思います。
I saw a lot of spider mites this morning again. Unlike those invisible ones that I had in June/July, the current ones are visible with grey or dark colour. As usual, I made a solution with baking soda, cooked corn starch and water. After spraying the solution, I left it for half an hour before showering. After showering the leaves, I saw orange drops on the bags again, which must be from the dead mites.
