午後散歩 Afternoon Walk

私が買い物でスーパーをハシゴしている間タイガが退屈そうにしていたので、中途半端な時間でしたが、留守番のご褒美に午後の3時半過ぎに公園へ向かいました。

While I was out for shopping at supermarkets, Taiga held the fort looking bored.  As a reward, I took her out for a walk after 3:30 p.m., although it was not our usual walk time.

公園に着いてドッグランの方角を目指していると、初めて会う小さな小さなトイプードルの子に出くわしました。男の子で名前はアム君、３歳、体重は意外とあって2.7kgだそうです。もっと軽そうに見えました。

At the park, when we were heading for the dog park, we met a new face - a tiny Toy Poodle, named Amu, 3 years old, weighing 2.7kg.  He was so tiny that I thought he looked much lighter than that.

トイプードル独特のボタンを縫い付けたような目が何とも言えません。

These Toy Poodle eyes, looking like two buttons sewn to a stuffed animal's face.

飼い主さんによると子犬の頃に大きな犬にコワイ思いをさせられたそうで、タイガにはちょっと引いた感じですが、決して吠えたり声を出すことはありませんでした。

According to his mom, he had scary encounters with large dogs when he was a puppy.  As a result, he was not keen on meeting Taiga.  However, he never barked or growled.

ちょっとリラックスした表情？ 次回からはもっと平気で挨拶ができるかも知れません。

Now he is looking relaxed a little.  Perhaps from next time, he will greet Taiga with more confidence.

さらに行くと、近所の豆柴のリカちゃんが散歩を終えて帰るところでした。リカちゃんはいつ会ってもタイガには全く興味を示しませんが、

As we went along, we met Rika, a miniature Shiba Inu, from our neighbourhood.  She had finished her walk and was on her way home.  Rika never shows any interest in Taiga, but

私にはカゴから身を乗り出して甘えてきます。耳がヒコーキ状態。

she always greets me enthusiastically, with her ears flat.

ドッグランのある林に入って後ろを振り返ると、逆光線なのですっかり夕方の景色になっていました。

At the entrance of the woodland where the dog park was, I turned back and saw how dark it was getting already.

ラン手前のベンチでは柴犬のミオウ（美桜）ちゃんと、

Near the bench in the woods, we saw Miou, a female Shiba Inu, and

ラブラドゥードルのカイト君がいました。

Kaito, a male Labradoodle.  Both of them have known Taiga since they were puppies.

タイガは久しぶりに会うカイト君のお父さんに挨拶。

Taiga greeting Kaito's dad - it is usually Kaito's mom who takes him out for a walk.

帰るためにカイト君パパがバッグを持ち上げたとたん、皆が「オヤツ？」のプレッシャーをかけていました。まるで勘違いしたかのように、皆してダメモトの演技をしています。

Kaito's dad was getting ready to go home and lifted his bag, at which moment all the three dogs looked at him with hopeful looks.  They knew it was not a treat time, but they were putting pressure on Kaito's dad nevertheless, by pretending to be mistaken.  Such dedicated actors.

そのあとはランへ向かいました。

We walked towards the dog park.

タイガは登録の更新をしていないので、ランの外から知っている顔がいないか見るだけ。幼馴染のボーダーのマグ（左）と、３年くらい後から迎えられた妹のデジ（右）がいました。目の前のボールをめぐって心理戦です。

Since Taiga's registration has not been renewed, we stayed outside of the fence, trying to see if there were familiar faces.  We saw two Border Collies: Mag (left) and her younger sister Deji (right).  The two girls were playing a psychological battle over the ball in front of them.

マグは優しい性格で、デジが子犬の頃に我儘を許したので、今でもデジは自分のほうが偉いと思っているようです。

Mag is a soft-hearted girl, and she spoiled Deji who arrived at their home about 3 years after Mag.  Now grown up, Deji thinks she is above Mag.

この様子を見ると、デジは姉に譲歩する気は全くなさそう。

Looking at this, it is clear that Deji has no intention of yielding the ball to her older sister.

マグたちを眺めていたところへ、柴犬のヤマトがやって来ました。最後にいつ会ったか分からないほど久しぶりで、ヤマトは大興奮で私に挨拶してきました。いつまでも子犬っぽい仕草です。

As we were watching the Border Collies, an old friend arrived - a male Shiba Inu, named Yamato.  It has been such a long time since we last met, and Yamato was really excited to see me.  He behaves like an eternal puppy.

急に私の手提げ袋に目をやったかと思うと、

Suddenly, his attention was directed towards my bag.

突進してオヤツを探し始めました。

He dashed to my bag, sniffing to find a treat.

背後ではタイガがヤマトのママにオヤツをねだっていました。

Behind him, Taiga was begging for a treat from Yamato's mom.

「ニボシだけど食べる？」の声が聞こえても、ママのほうを振り向きもせずに

Yamato heard his mom saying to Taiga "I only have dried sardines.  Will that do?"  He didn't even turn back to his mom, because

私の手提げの中にある鶏むね肉のジャーキーを狙っていました。

he was after the chicken jerky that was in my bag, which he had detected.

Gimme, gimme!

帰り道はすっかり暗くなっていました。

Heading home, the sky was already dark.

朝散歩 Morning Walk

 最近の冷え込みは厳しいですが、今朝は風が無かったので日向にさえいれば何とか凌げました。公園入口の林はすっかり落葉して寒々とした印象です。

It has been really cold recently.  However, so long as you are in the sun with no wind to bother you, it can be bearable.  Leaves of the deciduous trees at the entrance of the park are all gone, and the wood land looks bleak.

その林の奥で唯一 葉っぱが残っているのが、このトウカエデ。あたりで一番小さく、周りの木々が落葉したあとでやっと日を浴びるので、今になって黄葉です。

At the deep end of the woodland, there was just one tree, a kind of maple tree, still with leaves.  This tree being young and small, it is buried among the tall neighbours, and it was still green several days ago.  Only after the taller trees have lost their leaves, can this tree catch the sun.

トウカエデを上の反対側から眺めると、いかに埋もれているのか分かります。

Looking at the same maple tree from the other side, its disadvantage is obvious.

ここは石神井川の向こうの工事現場を見渡せる場所。まだ草地だった頃、毎夕方に集まる犬の飼い主たちが元旦の日の出を見るためにこの場所に集まって、昇り始めた日を眺めながら小さなカップで清酒を飲んだことがありました。早く工事が終わって草地を眺めたいです。

From this higher ground, I get the whole view of the construction site across the Shakujii River.  They are building an underground anti-flood reservoir but, when the place was still a green field, we used to gather every evening to let the dogs play.  One New Year morning, dog owners gathered here to watch the sunrise.  As the top of the sun became visible, we toasted with tiny cups of sake.  I cannot wait to see the place restored to grassland.

陽だまり広場で小休止。タイガは子犬の頃からこの「オネエ座り」をしていましたが、年をとった今これをすると疲労感が伝わってきます。

We went up to the higher ground and had a short rest.  Taiga has always sat in this posture even when she was a puppy.  Now that she is old, sitting like this makes her look tired and sad.

満足そうに休んでいるので放っておいたら、

As she was enjoying her rest,

急にいつものスリゴロが始まりました。

she started her usual thing.

ホコリだらけ。年末シャンプーまであと数日、スッキリしてから正月を迎えます。

She is covered with bits of dry grass.  Never mind, she will have her last shampoo of 2024 in a few days.

帰ろうとしたら、向こうからヒナ・セナがやって来ました。久しぶりです。

As we were heading towards the park exit, Hina and Sena came along.

ヒナ（左）は幼い頃からタイガとは馴染みなので二人して大はしゃぎですが、セナはタイガと遊んだことがないのでクールな反応。

As usual, Hina (left) and Taiga are all excited - Hina has known Taiga since puppyhood. However, Sena, having never played with Taiga, does not feel any loyalty towards her.

セナはさらっとタイガの臭いを嗅ぐだけ。

Sena's interest in Taiga was just to take a quick sniff.

帰り道、歩道脇の花壇では「寒椿」が綺麗に咲いていました。この辺りでは道路脇の植え込みやマンションの垣根としてありふれた植物ですが、花はうっとりするほど綺麗です。椿とサザンカの交雑種だそうで、咲き方に大きなばらつきが見られ、この↓サザンカらしい花に加え、いかにも椿っぽい花もあります。

It is the season of sasanqua flowers, and this variety is most commonly used in fences in Tokyo.  This is a cross between sasanqua and camellia and, as such, there is some variation with some flowers looking more like camellias.  I like this↓ version, looking like a sasanqua flower.

鑑賞用の大実金柑が鈴なりの木がありました。

An ornamental kumquat tree laden with large fruits.  This variety is for its show only, and not suitable for eating.

うちの近くまで来て、近所のペキニーズのユキヤ君に会えました。上品な室内犬なので、自らの足で歩くのを好みません。自分のコートと同じくらいモフモフの防寒着が、いかにもお上品なワンコの雰囲気を出しています。

Near our home, we met Yukiya, our neighbour's Pekinese.  He is a perfect indoor dog who does not like walking outside on his own feet.  He looks superior with a blue coat that is as fluffy as his own fur.