秋分の日、祝日ですが定休日なのでカフェを閉めるか、営業するか迷いましたが、前者を選び朝はゆっくり起きました。神社に近づくと何とも芳しい香り。どこからなのかキョロキョロ見回すと頭上近くに銀木犀の花が咲いていました。紅葉はほんのり色づき始めたところ。拝殿に近づくと、ちょうど掃除時間だったようで禰宜（ねぎ）の方や巫女さんたちが総動員で広い拝殿を隅々まで履いたり拭いたり日々のお勤めをしてくださっていました。ありがたいことです。森を抜けて今日は違うルートを歩いてみました。昨日の夕方の強い雨で道はぬかるんでいましたが、山々と佇む集落があまりに美しく見とれていました。彼岸花は盛りを過ぎて遠慮がち、代わりにすすきがそこかしこで存在感を出しています。
It's Autumnal Equinox Day and a national holiday. Since it is Monday, which is the regular closing day of the cafe, I thought whether I should close the cafe or open for the special day but I decided to close to relax. When I visited the shrine, there was a nice scent. I wondered where it came from and found a flagrant olive tree which had tiny yellow flowers. I also found maple trees with leaves that have just started turning red. When I approached the worship area, Shinto priests and priestesses were cleaning the floor and steps with all members. I was grateful to them. After going through the shrine woods, I walked a different route than usual. Although the path was partially mud because of the heavy rain last evening, I was fascinated by the scenery of mountains and villages. Red spider lilies seemed to be over the peak and Japanese pampas grass were showing the beauty of autumn, instead.
