今年は柿が豊作だったようでお庭に実った柿を色々な方から頂戴し存分に楽しませて頂きました。１２月に入って、今度は柑橘系の果物をお持ちくださるようになり何とも豊かな気持ちになります。
一番大きなのは花梨（かりん）で、置いておくだけで良い香りが部屋中に広がります。喉や咳止めに効用ありとネットに書いてあるので、シロップ作りなどに挑戦してみようと思います。次は甘夏でしょうか。頂いたばかりでまだ食していませんがオレンジ色が鮮やかな果物でです。レモンは私が店で買ったもので、朝一番のレモン水やカフェには欠かせません。その次の緑の果物はスプリンクと袋にラベルが貼ってありました。調べると温州みかんと八朔を交配した品種だそうでみかんのような甘さと香りがすると書いてありました。初めての果物なので楽しみです。それから、お寺の方から柚子を頂戴しました。鍋にもお漬物にも使える嬉しい果物です。お寺のNさんからは椿の枝も頂いたので、早速玄関の上がり口に飾りました。
開催中の浮世絵（新版画）展は残り１週間。皆様に熱心にご覧いただいています。版画とは思えない見事な色彩と浮世絵の技術にため息がでます。版画はすべて高宮の医師である藤関さん所蔵のもので、股関節を痛めている私を気遣って連日奥様のM様がお仕事の合間にカフェを手伝いに来て下さるのがありがたく嬉しいです。玄関脇と冷蔵庫上のアートフラワーはM様とご友人の作品で、会場を華やかに明るく演出してくれています。
多くの方が新版画の実物を観るのは初めてだと思います。展示会は１７日まで（休15）。皆様、どうぞ気楽においでください。
This year was a good harvest of persimmon and I enjoyed them from many of my friends as a fall gift from their garden. Entering December, I received various kinds of citrus fruits instead and I am feeling rich with them.
The largest one is Karin (Chinese quince). The sweet smell spread in the room and I felt very good. According to the net information, it is good for stopping coughing and soothing the throat, so I would like to make the syrup from it. I am not sure if the next one is a sweet summer orange, but what a bright orange color they are! I bought the next lemons which I use every morning for my first drink as lemon water, and I need it for the cafe as well. I saw the next greenish one for the first time, and it was named "Sweet Spring" on the label. I learned that It is a crossbreeding of tangerine and Hassaku orange. The last one is Yuzu (Citrus Junos) which was from a lady of the temple near my town. I can use it for the hot pot and pickles. She also brought camellia from her garden, so I put it in a vase and placed it in the cafe.
Ukiyoe exhibition runs for one more week. Many people came to appreciate them. They are so beautiful and we can not believe that they are woodblock prints, not paintings. We are amazed by the color and technique. All exhibits are collected by Dr. Fujiseki in Takamiya and this is a very rare chance to appreciate them directly. I thank Mrs. Fujiseki for coming to give me a hand, as I am suffering from a hip joint ache. I also appreciate her and her friend's beautiful flower decorations which I placed on the refrigerator in the cafe and on the desk beside the entrance. They both made the exhibition brilliant.
It might be the first experience to appreciate Ukiyoe's works directly for many people. The exhibition continues until Dec.15th. We wish you to come to enjoy them.
