２月２３日（月曜日）２０２６
　朝から降り止まない雪。取り敢えず午後になって雪かきを試みました。朝は３０センチほどだった積雪がさらに２、３０センチ増えて私の腿のあたりまできています。

　私は勝手口の方から、娘は玄関の方から人が通れるだけの雪を空けていくことにしました。時折、風と一緒に吹き付ける雪に娘は向こうでワァ〜ッと声を出していますが、懸命にシャベルを動かしています。私は、上のほうから３段階に分けて雪を脇へ放り投げていきます。こんな深い雪はここ数年経験したことがありません。先ごろの青森辺りの大雪はこんなものではなくご苦労を思いました。
　
　角地なので歩道の雪空けは他所より大変で取り敢えずは半分だけ終わり、幅も言われているより狭いですが、休憩後にまた再開ということで家の中に入りました。お茶を飲んで一息つきながら、互いの奮闘を讃え合いました。

The snow has been constantly falling since morning. I decided to eliminate the snow in the afternoon with my daughter. it accumulated to about two feet which was higher than this morning.

I started working from the entrance of the side door of the garage, and my daughter did this from the main door. The snow blew strongly with the wind sometimes and I could hear my daughter screaming about it but she was shoveling hard. I eliminated the snow in three steps. First I took the surface snow and threw it away, second I took the next level of snow away, and thirdly I took the bottom of the snow and threw it away. I have never experienced such heavy snow in these several years. I deeply sympathize with the people in the Aomori area who had much heavier snow accumulation this winter and were damaged by it.

Since our house stands in the corner, eliminating the snow on the sidewalk is much harder than a regular house. We finished the work only halfway at this time and the required width for eliminating based on the instruction from the police was not enough, but we decided to take a break and do it again after the break. While having a hot drink, we praised each other's hard work.

２月２３日（月曜日）２０２６
　ボストンは今回もかなりの雪になりそうです。
昨夜はまだそれほどでもなかったので、大したことはないかと高を括っていたのですが、今朝は結構な積雪量になっていました。

　地域の警察から電話で路上に止めている車は除雪車が通るので撤去しておくように、また各家の前の歩道は３６インチ（約９１センチ）は
除雪しておくように、との指示が出ていました。学校や職場はもちろん閉鎖で、娘も家におり、医師との面談がある夫も病院ではなくZoomで話すことになりました。朝８時、外を見ると時折除雪車が雪を退けていますが、それ以外に車も人も姿はありません。

　今日は一日降り続くようで、除雪機のない我が家は人力で雪かきをするのですが、近所はまだ誰も出ていないので我が家もタイミングを見計らっています。運動を兼ねて私も娘と雪かき、頑張ります！

    We expect heavy snow in Boston again similar to the last snowfall which was 3 weeks ago. Actually I underestimated the amount of snow, because it was not falling much last night, but everything was covered in heavy snow this morning.

　Last night we received instructions from the local police by phone that if you park the car on the street, you should move it because it gets in the way of snowplows. Another instruction was that we need to eliminate the snow on the sidewalk in front of the house 36 inches in width. All schools and workplaces are closed for this emergency situation, so my daughter is staying at home and my husband will talk to the doctor by zoom instead of meeting in person. As of 8 a.m., snow plows are running but no cars and people can be seen.

According to the weather information, the snow will be falling all day long. Since we don't have a snow blower, we need to eliminate the snow by hand and we are wondering when we should go out to shovel the snow because I don't see anybody outside now. I think shoveling will be a good exercise. I will do it with my daughter and I am excited about it!

２月１８日（水曜日）２０２６　

　リハビリを兼ねて気になっていた銀行とドラッグストアまで歩いての外出。歩道の雪はほとんど溶けていたものの、所々ぬかるみやまだ雪が残っていたりで杖と娘がそばについてくれたのが有り難かったです。家の中で歩くのとは違い、結構な距離で足はガクガク次第に棒のようになりましたが、何とか用事と買い物を済ませて帰り着き一安心といったところです。

　帰る途中に新しく建て替わった街の図書館に入ってみました。去年の夏はまだ工事中でしたが立派な出来上がり。中は旧暦のお正月を祝う飾りつけもされて、前とは全然違います。ガラス越しに向こうは子供の本のセクションがあり、子供が騒いでも大人が静かに本を読んだり探したりするのに何の問題もありません。色々な工夫に感心するばかりでした。

I went to the nearby bank and drugstore in Belmont Center by foot. My walk was also good rehabilitation for my recovering leg. Although the snow on the walkway had already melted, there was still some snow left partially or in puddles, so I appreciated having support with a cane and my daughter's assistance. Walking outside was very much different from walking inside a house. My legs were wobbly and became stiff like a stick, and I was relieved to come back home after finishing my errands and shopping.

On the way back home, we stopped by Belmont public library which was rebuilt last year. When I saw it last summer, it was still under construction, but it was completely finished and became a splendid library. When we walked in the library, we saw some decorations for the Chinese New Year and it was much more spacious than the old library. The Children's book section was divided by the glass wall so people could read or look for their books without being bothered if kids make any noise. I was impressed by those ideas.

２月１４日（土曜日）２０２６
　今日はバレンタインデー。といっても我が家は至って静かで何も特別なことはありません。それでも、ちょっとだけ楽しいことを考えました。高齢になったお隣のご夫婦に小さい贈り物をしたのです。

　最近は私も留守で、お隣とのお付き合いはほとんどなく、会えば挨拶をするぐらいです。今の家に引っ越してきたのが、娘が２歳ぐらいの時。以来ハロウィンには希望する動物の衣装を私が作ってそれを着た娘がご近所を回るのをお隣は楽しみに待っていてくださいました。その娘も今では子供がいてもおかしくないほどの歳になりました。

　その娘から、去年のハロウィンにお隣のMさんが我が家の玄関先にお菓子を娘宛に置いてくださったと聞きました。後日お返しに娘は小さい贈り物をお隣のドアの前に置いたそうです。今回は私がボストンにいることもあって、何か喜んでいただける小さな贈り物をしようと考えて、カードと一緒に日本から持ってきたお菓子を袋に入れてお隣の玄関先に置きました。Mさんとご主人のNさん、今年もお元気で過ごしてくださいますように......

Today is a Valentine's Day but we don't do any particular activity in my home. I had, however, a little bit fun idea for my neighbors who are getting older than us. It is a small gift for them.

Since I have spent only a few days in Boston these past years, I have few neighbourhood relationships now and only give greetings when I meet them. When we moved to the current house, my daughter was about two years old. Since then, when Halloween Day came, they were waiting for my daughter who wore an animal costume which was her wish and every time I made it for her, we would visit their house. Now my daughter is grown up.

Well, I heard from my daughter that last Halloween, Ms. M, my next door neighbor, gave some sweets to her and put them in front of our front door. My daughter put some small gifts in return in front of her house to show her appreciation. This time, I would like to give a small Valentine's gift to them. We put a card and some candies from Japan at their doorstep. I wish Ms. M and Mr. N's a healthy and wonderful year ahead.

２月１２日（木曜日）２０２６
　ボストン３日目。外は晴れて、気温も０度Cぐらいでボストンの冬にしては穏やかな天気です。

　思ったほど回復が早くない私の足と付き合いながら、家の中で歩行練習やリハビリ運動を取り敢えずやっています。前回来た時に約束しておいた掛かりつけ医との検診や歯のクリーニングの予約は、雪の残る道を歩くのは危険と考え、どちらもキャンセルしました。ですから、窓から景色を眺めるだけで、外の空気はまだ一度も吸っていません。冷蔵庫にあるもので食事を作ったり、洗濯したり、繕い物などで時間を潰しています。本を読んだりもできるのですが、ぼんやりYouTubeを見たりで、目下、怠けひきこもりの毎日です。

It is the third day since I came to Boston. The temperature in Boston is about 0°C and it is mild winter weather for usual Boston standards.

My leg is not recovering as well as I thought, and I have been practicing walking and undergoing rehabilitation inside the house. I canceled the appointments for a meeting with my primary doctor and dental cleaning which I made reservations for when I was here last time because it's dangerous for me to walk on a road that still has snow. Therefore, I have been staying at home and even haven't gotten some fresh air yet. I cook using vegetables and meat in the refrigerator, washing clothes, stitching clothes and socks if necessary. I have time to read books but rather watch YouTube blankly. Right now, I am spending my days as a lazy reclusive person.

２月９日（月曜日）２０２６

　先ずは日曜日に吹雪の中を彦根文化プラザまで朗読を聴きにきてくださった皆様に厚くお礼申し上げます。

　さて、翌日はボストンへ発つ日。帽子もバッグパックも真っ白になりながら、右手に杖、左手は娘の腕につかまって必死に駅まで歩きました。近江鉄道も新幹線も雪で遅れていたため、取り敢えずは予定通りの列車に乗車。米原駅では積雪防止に両側のホーム下から線路めがけて勢いよく水が噴射されていました。静岡駅を過ぎていくつものトンネルを潜った後に、突如、富士山が窓いっぱいに現れました。思わず手を合わせたくなるようなあまりに見事な富士の姿でした。

　飛行機は夕方の便でしたが、成田空港で余計な予定を入れた為、今回はあちこち歩くはめになり、おまけに出発ゲートが一番端。リハビリを兼ねてとはいえ、歩いた距離は長く長く正直、泣きたくなる程でした。

　これからしばらくは極寒のボストンで過ごします。また色々な報告ができたらと思っています。

First of all, I would like to thank the people who came to our reading performance at Hikone Bunka Plaza on such a snowy, stormy day.

Well, the next day was the departure day for Boston. In the snowy morning, I walked to the local station holding a cane in my right hand and my daughter's arm in my left hand. Both our hats and backpacks were white with snow, and it was miserable. Due to the snow, the local railway and Shinkansen were delayed. We saw the water strongly spurting out from both under platforms to the rail in order not to let the snow accumulate on the rails.

Passing Shizuoka Station and several tunnels, we suddenly saw Mt. Fuji out of our left window. It was so beautiful and powerful.

The departure time of our flight was in the evening, but since I had plans at the airport, we needed to move to several places in the airport, and the gate of our flight was the farthest, so we needed to walk a lot and it was really a burden for me.

I will spend days in Boston where it is the coldest season. I would like to give interesting reports from here.

２月７日（土曜日）２０２６

　手術前に、リハビリを終えて退院したらもう少し動けると思っていたのは私の妄想でした。実際は足の付け根からの筋肉の張りが酷くて、色々な動作がまだ大変です。滋賀に帰ってからも、心配して電話をかけて下さる方、見に来てくださる方、皆様のお心遣いには本当に感謝です。

　しばらくはカフェを休んで家でゆっくりしていましたが、今日は以前からのランチの予約が２組入っていたので、久しぶりに前日から準備をして、近くのY.Fさんのお手伝いと慣れないながらも一生懸命手伝おうと動いてくれた娘のおかげで何とか食事が提供できました。数日前に掛けた床の間の涅槃図を座敷のお客様に見ていただけたのも幸いでした。

　高宮のM.Fさんが訪ねてくださり、電話で落としたものを取るのに苦労していると話したことで、お菓子と一緒に何とハンドキャッチャーをお持ちくださいました。ご自身も以前、同様の手術をなさったことから、術後の苦労をよくご存知だったのでしょう。物を取るだけでなく、石油ストーブの調節もこのキャッチャーでできました！Mさんには感謝するばかりです。

　週末は多賀町の公民館まつり。私の所属する朗読サークルも明日、宮沢賢治の「セロ引きのゴーシュ」を発表します。下手で楽長（指揮者）から文句を言われ続けるゴーシュは毎晩夜を徹して練習します。そんなゴーシュのところへ動物たちが来て交流するうちに、ゴーシュは楽長の指摘を一つずつクリアーしていきます。何をしても上手にならない自分自身と重なり、賢治のこのファンタジーは切ないながらも温かな気持ちになる作品です。上手には読めませんが、聴いてくださる方がいれば嬉しいです。日曜日は彦根の文化プラザでも発表いたします。

I was imagining that I could move more smoothly when I got discharged from the hospital where I received some rehabilitation already but it was my imagination. My left leg muscle below my hip joint is stiffening up and it is still very hard to do the daily movement. Many of my friends visited me or made phone calls to ask how I am doing after coming back to Taga, and I thank all for their consideration.

I have been resting and relaxing at home, but I prepared lunch yesterday for the first time since being discharged from the hospital for two groups, which I already had reservations for in January. Getting help from Ms.Y. F who is my neighbor and from my daughter, I could serve their lunch. I was also happy to show the scroll of Buddha's Nirvana painting to the customers.

In the afternoon, Ms. M.F from Takamiya came to see me and brought a "hand catcher" to me with some sweets. She brought it because she knew that I was struggling to pick things up on the floor from our phone conversation. She had experienced a hip surgery before and sympathized with me very much. The "hand catcher" is very useful not only for picking something up on the floor but also adjusting the lower lever of the room heater. I thank Ms. M very much.

As for this weekend, a cultural festival will be held at a local public hall. I will be giving a reading performance as a member of a reading group. We will read "Gauche the Cellist" by Kenji Miyazawa. It is a fantasy of a poor cellist Gauche who was always having complaints from his conductor, so he practiced so hard every night. Several animals visited him every night and communicated with him. Through the experience, he overcame his problems and grew up to be an excellent cello player. Gauche and I share the struggle to present skillfully. I like this short story very much. I would appreciate it if you could come. We will present it at Bunka Plaza in Hikone on Sunday, as well.

２月３日（火曜日）２０２６
　お昼前に友人のHさんが訪ねてくれて、お土産に立派な恵方巻きをいただきました。実は、恵方巻きのことは聞いたことはありましたが、実際に体験するのは初めてで、節分の日に縁起の良い南南東の方角を向いて無言で巻き寿司を丸ごと食べるのだそう。３種類の立派な太巻きは、それでもハーフサイズとか。Hさんと娘と私で好きな種類を選んで、美味しく頂きました。恵方巻きは私の子供のころにはなかった習慣で、大阪方面の商人が商売繁盛で始めたとのことですが、美味しい太巻き寿司にボストンから来てくれた娘はもちろん大喜び。Hさんには感謝です。

　午後、リハビリがてら多賀大社に厄神斎のお札を買いに行ったら、ちょうど節分の豆まきの午後の部が始まるところで、境内は大勢の人で賑わっていました。還暦を迎えた皆様が赤い頭巾をかぶって、升に入った豆や福餅を撒くというおめでたい光景が見られたのは幸いでした。明日は立春。春が始まります。

My friend, H, visited me before noon bringing Eho-maki (thick sushi rolls which are believed to bring good fortune if eaten while facing the year's good luck direction). Actually I have heard about it, but I've never experienced it. Since H brought three kinds of thick maki, H, my daughter and I chose our favorite one, and ate it. It was so good. In my childhood, we didn't have such a custom. According to the net info., it was started by a merchant in Osaka in order to prosper their business. My daughter, who came from Boston, was very happy with such delicious rolling sushi. I thank H very much.

In the afternoon, I went to Taga Taisha with my daughter to buy Yakujinsai (an amulet of the year). Taking a walk would also be good for me. It was Setsubun (the day before the beginning of spring), and when we arrived at the shrine, Bean-Throwing by the people who celebrated their 60th birthday was just about to begin. A lot of people were gathering in order to get the bean or lucky mochi from the celebrated people who were putting on red hats. It was fun and lucky to be able to see such a seasonal celebration.

Tomorrow is the first day of spring in the calendar which we are looking forward to.

１月２９日（木曜日）２０２６
　手術後７日目（２８日）にT病院を退院して多賀に帰ってきました。
リハビリは手術翌日から毎日１時間弱、優しいSさん（土日は男性のNさん）が付いてくださり、先ずは歩行練習、左足のストレッチ、そして硬く張った筋肉のマッサージ。一日毎に違う動きを、個人に合わせてやってくださいました。車椅子でリハビリ室に向かうもすぐに杖歩行、そして杖なし歩行へと進みました。病室隣には自主練習室もあり午前は少し自分でも宿題になっている動きをし、退院３、４日前には杖なしで洗面所に行ったりもできるようになりましたが、夜中は切開した傷がじんじん疼くので看護師の方からアイスノンをもらって冷やしていました。７日目に傷口のシールを剥がして退院。休暇を取ってボストンから日本に来て多賀の家まで付き添ってくれた娘への感謝は言うまでもありません。

滋賀に入って雪がかなり消えていたのでほっとしましたが、寒さは東京の比ではありません。家へ帰って、まず直面したのは家の中で何かをしようとするも動きはリハビリでの動きと全然違って難しいことばかりで、台所に立って下の引き出しを開けようとしたり、しゃがむこともできない。立て掛けた杖をしょっ中バタンと倒してもそれが取れない、靴下を履くのに時間がかかる、ああ普段の生活に戻るにはまだまだです。少しずつ体を慣らしていくしかありません。

翌日の今日、雪が残った屋根に二匹のお猿がいました。前回、娘が来た時も同じで２階で声がすると思ったら猿がこっちを見てる！と。顔が真っ赤なおサルさん。多賀に戻ってきて初めて見た生物でした。


I came home from the hospital seven days after the operation. The rehabilitation started a day after the operation day and it took about an hour everyday with physical therapist, Ms. S, and Mr. N (Sat.& Sun ) who were both very kind. First I practiced walking with a cane, and next was stretching my left leg, then kneading a massage for the left tension muscle. When I visited the rehabilitation room, I was in a wheelchair, then I was suggested walking with a cane, but soon they wanted me to walk without cane. The next room to my hospital room, there was a self training room, so I practiced moving everyday as the physical therapist suggested. I was able to walk to the bathroom without a cane on the fourth day, but the stitches hurt during the night, so I asked the nurse to bring a cold pack to put the part. On the seventh day after the operation, the nurse came to take off the seal which had covered the stitches, then I was discharged from hospital. My daughter, M, took her days off and came to see me from Boston and came home with me which I appreciated very much.

I was relieved because there wasn't much snow in Shiga, but it was much colder than Tokyo. When I came home, I realized that there were many difficult things for me to do, for example, opening lower drawers in the kitchen, crouching, picking my cane which I often knocked over on the floor, and putting on my socks. All these movements were so hard for me to do at this moment. I really thought it would take time to be able to do in my daily life.

Next morning, my daughter saw two monkeys on the roof which still had snow. She let me know from upstairs. They were Japanese monkeys whose faces were red. They were the first living things which we saw in Taga after we came back home.

１月２２日（木曜日）２０２６
　友人Mさんの温かいサポートを得て２０日にT病院入り、昨日（２１日）に無事左股関節の手術を終えました。
手術着に着替えて、部屋で待っていると、看護師の方が車椅子で迎えに来てくださり、地下へ。両面扉の手術室へ入ると、何人もの人が次々に「麻酔担当の〇〇です」などと挨拶してくださり、その向こうに担当医のF先生。それまでにも病室を覗いてくださり「頑張りましょう！」のお声がけ。

　手術台に乗るやいなや、両腕に色々な器具や注射、酸素マスクが掛けられて3度大きく深呼吸をすると麻酔薬が流れて完全に私の意識は無くなりました。どのぐらいの時間が経過したのでしょうか、「イノウエさ〜ん、終わりましたよ！」と声が聞こえ、目を開けると真ん中にF先生、その周りに数人のスタッフの人が私を覗き込んでいるのが見えたので「ありがとうございます」と言おうとするも、声が思うように出ない。気分はどうかと聞かれた時は最悪の状態。手術中か術後か覚えていませんが、気持ち悪くて息も苦しく頭が混乱状態。「死ぬかも」と暗い深い恐ろしい闇の中で「頑張らなければ」と闘っている自分がいました。初めての経験でした。ストレッチャーで上階のナースステーション隣の回復室に運ばれている時も気持ち悪さで目を開けることはできませんでした。点滴やチューブが体に入った状態で一晩まどろんで朝を迎えるうちに、気分の悪さは次第におさまり傷口の痛みも体を動かさなければそれほどでもなくなりました。

　翌日は車椅子でレントゲン室に向かい、元の病室に移り食事を済ませ、リハビリが始まりました。F先生が回復室に様子を見に来た時に「滋賀は大雪ですよ」と教えてくださいました。東京は上天気。私の病室の窓からは陽が差し込んでいます。

　今回、手術にかかわってくださったF先生はじめ全ての方に心から感謝いたします。また、入院・手術と知って心配してくださり、励まして下さった多くの友人知人に私はどれほど力をもらったかしれません。ありがとうございます。
皆様にお応えするためにも、私は一日も早く回復し元気になります。

Receiving a warm support from my friend、 M, I could get in the T Hospital on 20th, and got surgery of my left hip joint yesterday.
A nurse came and took me with a hospital gown to the operation room downstairs in a wheelchair. When I got into the operation room, five or six people approached me saying like " I'm 〇〇、in charge of anesthesia." and everybody greeted me. I saw Dr. F who was in charge of my operation. He came to my upper room earlier to chair me.

As soon as I laid down the operation table, my both arms were fixed and I was on oxygen, attaching several pieces of equipment to the body. When I took a deep breath, I instantly lost my conscience because of the anesthesia. I don't know how long it has been, but I heard the voice "Ms. Inoue, everything is over!" I opened my eyes and saw Dr. F' and other staff looking into me. I tried to say thank you but I could barely say it. When I was asked how I was feeling, it was the worst in my life. I felt very bad, couldn't breath well and was very confused. I don't remember when I felt that way, but I was in a deep, fearful darkness and it was very scary, and I thought I might die, but I was thinking I have to go through. It was the scariest experience of my life. They took me to the recovery room upstairs by stretcher, but I couldn't open my eyes because I still felt so bad.I stayed in the recovery room attaching several pieces of equipment to my body overnight. Then gradually I got back to the normal feeling.

The next day, afterI taking an X-ray, I moved to the original room and had breakfast. Then rehabilitation started. When Dr.F came to see me in the recovery room, he told me that Shiga was in an awful snow storm. I sympathized with how people in my place were having a difficult time there. Here, Tokyo is clear and has sunlight.

I am grateful to everyone involved in my operation. I also would like to send my thanks to the people who worry about me and send many warm message, and support. I can't tell how much it encouraged me. To respond to all these people's kindness, I will do my best and get well soon.

１月１５日（木曜日）２０２６　
　家を改修する時に、設計士さんがそれまでの古い建具などを上手に再利用してくださり気に入っています。浴室の窓も昔の木枠に納まった古いガラス窓をシステムバス内に素敵に入れてくださいました。けれども、冬はどうしても隙間風の問題があり、それで工務店の大工さんに取り外しができるもう一枚の戸を作ってもらいました。それでも冬の夜は寒いので、外から窓全体をビニールで覆っていました。今年は、それを怠っていたので、やはり寒く、今日は朝一番に窓を覆う作業をしました。

　改修中もお世話になり、もう一枚の窓も作ってくださった気のいい大工のMさんが亡くなったと工務店の方から聞きました。帰省してからお世話になった大工さんが二人も旅立って行かれました。こうしたMさんのことを思いながら窓の作業終えました。

　次は当番に当たっていたけど忙しかったり、天気が悪かったりで行けなかった町内の地蔵堂の掃除とお参り。こちらも何とか終わり、その次は松の内も終わった今日、暮れに張ったしめ縄を外す作業。屈んで中へ入るお地蔵様の掃除も、踏み台に乗ってしめ縄を外す作業も、手術前の私には楽ではありませんでしたが、全部終えるとそれなりに達成感があり嬉しかったです。

　お茶を飲んで一息した後は、Gスーとホームセンター、そしてフタバヤ行き。２月にうちで皆さんでする味噌作りの塩や漬物袋の買い物も終了。３時すぎに地元農家のNさんが味噌作り用の大豆を７升（７人分）届けてくださり、あとは来月味噌作り直前に届く麹を待つだけ。夕方は地元の北村接骨院に飛び込んで、ゴチゴチになった足腰の骨周りの筋肉整備をしていただきました。

When I asked for renovation of my house, the designer reused old doors and windows brilliantly, and I liked his way. My bathroom window is one of them. It was set in a modular bathroom nicely, however, since it is a single-pane window, the cold wind comes from the crevice during the winter. A carpenter from a construction company made a removable cover outside the window. Even though, I still felt cold, so I covered it with a big plastic sheet. I did it this morning because I haven't done it yet.

A few months ago, I heard the sad news that the carpenter who was working during the renovation and made the removable cover for the window, passed away. He was a kind and good man. I felt very sorry and was thinking of him while I was putting the plastic sheet over the window this morning.

The next thing I did was cleaning up nearby Jizo-do (small hall for guardian deity who protects the souls of children). We took turns doing this work in my neighborhood and it turned to me but I didn't have time to do it since the new years day. I have been thinking about it and feeling so bad because I haven't done it yet but finally I could finish my duty and it made me happy. After coming back from Jizo-do,
I took off Shimenawa (sacred Shinto rope which had been decorated until 15th of the new year. I had to step on the footstool to do this work and it was hard for me whose joint was a problem. I could finish this work anyhow and I was relieved.

After taking a short break, I headed for two supermarkets and homecenter by bicycle. I got special plastic bags and sea salts for seven people. These are necessary things for making home-made miso which we will work together on February 5th at my place. In the late afternoon, Ms. N brought her soy beans (1.5kgx7) and those are also ingredients for miso. The remaining ingredients are rice malt and it will arrive in February.

 

１月８日（木曜日）２０２６　
　年末から気になっていた髪を何とかしたいと美容院に電話して聞いてみたら、空いてるとのこと。ラッキー！とすぐに美容室に向かいました。歩いて２、３分ですが、今朝は足の調子が悪く自転車で。

　その後、お天気が気になりながらも買い出しなら今しかないと、自転車をだしてGスーまで。途中、ミゾレのような雨がふったり止んだりで、サングラスに水滴がつくも気にせず目的地で買い物を済ませて、帰りにV.Cityへ。理由は毎年平和堂が年賀状で当たる割引券を発行していて、運良く３０％引が２枚、２０％引が数枚当たったので、その買い物のため。雨がかからない駐輪所を探して自転車を止めたところまではよかったものの入り口から遠かったので、ゆっくり歩いて入口に近づくと、何と「本日休み」の張り紙。「ついてない、また出直しか」と元の場所へ戻り、帰路へつくも、フタバヤへ寄り道して、お刺身を購入しました。駐輪所で電話をかけていたメッシュ髪の若い男の子が「ゴメンやけど俺の彼女の方が可愛いでぇ」と何回も言っていたのが妙に頭に残りながら家まで帰った時は、コートもズボンも濡れてヤレヤレという感じでした。

　残りご飯で酢飯を作り、買ってきたお刺身を乗せて海苔をちぎってかけると海鮮丼の出来上がり。熱いお茶でほっと一息ついていると電話が。「フタバヤ」からでした。えっ、何か忘れ物？と思ったら、その通り。「お財布をお忘れです」とのこと。ああ、やってしまいました！！新年１週間目、何もこんな日に.....。寒いし痛いし面倒臭い....。歳とは関係なくこんな失敗を今年も早速しでかしてる情けない自分を笑うしかありません。

　思い直して、身支度を整えて、財布を取りに自転車を出して走り出すも、みぞれが雪になってさっきよりも大降りになってきました。これでは無理と判断。引き返してフタバヤに電話して、明日まで取っておいてもらうようお願いしました。
「書き初め」ならぬ「ドジ初め」の一日でした。

I have been thinking about having my hair cut since the end of last year, and I called a nearby hair salon if they have a space for me. Luckily the answer was yes, so I headed there by bicycle even though it takes only a few minutes on foot, but I chose a comfortable way for my legs.

Upon returning from the hair salon, I decided to go to the grocery store by bike. The weather was not good. Amidst the cold wind and rain drops, I could reach the store and finish shopping. On the way back home, I stopped by a shopping mall to use a couple of 30% and 20% discount tickets, but I saw a Closed sign on the door of the entrance. It was very disappointing. I rode my bike again, and I stopped by another smaller supermarket and bought Sashimi.

When I came home, my coat, pants and cap were wet but I was relieved to be able to come home safely. I made a Sashimi Rice Bowl for myself. It was good and I enjoyed a hot tea after that. Then suddenly my cell phone rang. It was from Futabaya (supermarket). I wondered if I left something. As I feared, the woman over the phone checked my name and said that I left my wallet at the store. Oh my god! This was my first huge mess up in the new year on such a cold snowy day. I really felt so ashamed of myself.

Putting on my winter coat again and I got on my bike to head to the market to receive my wallet. However the rain turned to snow and it fell heavier than before. I thought I should stop going and return home. I called the store and asked to keep my wallet till the next day.
I faced many unfortunate things on this day, but finding my wallet was a super fortunate incident.

１月４日（日曜日）２０２６
　お正月の三日間、床の間や神棚に飾っておいた鏡餅を、昨日のうちに下げて、今朝は「鏡開き」をしました。
カチンコチンになったお餅を切るには「注意と気合い」が要ります。先ず、深鍋にお湯を沸かして包丁を温めて布巾で包丁の背を抑えながら怪我をしないようにゆっくりと切っていきます。すぐに食べないお餅は袋に入れて冷凍室へ。Fさんから自家製豆乳を頂戴したので、夕食は餅入りクリームシチューでいただきました。

　多賀大社の干支の「延寿すず」は、N様が毎年年始にお持ちくださるもので今年もありがたく頂戴しました。
「多賀あさひや」と書いた小さな徳利は、骨董好きの幼なじみのSNさんが以前、京都の骨董屋で見つけたものらしく、カフェを開業して間もなく、うちのものではないかと持ってきてくださったのです。昔一時期、曽祖母や祖母が「多賀あさひや」という土産物屋をしていたことがあって、その時、「延命酒」なるものをこの徳利に入れて売っていたようで、それを誰かが買って、それが巡り巡って販売元の我が家に戻ってきたという数奇な運命のシロモノです。

　令和８年（２０２６年）が順調に滑り出しました。数々のご縁に恵まれていることを感謝しながら、新しい日々に挑戦できればと願っています。今年もよろしくお願いいたします。

　On the evening of Jan.3rd, I took the round rice-cakes offered to the deity from alcove and cut them into pieces for eating.
They became too hard to cut in a regular way, so I prepared hot water in a deep pan. I put a knife in it to make it warm, then cut the rice cake slowly holding the top of the knife with cloth. You need to pay attention not to cut yourself with knife. I put most of the slices of mochi into plastic bags and put them in the freezer.

I received a zodiac bell for the New Year of the horse in Taga Taisha from Mr. N who has been bringing it every year since I opened the cafe. I thank him a lot for this. The small bottle with the letter of Taga Asahiya on it is from my childhood friend who collected antiques.

When he brought it, he said that he had found it at the antique shop in Kyoto before and when he knew that I opened a cafe of the same name, he wondered if it was a selling item of Taga Asahiya a souvenir shop which my great ground mother and my grandmother opened around 1915 for about ten years. Somebody came to the shop and bought it around the time, and I don't know why but it came back to the original place. It is a sake bottle which went through a strange and mysterious fate. I was very surprised when I received it.

The days of 2026 have already started. Thinking of how fortunate I am to meet many precious people, I would like to challenge myself in the new days of this year.