7th~8th
We set out from town on a beautiful Autumn day – clear, fresh and a blue sky in which the sun is a bit lower, but still strong at mid-day. I get a bit of weed-cutting done before dark, which is now about 6:00.
Higanbana are still in bloom. The chillies seem OK and the net is still intact. The goya leaves are turning yellow and I pick the last three. The mini tomatoes have ripened slowly in the Autumn sun and are sweet and delicious.
Twilight now has that special autumn quality. I don’t want to say “sinister”, but maybe “mysterious” describes how the trees on the ridge opposite sway in the wind. Halloween is coming up after all. A deer cry echoes up the valley. The insect chorus is especially sweet and mellifluous but this isn’t a balmy summer evening and we huddle near the fire. This might be our last dinner outside this year.
Monday is gorgeous and I pick lots of chillies.
Min. temp. 11°C, max. 24°C
14th~15th
Autumn came later this year but suddenly as usual. September was hot till the end, but the wind in Nagoya on Friday was a taste of the coming winter. By contrast, Sunday was overcast but mild. Arriving in late afternoon we drank a cup of tea in front of the house, enjoying the peace. There’s not a breath of wind, just the soft singing of crickets and the chirps of a few small birds.
On Monday all the clouds are gone and it’s another wonderful day with a nice combination of hot sun and cool air. The eerie voice of a deer echoes up the valley again. The place is swarming with them – the ojisan caught three last week! One was a big stag with a full set of horns.
Rice is still standing near Nagoya – I was a bit premature predicting the harvest.
Min. temp. 8°C, max. 22°C (note how the temperature goes down a couple of degrees each week)
21st~22nd
Perfect autumn weather – deep blue sky and fresh breeze.
The evening’s really a bit too cold to eat outside, but we’re promised meteors from 12:00 so so put on extra clothes, build up the last outside fire of the year and actually it’s tolerable. T gets sleepy and gives up around 10:00 but I put on a Grateful Dead record and wait it out to see a couple of shooting stars, but nothing spectacular, and am happy to finally get in a warm futon (first use of the electric blanket this year).
Monday is freezing and sweltering at the same time, depending on if you’re in the shade or not.
We don’t eat much jam – our breakfast times and menus during the week are quite different, but usually Monday morning breakfast ends with bread and marmalade. Today we’re out of marmalade. I find a jar of ume jam I made about 15 years ago. It’s mouldy (of course). No Jam Today.
Drive home in a haze of smoke. – everywhere people are burning the leftovers of summer.
Min. temp. 6°C, max. 20°C
28th~29th
It was beautiful on Saturday, and the forecast is good tomorrow too, but today a front or something is passing through and it’s a day of rain.
Driving up, an armoured car passes us going in the opposite direction.
…whaat…???
We pick up a couple of ¥25 croquettes at the supermarket for our afternoon snack.
It’s my turn to cook this evening: fish curry, squid with Thai sauce and habanero-mango salad. The mango is delicious.
By 1:00 am the clouds clear, a few brave insects are chirping and the moon is almost full.
Monday is beautifully clear as promised but there’s a chilly north wind blowing. Leaves are changing colour early this year.
(Forgot to read thermometer.)
asazuke 