cha-mise at the top of Mt. Shiroyama

Today, again, I climbed Mt. Shiroyama. Mt. Shiroyama is one of my favorite mountains in the suburbs of Tokyo.

Why do I like Mt. Shiroyama? I like the mountain path to Mt. Shiroyama. There is the peace of the woods. I enjoy the Sense of Wonder.

At the top of Mt. Shiroyama, there is a small store with an open front--cha-mise in Japanese or a stall in English.

At the store you'll find a very pleasant young man selling oden, nameko-mushroom-soup, coffee, tea, beer, juice, etc. He seems to love nature, especially mountains.

All hikers will feel relieved and happy when they arrive at the top of Shiroyama and find the store open after taking long walks in the mountains.

I always make an order for nameko-mushroom-soup. Today I ordered oden, too. Both nameko-mushroom-soup and oden are absolutely delicious!

Mt. Shiroyama

Mt. Shiroyama is 670 meters high. It was a very lovely autumn day and I enjoyed climbing Mt. Shiroyama.

I expected to see Mt. Fuji. No, I couldn't. But The summit commanded a fine panorama of the city of Hachi-ouji. I breathed in the fresh air and felt happy looking up at the blue sky through the beautiful green leaves.

rather cold today

It is rather cold today. After the autumn equinox, night gets longer than day. It's already dark around six o'clock in the evening.

I pulled weeds which had overrun my daughter's garden. On the lawn the weeds were almost knee-high! I felt sorry for those small creatures living there.

Yes, I left some weeds for them. My five-year-old granddaughter likes insects and worms very much. Insects and worms need weeds.

Weeds grow very quickly. Weeds are strong. To root up weeds is impossible---at least for me.

I love weeds growing in the paths. I love weeds pushing their way up through the cement, too. They are doing their best to survive.

I like flowers in the fields and mountains.

last rose of summer

Coming home, I saw a beautiful rose left blooming alone. It reminded me of a song I would often sing in my school days. The title of the song is 'The Last Rose of Summer'--niwa no chigusa in Japanese.

It is such a beautiful song. I came home singing the song. Singing made me happy. Oh, I remember the tune of the song was played in that film Cinderella Man.

'The Last Rose of Summer'

'Tis the last rose of summer,
Left blooming alone;
All her lovely companions
Are faded gone;
No flower of her kindred
No rosebud is nigh,
To reflect back her blushes,
Or give sigh for sigh.

Cinderella Man

Did you watch this film, Cinderella Man? I did last evening. I seldom go to the movies, only several times a year.

Yesterday I had something to do in Tachikawa City. After finishing it, there was much time left and I decided to watch a movie. I knew Cinderella Man only by title. I didn't know the story.

It is a fact-based story of James J. Braddock, a boxer who gave hopes, dreams, and courage to all　Americans during the Great Depression. I don't like boxing. I don't like boxing violence.

But Cinderella Man is not a gory, violent film. It is a film of love. It moved me to tears.