to Takahata-fudoson

Yesterday, after having late lunch, I went for a walk.
Where shall I go? It was a little late.

I decided to go to 高幡不動尊 in Hino and walk the hiking course
admiring hydrangeas.

I left my apartment around 2:30.

I went to Kokubunji by bus, and took a bus to Fuchu Station.

Then I caught a train for Keio Hachioji and got off
at Takahatafudo Station.

Here I am!

It was late and there were no people walking the hiking course.

Sorry to say, I was a little afraid to walk there all alone.

I should have come in the morning, then I could have walked
the hiking course alone.

I enjoyed strolling here and there in the precinct of the temple.

On the way back, I bought 高幡まんじゅう for my daughter’s family,

高幡まんじゅう was delicious!

I didn't take many pictures this time.

This is my favorite.

山椒の実 steeped in soy sauce

Today I found some 山椒の実　on koharu's 山椒の木
and picked them all.

What a small quantity of 山椒の実！

I made 「実山椒のしょうゆ漬け」according to
Hanna-Danna-san's recipe.

http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/hannadanna/diary/201305120000/

I hope I can enjoy delicious 冷奴
with this 「実山椒のしょうゆ漬け」---at least twice.





koharu's 南天 flowers are in full bloom.

my soroban, 62 years ago

I happened to find my そろばん under a few boxes.
while I was looking for a certain book.

I've never used this そろばん since I came to live in Tokyo.

Why did I bring this そろばん from Niigata?
Yes, I used to love そろばん.

This is the そろばん my mother bought for me
when I was a fifth grader, in 1953.

As soon as そろばん塾 was opened in my mountain village,
I asked my parents to let me attend the そろばん塾.

What a diligent and ardent student I was!
Whenever I had time to spare, I practiced そろばん at home.

I stated learning in September in 1953
and 9 months later passed
珠算能力検定試験３級 by 日本商工会議所.

Oh, I still remember the name of 日本商工会議所会頭
藤山愛一郎 written on the certificate..

Then I passed ２級 when I was a first year student
at junior high school.

But I could not pass １級.

In those days, in order to pass １級, you had to take
over 80点 in 掛け算・割り算・みとり算・みとり暗算
and 伝票計算.

Alas! My score in みとり暗算　was ７０点
and I failed to　pass １級！

And I stopped attending そろばん塾　and started to study
for the entrance examination to high school.

Oh, how I long for those good old days!

today's photo

It is June 1st today.
It has been too hot these days.

It's very hot for this time of year.

The seasons come round so quickly.
Is it due to Global Warming?

Hydrangeas in my neighborhood
are in full bloom.