The Recent Weather in Matsumoto

My garden's strawberry plants

The recent weather in Matsumoto is very changeable. Sometimes it was freezing and snowy, and sometimes it was really warm. Even if it snowed, the snow would start to melt soon after. Actually, it snowed in the night on Wednesday 23^rd but the next day became sunny and mild.

And also there is a big difference in temperature between the day and night. This might be bad for our health, so I must be cautious of my family’s shape and me.

My neighbor cherry blossoms 

Sometimes there’s a breeze and there are gale-force winds too. There is a proverb, “March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.” I remember this proverb during this season and I feel that spring is just around the corner these days.

I like this season because I can sense the beginning of spring and I’m excited somehow. On the other hand, I dislike it because I suffer from hay fever. A running nose and itchy eyes are terrible for me. I wish I wouldn’t have these symptoms!

Anyway, I would like to enjoy this weather to go somewhere with my family.

Haruka

Strawberries in 10 words

The second article in my 10-word series was about strawberries, and I would like to thank Rico sensei for her help with the English in Use section. The newspaper decided to 'save space' and drop the English version I wrote. So, little learners out there, you are challenged once again to learn by translation. Sorry about that - not my idea at all!

Anyway, strawberries are about the only thing my son will eat when he is sick - which has been an almost constant situation for him since last October. Right now he is on his second bout of flu (so the Tamiflu injections we got in the autumn were a waste of time?) and I am wondering if there is a "C" variety (he has had "A" & "B")?

What is your favourite soft fruit? I think I'd have to choose mine in this order:
1. Blackberries
2. Raspberries
3. Black currants
4. Gooseberries
5. Red currants

How to make a delicious cake!

First, cut the sponge in half.
Then cut a hole in the middle of the top piece.
Spread the cream with a spatula on the bottom sponge.
Put peach slices on the cream.
Next put the top sponge on the bottom sponge.
Cut the middle piece in half and cover the bottom sponge.
Fill the hole with cream and strawberries. In the middle you put the biggest strawberry.
Spread the cream with the spatula again on the side and on the top.
Then comes the secret part.
Cut the slice peach in quarter and put around the edge on the top.
Then cover the peach with the cream :)
Put strawberries around the hole.

Yuya