Rebuilding two small lots for roses/Carlos Pueblo

 Rebuilding two small lots for roses/Carlos Pueblo

During last year's drought and recent foundation repairs, we have vacated two small lots in the backyard for rebuilding our rose garden., Of course, after that we must rebuild our lawn in the front yard and the backyard. Our home site is smaller than a quarter of an acre about 8,500 square feet. A two story house is sitting on it; therefore, some space is left for the lawn and some garden lots. Previous owner planted some flowers and bushes around the backyard. Now, I have gotten rid of debris from bushes and stumps. I get two small lots with the sunshine to grow roses.

We make some cuts from the original rose plants and stick branches to the ground to hope that we'll have some new plants coming out. We also bought 6 new rose plants to plant them outside of Amy's library so that she can enjoy the beautiful roses in the future. There is still space to grow a pair of the camellia. One of a pair does survive in the front yard and is blooming very well this year.

I have spread many seeds which I have collected throughout the year. I am pretty sure that I shall have some coming out later in the spring. I did have a small watermelon and a small pumpkin coming out last year and I was informed that both were not bear eatable fruits. It is always nice to view some crops growing out of our own yard.
It is not that easy to grow anything like a farmer; however, it is a good life to enjoy. Gardening can help us to be aware of the four seasons in a year.

重闢花圃／莊峻華

 重闢花圃／莊峻華

剛整修地基，庭院有些變化，後院空出兩小塊地，一在愛美書房外，一株老灌木為掘地溝渠拔掉，我們不再補上，原盆栽老檸檬株也枯死多年，地基工幫我們拆除原老天然氣烤肉架，於是我們決定重闢花圃。

我們到大五金行，購買6株插枝玫瑰花，我以前在茶花女街舊宅屋簷下栽培過，非常成功，拍攝許多相片，這些都是小孩們幼年時代。我將原土鬆動，按愛美指令，栽上6株，原地本栽一老屋薔薇，也修葺完畢，這是紅色小花，來自老屋鄰居，她搬家時贈我許多薔薇和喇叭花，我曾移植喇叭花到處去，甚至收集鄰居花子，在家播種如今已開花。

我們鄰居甚能享受園藝花圃之樂趣，社區協會每月固定表揚最佳庭院獎，許多鄰居都請專業園丁，主司其事，我們是最近一年始聘請割草，但因不勤灑水和夏季枯燥，聖奧古斯丁草均枯死，需要重新栽培，這是當務之急。我開始喜歡此屋，整修住屋，令我感覺此屋之價值，房屋格式週全，鄰居和睦相處，交通也方便，到各地都方便。

早上，我將玫瑰花苗種上，愛美找我再到另家大五金行，尋找山茶花，十年前我種兩株於門前，一株已遭病蟲害死，另株成長開花，但樹葉呈現病害，我應買農藥來幫助，五金行尚無貨，需待初春天暖後。

Preparing for a long trip away from the home/Carlos Pueblo

 Preparing for a long trip away from the home/Carlos Pueblo

After finishing our federal income tax returns, I am preparing for a long trip away from the home. I am leaving Houston in early March, 2024 for Taiwan via Japan for my denture repair, then, coming back to Japan to wait for a last minute deal with a cross Pacific cruise deal back to Seward, Alaska. If it is possible, I shall stay with the same ship for additional two weeks in Alaska. Then, I shall continue another last minute deal on another ship back to Japan and stay in Japan for three more weeks and fly back home afterward. Of course, if I don't get the last minute deal, I shall return home early.

I am afraid one of my left teeth will fall soon. This would endanger the structure of my bottom set of the denture. My dentist has alarmed me to prepare for a new set. I decided to make it in Taiwan due to the cost. I also desire to visit Taiwan after such a long time.

In spite of a month-long waiting, I do plan to visit my alma mater, Taiwan Normal University. I have an appointment with the senior executive vice president, Dr. Chen, at the Chemistry Department on the first Monday morning. I shall also plan to visit the president of the University, Dr. Wu in the following week when I plan to stay at the University Inn at the main campus.

 
I shall go back to my hometown Huwei to visit my sisters and brother. My stay in Taiwan shall end at the beginning of April. I have already booked my flight back to Tokyo to wait for my ship, If it's possible, it would be more than a month and a half cruise trip and my first three weeks journey back to Japan in 2024.

準備返台旅行2024／莊峻華

 準備返台旅行2024／莊峻華

再過兩週餘，我就準備返台旅行，台灣是我成年前生長之故鄉，這次闊別十年，不曾返台，我已經老邁不堪，但為做假牙省錢和其他理由，很早就決定準備，剛好遇見住家整修和申報聯邦所得稅，家事纏身，如今諸事告一段落，我可以整裝待發矣。

兩年前，我在紐約上船，咬蕃石榴子咬碎一片牙齒，兩月前該齒發炎，我知道不久將掉落，於是崩塌底座假牙，這是假牙之結構力學，我曾有過經驗，我裝過兩次假牙，第一次2014年在台北訂製，約是800美金；兩年半前繼續落牙，於是在休市訂製新假牙，要價$4500，而且尚未包括拔除鬆動之牙群，況且耗盡老人牙險$2000德政，效率甚差，沒有台北先進，於是我心準備返台。裝置新套假牙，需要一個月時間，於是我開始購買機票，利用信用卡哩數和點數，買下單程機票，從休市到東京，接機經南韓首爾機場到桃園機場，我無所謂耗時多久。

抵達台北市後，馬上見牙醫，現在尚未預約，但應無問題，然後就是靜候一個月，我只先安排第一個節目去拜訪師大化學系，然後參觀台北市，看看能否拜訪老友，也想回雲林虎尾故鄉，拜望在台家人。

我在四月初就搭機返回日本，準備購買珠寶號回美國，如果買不到最後一分鐘廉價票，我就擇而其次，到另一廉價路線，可能是阿拉斯加遊，我就從東京飛到溫哥華，再搭珠寶號幾次，等候五月的精神號回東京，也是最後一分鐘，如果能持續，抵達東京後，我再逗留日本三週。

當然，秋天珠寶號將再重返日本，我也不想錯過機會。

Two fall chrysanthemum exhibitions at two castles in Japan 2023/Carlos Pueblo

 Two fall chrysanthemum exhibitions at two castles in Japan 2023/Carlos Pueblo

During my second three weeks stay in Japan last fall, I ran into two chrysanthemum exhibitions at two castles, Himeji and Okayama. Japan is a nation of art full of artisans of every kind to present the best of life. The cherry blossom in the spring and the chrysanthemum exhibitions in the fall are two examples.

As usual on my three weeks of Japan Rail Pass tour, I go to visit my favorite castle at Himeji and Okayama not far from my stay at Osaka. I ran into two chrysanthemum exhibitions outside of both castles free of charge to visit. It reminds me that Japan is a nation of chrysanthemums. People have the habit of growing various kinds of chrysanthemum and show them everywhere every year such as temples and castles, etc. I first ran into the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, yet the exhibition was not as large as both Himeji and Okayama castles. The exhibitions have gathered some winners of the year from the local mayors up to cabinet ministers and the prime minister.

I am going to show you some of my pictures.

日本秋季菊花展2023／莊峻華

 日本秋季菊花展2023／莊峻華

去年我搭精神號在阿拉斯加州，徘徊三週然後直奔日本東京港，下船後又在日本逗留三週，就是搭新幹線環遊全國，我稍介紹東京淺草，上野公園，北海道大學校園，釧路之丹頂鶴，然後就到大阪城，還未盡述，又飛羅馬搭寶石號返紐約港，家裡整修地基，室內粉刷，和換地板，天翻地覆，真是戎馬倥傯之際，年初大工程方畢，我又臨時在德州高維斯敦上普莉斯瑪號遊西加勒比海，上下船交通有驚無險，還忙碌不堪，我還想重溫此段美憶，今日介紹日本秋季菊花展覽，我看到的是姬路城和崗山城的秋菊展。我常有長居日本的想法，因為我喜愛日本文化，環境，和禮節氣氛。

姬路城和崗山城，都在大阪市附近，我都曾經親自住過，而且來過多次，兩城秋天都讓當地菊花協會主辦菊花展覽，就是在城外周圍搭棚擺設，莫小看此菊展，作品均擁有獎狀，下自姬路市和崗山市長，上自內閣大臣，首相大臣獎，我不贅言，讓各位欣賞我拍攝之相片。這種菊展，在一般神社廟宇也有，而且規模也相當，可見日本民間賞菊之雅緻。

姬路城出名是德川家康愛孫女千姬，在先夫豐臣秀賴自盡後改嫁到姬路城，崗山市是桃太郎的故鄉，從崗山可搭火車到四國島，桃太浪平妖處就是四國，日本民間故事，也甚迷人。

I can't bear its frightened appearance/Carlos Pueblo

 I can't bear its frightened appearance/Carlos Pueblo

During my Lunar New Year's three family lunch invitations last week, I ran into three exactly crises similarly to once Mencius described 2500 years ago in the ancient China. I read the piece of the philosophy when I was at the senior high school as well as at the college. Mencius explains the cruelty of seeing an animal's frightened appearance to the death to a King in his home country. It's Buddhism that we shall not kill all living things, animals and human beings. In the Buddhist's world, they encourage vegetarian diets.

I am the guilty one that I do see the struggle of lobsters and king crabs. They were alive when I put them in the pot to be boiled with a can of beer. Both of them kicked the pan cover struggling to escape and showing the frightened appearance. I was so stressed that Mencius suggests keeping away from the kitchen.

People kill animals because they need the food to eat. People including leaders of some sorts go to the war and kill because they have a strong desire to be fulfilled. I prefer the economic sanction than the physical war on the battleground. Of course, we are entitle to defend ourselves and then we can't bear the sight, the frighten appearance.