The Arrival of the Flu

Last Sunday the 16th, our whole family battled the flu,

so we had to take a break... I apologize...

My son started it, and then I also caught it.

And what's more, this year's influenza A didn't cause a fever at all; I just had body aches and felt lethargic.

Even my eldest son, perhaps because he'd had the vaccine, didn't have a high fever, so if the pediatrician hadn't suggested testing, we might not have realized and just carried on with our lives.

No wonder it spreads so easily...

For now, I'm just grateful that everyone in the family has safely returned to their normal lives.

But then I also think, "On our already limited opening days!"

During our time off, we harvested soybeans that we'd sown in the field back in May and then left alone with zero watering, zero fertilizer, and zero weeding—they really grew by themselves! We then threshed them by hand... Rhizobium bacteria really are amazing!

I'd almost forgotten about the harvest, but thanks to the flu (?), we managed to get about 3 kg, which was great!

Will we be able to make miso this year?! When will we do it?!

I want to punch myself for sowing the seeds in May, knowing that the end of the year is our busiest season.

But I think one of my children said they wanted to make miso with soybeans we grew ourselves.

So, should we try it? Haha... what an idiot!

My life is far from "mindful"... I'm so pressed for time every day.

(I'm tentatively hanging them to dry, thinking, "I just need to dry them, right?")

I was able to move around again starting Friday, so I went to sawawa in Fujioka, where I've wanted to go for ages...

It's next to Naritaya!

I consulted them because I wanted to place a lovely antique table and chairs in the shop.

I brought home this oval table.

It was a wonderful time after a long while...

...Our conversation flowed easily...

I'm so grateful! Please come and relax at the shop with this lovely table!