Oshima’s Halloween

My English teacher who lives in Kansai sent me Halloween photos. It looks fun! I feel that he really enjoys Halloween every year.

 Unfortunately, Oshima doesn’t have a Halloween atmosphere. But recently, I found a “Halloweeny" tree!

 It was so unique. I named it the Frankenstein Tree. It’s said that after squirrels gnaw at bark, they're able to make marks in horizontal stripes. There are many squirrels on Oshima. So, I often see those marks. But I've never seen them looking like scars before. The timing is perfect!

Ura-Sabaku Desert in the Autumn

I went to Ura-Sabaku in the evening because I wanted to see Japanese pampas grass shining in the setting sun. The wind was strong, so the Japanese pampas grass swayed in the wind. It looks like sea anemones in the sea.

My shadow was so long, I looked like a giant. There was no one but me. I had Ura-Sabaku all to myself. What a beautiful moment! 

On the way back, I found a caterpillar that looked more like a fox's tail hair than a pampas grass ear. This was also like autumn.

Sun-Dried Saury Fish at Takeda Store

I found nice things while driving. So, I needed to stop. Many saury fish were drying outside the store. It’s a famous Oshima food. I saw them for the first time today. They are made between autumn and winter. I heard that because of Oshima’s wind, sun, and salt, they taste better than in other places. Yes, it looks good! I bought one set (5 for 980 yen).

Then, I ate the grilled saury fish with beer. It was great! I'm going to being hooked on this taste.

The Little Creatures that Come to My House on Oshima 02 | Centipede

A centipede came out again! I met one in my room for the third time. It’s small this time, about 5 cm. I think it is young. 

I’m interested in the life cycle of centipedes, with the mother protecting and raising her young. But I don't want you to do it here. Actually last time, When I was sleeping, I was bitten on my neck by a big one. It really hurt, besides, it felt creepy!

So, I bought centipede repellent immediately on Amazon, though I haven't used it yet.

Now is the time to use it! It’s made from Japanese cypress. I don’t dislike the smell. My cat doesn't care at all. I wonder if is this truly effective?

This is the centipedes repellent.

I Love Gyosan

Gyosan are tough beach sandals for fishery staff. They're originally from Ogasawara, one of Tokyo’s islands. I’ve been a big fan it since I went on a trip there, because they’re comfy, cheap, and really cute! In recent years, I have worn black ones every summer. But, I found new pair on Oshima this summer. They're black with glitter. How pretty! 

This is one of my favorite pairs of shoes now. It’s getting cold, recently. I wonder how long I can keep wearing them.

But I didn't wear them today. The weather was bad and cold. Go away, typhoon!!!

Harvest Moon on Oshima

 Today is the day of the harvest moon (Chu-shu No Meigetsu). You can see the most beautiful moon of the year. Oshima was rainy in the morning but sunny during the afternoon. So, I was excited that I might be able to see the full moon. When I looked up at the sky after work, as I thought, the round moon was floating in the sky. What a beautiful sight! Just then, a friend of mine living in Tokyo sent me a message with a picture of the moon she had just taken. The scenery is completely different. But, It's strange to think that it’s same moon. Despite that, I love both!