Monthly Archives: June 2024

ใƒฌใƒณใ‚บใƒ†ใ‚นใƒˆ Lens Test


Canon ใฎ R5 ใ‚ซใƒกใƒฉ็”จใซ Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens ใ‚’่ฒทใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ I bought aanon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens for my Canon R5 camera.

ใ‚ทใƒฃใƒผใƒ—ใ•ใซๆฌ ใ‘ใ‚‹ใ‹ใชใจๅฟƒ้…ใ ใฃใŸใฎใงใ€็ฐกๅ˜ใชใƒ†ใ‚นใƒˆใ‚’ใ—ใฆใฟใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ I was worried that it might not be sharp enough, so I did a quick test.

ISO 100, F4, AV focus ใง105mm, 70mm, 50mm, 24mm ใฎ้ †ใซๆ’ฎใฃใฆใฟใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ I took these shots at ISO 100, F4, AV focus at 105mm, 70mm, 50mm, and 24mm in that order.

ใ“ใกใ‚‰ใฎใƒฉใƒ™ใƒณใƒ€ใƒผใ‚‚ๅŒๆง˜ใฎ่จญๅฎšใงใ™ใ€‚The lavender photo here is set up the same way.

ใฉใกใ‚‰ใ‚‚ไฟฎๆญฃใ€็ทจ้›†ใชใ—ใงใ™ใ€‚Neither is modified or edited.

ใฉใ‚“ใชใ‚‚ใ‚“ใงใ™ใ‹ใญใ€‚ๅฐ‘ใ—็”˜ใ„ๆฐ—ใŒใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚How is it? It seems a little soft.

ใ‚ฏใƒญใƒƒใƒ—ใ—ใฆใ‚ทใƒฃใƒผใƒ—ใ•ใ‚’ๅข—ใ—ใฆใฟใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใ€€I cropped and sharpened the image.

็ทจ้›†ๅพŒใฎใ‚คใƒกใƒผใ‚ธใซ้•ๅ’Œๆ„ŸใŒใชใ‘ใ‚Œใฐใ„ใ„ใ‹ใชใ€‚I hope the edited image is not too different from the original.

ใ“ใฎใƒฌใƒณใ‚บใฏ่ปฝใ„ใฎใงใ€ๆ—…่กŒ็”จใซใฏๆœ€้ฉใงใ™ใ€‚ใพใŸใ€ใŠๅ€คๆฎตใ‚‚ๆ‰‹้ ƒใงใ™ใ€‚ๅŒใ˜ใCanon ใ‹ใ‚‰ใงใฆใ„ใ‚‹ ใ“ใกใ‚‰ใฎCanon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z Lens ใฏ2.5ๅ€ใ‚‚ใŠ้ซ˜ใใชใฃใฆใ„ใฆใ€ใ—ใ‹ใ‚‚ๆœ›้ ใ‚บใƒผใƒ ใƒฌใƒณใ‚บใฎใ‚ˆใ†ใซ้‡ใใชใฃใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚ This lens is lightweight, making it ideal for travel. It is also reasonably priced. The Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z Lens also from Canon, is 2.5 times more expensive and heavier, like a telephoto zoom lens.

ๆบ€่ถณๅบฆ90๏ผ…ใชใฎใงใ€ใ“ใ‚Œใ‹ใ‚‰ใฏใ“ใฎใƒฌใƒณใ‚บใŒๆดป่บใ™ใ‚‹ใ“ใจใซใชใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚ I am 90% satisfied with the lens, so it will be my go-to lens from now on.

่ช•็”Ÿๆ—ฅใฎใƒ—ใƒฌใ‚ผใƒณใƒˆ Birthday Present


็š†ใ•ใ‚“ใฏ่ช•็”Ÿๆ—ฅใซใฉใ‚“ใชใƒ—ใƒฌใ‚ผใƒณใƒˆใ‚’ใ‚‚ใ‚‰ใ„ใŸใ„ใงใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ What kind of gift would you like to receive for your birthday?

็งใฎๅ ดๅˆใฏใ€ๅŽปๅนดใ‚‚ไปŠๅนดใ‚‚็ตถๅฏพใ“ใ‚Œใ ใจใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใฆใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใใ—ใฆใคใ„ใซใใฎ้ก˜ใ„ใŒๅถใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ In my case, I had definitely asked for this last year and this year. And finally that wish came true.

ใ‚ถ ใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌใ€‚ The toilet.

ใƒใ‚นใƒซใƒผใƒ ใฎๆ”น้€ ใ‚’ใ—ใŸๅพŒใ€ใšใƒผใฃใจ้•ๅ’Œๆ„ŸใŒใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌใŒๅฐ‘ใ—ๅ‚พใ„ใฆใ„ใŸใ‚“ใงใ™ใ€‚ๆ…ฃใ‚Œใฆใ—ใพใˆใฐๆฐ—ใซใชใ‚‰ใชใ„ใฎใ‹ใ‚‚ใ—ใ‚Œใพใ›ใ‚“ใŒใ€็งใซใฏไพฟ็ง˜ใซใชใ‚Šใใ†ใช้•ๅ’Œๆ„Ÿใงใ—ใŸใ€‚It had been uncomfortable for a long time after we remodeled the bathroom. The toilet was a little tilted. Maybe once you get used to it you don’t mind, but for me it was uncomfortable, almost constipating.

ๅทฆไธ‹ใŒใŸใฃใŸไธ€ๆžš่ฆ‹ใคใ‹ใฃใŸๆ˜”ใฎใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌใงใ™ใ€‚ใ“ใ†ใ—ใฆๆฏ”ในใ‚‹ใจใ€ๆ–ฐใ—ใ„ใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌใฏ็ดฐ้•ทใใชใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ‚ˆใ†ใงใ™ใญใ€‚ใ€€Below left is the old toilet. Compared in this way, the new toilet on the right seems to be taller.

ไปŠๅ›žใ€ใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌ้ธใณใ‚’ใ—ใฆไบŒใคใฎใ“ใจใ‚’ๅญฆ็ฟ’ใ—ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ We learned two things from our experience in selecting the toilets.

ใพใšใ€ๆจ™ๆบ–ใฎใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌใฎๅบง้ƒจใฎ้ซ˜ใ•ใŒๆ™‚ไปฃใจใจใ‚‚ใซๅค‰ใ‚ใฃใฆใใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใจใ„ใ†ใ“ใจใงใ—ใŸใ€‚ First, the height of the standard toilet seat has changed over time.

ๆ–ฐใ—ใ„ใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌใฎๅบง้ƒจใฎ้ซ˜ใ•ใฏ16.5ใ‚คใƒณใƒ (41.91cm)ใงใ™ใ€‚ไปฅๅ‰ใฎใ‚‚ใฎใฏ15ใ‚คใƒณใƒ(38.1cm)ใงใ—ใŸใ€‚ๅฐ‚้–€ๅฎถใซใ‚ˆใ‚‹ใจใ€ๅบง้ƒจใฎ้ซ˜ใ•ใฏๆ˜”ใซๆฏ”ในใ‚‹ใจใฉใ‚“ใฉใ‚“้ซ˜ใใชใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใจใฎใ“ใจใงใ™ใ€‚ Our new toilet has a seat height of 16.5 inches. The previous one was 15 inches. Experts say that the seat height is getting higher and higher compared to the past.

ไปŠใฎใ‚นใ‚ฟใƒณใƒ€ใƒผใƒ‰ใฏ16.5ใ‚คใƒณใƒใงใ™ใŒใ€ADA(Americans with Disability Act ใ‚ขใƒกใƒชใ‚ซใฎ้šœๅฎณ่€…็”จ) ใฎใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌใฏ17-19ใ‚คใƒณใƒใจๆ›ดใซ้ซ˜ใ่จญๅฎšใ•ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚ใฟใชใ•ใ‚“ใ€่ถณใŒใฉใ‚“ใฉใ‚“้•ทใใชใฃใฆใใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ‚“ใงใ—ใ‚‡ใ†ใ‹ใญใ€‚ The standard now is 16.5 inches, but ADA (Americans with Disability Act) toilets are set even higher at 17-19 inches. I wonder if everyone’s legs are getting longer and longer.

ใ‚‚ใ†ไธ€็‚นใฏใ€่‰ฒใฎใƒใƒงใ‚คใ‚นใŒใ‚ใพใ‚Šใชใ„ใ“ใจใงใ™ใ€‚็™ฝไปฅๅค–ใฎ่‰ฒใฎใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌใ‚’ๆŽขใ™ใฎใฏ่‡ณ้›ฃใฎๆฅญใงใ™ใ€‚ไปŠใฎใƒˆใƒฌใƒณใƒ‰ใŒใใ†ใชใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ‚“ใงใ—ใ‚‡ใ†ใ‹ใ€‚ Another point is that there are not many color choices. It is extremely difficult to find a toilet in any color other than white. Is that what the current trend is?

ใ‚ฒใ‚นใƒˆ็”จใฎใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌใ‚‚ไบคๆ›ใ—ใพใ—ใŸใŒใ€ใ“ใกใ‚‰ใ‚‚ๅŒใ˜ใ็™ฝใ„ใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌใ‚’ๅ…ฅใ‚Œใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ๆœฌๅฝ“ใฏใƒ™ใƒผใ‚ธใƒฅ่‰ฒใ‚’ๅธŒๆœ›ใ—ใฆใ„ใพใ—ใŸใŒใ€่ฆ‹ใคใ‹ใ‚‰ใชใ‹ใฃใŸใฎใงๆ–ญๅฟตใ—ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ We also replaced the guest bathroom and put in a white toilet as well. I really wanted a beige color, but I couldn’t find one, so I gave up.

ใจใ„ใ†ใ“ใจใงใ€ไฝ•ใฏใจใ‚‚ใ‚ใ‚Œใ€็„กไบ‹ใซๆ–ฐใ—ใ„ใƒˆใ‚คใƒฌใŒ่จญ็ฝฎใ•ใ‚Œใฆใ€ไบŒๅนด่ถŠใ—ใฎ้ก˜ๆœ›ใŒๅถใˆใ‚‰ใ‚Œใฆใจใฆใ‚‚ใƒใƒƒใƒ”ใƒผใงใ™ใ€‚ใ‚ใ‚ŠใŒใจใ†ใ€ใƒใƒณใกใ‚ƒใ‚“๏ผ So, at any rate, I am very happy that the new toilets were successfully installed and my two year long wish has been fulfilled. Thank you, Banchan!

ใ‚นใƒ—ใƒฉใ‚ฆใƒˆใใฎๅพŒ More Sprouting Attempts


2้€ฑ้–“ๅ‰ใ€ๅˆใ‚ใฆใƒ–ใƒญใƒƒใ‚ณใƒชใƒผใฎใ‚นใƒ—ใƒฉใ‚คใƒˆๆ ฝๅŸนใ‚’่ฉฆใ—ใฆใฟใพใ—ใŸใ€‚็ตๆžœใฏๆƒจๆ•—ใงใ—ใŸใ€‚ Two weeks ago, I tried growing broccoli sprouts for the first time. The results were disastrous.

็ฟŒ้€ฑใ€ใƒกใ‚คใ‚ฝใƒณใ‚ธใƒฃใƒผใงใฎๆ ฝๅŸนใŒ่‰ฏใ„ใจใ„ใ†YouTuberใฎๅŠฉ่จ€ใซใ‚ˆใ‚Šใ€ใ‚ธใƒฃใƒผใซๅ…ฅใ‚Œใฆ่‚ฒใฆใฆใฟใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ The following week, on the advice of YouTubers who said that growing them in mason jars was a good idea, I took their advice and started them in jars.

ๅณใŒใ‚ขใƒซใƒ•ใ‚กใƒซใƒ•ใ‚กใงใ€ๅทฆใŒใƒ–ใƒญใƒƒใ‚ณใƒชใƒผใงใ™ใ€‚ Alfalfa is on the right and broccoli is on the left.

ใ‚ขใƒซใƒ•ใ‚กใƒซใƒ•ใ‚กใฏใ‚นใ‚ฏใ‚นใ‚ฏใจๆˆ้•ทใ—ใ€ใƒ“ใƒณใซใ„ใฃใฑใ„ใซใชใฃใฆใ—ใพใฃใŸใฎใงๅ–ใ‚Šๅ‡บใ™ใ“ใจใซใ—ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ The alfalfa grew well and filled the bin totally full, so I decided to take them out.

ๆฏŽๅ›žใ“ใ‚“ใชใซๆ ฝๅŸนใงใใ‚‹ใชใ‚‰ๆฏŽ้€ฑๆ ฝๅŸนใ—ใŸใ„ใงใ™ใ€‚ใƒ–ใƒญใƒƒใ‚ณใƒชใƒผใฏใใฎๅพŒใ‚‚ใ†๏ผ‘ๆ—ฅใŠใ„ใฆ็ต‚ไบ†ใจใ—ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ If I could do so well like this all the time, I would grow them every week. The broccoli was then left for one more day to finish.

ใกใชใฟใซใ€ๅณใฎๅ†™็œŸใ€ใƒ•ใƒฏใƒ•ใƒฏใฎใƒ’ใ‚ฒใฎใ‚ˆใ†ใซ่ฆ‹ใˆใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใฎใฏ็ดฐใ„ๆ นใงใ€ใ‚ซใƒ“ใงใฏใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ›ใ‚“ใ€‚By the way, in the photo on the right, what looks like fuzz are actually thin roots, not a fungus.

็ถบ้บ—ใซๆด—ใฃใŸๅพŒใฎใ‚ขใƒซใƒ•ใ‚กใƒซใƒ•ใ‚กใงใ™ใ€‚ This is alfalfa after washing.

ใƒใƒณใกใ‚ƒใ‚“ใŒๅ…จ้ƒจใ‚ตใƒณใƒ‰ใ‚คใƒƒใƒใซๅ…ฅใ‚Œใฆ้ฃŸในใฆใ—ใพใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ Banchan put them all in a sandwich and ate it.

ใใ—ใฆไปŠ้€ฑใ€ๆฌกใฎใƒใƒƒใƒใ‚’ๆ—ฅๆ›œๆ—ฅใซๅˆใ‚ใฆ2.๏ผ•ๆ—ฅใŒ็ตŒใกใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ไปŠๅ›žใฏๅ‰ฒใ‚Š็ฎธใฎไธŠใซ็“ถใ‚’ไน—ใ›ใฆๆฐดๅˆ‡ใ‚Šใ‚’ใ—ใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚ใ€€Then this week, I started the next batch on Sunday and it has been 2.5 days. This time I drained the bottles on disposable chopsticks.

ใ™ใงใซใ‚ขใƒซใƒ•ใ‚กใƒซใƒ•ใ‚กใฏ็™บ่Šฝใ—ใฆใฟใพใ™ใ€‚ใƒ–ใƒญใƒƒใ‚ณใƒชใƒผใฏใพใ ๅ…†ๅ€™ใŒ่ฆ‹ใˆใพใ›ใ‚“ใ€‚ใ€€Already alfalfa is trying to germinate. Broccoli shows no signs yet.

ใจใ“ใ‚ใงใ€ใ“ใกใ‚‰ใฏ็งใฎใƒˆใƒฌใƒผใƒŠใƒผใฎใ‚ขใƒซใƒ•ใ‚กใƒซใƒ•ใ‚กใงใ™ใ€‚ใƒˆใƒฌใ‚คใฎไธŠใงใฎๆ ฝๅŸนใชใฎใงใจใฃใฆใ‚‚ๅ…ƒๆฐ—ใใ†ใงใ™ใ€‚ใ€€By the way, this is my trainer’s alfalfa. It is grown on a tray and looks very healthy.

ๆฌกใฏใ“ใกใ‚‰ใฎๆ–นๆณ•ใซใ—ใฆใฟใ‚ˆใ†ใ‹่ฟทใฃใฆใพใ™ใ€‚ๆ–ฐ้ฎฎใชใ‚นใƒ—ใƒฉใ‚คใƒˆใ€็พŽๅ‘ณใ—ใ„ใงใ™ใ‹ใ‚‰ใญใƒผ๏ผใ€€I’m wondering if I should try this method next time. Fresh Sprouts are no doubt so good!

ใƒใ‚คใ‚ญใƒณใ‚ฐใฎๅ–œใณ The Joy Of Hiking


ๆš‘ใ„ใฎใงใ€็งใŸใกใฏๆœ3ๆ™‚ๅŠใซ่ตทใใฆใ‚ถใ‚คใ‚ชใƒณๅ›ฝ็ซ‹ๅ…ฌๅœ’ใฎ่ฅฟใซๅ‘ใ‹ใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ It was hot, so we got up at 3:30 AM and headed to the west side of Zion National Park.

ๆ—ฅใฎๅ‡บๅ‰ใ ใฃใŸใฎใงใ€ๆœˆใŒๅฑฑใฎๅพŒใ‚ใซ่ฆ‹ใˆใฆใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใ€€Just before sunrise, the moon was visible behind the mountains.

ใ“ใ‚ŒใŒใ‚ถใ‚คใ‚ชใƒณๅ›ฝ็ซ‹ๅ…ฌๅœ’ใฎๅ…จไฝ“ๅƒใงใ™ใ€‚ใปใจใ‚“ใฉใฎ่ฆณๅ…‰ๅฎขใฏๅ—ใ‚ฒใƒผใƒˆใ‹ใ‚‰ๅ…ฅใ‚Šใ€่ตคใ„็ทšใงๅผ•ใ‹ใ‚ŒใŸไธญๅฟƒ้ƒจใฎๆธ“่ฐทใ‚’่ฆ‹ใฆๅธฐใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚ๆฎ‹ๅฟตใชใ“ใจใซใ“ใ“ใฏใ‚ทใƒผใ‚บใƒณไธญใฏไธ–็•Œไธญใ‹ใ‚‰ๆฅใฆใใ ใ•ใ‚‹ไบบใŸใกใงๆบขใ‚Œใ‹ใˆใฃใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚ This is the overall view of Zion National Park. Most visitors enter through the south gate, see the central canyon outlined in red, and leave. Unfortunately, this place is overflowing with people from all over the world during the season.

ใ ใ‹ใ‚‰็งใŸใกใฏใใ“ใซใฏๆป…ๅคšใซใ„ใใพใ›ใ‚“ใ€‚ใใ—ใฆใ€ไปŠๅ›žใฏ่ฅฟๅดใซไฝ็ฝฎใ™ใ‚‹ใƒŽใƒผใ‚นใ‚ฒใ‚คใƒˆใƒ”ใƒผใ‚ฏใซ็™ปใ‚Šใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ So we seldom go there. And this time we climbed Northgate Peak West.

่ฅฟใƒŽใƒผใ‚นใ‚ฒใ‚คใƒˆใƒ”ใƒผใ‚ฏใ‹ใ‚‰ใฏๅŒ—ใฎใ‚ฌใƒผใƒ‡ใ‚ฃใ‚ขใƒณใ‚จใƒณใ‚ธใ‚งใƒซใŒ็›ฎใฎๅ‰ใซ่ฆ‹ใˆใพใ™ใ€‚ๅ—ใฎใ‚ฌใƒผใƒ‡ใ‚ฃใ‚ขใƒณใ‚จใƒณใ‚ธใ‚งใƒซใฏใใฎๅพŒใ‚ใซไฝ็ฝฎใ—ใพใ™ใ€‚ From Northgate Peaks West, the North Guardian Angel is visible in front of it. The South Guardian Angel is located even further behind it.

ๅœฐๅ›ณใ‚’่ฅฟใƒŽใƒผใ‚นใ‚ฒใ‚คใƒˆใƒ”ใƒผใ‚ฏใ‹ใ‚‰ใฎๅ†™็œŸใซ็ฝฎใๆ›ใˆใ‚‹ใจใ€ใ“ใ†ใชใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚ Replacing the map with a photo from Northgate Peaks West, it looks like this:

ๅŒ—ใจๅ—ใฎใ‚ฌใƒผใƒ‡ใ‚ฃใ‚ขใƒณใ‚จใƒณใ‚ธใ‚งใƒซใ‚นใฏใใฎ้–“ใ‚’ๆตใ‚Œใ‚‹ๅทใ€ใƒ•ใ‚ฉใƒผใ‚ฏใƒŽใƒผใ‚นใ‚ฏใƒชใƒผใ‚ฏใ‚’ใ‚ฌใƒผใƒ‰ใ—ใฆใ„ใ‚‹ๅฑฑใ ใฃใŸใ‚“ใงใ™ใญใ€‚ใใ—ใฆใ€ใ“ใฎๅทใ“ใ็Ÿฅใ‚‹ไบบใž็Ÿฅใ‚‹ใ€ใ‚ตใƒ–ใ‚ฆใ‚งใ‚คใจๅ‘ผใฐใ‚Œใ‚‹ใ€ๅฅ่„šๅ‘ใ‘ใฎ16kmใฎใƒใ‚คใ‚ญใƒณใ‚ฐใ‚ณใƒผใ‚นใงใ™ใ€‚่จฑๅฏใŒใชใ„ใจๅ…ฅใ‚Œใพใ›ใ‚“ใ€‚ใ€€So the two Guardian Angels, North and South, were the mountains guarding the river that runs between them, the Left Fork North Creek. And it is along this river that those in the know call the Subway, a 10 mile round trip hiking trail for strong hikers. BTW, You cannot enter without a permit.

ใ“ใ“ใ‹ใ‚‰ใฎๆ™ฏ่‰ฒใ‚’่ฆ‹ใชใŒใ‚‰ใ€ใ‚ถใ‚คใ‚ชใƒณใฎๅ…จไฝ“ๅƒใŒๅฐ‘ใ—ใ‚ใ‹ใฃใฆใใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ The view from here gave me a little more of an overall picture of Zion.

ไปฅไธ‹ใฎ่ตคใ„็‚น็ทšใŒๆ˜จๆ—ฅๆญฉใ„ใŸใ‚ณใƒผใ‚นใงใ™ใ€‚้’ใ„็‚น็ทšใฏๅ…ˆ้€ฑๆญฉใ„ใŸๅฑฑใงใ€ใƒ‘ใ‚คใƒณใƒใƒฌใƒผใƒ”ใƒผใ‚ฏใจๅไป˜ใ‘ใ‚‰ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚ The red dotted line below is the trail we hiked yesterday. The blue dotted line is the mountain we hiked last week, named Pine Valley Peak.

ๅœฐๅ›ณไธŠใงใ‚ใ‹ใ‚‹ใ‚ˆใ†ใซใ€้•ทใ„ใ‚ขใƒ—ใƒญใƒผใƒใฎๅพŒใ€็™ฝใ„้ƒจๅˆ†ใซๅ…ฅใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚ใคใพใ‚Šใ€ใ“ใ“ใ‹ใ‚‰ๆœฌๆ ผ็š„ใชๅฑฑ็™ปใ‚ŠใŒๅง‹ใพใ‚‹ใ‚ใ‘ใงใ™ใ€‚ As you can see on the map, after a long approach, you enter a white section. In other words, this is where the real mountain climbing begins.

ใƒˆใƒฌใ‚คใƒซใŒใ‚ใ‚‹ใ‚ใ‘ใงใฏใชใๆ€ฅๅ‹พ้…ใชใฎใงใ€้ ‚ไธŠใซ่ฟ‘ใ„ๅ ดๆ‰€ใฏ็‰นใซ็ฅž็ตŒใ‚’ไฝฟใฃใฆไธ€ๆญฉๅ‰ใซ่ธใฟ่พผใ‚“ใงใ€ใพใŸๆฌกใฎ่ธใฟ่พผใฟๅ ดๆ‰€ใ‚’ๆŽขใ™ใจใ„ใ†ใ‚นใƒชใƒชใƒณใ‚ฐใชๅฑฑ็™ปใ‚Šใ‚’ใ—ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ There is no trail, but it is steep, so we had a thrilling climb up the mountain, especially near the top, where we nervously took one step forward and then looked for the next place to climb again.

ใกใ‚‡ใฃใจไผ‘ๆ†ฉใฎ่ฑ†็Ÿฅ่ญ˜๏ผšใ‚ถใ‚คใ‚ชใƒณๅ›ฝ็ซ‹ๅ…ฌๅœ’ใฎๅฒฉใฏใƒŠใƒใƒ›็ ‚ๅฒฉใงใ™ใ€‚ๆ˜”ๆตทใ ใฃใŸ้ ƒใซๅ †็ฉใŒ้€ฒใ‚“ใงใงใใŸๅ ดๆ‰€ใงใ™ใ€‚ใ ใ‹ใ‚‰็ ‚ใฎใ‚ˆใ†ใชๆตใ‚Œใฎ็ทšใง่ฆ†ใ‚ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ€‚ใใ—ใฆใ€ใใฎๅพŒใฎ้•ทใ„้–“ใฎๆตธ้ฃŸไฝœ็”จใฏ้‡ใ„้‰„ๅˆ†ใ‚’็ ‚ๅฒฉใ‚’ๆตธ้€ใ—ใฆไธ‹ๆ–นใธๆตใ—ใฆใ„ใฃใŸใŸใ‚ใ€ไธ‹ๆ–นใฏ่ตคใ้Œ†ใณใŸ่‰ฒใงใ€ไธŠๆ–นใฏ่‰ฒใŒๆŠœใ‘ใฆ็™ฝใใชใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใจใ„ใ†ใ“ใจใงใ™ใ€‚

Here is a short trivia break: The rocks in Zion National Park are Navajo sandstone. They were formed by sedimentation when the area was once an ocean. So they are covered with sandy flow lines. And then erosion over a long period of time exposed the sandstone. Then water washed the heavy iron downward through the sandstone, so the lower part is a rusty red and the upper part has lost its color and is white.

ใ•ใฆใ€็ช็„ถใงใ™ใŒใ€ใชใœใƒใ‚คใ‚ญใƒณใ‚ฐใŒๅฅฝใใชใ‚“ใงใ™ใ‹ใจ่žใ‹ใ‚ŒใŸใ€ใฉใ†็ญ”ใˆใพใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ Well, it’s a sudden question but if someone asked you why you like hiking, how would you answer?

็งใฎ็ญ”ใˆใฏใ€ใƒใ‚คใ‚ญใƒณใ‚ฐใงใชใใฆใ‚‚ใ€ใŸใ ๅค–ใ‚’ๆญฉใ„ใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ ใ‘ใงใ‚‚ๅŒใ˜ใงใ™ใ€‚ใŸใใ•ใ‚“ใฎ็™บ่ฆ‹ใŒใ‚ใ‚‹ใ‹ใ‚‰ๆฅฝใ—ใใฆใ—ใ‚‡ใ†ใŒใชใ„ใ‚“ใงใ™ใ€‚ My answer is the same, even if I am not hiking, just walking outside. I have so much fun because I discover many things during the walk.

็™บ่ฆ‹ใŒใŸใใ•ใ‚“ใ‚ใ‚Šใ™ใŽใฆๆถˆๅŒ–ใ—ใใ‚Œใพใ›ใ‚“ใ€‚ๅฑฑ้“ใ‚’ๆญฉใ„ใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใจใ€ๅœฐ้ขใฎ็Ÿณใ“ใ‚ใงใ•ใˆ้ข็™ฝใ„ใ€‚ไธ‹ใฎๅ†™็œŸใฏใ€ใ‚ณใƒณใ‚ฏใƒชใƒผใ‚ทใƒงใƒณใŒ้€ฒใ‚“ใงใ„ใ‚‹ใ‚‚ใฎใงใ™ใ€‚ไฝ•ๅƒๅนดใ‚‚ใฎๆ™‚ใ‚’่ถŠใˆใฆๅค‰ๅŒ–ใ—ใฆใ„ใๆง˜ใ‚’ๅžฃ้–“่ฆ‹ใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ‚ˆใ†ใงใ™ใ€‚ใ€€There are too many discoveries to digest. Even the stones on the ground are interesting when walking along the mountain paths. The photo below shows a concretion in progress. It is like catching a glimpse of change over thousands of years.

ใ“ใกใ‚‰ใฏใƒžใƒ„ใƒจใ‚คใ‚ฐใ‚ตใ€‚ๆœ่ฆ‹ใŸๆ™‚ใฏๅ…ƒๆฐ—ใ ใฃใŸใฎใซใ€ๅธฐใ‚Šใซใฏใ‚‚ใ†่Žใ‚“ใงใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใŸใฃใŸๆ•ฐๆ™‚้–“ใฎ้–“ใฎๅ‡บๆฅไบ‹ใงใ™ใ€‚ใ“ใ‚“ใชๅฐใ•ใช็™บ่ฆ‹ใซๅฟƒใ‚’ๅ‹•ใ‹ใ•ใ‚Œใพใ™ใ€‚ This is Fragrant Evening Primrose. It was healthy like the picture below when I saw it in the morning, but it had already wilted on the way back to our car. It happened in just a few hours. I am moved by such a small discovery.

็™บ่ฆ‹ใฏๆ„Ÿๅ‹•ใซใคใชใŒใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚็พŽใ—ใ„ใ‚‚ใฎใฏใใฎใพใพใงๆ„Ÿๅ‹•ใ‚’ๅ‘ผใณ่ตทใ“ใ—ใฆใใ‚Œใพใ™ใ€‚ Discoveries are inspiring. Beautiful things evoke an emotional response just as they are.

่‹ฆใ—ใ„็™ปใ‚Š้“ใ‚‚ใ€ไฝ“ใ‚’ๅ‹•ใ‹ใ—ใฆๆฑ—ใ‚’ๆตใ™ใ“ใจใ‚‚ๆฅฝใ—ใ„ใงใ™ใ€‚็พŽๅ‘ณใ—ใ„ใ‚‚ใฎใ‚’้ฃŸในใ‚‰ใ‚Œใ‚‹ใ‹ใ‚‰ใ€‚ I enjoy the painful uphill climb and the physical exertion and sweat. Because I can enjoy eating good food.

ใงใ‚‚ใ€ๆ—ฉ่ตทใใฏใ‚„ใฃใฑใ‚Šๅฅฝใใซใชใ‚Œใชใ„ใชใใ€‚ But I still don’t like getting up early.

ใƒฆใ‚ฟๅทžใฎๅทž่Šฑ Utah’s State Flower


ใ‚ปใ‚ดใƒฆใƒชใงใ™ใ€‚ใ€€Sego lily.

ใ‚ถใ‚คใ‚ชใƒณๅ›ฝ็ซ‹ๅ…ฌๅœ’ใฎ่ฅฟๅดใ€ใƒ‘ใ‚คใƒณใƒใƒฌใƒผใƒ”ใƒผใ‚ฏใฎใƒˆใƒฌใ‚คใƒซๆฒฟใ„ใซๅ’ฒใ„ใฆใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใ€€It was blooming along the Pine Valley Peak trail on the west side of Zion National Park.

ใ“ใฎ่ŠฑใŒใชใœๅทžใฎ่ŠฑใซๆŒ‡ๅฎšใ•ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ‹ใจใ„ใ†ใจใ€ๆ˜”ใ€้ฃข้ฅ‰ใง้ฃŸ็ณง้›ฃใซใชใฃใŸๆ™‚ใซใ€ใ“ใฎ่Šฑใ‚’้ฃŸในใฆๅ‘ฝใ‚’็น‹ใ„ใ ใจ่จ€ใ†่ฉฑใŒๆฎ‹ใ•ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ‹ใ‚‰ใงใ™ใ€‚ใ„ใ‚ใ„ใ‚ใชใƒฌใ‚ทใƒ”ใŒใ‚ใ‚‹ใ‚ˆใ†ใงใ™ใ€‚ใ€€The reason why this flower is designated as the state flower is because there is a story that in the past, when there was a shortage of food, people ate this flower to save their lives. Even today, there are various recipes for this flower.

ใจใ“ใ‚ใงใ€ใ“ใฎใƒใ‚คใ‚ญใƒณใ‚ฐใงใ™ใŒใ€ๆฐ—ๆธฉใŒ40ๅบฆ่ฟ‘ใใพใงไธŠใŒใ‚‹ใฎใงใ€6ๆ™‚ๅŠใ”ใ‚ใ‹ใ‚‰ๆญฉใๅง‹ใ‚ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใ€€This hike, by the way, started around 6:30 a.m. because the temperature rises to nearly 105F degrees.

ไน…ใ—ใถใ‚Šใฎใ‚ถใ‚คใ‚ชใƒณใฏๆฐ—ๆŒใกใŒ่‰ฏใ‹ใฃใŸใงใ™ใ€‚้›ชใ‚‚ใ™ใฃใ‹ใ‚Šๆบถใ‘ใฆใ€ๆฐดๆบœใ‚Šใ‚‚ใ‚ใพใ‚Šๆฎ‹ใฃใฆใ„ใพใ›ใ‚“ใงใ—ใŸใŒใ€ใ„ใใคใ‹่ฆ‹ใคใ‘ใŸๆ‰€ใงใฏใ‚ซใ‚จใƒซใŒๆฐ—ๆŒใกใ‚ˆใ•ใใ†ๆณณใ„ใงใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใ€€I hadn’t been to Zion in a long time and it felt good. The snow had melted and there were not many puddles left, but there were frogs swimming happily in some of the places we found.

ใพใŸใ€ใ“ใกใ‚‰ใฎใƒ“ใƒ‡ใ‚ชใฏใ‚ขใƒกใƒณใƒœใ‚ฆใจใ‚ชใ‚ฟใƒžใ‚ธใƒฃใ‚ฏใ‚ทใŒ็‹ญใ„ๆฐดใฎไธญใงใฒใ—ใ‚ใๅˆใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใจใ“ใ‚ใ€‚ใ€€Also, here is a video of water striders and tadpoles that are crammed together in a tiny pool.ใ€€

ๆฐดใฏๅคงๅˆ‡ใงใ™ใญใ€‚ใ€€Water is important.

ใ‚ชใƒผใ‚ฌใƒ‹ใƒƒใ‚ฏๆŽƒ้™คๆฉŸ Organic Cleaner


ๅ‰ๅบญใฎใƒ‡ใ‚ถใƒผใƒˆใ‚ฆใ‚ฃใƒญใƒผใฎๆœจใ€‚ This is a Desert Willow tree in our front yard.

็ถบ้บ—ใช่ŠฑใŒใŸใใ•ใ‚“ๅ’ฒใ„ใฆใใ‚Œใพใ™ใ€‚ They are full of beautiful flowers.

ใใ—ใฆใ€ๆฏŽๆ—ฅใ€ใ‚ณใƒƒใƒˆใƒณใƒ†ใƒผใƒซ้”ใซ่ฝใกใŸ่Šฑใณใ‚‰ใ‚’็ถบ้บ—ใซใ—ใฆใ‚‚ใ‚‰ใฃใฆใพใ™ใ€‚ใ€€Every day, we have the cottontails clean up the fallen petals.

ๆ˜ผใ‚‚ใ€‚Day

ๅคœใ‚‚ใ€‚And night.ใ€€

24ๆ™‚้–“ๅ–ถๆฅญใฎใ‚ชใƒผใ‚ฌใƒ‹ใƒƒใ‚ฏๆŽƒ้™คๆฉŸใงใ™ใ€‚ ใฟใ‚“ใชใ€ใ‚ใ‚ŠใŒใจใ†๏ผ They are 24-hour organic vacuum cleaners. Thank you all!

ใƒ–ใƒญใƒƒใ‚ณใƒชใƒผใฎใ‚นใƒ—ใƒฉใ‚ฆใƒˆ Broccoli Sprouts


ใ—ใฐใ‚‰ใๅฎถๆ—ใ€็Ÿฅไบบใซไผšใ„ใซใ‚ซใƒชใƒ•ใ‚ฉใƒซใƒ‹ใ‚ขๅทžใซ่กŒใฃใฆใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚1้€ฑ้–“ใ—ใ‹็•™ๅฎˆใซใ—ใฆใ„ใชใ‹ใฃใŸใฎใซใ€่Šฑใฏๆ•ฃใ‚Šใ€ใ•ใพใ–ใพใชใ‚‚ใฎใŒๅพฎๅฆ™ใซๅค‰ใ‚ใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ“ใจใซๆฐ—ใฅใไบ‹ใฃใฆใ€ไฝ•ใ ใ‹ๆฅฝใ—ใ„ใ€‚ใ“ใ†่จ€ใ†ๅค‰ๅŒ–ใฏใ€ๆฏŽๆ—ฅใฎไบ‹ใ ใจๆฐ—ใŒใคใ‹ใชใ„ใ‹ใ‚‰ใชใ‚“ใงใ—ใ‚‡ใ†ใ‹ใญใ€‚ I was in California for a while visiting family and friends. Even though I was only gone for a week, it was kind of fun to notice that the flowers are falling and things are changing in subtle ways. I guess it’s because you don’t notice these changes if it’s an everyday thing.

ๅธฐๅฎ…ๅพŒใ€ๆ—ฉ้€Ÿไฝ“ๅŠ›ไฝœใ‚Šใ‚’ๅ†้–‹ใ—ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ๅŒๆ™‚ใซใ€ใƒˆใƒฌใƒผใƒŠใƒผใ‹ใ‚‰ใƒ–ใƒญใƒƒใ‚ณใƒชใƒผใฎ็จฎใจใ€ใ‚นใƒ—ใƒฉใ‚ฆใƒˆใ‚ญใƒƒใƒˆใ‚’ใ„ใŸใ ใ„ใŸใฎใงใ€ใ‚นใƒ—ใƒฉใ‚ฆใƒˆๆ ฝๅŸนใ‚’ๅง‹ใ‚ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ After returning home, I immediately resumed physical fitness. At the same time, I started growing broccoli sprouts because my trainer gave me a sprout kit.

่ชฌๆ˜Žๆ›ธใ‚’ใ˜ใฃใใ‚Š่ชญใฟใพใ—ใŸใŒใ€่ฉณใ—ใ„ใ“ใจใพใงใฏๆ›ธใ‹ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใพใ›ใ‚“ใ€‚ใ ใ‹ใ‚‰่‡ชๅˆ†ใฎๅˆคๆ–ญใง้€ฒใ‚ใ‚‹ใฎใงใ™ใŒใ€ไปŠๅ›žใฏใใ‚ŒใŒใ†ใพใ่กŒใ‹ใชใ‹ใฃใŸไพ‹ใงใ™ใ€‚ I read the instructions carefully, but they don’t go into detail. So I proceeded on my own judgment, and this is an example where that did not work.

ๆ—ฅๆ›œๆ—ฅใซใ‚ฟใƒใ‚’ๆฐดใซใคใ‘ใฆใ‚นใ‚ฟใƒผใƒˆใ•ใ›ใฆใ€ๆœˆๆ›œๆ—ฅใ‹ใ‚‰ใƒˆใƒฌใ‚คใซๅ…ฅใ‚Œใฆใ‚ซใƒใƒผใ‚’ใ—ใฆ็™บ่Šฝใ™ใ‚‹ใฎใ‚’ๅพ…ใกใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ I started the seeds in water on Sunday and put them in trays on Monday, covered them and waited for them to germinate.

็ซๆ›œๆ—ฅใฎๆœใ€‚ๅฐ‘ใ—็™บ่Šฝใ—ใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใฎใŒ่ฆ‹ใˆใพใ™ใ€‚ Tuesday morning. You can see a little germination.

ใ“ใฎๅพŒใ€YouTubeใฎใƒ“ใƒ‡ใ‚ชใงใ€ไป–ใฎไบบใŸใกใฎ๏ผ‘ๆ—ฅ็ตŒ้Žใ—ใŸๆง˜ๅญใ‚’่ฆ‹ใŸใฎใงใ™ใŒใ€ใ‚‚ใฃใจ็™บ่Šฝใ—ใฆใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ไฝ•ใ‹ใŒ้•ใ†ใฎใ‹่ฆณๅฏŸใ—ใฆใฟใŸใ‚‰ใ€2ใคใฎใ“ใจใซๆฐ—ใŒใคใใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ After this, I watched YouTube videos of the germination process, and after one day their’s had germinated more. I observed what was different from mine and noticed two things.

็šฟใ‹ใ‚‰ๆฐดๅˆ†ใ‚’ใ‚‚ใฃใจใ—ใฃใ‹ใ‚Šๅ–ใ‚Š้™คใใ“ใจใ€‚ใ‚‚ใ†1ใคใฏใ€ใ‚ซใƒใƒผใ‚’ใ—ใŸใ ใ‘ใงใฏใƒ€ใƒกใงใ€ๆœฌๅฝ“ใซ็œŸใฃๆš—ใชใจใ“ใ‚ใซ็ฝฎใๅฟ…่ฆใŒใ‚ใ‚‹ใ“ใจใ€‚ใใ“ใงใ€ใŠ่“ๅญใŒๅ…ฅใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใƒ‘ใƒณใƒˆใƒชใƒผใฎไธ€็•ชไธ‹ใซ้ฟ้›ฃใ•ใ›ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ The water should be removed more thoroughly from the tray. The other thing is that just covering them is not enough, they need to be placed in a really dark place. So I sheltered them at the bottom of the pantry where the snacks are kept.

ๆฐดๆ›œๆ—ฅใฎๆœใ€‚ใ ใ‚“ใ ใ‚“ๅ‡บใฆใใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ By Wednesday morning, they gradually came out.

ๆ˜จๆ—ฅใ€ๆฐดๆ›œๆ—ฅใฎๅคœใงใ™ใ€‚ Yesterday, Wednesday night, they came out more.

ไปŠๆœใ€๏ผ”ๆ—ฅ็›ฎใฎๆœใงใ™ใ€‚ใ“ใ‚“ใชใ‚‚ใ‚“ใ‹ใช๏ผŸ่ชฌๆ˜Žๆ›ธใซใ‚ˆใ‚‹ใจใ€้ป„่‰ฒใ„่‘‰ใŒๅ‡บใฆใใŸใ‚‰ๆš—ใ„ใจใ“ใ‚ใ‹ใ‚‰ๅ‡บใ—ใฆใ€็›ดๅฐ„ๆ—ฅๅ…‰ใ‚’้ฟใ‘ใฆๅ…‰ใ‚’ไธŽใˆใ‚‹ใจ่จ€ใ†ใ“ใจใงใ™ใ€‚ This morning, day 4. Is this supposed to be what it looks like? The instructions say to take it out of the dark when the yellow leaves appear and give it light, away from direct sunlight.

ๅฟตใฎ็‚บใ€ไปŠใ€ๅˆๅพŒ6ๆ™‚ใพใงๅพ…ใกใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ใ“ใ‚Œใ‹ใ‚‰ใ“ใ‚“ใชๆ„Ÿใ˜ใงๅค–ใซๅ‡บใ—ใฆใŠใใพใ™ใ€‚ใ€€Just to be safe, I waited until 6:00 PM. I will now leave it outside like this.

YouTubeใฎใƒ“ใƒ‡ใ‚ชใงใฏใ€๏ผ”ๆ—ฅ็›ฎใซใฏใ‚‚ใฃใจใ“ใ‚“ใ‚‚ใ‚Šใจๅคงใใใชใฃใฆใ„ใพใ—ใŸใ€‚ๅ…จ็„ถ้•ใ†ใ€‚ใพใ‚ใ€ๆœ€ๅˆใฏใ“ใ‚“ใชใ‚‚ใฎใงใ—ใ‚‡ใ†ใ‹ใ€‚็ฐกๅ˜ใใ†ใซ่ฆ‹ใˆใ‚‹ใ“ใจใงใ‚‚ใ€้›ฃใ—ใ„ใ‚‚ใฎใงใ™ใญใ€‚ In the YouTube video, they were much chunkier and larger by day 4. Totally different from mine. Well, I guess that’s how it is the first time. What looks easy at first glance is difficult when you actually try it.

ๅพŒ๏ผ‘ๆ—ฅใ€้ป„่‰ฒใ„่ŠฝใŒ็ท‘่‰ฒใซใชใฃใฆใใŸใ‚‰ๅฎŒๆˆใฎใ‚ˆใ†ใงใ™ใ€‚Wait one more day. When the yellow buds turn green, they are ready to eat.