Generosity

You cannot imagine the bounty of blessings that come into my kitchen and house.  I realized at last night's dinner that there wasn't a thing except rice, that I had bought.  And Yuma-kun's family is very generous with their rice so many weeks' meals of rice have been supplied by them!

Let's see.  A farmer and friend handed me some absolutely beautiful turnips one day last week.  Some of those went into our miso soup. The same farmer gave me that shungiku green bouquet I was holding the other day.  I made part of those into last night's tempura.

And his wife handed me a bag of home made pickles yesterday afternoon when I was walking Choco.  (I do seem to subconsciously time my morning and afternoon walks with Choco when the farmers are at their fields...)

On another day, a different farmer friend handed me a plastic bag and together we gathered snow peas for that night's dinner.  And when I commented on her pretty poppies she snapped off a little bouquet and then pulled up three or four plants for me to plant in my garden.

"They're weeds to me.  Take all you want!"

So I came home that morning with my arms full of flowers and plants dripping dirt and a bag of snow peas.

Generosity isn't limited to the farmers.  One of the ladies who comes for English at my house brought me a bouquet of roses last week, and yesterday another student gave me a bag of asparagus.  On my way home I stopped at a friend's house and was handed a home-marinated package of meat,

"For your dinner tonight."

Since I don't do any gardening... flowers or vegetables I'm not at all good about reciprocating to these gifts.  Just an enthusiastic "Thank you so much!" and a big smile.  (Maybe I'd better go bake them some cookies...)

Dinner has been good at the Watanabe house this week, and I didn't burn much at all!