I started picking* ripe black raspberries from my bush. Some had already fallen to the ground, but I didn`t pick up** those ones. I let the chicken eat them. It seems to like them.
While I was doing that, I saw a Mycalesis madjicosa butterfly (ヒメジャノメ in Japanese, I don`t know in English).
Later, I made jam. I will make more when the other berries have ripened.
Vocabulary:
* pick = 植物から取る
** pick up = 地表面/床面から取る
Ripe`n`Ready = Ripe and Ready
I like camping, so my wife bought this for me. At first I didn`t know what it was, but then it clicked (= I suddenly understood).
Hints: It`s hollow (くうどう 空洞) You can shorten & lengthen it.
The answer is in comments.
Grammar:
the suffix (接尾語) or prefix (接頭語) 'en' often means 'to make' e.g. enlarge = make larger, encourage (励ます) = make courageous/brave, strengthen = make stronger, sadden = make sad
This cafe is next to a big, old textile-weaving factory, which you can walk into* and look around. There are lots of interesting things in there to look at. If you`re into** antiques, local history, etc, I recommend it.
http://www.yutacafe.jp/
Vocabulary:
* walk/go/jump/drive into... = 入る
** be into... = 好き、興味がある
I posted about this banana plant before:
https://en.bloguru.com/otto/402309/plant-plan
It`s* now been 2 months since I potted it, & it`s* doubled in size, so now it`s** time to repot it. I hope it likes its*** new home.
Vocabulary:
* it`s = it has
** it`s = it is
*** its = これの, それの, あれの
I sometimes see cool cars here & there (所々で) in Japan. On this occasion I found a pair side by side. Lucky! The car on the left is a (1972?) Toyota Sprinter Trueno. The white one with a red stripe on the side is a 1965 Ford Mustang.
Vocabulary:
side by side = 並んで
on the left/right = 左/右に
on the side = 外側に付いている
Because of Covid-19*, we haven`t received postcards for a while. However, I made a display frame for the ones we already have. I made it because** I want students to feel motivated to study English, in preparation for the time when we can all travel abroad again. I hope it`s soon.
Because** they are hanging, you can turn them easily to read the messages on the back. Please check them out!
Grammar:
* 'Because of ' + 名詞,
** 'Because' + 文章
My father-in-law recently harvested a lot of potatoes, so I`m selling some for 200 yen a bag. At the moment, I`m selling about a bag a day, so please hurry or you`ll miss out!
Grammar:
- 'per' is often replaced with 'a/an' in spoken English e.g. "60 kilometres per hour / an hour" or "rental is $400 per week / a week"
I watched this 1958 UFO movie with my kids. It was pretty funny, especially the dated (古風な /その時代を物語る) special effects & costumes.
Pronunciation:
- In English, UFO is pronounced 'ユーエフオー’ (not ユーフオー)
I ordered this plant* from Okinawa. It came in a special tall box, which was interesting. For now (とりあえず), I`ve put it in a pot, and then when it grows bigger, I`ll plant** it in the garden somewhere.
Do you know what kind of plant it is...? The answer is in comments.
Vocabulary
*plant (名詞)= 植物 **plant (動詞)= 植える
Last Saturday`s business class was about market research. By chance, one of our students was asked by his friend to do some market research for a new type of tape dispenser, so we used them in our role-plays. It was an nice win-win.
By the way, the special feature of the tape-dispenser is a small, moving blade which cuts the tape. Can you see it? Clever. And kind of fun.
Vocabulary:
- 'research' can be a noun (名詞) or verb (動詞), but noun is more common.
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