Images from the mid-summer, 2019

Japan’s summer is notoriously sultry.

 The weather of this summer went to extreme in a different way from the last year's 

long life-threatening heat wave.

This summer's specialty was humidity.

Even when it was "sunny", the humidity hovered around 65-70. 
I felt like that I was choked in sauna.

Victoria Cruziana at the Kusatsu Aquatic Botanical Garden

A feel of coolness

Butterflies flit around the flowers which adorn Stone Buddhist statues 

at the Gangoji Temple in the late July.

Mid-august is the time to appreciate peace and the sacrifice of the past people.

Also the time to welcome our ancestors back to this world for a couple of days.

Hope we are sowing the seeds of peace so that our future generation can harvest.

The bamboo lantern ornaments at the Tokae Candle Lighting Festival.

Sunflowers and blossoms of Crape Myrtle are two of my favorite summer flowers.

They were complementing each other at the Umami Hills Park

when my husband and I stopped by after paying a visit to our ancestors' grave.

Being sun-drenched is no sweats for them,

while as for myself I was gasping for fresh air perspiring.

Y's interests towards insects have deepened. 
He observed a larva of cicada climbing a tree in the early evening to shed its nymph exoskeleton at night.
He caught another cicada the next day.

Before flying away to freedom again, the cicada climbed up Y's leg.
He let it do as it likes.

I enjoyed being entertained by my grandchildren.
Summer ends soon enough, and childhood as well.
Wish them the best and exciting childhood as long as it lasts.

Evenings and mornings have gotten cooler,
while daytime temperatures were still high hovering around 35C the past week.
I hope cool, crisp air sooner.

Linked to Mosaic Monday

Our world Tuesday

PS   
My washing machine stopped working suddenly this morning 
after 12 years' working.
Luckily I finished making this post last night.
I'm in the middle of something for a new machine.
Excuse me for not visiting your blog sooner.