Bedtime Story: The Pillow Book !! (Patreon)

It's official, four deadlines: middle grade, oracle cards, sponsored shows, and another that I can't talk about until everything is signed 🤞, then I'll let you all know before anyone else.So I had an idea ✨💡✨

I read Lafcadio Hearn quite a bit, but how about something else? How about Makura Sōshi, The Pillow Book? Written around the 990s ~ early 1000s, in the Heian Era, by an observant and feisty court lady, Sei Shōnagon. It's a classic alongside The Tale of Genji.

The above MP3 is a bit of Sei's bio and the first two chapters. I'm really looking forward to reading more. I will get back to folktales and myths, too. But for a couple months let's enjoy Sei Shōnagon's delightful observations, beautiful prose, and plucky wit!

I'll get Part 2 of Mount Akahi-san, trekking with photos soon. We leave for Hokkaido in two days and I'm still getting ready for that. Oh, they have ONCE AGAIN decided to plow up the rice fields behind the house and build a neighborhood. This time with a different company. NOT a very nice company, too, it seems. I had a long conversation with my neighbor (the one who I have had some problems connecting with in the past, we're getting better😀), anyway, she was really shocked by how rude and forceful the man was who came to tell her about the project. He was like, I don't care what you think, we're building. You'll be fine. You're garden doesn't need sunlight, you have sun at your front door. ...real jerk.

She was shook.

When I talked to him (probably a different guy), he was visibly trembling. It was freezing out, but I wanted to ask: Are cold or afraid of ME? I did sort of grill him with questions. How close will the house be to mine? (Answer: one meter 🤬) When will you start building? (spring) How long will it take? (six months). Stuff like that.

All that to say, I'm baking cookies to take to Julyan and Kaho and I'm going to give a big plate to the ONE neighbor who is still dai hantai (大反対), strongly against, the building. I have no say in the matter because I don't own the house. But I want to support this family. I asked the contractor dude who it was. He did tell me there was one family who were really angry about it. He freaking told me! So now I know where to deliver cookies and support. Operation Pompoko.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to introducing you all to a different area of Hokkaido. The kids moved to south Hokkaido instead of North Hokkaido and are near the sea and (did I tell you?) their house is super old, but all the houses in that neighborhood have THEIR OWN ONSEN!! IN THE HOUSE!! Yes, I'm so excited. J's hinting heavily that I should buy one of the houses in their neighborhood. ~~ ☁️ the dream ☁️ ~~Miss you all, adore you all　💕, give The Pillow Book Chapters 1 and 2 a listen if you'd like.

XO,