The colors of the sunset this evening were incredible! I opened my room window and took several pictures. The purple, pink, orange, and reds became more intense as it got darker. Bats go hunting in the field next to my house. Can you see it in the picture?

incredible: 素晴らしい several: いくつか、数枚の

more intense: （色が）さらに濃く、強烈に

got darker: 暗くなった　bat: コウモリ

Last night, I stepped outside to see if the lunar eclipse was visible. It was cloudy, but every now and then the moon would come out through the clouds. Since the color of the moon  turned a reddish color, this lunar eclipse is known as a “blood moon”. I’m glad I was able to see it!

step outside: 外に出る　　lunar eclipse: 皆既月食　　visible: 見える, 可視

every now and then:  時々　　reddish:　赤っぽい, やや赤い

On my bike home, I noticed these distinct bushes. In Japanese, they’re known as “Houkigi” (broom trees). They’re starting to change colors now, and I think they will become even more red over the next few days.

distinct: 独特な 　　　bush: 低木

known as: 〜と呼ばれる　（知られている）broom: 帚

over the next few days: 今後数日の間

I took this picture as I was leaving the school in the evening.  I noticed that the letters in the window cast a shadow in the stairwell. Another nice sunset at Sunrise English School!

as I was leaving: （教室を）出る途中　noticed: 気づいた

cast a shadow:　影を落とす／投げ掛ける stairwell: 階段の吹き抜け

sunset: 日没

October 31st is Halloween! I started making paper window decorations this week. Can you tell what they are? There’s a witch on a broom, a few bats, a ghost, a dead tree, and a zombie! Oh, and there’s an orange Jack O’lantern too.

window decoration: 窓の飾り　Can you tell what~?: 何か分かる？

witch: 魔女  broom: ほうき　bat: コウモリ　ghost: お化け

dead tree: 枯れ木　zombie: ゾンビ

Jack O’lantern: カボチャのチョウチン

A few days ago, I was biking around town when I came across some nice sunflowers. The sky was a beautiful blue, and the yellow flowers really stood out. Spring is, of course, a nice season for flowers, but I think the fall is a great time as well.

(bike) around town: 町を（自転車で）走り回る　come across: 出くわす/見かける

stand out: 目立つ　as well: 〜も/同じに

There are many cats that live in our neighborhood. They roam around, and sometimes come into our yard. This orange and white cat looks like our cat, Murny! Murny gets excited when other cars come to visit.

roam around: 歩き回る／徘徊する　yard: 庭　look like~: ~の様に見える

get excited: 興奮する　come to visit: 遊びにくる

It was hot today, but signs of fall are all around. The red spider lilies are beginning to flower! I enjoy seeing the bright red flowers in the rice fields. In Japanese, these flowers are called, Higanbana. Higan in the Buddhist calendar marks the changing of the seasons, and is around the “autumnal equinox” (September 22nd).

signs of fall: 秋期の兆候    red spider lily: 彼岸花　Buddhist calendar: 仏教の暦 changing of the seasons: 季節の移り変わり　autumnal equinox: 秋分の日

Yesterday, we took a walk to a park in our neighborhood. The park is next to Fujiasama Shrine, in Fujioka City. There were many mosquitos at the park, and we got bitten in many places. Many children were playing, and I took a picture of a see-saw. I think the animal is a horse.

took a walk: 散歩した　neighbourhood: 近所　shrine: 神社

mosquitos: 蚊　got bitten: 刺された　seesaw: シーソー

The other day, I went for a bike ride because the weather was nice. I had my camera with me, so I stopped to take some pictures of “Jizo” stone statues. Their red hat and scarves caught my attention. What do you think they’re thinking about? They look like they’re deep in thought.

the other day: この前　stone statue: 石像

caught my attention: 目に留まる   deep in thought: 深く考え込む