Those flowers / 那些花兒

我們正式進入炎熱的夏季，高溫的日子裡，我開始懷念春天的清爽和繽紛，和那些花兒。

We have officially ushered in the sweltering summer. On the sultry summer days, I can't help but miss the cool, colorful spring, and those flowers. 

        四月裡，我們帶孩子去採用來裝飾個人花環的花朵。

     In April, we invited the children to pick the flowers they would like to use for their head garlands. 

        孩子們在花園樹叢裡來來回回地跑，我好喜歡他們在陽光下奔跑的樣子。

     The kids enjoyed running back and forth in the gardens, which never failed to fascinate me when I looked at them. 

        撿了好多賞心悅目的葉子和花朵。

     The leaves and flowers were so pleasing to the eye. 

        開始花環DIY，媽媽比孩子們還興奮。

     As we began the DIY lesson, the mothers were actually more excited than their kids. 

        成品超級美麗！

     What beautiful wreaths! 

        孩子們也愛不釋手！

     The kids didn't feel like taking the garlands off their heads at all. 

        戴上花環再去戶外玩灑花的遊戲！多美好的季節和童年！ 

     With the garlands on, the children couldn't wait to go outdoors to play the game of tossing petals into the air. They certainly knew how to make best use of the beauty of the spring season!

The breeze / 微風

Live lightly like the breeze. 

Grapes and wisteria / 葡萄和紫藤

小狐狸的困境：葡萄和紫藤，我可以兩個都要嗎？ 

The dilemma of the fox: Can I have both grapes and wisteria? 

Smell of spring / 春天的味道

雨停了，春天植物開花的味道又瀰漫在空氣中；聞到柚子花香味，便直覺地聯想到灑滿陽光的春日。

When the rain stops, the smell of spring fills the air again. The fragrance of pomelo flowers remind me of spring days full of orange sunshine. 

Tai chi / 太極

春天裡，練太極。

Practice tai chi,

in warm spring

Morning exercise / 做早操

春天的早晨，我喜歡特地繞路看做早操的人們，看他們緩慢優雅地擺動身體，我在短暫的某一瞬間也能慢下腳步，吸一口芳香的空氣，然後大步往前邁進。

On spring mornings, I will go out of my way just to take a glimpse at the elderly do morning exercise on the square. Their slow yet elegant movement gives me the freedom to imagine that I can slow down for a second. After inhaling the fragrant morning air, I take a big stride forward with confidence. 

Stone Soup study club 3 / 石頭湯讀書會之三

跳過了上週末下雨的大龍峒之旅，我直接來到石頭湯讀書會的第三次聚會，由黃惠綺老師主講日本繪本，今天的主題是春天。看到老師帶來一大皮箱的日本繪本，我便興奮不已。第一個故事是有關於宅急便先生如何把包裹裡的春天送給住在深山的小朋友們，一邊看美麗的圖片，聽老師念很溫柔的日文，真的是視覺和聽覺的享受。

Having skipped the second gathering of Stone Soup study club last weekend, I came directly to the third lesson, which was hosted by Ms. Hui-chi Huang on the topic of spring in Japanese picture books. I felt all worked up upon seeing her come in with a suitcase filled with picture books. The first book is about how a delivery man drives all the way into a small snowy town in the mountains to deliver packages of spring to children. It was a visual and audio feast to look at the fantastic images and hear the teacher recite in soft Japanese. 

        而這本叫做「野狼飛起來了」的繪本則是作者在某個暴風夜的體驗，故事有關小朋友在風雨交加的夜裡感到不安，作者設計很多動物角色，讓情節充滿想像力，是很迷人的一本書。

   This book titled The Flying Wolf derived from the author's personal experience on a stormy night. It talks about children's anxiety on such a night. She designed many animal roles to make the plot really interesting. Because the style of illustrations really speak to me, I find it to be irresistible.  

        這本以蘋果爲主題的繪本非常天馬行空，一小男孩看到桌上的蘋果之後開始發想，也許蘋果並不是蘋果，可能是內部是葡萄的蘋果，這世界上可能是由蘋果外星人組成的，讀這本書可以完全解放我們的想像力。

   This book based on the theme of an apple is super imaginative. The story starts with a little boy wondering if the apple on the table is really an apple. He wonders it might be an apple with something else inside. Or this world might be full of appliens. It is said the book sold extremely well in Japan. 

        至於這本以免洗筷爲主角的故事，是說一雙叫瓦利的筷子很希望自己被顧客拿來使用，但始終沒有人注意到他，於是他開始一連串的逃亡去不同的餐廳和住家，繪者很厲害地賦予一雙筷子諸多表情和性格，非常可愛的一本書。

   The story in this picture book features a pair of disposable chopsticks named Wally. He wants to be used by customers badly, but no one notices him. He is so desperate that he decides to seek a new chance in other restaurants. The illustrator gave so much life to Wally that it's just impossible for the reader not to love the book. 

        每次去上課都會遇到很有元氣的阿姑，我突然發現她也有順手塗鴉的習慣。

   Every time I run into the energetic lady, and it wasn't until this weekend that I discovered that she has the habit of drawing sketches. 

        後來和阿姑聊才發現，原來她覺得自己忘得很快，但如果有記錄下當時的畫面，就可以保存一點記憶。阿姑還毫不吝嗇地把很多作品和我分享，是非常開朗的人喔！

   In my later conversations with her, she explained that now she forgets easily, but if she makes an effort to sketch, she will get to keep something in her memory. She even shared her works with me. Her optimism is contagious. 

        櫻花是日本繪本中的一大主題，老師也分享好幾本關於季節更迭、生命循環的好書，後面的幾本書都是走畫功路線。

   Cherry flowers are a major theme in Japanese picture books. The teacher also introduced several good books about seasonal change and life cycle. These books impressed me not only with their stories but also with the sophisticated drawing skills of the illustrators. 

        而這本關於死亡的書讀起來令人很有感覺，作者以真誠寫實的口吻討論很重大的議題，繪者的功力也很驚人，聽完故事之後讓我久久不能自已。

   This book about death made a lot of think. The author discusses death in a genuine and realistic tone. The illustrator also did a wonderful job. A lot of us still wanted to talk more about it afterwards. 

        雖然我離出書的夢想還有一大段距離，不過在這過程中的追尋是很幸福的，慢慢地，我好像開始找到之前某些疑問的答案了。下午同孩子和家人去看「如果」劇團的「真假王子」，深深覺得這世界真是充滿太多好玩的事了，要是我不畫繪本，也可以考慮去當舞台劇演員，但我要專注一件事，認真把它做好！

   Though I am still very far away from my dream of having my picture book published, the way to my goal is filled with happiness in that I've got to see so much. Gradually, I have found answers to some of my questions. In the afternoon, my big family and I went to the children's play The Real Prince by the Taiwanese troupe IF. I have to say this world is full of a lot of fun things. If I didn't draw picture books, I would think seriously about being an actress. Having said that, I still prefer to focus on one thing only and give it all my attention! 

I see you / 我看得見你

春天到了，花朵紛紛綻放，樹木也冒出嫩葉，最近經過楓香樹，總不禁流連樹下，觀察新葉的顏色和葉脈的分布。

Spring is in the air. Flowers blossom one after another, and the tender green leaves on the trees transform the cityscape. Lately when I pass by a sweet gum tree, I can't help lingering under it to observe the color and veins of new leaves. 

        年初去拜訪台北市最老的楓香樹，最近卻聽說帶我們去的大哥生病了，當初他告訴我們說，老楓香也一度生病，經過樹醫生治療才又恢復生機。我想春天裡，老楓香一定也萌生無數新葉，我寄了一幅畫給大哥，希望他能儘快康復。

   Earlier this year I had visited the oldest tree in Taipei, a sweet gum tree, but recently I've learned that the gentleman that took us there fell ill. He told us then that the old tree had once become sick. It was with the tree doctor's help that the tree survived. I bet in spring, the sweet gum tree must look rejuvenated again thanks to the canopy of young leaves. To cheer up our tour guide, I sent him a painting, hoping that he will get well soon. 

        人和植物的生命循環有同樣的模式，最近在看一本書叫「植物看得見你」，作者認為植物有知覺也有記憶，如果是這樣的話，我想老楓香樹會關注大哥。而我，下次千萬不要亂摘花。

   There are similar life patterns in humans and plants. I've been reading a book titled What a Plant Knows. The author thinks that plants can feel what is going on in the world. If so, I believe the sweet gum tree will secretly look after our guide. Well, as for me, I shouldn't pick flowers randomly from now on. 

Encountering Chopin / 遇見蕭邦

這個春天在捷運上常常遇到叫蕭邦的男孩，但蕭邦都在睡覺，回家之後搜索音樂家蕭邦的圖片，不知道他會不會覺得大家都浪費了春日的好天氣？

This spring, I often encounter a young boy whose name has the same translation as the musician Chopin in Chinese on the MRT. But the young Chopin is dozing off all the time. I can't help searching for the portraits of the real Chopin. If he were also taking the metro ride, would he feel that people were wasting the beautiful spring days? 

about stars / 關於星星

很多星星藏在夜空裡，等到我們的雙眼適應黑暗之後，才意識到它們的存在⋯

Many stars are tucked inside the dark folds in the sky. They won't reveal themselves until our eyes are adjusted to the dark...

今年春天，小子們和我在社區裡尋找著星星的蹤跡，邊跑邊唱五月天的「恆星的恆心」：你和我，看星星，那夜空，多神祕⋯」

This spring, the boys and I look for the stars in the neighborhood. We run and sing Mayday's Persistence of the Planet: You and I, watch the stars. The night sky, is so mysterious...

spring 3 / 春天 3

這個春天常常帶著男孩們去溜滑梯散步，不知情的人都要以為我是他們媽媽了，不過因為小方可以照顧弟弟，現在我不跟前跟後，而是用我緩慢的腳步，讓孩子們自己先跑去玩。

This spring I often accompany the boys when they go play on the slide. The strangers never doubt the assumption that I am their mother. Now Von is old enough to take care of Kai, so I don't follow hot on their heels. I move at my own slow pace, letting the children lunge forward in excitement.


因為我們有美好的回憶，小方每次總說：汪達姨戴著墨鏡，我們一起去曬太陽。還有身後開得好燦爛的杜鵑花，這是我們再閃亮也不過的春日回憶。

Possessing such beautiful memories, Von always reminisces the moments with a joyful smile: Auntie Wanda wears sunglasses, and we go for a sunbath together. Oh, do not forget the blooming azaleas in the backdrop. All these form our dazzling memories of spring 2013.

spring 2 / 春天 2

為了克服我的藝術障礙期，我讓自己觀察日常生活的細節，感受小確幸，不壓抑情緒或渴望。而春天裡有那麼多美好可以紀錄⋯

To overcome my artist's block, I make myself observe the details of my everyday life and take delight in the little things. Also, I am learning not to repress any emotion or urge. Luckily, there is so much about spring I can record...

spring / 春天

春天，我們每天都去散步曬太陽撿松果，對我們來說，當下的人生沒有任何需要擔心的事⋯

This spring, we go for a long walk in the sun and collect pine cones every day. For us, we don't worry about anything at all during these beautiful moments...

Myatt's Fields Park in May / 春天的米亞法羅公園

今天傍晚從書桌抬頭一看，窗前的樹已經冒出嫩綠的葉子！

This evening when I raised my head, the tree in front of my window has grown some tender new leaves.

從賽倫賽斯特回來之後只想待在家裡，但是每天一定要去米亞法羅公園散步，老實說我覺得它比庫肯霍夫花園還美麗。

Since I came back from the trip to Cirencester, I have felt the strong desire to stay at home. However, it's my routine to go for a walk in Myatt's Fields Park every day. To be honest, I find it much more beautiful than Keukenhof.

樹木都穿上綠色的衣服！

The trees are all clad in green! 

不同品種的花朵輪番綻放，顏色美不勝收。

Different kinds of flowers are in bloom one after another as if they were in a relay game. The colors are more than amazing. 

再來點藍天白雲和陽光，這就是我會最懷念的倫敦景色。

And some clouds, blue sky, and sun. This will be what I miss most about London. 

米亞法羅的下雪天 / snowy days in Myatt's Fields Park 

米亞法羅的秋日 / autumn in Myatt's Fields Park

Cirencester / 賽倫賽斯特

賽倫賽斯特位於倫敦西北西方向距離一百五十公里，我們搭了兩小時又四十分的巴士才到。

Cirencester is about 150 km west northwest of London. It took us 2 hours and 40 minutes to get there by bus. 

賽城曾經是重要的羅馬城鎮，從簡樸的石砌風格可以看出來和一般英式小城不太相同。

Cirencester used to be an important Roman area. You can tell that from its stone architecture, which is different from that of other British towns. 

賽西里山丘城堡，現用來做為賽倫賽斯特預備大學用地。

Cecily Hill Gate. It is now used as part of Cirencester College. 

有店面的蔬果店。

Vegetable and fruit shop. 

一般住宅的門不是很高，巷道裡非常安靜。

The doors to houses are not very tall. It's rather quiet on the streets. 

聖約翰浸禮會教堂。這座教堂裡有羅馬時代、諾曼時期遺留下來的圓柱共存，教堂服務的阿姨要我們親手撫摸歲月的痕跡。因為英國是個很有歷史的國家，我發現英國人在這方面非常感性。

The Church of St. John Baptist. In this church, there are pillars left from the Roman and Norman periods. The lady that works there wanted us to feel the traces of time by touching them. Britain is a country with a long history, I find that the British people are  easily moved when it comes to witnessing historical artefacts. 

教堂背後是優雅寧靜的墓園。

Behind the church is an elegant and serene cemetery. 

我們一到賽城就感受到鄉下居民的熱情，大家很習慣湊過來和我們聊個兩句再繼續前進。這是週五的古董市場。

We were impressed by the locals' friendliness as soon as we arrived in Cirencester. People are used to approaching us for a small talk before moving on. This is the antique market on Friday. 

連我在酒吧和自己用中文喃喃時，年輕人問我是不是在和他說話。

Even when I was murmuring to myself in mandarin in the pub, a young man asked if I was conversing with him. 

賽城很小，所以我們晃了不到兩個小時就有種景點用完的感覺，因為閒著也是閒著，我們見很多年輕人沿著石牆走，我們也就跟著他們。

Cirencester is very small. After strolling for less than two hours, we had the feeling that we had visited all the major tourist attractions. Since we still got a whole afternoon, we decided to follow the young people that walked along the stone wall. 

於是發現了位於賽倫賽斯特公園裡的賽城預備大學。在台灣陌生人是不能隨意進高中以下學校的，我們不只走進去，連學校的工作人員還友善地和我們打招呼，不然我們還都想好了要說我們是轉學生的爛台詞呢！

We thus discovered Cirencester College in Cirencester Park. In Taiwan, strangers are not allowed to walk into schools without any permission. We not only went in, and the staff even greeted us warmly. Well, that saved us the trouble of faking to be the new transfer students. 

我們本來還想在學生餐廳吃一點二五磅的學生餐呢！

We had even planned to try the lunch that cost only 1.25 pounds in the student canteen! 

也有人在戶外用餐。

There were also students that had lunch outdoors. 

還有一些小朋友去公園裡踏青。

Still others went on a hike in the park. 

賽倫賽斯特公園腹地廣大，一片綠意盎然。

Cirencester Park is a vast piece of land vibrant with the green color. 

公園裡有一區給露營車休息的地方。

There is a parking lot for the caravans in the park. 

賽城是科茲沃的大城，而科茲沃是英國西南部綿延的山丘和農地，風景非常出名。

Cirencester is a very major market town in the Cotswold, which is known for the landscape of rolling hills and farm fields in southwest England. 

這些都是我們在路上走來走去看到的農家風景，幾乎每個路過這裡的居民都會摸一下Amigo喔！

These photo shots record scenery we saw while we were strolling along the roads. Almost every resident living here would caress Amigo when passing by. 

最後來到我們今日的重點：科里寧博物館。

In the end we went to the highlight of the trip: Corinium Museum. 

不能說我們受到熱烈的歡迎，但起碼有飲料可以喝。

I couldn't say we received cordial welcome, but at least there were free drinks. 

其實這個展覽很小，是為了慶祝女王登基六十年(1952-2012)而舉辦的，但小鎮裡好多人都盛裝打扮，沒有打扮的人還覺得很不好意思。

In fact, this was a rather small exhibition to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the queen (1952-2012). Many town folks were well dressed, and those who didn't felt kind of bad. 

在賽城處處可見女王登基六十週年慶的宣傳，感覺女王在小城裡更有重量。

There are all kinds of celebrations of the Diamond Jubilee in the town, and we felt the queen's importance here. 

我的紅色雙層巴士在正中心。

My red double-decker is in the middle. 

紅色巴士被印成磁鐵和卡片（右上角）。

It was printed onto magnet and cards. 

勵雯的圖被印成一張二點五磅的卡片喔！

Li-wen's image was printed into a card that costs 2.5 pounds each! 

這是冠軍作品。

This is the winner of the competition. 

在這裡留下我的足跡，我就要踏上回家的路啦！

After leaving my footprint here, I am about to go home!