There is a rice paddy (田んぼ) next to my house. Yesterday the man who owns it plowed the dirt (土を耕す) in the field. I love this time of year.
When the dirt is turned over, I can smell the ocean. It is then that I realize that Japan is really an island country. The dirt (土) has the lovely smell of the ocean （磯の匂い）. It smells different than the dirt in Texas. (And maybe the dirt in Japan also smells different in areas that are farther away from the ocean?)
Anyway, every year, the dirt in the rice field next to my house smells like the ocean.
Of course, my dog barks (吠える) like crazy at the farmer. I feel bad about that! I tell my dog, "That's not our rice paddy! That rice paddy belongs to that man. Stop barking! He's not bothering us!" But of course my dog completely ignores my logical explanations (合理的な説明)! He looked tired last night, after working hard to protect us from the bad and scary tractor (トラクター).
Today the farmer flooded the rice paddy with water. I hope to see the duck couple that comes every year during this season. The frogs should be happy too. I love the sound of frogs during this season too, especially at night.
I'm looking forward to the rice being planted. The young rice plants in the water is one of my favorite scenes in Japan. (I suppose that if I had ever done actual work in a rice paddy, I might not see it so romantically. )
Do you have rice paddies near your house
Do you think they're beautiful, or do they remind you of hard work