Before I knew it, I was in the swamp

Thank you as always.
This is Kuramae, who has completely sunk into the cactus swamp.

I have a disease called polymyositis, so I drop things easily and fall often; therefore, while I want to be comforted, I cannot keep small animals. So, I bought cacti for comfort, thinking they would be fine even if I had to be hospitalized.
After much deliberation, I acquired a cactus called Gymnocactus beguinii, which was 1.5 centimeters in diameter and looked like a small mouse curled up.

Isn't it cute?
I decided to cherish this little one with all my heart and waited impatiently for it to arrive at my home.
And when it arrived, I learned that something unexpected had happened because I used an online shop.

It seems the 'dead-on-arrival compensation system' that always exists when buying and selling living things online also applies to cacti.

Yes, a bonus.
I ended up owning two pots, not just the beguinii, but also a cactus of the same genus with the Japanese name 'Hakurodama'.

And the bonus Hakurodama was even better-natured than the beguinii.

Because of that event, something changed inside me.
I started thinking that two or three were the same thing.

Was that your plan, cactus shop (Nara-ken)!!

Yes, in the end, I clicked on a Gymnocalycium cactus called 'Shudendama' that looked as cute as a nerikiri sweet.
And now, I have four pots of cacti that I must maintain.
Is this why cactus enthusiasts end up with such a staggering number of pots, because they get led on like this?

The plan to sink me even deeper into the swamp was steadily progressing.
A bud appeared on the Gymnocalycium 'Battery', which was a bonus that came with the Shudendama.
However, no matter how long I waited, it wouldn't bloom.
I am a cactus beginner.
The cactus guidebook said, 'Grow them by tightening them.'
Tightening? I don't understand what that means.
So, I bought a cactus glossary by the same author to look up 'grow by tightening' in that book.
However, there was no mention of 'grow by tightening' in that book.
Instead, there was an entry for the word 'beginner (self-proclaimed)'.
People who buy books like this are the real beginners! Put it in there! Grow by tightening!!

Does this mean I have to think for myself after all!!
But all I can do as a beginner is put the cacti in the sun.
Every day, I would wonder what to do, put them out on the balcony to get sunlight,
and bring them back inside after it got dark.

Then yesterday, it finally opened.
Just a little bit.
I brought them in a little earlier than usual in the evening.

Could this be the same as a father who used to come home early when he didn't have overtime, wanting to relax at home?
Like, 'I live for this one beer,' and relaxing a little?

Then, wouldn't a father who worked a half-day be even more lively?

I thought about things like that.

So, I brought the cactus in just after noon today.

( ՞ਊ՞)ノ It bloomed!

ʅ( ՞ਊ՞)ʃʅ( ՞ਊ՞)ʃʅ( ՞ਊ՞)ʃʅ( ՞ਊ՞)ʃ
I feel like I finally understand why the Gymnocalycium genus is a popular variety of cactus, and I am deeply moved by how incredibly Japanese-style and beautiful they are, despite being South American plants.
I want to make the Shudendama bloom next year too.
And I will definitely get the flowering cactus 'Mibu no Yuhi' that the blogger I check every day while growing cacti posted.
With that resolution, it seems my cactus pots will continue to increase.
The cactus swamp is seriously deep; it seems bottomless.

I'm also stuck in the SUIDAKRA swamp.
March Of Conquest (2013)
Official music video
It's fun with visuals that look like the history of the Celts and Romans.