Rose Cottage

  恭喜发财 - gong xi fa cai   Blessings in the year of the Wood Snake! May you be blessed as we move forward, shedding old skins and finding new opportunities! Blessing tree The year of the dragon (just ended) asked us to evolve, grow up and let go of old patterns. Three next several days (through February 3) seat the new energies.  In the year of the Snake, we enter young adulthood and can thrive with the strength to accomplish our goals.  Snake medicine invites us to explore and exemplify : Wisdom and intelligence. This is a time to seek knowledge and understanding Caution and prudence - plan your actions and reevaluate.  Mystery and intuition - pay attention! Resourcefulness and adaptability. Tenacious and diligent Transformation and renewal.  The Snake's ability to shed its outgrown skin is a wonderful example of letting go of that which no longer serves! And let what's underneath some! Protection and healing.   Gong xi fa cai   In Asian As...

 Gong Xi Fa Cai! Blessings this year of the Dragon If you've followed my blogs for long, you'll know I love holidays, ceremony rituals! Am annual favorite for over a decade is cleaning and preparing for the Asian of lunar new year. My friend Gwynne is a Feng Shui practioner, and has lovely tips on her  blog  for celebrating Chinese New Year, including:  'Roll 88 cases, or 88, or 8 single oranges one by one through your front door (& every exterior door that enters your home) and across your threshold, as well as real coins, ingots, gold chocolate coins into your home & business to symbolize filling them with abundance of good luck & prosperity. Then share the fruit with friends & neighbors.' Rolling oranges and coins Here's a citrus 'money tree' from a decade ago in the Galloway House -  there's an old Chinese legend of a tree with branches of coins & gold, - when you shake it, the gold falls like rain from heaven! This year I have a ...

 Rose cottage is finished (mostly!) And Percy and I are moved in! It's a process! The storage unit is still full, and I'm working on bringing over the bits and bobs I had at my daughter's the last 6 months! Kitchen corner We plan on replacing the stove (too large for the space!) with a cooktop and air fryer.  We already ordered an electric teakettle - loving this cheery teal!  Electric teakettle and Red Hat 🍵  The Concrete countertops are so attractive and easy to clean! Jorge wanted to add these to his crew skill set, and we were happy to give them a try!  My Feng Shui consultant Gwynne recommended bringing in warmer colors - orange and yellow towels and fruit to help offset the grey. I found some peach and yellow pots for plants on the windowsill,  and took Amanda Gibby Peters' suggestion of frequent bringing in of fresh flowers - i added daffodils to this bouquet from Incahoots .  The Oxford all wood bed is all set up - with linen sheets and comfor...

   The Rabbit year is an especially favorable & mild one, following the more exciting year of the Tiger!  I'm a Tiger, & my Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes says:  "A happier year for the Tiger. Some good news is forthcoming, love & business affairs look rosy. There are still some obstacles, but (s)he will surmount them with little difficulty, & will be quite content with (her) achievements." This is also a good year for those born in Oxen and Snake years -  so welcome!   In general, a Rabbit year brings   "A congenial time in which diplomacy, international relations & politics fare well. We will act with discretion & make reasonable concessions without too much difficulty. Money can be made without too much labor, our life style will be more languid & leisurely. A temperate year with an unhurried pace."   My grandkids enjoy rolling oranges across the doorstep - I  look forward to doing that in Rose Cottage! Another ...