It is the year of the Rat.
I took my meditation to the International Bridge.
I walked and thought about the people in my sister city.
I thanked them for sharing their culture
and their ancient knowledge.
I thanked those in my other sister city.
Their ways are beautiful.
A strong breeze blew the good luck lanterns.
A flock of geese flew over the bridge.
My thanksgivings were sent.
16 comments:
I didn't know how to e-mail you, but I have chosen you for a You Make My Day award. You can read about it on my blog. - Karen
http://karenink.typepad.com/
Thanks to you I learned that Charlotte has seven sister cities, one of them is Baoding, China, 85 mi. north of Beijing. Cool.
Nice post, Sherry. You are always interesting.
How beautiful and lovely is everything you share.......
Love Jeanne ^j^
Dear Karen,
Thank you for the award! I am honored you come and enjoy the pictures of the birds. I am patiently waiting for the butterflies to return. Photography has been my artistic expression for the last couple of years. Learning the camera and lens has taken me awhile.
Maybe I will open my art chest back up and create something.... Yet, the light is just perfect right now. Maybe tomorrow I will get the paints out. For now I want to go outside. I want to be with the birds and the light and the breeze.
Thank you again,
Sherry
Dear Mary,
Birds of China would be very interesting as would the butterflies. Kansas City has plans for a Japanese Garden. It is to be built in the city. I have never been civic minded but I could get involved with a garden or a Butterfly Conseratory. In the winter I would go to the garden and would happily spend time with butterflies.
Happy Lunar New Year. I would love to send you a fortune cookie.
Confucius Q says,
"You will receive many blessings.
Lucky numbers 5-3-1."
There also is a solar eclipse today that those in New Zealand could see.
Busy day and I do not do busy!
Hugs,
Sherry
Dear Jeanne,
Thank you! We live in such interesting times. Information is readily available. I love learning about the different cultures in our world and their traditions.
I have a few lanterns and a wee bit of information about the history of Lunar New Year. My kids like it when I send Red Envelopes, they hold money!
:-D (laughing smiley)
;-) (winking smiley)
~:-) (one hair smiley)
Hugs,
Sherry
My husband is a Rat. He is charming & generous to a fault. He has been suffering from depression. I am hoping this year will brighten his outlook.
We are expecting a new little Rat in our family in March, my first Great Nephew.
Dear Meggie,
Did you watch the solar eclipse?
Not sure exactly where you are and where the eclipse was to be seen.
People born in the year of the Rat are suppose to be very family centered too. I will include your husband in my thoughts. Depression can be so hard. Different family members have also had long periods of depression. Love him right on into feeling good again.
My husband and I both were born in the year of the Dragon.
A new baby! That is exciting. I have three great nephews.
Much prosperity to you in this New Year. May your rains stop for a bit so you can enjoy the beach!
Sherry
Happy Chinese New Year. What beautiful colourful images.
Happy Rat Year. That sounds odd. I just watched the movie Rattoullie. It was a fun movie. It has a side shoton the DVD about rat things. It mentioned the year of the Rat amongst other bits of knowledge about rats.
Dear Deb,
I was so pleased to see my city put up the lanterns a few years ago. They have lights in them too and at night the foot bridge looks so pretty. Our Art Museum also has a nice Chinese and Japanese Art section.
Sherry
Dear Lisa,
I am far behind on my movie reviews! I will get to them this weekend.
I will put "Rattoullie" on the queue.
Rats are most likely a mis-understood creature. The Black Plague may have given them a bad reputation.
Happy New Year!
Sherry
Thank you for the international post. I like the photo of the lantern.
Wow you have many sister cities! How wonderful to be able to appreciate other cultures and exchange visits in this way. A belated Happy Chinese New Year to you :-)
Dear Marvin,
The lanterns stay up until full moon. Like Mardi Gras, the celebration last a couple of weeks.
I do a day for each! Not my traditions but I think they are beautiful and fun.
Sherry
Dear Chris,
The cultural exchange is very nice. I am looking forward to learning more about each of the sister cities. I found a pair of Persion slippers the other day.
Now to get an outfit to go with!
I have my Japanese silk dresses and purses. One culture at a time!
Happy Chinese (Lunar) New Year to you too.
Sherry
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