Celebrating Chinese Year 4713! The Year of the Sheep! Light the Lamp Not the Rat!

Those born in sheep years are often artistic, charming, sensitive, and sweet. It is known as the most creative sign in the Chinese zodiac.  

This is a Grandma Rat

Unfortunately, for me, I was born in the year of the Rat!  It really doesn't sound too appealing, but this is my Horoscope for 2015 ....                 
Dear Libra, 2015 is simply meant for you! 
You are lucky! Literally! You haven’t had such a successful year in a while, so one can confidently say that in 2015 many positive changes you’ve been dreaming of will take place in your life. But…under one condition, that is if you are ready to change, if you are mature and strong enough to face the upcoming changes. Despite duality, the Scales are naturally very strong personalities! Your only weakness is your thoughts and low wishes which can throw a million reasons at you with the sole goal of taking you off the right path. At times what you are scared of or what you want the least is exactly what you need! 

Wow!  Really?  

Specifically, I was born under the sign of an "Earth Rat".   That does fit with my passion for gardening, but being known as an Earth Rat doesn't seem very charming. 

My Elements are:
Water
Yang
Lucky Flowers:  The Lily (yes, I want to be known as the Lily Queen), the African Violet, and Lily of the Valley.  
Lucky Numbers:  2 and 3  (Time to buy a lottery ticket)
Lucky Colors:  Blue, Golden and Green (avoid yellow and brown)

Positive Traits:

I only posted photos of cute rats!

Trust me, you don't want to know the negative traits or the health risks.

You can check your own 2015 Horoscope here.  

But first, take the time to watch this video of Rizzo!

It's exactly how I feel about being born in the year of the rat.

More:http://www.gotohoroscope.com/2015-horoscope/libra.html

Be Mine in 1948.

Retired Mountain Man's Cousin Kay gave him this beautiful Valentine.  It's a copy of the Valentine he sent to her when he was three years old.  

It was all in a beautiful heart decorated bag with some of her homemade chocolate-covered cherries.  

OH NO!  One is already missing!

SWEET!

Krewe of Cougar Creek 2015

The good times did roll last night at the annual Mardi Gras celebration at Neil and Ann's.   We enjoyed some of the best tasting, authentic Mardi Gras dishes and have kicked off the 2015 festivities!  Good friends.  A little wine and some music!  Life is good!

There's no snow this year. 
Just so you don't forget, this is what it looked like in 2014.  The lighting of the flambeaus.

And now, drum roll please, our royalty for 2015.

Queen Julie and King Bruce!

Where is the Queen?

Our Grand Marshal, Sarah was awesome!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

I need winter!

When I was in Hope yesterday, I noticed that the lawns are getting green.  That is so scary.  I seriously need it to remain winter.  Winter is the time of the year where I don't feel compelled to go outside and work in my gardens or the yard, let alone mow the lawn?  In March?  No, no, no, it can't be happening.  I think I am going to have a come apart!

I need some snow and some colder temperatures.  That means I can stay inside, practice my piano and guitar, study my music theory and just "think" about spring.  I won't even mind shoveling the walk a couple of times.

Please Mr. Weatherman.....  

I know, I know, I know.

No blog posts.  How could anyone be so busy when they are retired and it's the middle of winter and there's nothing to do because it's raining and raining and raining.  Wait!  What happened to our snow?

Let me just say that I like being busy.  I am rehearsing for two gigs, studying my Dick Grove Music Theory and Jazz Piano, practicing my guitar, getting ready to celebrate Mardi Gras, adding some sound proofing to our music room and trying to get some exercise swimming at the health club.  What else could there be to do?  I am retired as in "Retired Mountain Lady".


And "yes", no one really cares what I ate for breakfast.



Today is the Cougar Creek Band's Mardi Gras gig at the Hope Memorial Community Center.  It will be a lot of fun and a bit of relief from the mid-winter blahs.  Bring it on!

A little humor is also very helpful to get rid of the winter blues.
I loved the definitions of these terms which came to us in an email from our friend Dan.   It's very good advice.

I have used every one of them at some point over the years.   Retired Mountain Man really gets punchy when I respond with, "nothing".

I think my favorite though is "Go ahead".     (Think Dirty Harry)

WOW!