Here's our "bye" to 2013 and "hello" to 2014

The year of the Horse kicked off from February 2014
Jennifer Lamb made this Horse creation to celebrate this year~

What I've read: by Karen Abler Carrasco: Horses symbolize strength and freedom and passion, but they are also notably sensitive animals with the ability to perceive human emotions and respond accordingly.

 In this way, the horse urges us to act deliberately and thoughtfully, and to consult our intuition frequently. 

To act with love and cultivate awareness.

So, as you tap into the cosmological energy of the year and prepare to shake things up, make some noise, and finally put all of that deep introspective work into real world action, don’t forget to consult your Heart, to make love your guiding emotion, and to make being of service your ultimate goal.

The last photos of 2013 and our family affairs follow...

We got to have Thanksgiving real American style with Karl cooking up a feast for all of us.
Smoked turkey out on the BBQ... baked sweet potatoes with marshmellows toasted on top. (That was desert you'd think!).

Then... the next big event was my wedding anniversary with Taka 12/21. Marking 6 years married. (Mind~ we've been together since 1997!) No photos of us on our anniversary but Karl cooked up another big feast that night "Low Country Boil" a seafood extravaganza!

THEN was my birthday 12/23. Naomi made me a DELISH cake, the darling.

For Christmas, Taka brought home this tree that had been taken from it's home, ground Earth, cause it was on someone's property and they didn't want it there any more. We tried to keep it alive~ and it helped us celebrate Christmas. 

(Unfortunately, the tree couldn't live on.. though we planted it outside). 

Christmas Eve Ischin came! Oh, he AND Sheon were coming from Belize and missed their connection, having to stay at the airport one night. They ended up coming Christmas morning~ 

We got Ischin with us until New Year's Eve.

Zen~ showing off a Christmas present from some of us!

 Ischin had special notes for all of us~

           
We got Karl's kids for an extra shot of Christmas Spirit-

Me and my boys-

                                                                       


From December 28th we got to have Frank and Mom come! And first things first TENNIS! Ischin and Zen challenged Taka and Frank while Mom and I got to watch the cute boys go at it.

And then, for all of our entertainment~ Ischin, Naomi, and Sheon tried to get around and shoot around  Zen. Hardly possible, it's like the IMpossible.

From December 29th Carl and Laurie came to California TOO!!! We had two hours with Carl and Laurie, before Zen had to leave to go back to Sonoma State, so I lined up our photographer friend Sally and with Grandmom squeezed in a quickie photo shoot!

At the wharf the next day~ seal's a hollerin'

And seals a'gathering~~

With Mom, and her "kids" and grandkids along for a seaside lunch...

And more food... and beautiful, cooking people...

I cut wine corks to be our chopstick holders~that's what 

I added to the table!

Mom and Frank had to fly out on New Year's Day.

That evening we got to get together at Uncle Lynn's for one more lovely meal, with Grandmom.

Grandmom, at 94~ survives another Christmas. The good food, and love helps!

We don't know when all four of these siblings will get together again. 

For me these kids of mine are the beautifulest foursome I've ever seen!