This one just might be my year. In the Chinese zodiac, this is the year of the Dragon. No, I’m not a dragon year, sadly. According to my birthday, I’m a cock! A rooster, of course. It suits me. But I am also a dragon lady. Need any evidence? I just wandered around my house in the last 5 minutes, taking photos:
I am hoping to be surrounded by dragons this year more than usual. Since dragons are my familiar, I hope they infuse my magic with a little more ooompf, and maybe my influence for good will be a little stronger this year!
Last night I was out with some girlfriends celebrating winter birthdays.
Remember not too long ago I made mugs at a pottery store and met some new ladies? One of them is Sheue, who sent this in the mail the other day.
The year is starting off strong, with love, and friends, and invitations to gather. Yesterday in the mail I received an unexpected gift, from my blogging friend Marlene. She sent her love by sharing her gift of quilting, and by knowing that my heart is tied up with my old, sick kitty. She chose colours to match my Racecar, with reduced quilting to maximize fluff and warmth, and made a little Racecar-sized quilt for her heated cat bed. ❤
Pedro has been working so hard to get our greenhouse ready. The former owner built it, but wasn’t quite finished. He had not hung doors (which thankfully were there, and lying on the ground inside), and had left a lot of junk piled inside: notably a broken-down swamp cooler which was huge and heavy and taking up space. Like Marlene showed her love, Pedro has shown his in his way, and has dealt with so much of the finishing touches of the greenhouse. He had to research and purchase hardware to hang the huge doors, which required destroying and rebuilding shelving inside that would have blocked the doors.
Though it’s “our” greenhouse, we have both mentally decided it is “my” greenhouse. This was made clear when he shopped for the perfect covers for large doorknob holes already cut into the doors. They don’t need doorknobs because the doors are now hung on rails and they glide like butter. Pedro purchased dragon door knockers. Want to see my knockers?!
I am a little bit superstitious and fanciful. I like make believe and in some things I just choose to believe. I like that parts of me are childlike even though I am 54 years old.
I like my connection to dragons and it’s a connection I have embraced for most of my life. When I was in my twenties I had a conversation with my stepmother (she died in 2020), and I said that I had been thinking that dragons were maybe to mighty and powerful for me to call my totem. I said I thought I should choose some other more humble symbol. She disagreed, and told me I am a strong woman, and having a strong symbol is appropriate. I liked that, and have been unapologetic about it since then. 🙂
Conscious Engagement 
Pedro is a good man to have around, I think you’ll have the green house full with wonderful plants in no time. Fabulous dragon collection 😀 I do like your knockers Crystal 😁
I have the best knockers! heh heh. Thank you for your support with the greenhouse. I hope to begin filling it with sprouts soon. I have never had a greenhouse in my life and I am just thrilled to learn.
You will love using the greenhouse. I had to add an extra bit to mine and now that’s full as well 😯😀
I am sure your knockers will be kept in good order
I am sure Pedro will be happy to help. 😉
🙂
YES with the new year just days away, and going into the year of the Dragon, we are seeing a lot of Dragons this year.
This makes me very happy. I am so glad to see your comment. ❤ Hope you are well.
A gorgeous greenhouse, Dragon Lady, with fine knockers. Pedro knows you well. May you meet up with many dragons this year.
That is exactly what I hope for: as many dragons as possible. Maybe even a real one. I had a 5 1/2 foot iguana living with me for a while. I considered him a rare real dragon. 🙂
That’s pretty close, Crystal. Peggy and I had a large iguana come in our timeshare villa in Puerto Vallarta once. He has seen a reflection of himself in our window and thought he had competition inside. Since our door was open, in he came! He wandered around while Peggy and I sat there amused/bemused with camera in hand, until he decided that his territory hadn’t been invaded and then walked back out the door!
I loved this post, Crystal and thank you for the picture. I have saved it. You made me laugh here. I loved seeing your knockers and you should have dragons as a totem. Your stepmom was correct. We are all supposed to keep some of the childlike wonder and whimsy in us throughout life, balanced carefully with being responsible about ourselves and our world. They are not exclusive of one another. And yes, that is how many men show love. We all show love in different ways. I’m glad you liked the little quilt and RC gets some comfort from it. I could use a little Dragon energy in my life since I’m pretty much draggin around daily. 😉 Love and hugs.
I’m glad you were able to save the photo. I loved the little quilt. Racecar climbed onto it without hesitation, so it must meet with her approval too. You must know I took the picture just for you. RC helped by posing nicely for me. Also, thanks for letting me know you loved the post. I like knowing when I get a nice combination of story, pics, and prose out there. I’m doing my best to bring some dragon energy your way. I’ll keep you up to date, but so far everything is still on schedule for a visit February 28.
Greenhouse envy!!!!
Ha ha!! I admit, I am in love with the possibilities. I might be overly optimistic about what a greenhouse can buy for me in this climate, but regardless, it’s a fun, dry space to play in.
An earlier start on seedlings, that’s for sure. We get so excited about spring planting that we sometimes start too early and then things fail or get eaten. Also it saves money to do your own starts instead of buying them. I would start bunches of flowers if I had a greenhouse, I can never buy as many as I’d like.
Mmmm, flowers. Good idea. My new place has lots of spots for flowers, and my head is just not in that zone because for the last 8 years I lived in Rainier and couldn’t plant flowers because of the deer.
Astonishing door and knockers!! And what a pretty bed for Racecar. ❤ You are surrounded by love.
Thank you thank you, Door Lady! Once I get it cleaned up, I’m pretty sure it will become one of my favourite doors of all. You are also surrounded by love – certainly by your virtual community. I hope you feel us when you need us. ❤
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Oh, I love all of this! Dragons, huh? Who knew?!! So much creative possibility in that. That Pedro is a catch and I imagine he feels likewise. Cheers to all that thrives in your new space! 💕
Oh I like that, Bonnie. “Cheers to all that thrives in your new space.” I am thinking of the greenhouse in particular, and what is thriving right now is cilantro. When fixing up the chicken pen, I dug out some thyme and planted it inside the greenhouse (one side is just dirt inside), and watered it, hoping to save it from being eaten by chickens. The thyme died, but suddenly we had a huge crop of cilantro sprouting up from the dirt! We have caught rain water all year, and continued to water the cilantro, and it just keeps growing happily out there. What a perfect winter crop for us.