After a spectacularly busy summer and autumn, I decided to take some time off to recover and care for my brother who needs care following the loss of his wife and suffering a stroke.
But here we are at the turn of the year, one of my favorite times, the winter solstice. They call this the return to the light, but it is also the darkest time of year. In the Pacific NW, the sun doesn’t rise until nearly 8 am (if you can see the sun through the cloud cover) and sets before 4:30 pm. With the atmospheric rivers raining down on us the past week, the skies are dark until about lunch time and we turn on the lights in the afternoon about 3 pm.
The rain lashing the roof and windows make me want to stay indoors, drink big pots of dark tea and do art projects. I am fortunate to have a heated kotatsu table with cosy down blanket over it to keep the heat in. The garden is also in a time of rest and renewal, though the sasanqua camellia are blooming all over my bushes in the yard. I didn’t have time this fall to tend to the garden so it is in a rather neglected state, but the first dry date, I will be out there to trim and clean up the yard.
I am happy to report that the Portland International Tea Gathering was a big success. I have to hand it to all the students and volunteers who made me look good. There were many connections made and we all bonded over the activities, many bowls of tea and sharing our love and passion for the way of tea.
In the New Year it will be the year of the fire horse. The Fire Horse embodies swiftness, strength, and passion, often associated with the color red. I am planning many ambitious activities for the new year and I think it will be a wild ride.
For now, I am enjoying the pause before the new year, planning and drinking my tea under the kotatsu.
In the meantime, be kind, share tea, spread peace.