New Year Goals and Lunar New Year by Tena Stetler

 Well, did you survive the holidays?  Seems like we were just putting up decorations in time to take them down, and I decorate from September (Halloween) to New Years. Isn’t it sad how it’s not much fun to take the decorations down as putting them up? But I digress. Though most of January is gone, let’s talk about New Year’s Resolutions or what I call goals.

I met most of 2022 goals, despite a few health issues. Good for me! 

Fast forward to 2023 goals. Word count goals easy peasy now that my muse has returned. I have two more books in the pipeline this year, first book in Mountain Town Mysteries, Security Force of Two (March 20^th release), Raven’s Hollow Spring Magic, in edits as we speak. I’m working on the second book in Mountain Town Mysteries Series, and hope to finish the sequel to Mystic Maples this year.

More hiking is in my future, now that I can walk again without pain (hip was replaced in Oct 2022). Along with that regular exercise is on the agenda and eating healthy, at least most the time. I’ll never give up pizza or chocolate. LOL   

Make more time for friends, participate in book signings, enjoy quality time with my husband, dog, parrot, and turtle. Lots of Camping! All these things lead to a happier me!

Now how about you?  Any New Year’s Resolutions or goals you want to share?  I'd love to hear 'em. Leave them in the comments.

Now lets switch gears for just a moment. I discovered that today my birthday, January 22, fell on the Lunar New Year this year. Sounds like another reason to celebrate. LOL I had to investigate and share with you.

Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival, falls on Jan. 22 this year, when Asian communities around the world will say goodbye to the Year of the Tiger and usher in the Year of the Rabbit. The Chinese new year is predicted to be optimistic. Let’s hope they’re right.

 Though New Year celebrations often start the weekend before and can continue for weeks after, only the first 15 days are considered public holidays. Gee I wonder if I can celebrate my birthday for 15 days?

The Lantern Festival is held on the first full moon of the year to mark the end of the New Year season. In 2023, it lands on Feb. 5.

What animal is being celebrated this year?

The year 2023 in the Gregorian calendar is designated the Year of the Rabbit. The rabbit is the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac and symbolizes grace, beauty, mercy and good luck. Rabbits are also associated with the moon, because of the mythical Jade Rabbit who lives there. 

People born in the Year of the Rabbit are said to be peaceful, avoiding arguments, criticism and change. 

Famous people born in the Year of the Rabbit include Albert Einstein, Angelina Jolie, Michael Jordan, Brad Pitt and Frank Sinatra.

Across Asia, red and gold symbolize good fortune. Many people wear red during Lunar New Year, and children often receive red envelopes stuffed with money. Families will hold feasts, clean their homes and visit shrines to honor deceased relatives.

But different communities have distinct ways of ringing in the new year: In Korea, the first day of the Chinese lunisolar calendar is Seollal, when families exchange gifts and dine on rice cake soup and savory pancakes. Yum!

According to my nail tech, Kellie, in Vietnam, where Lunar New Year is called Tết, Jan. 22 is actually the start of the Year of the Cat. Participants enjoy special foods like Thịt Kho trứng (braised pork with duck eggs) and decorate yellow apricot blossoms and other plants.

Americans are typically most familiar with Chinese New Year celebrations, with dragon parades, boat races and fireworks. The Lantern Festival at the end of the New Year season includes paper lanterns and treats like tangyuan, a dessert of gooey rice balls.

Could Lunar New Year become a US holiday?

It's a possibility, though not a likely one for the moment. In early 2022, Rep. Grace Meng, a Democrat from New York, sponsored a bill that would have made Lunar New Year the first new federal holiday since President Joe Biden signed a bill recognizing Juneteenth in June 2021. New York City has observed Lunar New Year as an official school holiday since 2015. In September, 2022 California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill making it a state holiday "I am immensely proud of the richness of diversity and backgrounds represented in our state and understand the importance of wanting to see one's own experience reflected in state holidays," Newsom said at the time.  Sounds like a good idea to me.  How about you? 

 I’ll leave you with a feel-good series to fill up your new ipad or tablet about second chances, animal rescue and rehab, paying it forward and love. You guessed it A Witch’s Journey Series. Take a peek and you’ll  be hooked.  Pssst... An Angel's Wylder Assignment is on sale for #99cents. An impromptu assignment for a Scottish Warrior Angel and a Native American shapeshifter from present day, must time travel to 1878 in an effort to unravel a dangerous mystery and creature their future. Happy New Year!

A WITCH'S JOURNEY SERIES. Pssst....Also all available in audio book! https://www.amazon.com/Witchs-Journey-Lobster-Cove-ebook/dp/B01F0LRJ7U/

A Witch's Journey - Former Navy Seal, Lathen Quartz helps Pepper, a powerful witch, achieve her life-long dream of a wild life rescue, but can they save the McKay magic & find love?

A Witch's Holiday Wedding -A small town paranormal romance/mystery. Lathen’s covert military mission threatens life as he knows it. Torn in too many directions will Pepper and Lathen make it to the altar?

Hidden Gypsy Magic - Gwen a wildlife rehabilitor, and Brock a veterinarian, discover the consequences of awakening hidden gypsy magic.

Chocolate Raspberry Magic- Fund-raising, Ice cream social, furry and feathered babies, romance, mystery, and magic what more could you ask for in a paranormal romance/mystery?

This one was a long one, and THANK YOU for staying with me 'til the end. Until next month, stay safe and enjoy life! LOL 

 

A Special Winter Solstice – Will We See The Christmas Star? By Tena Stetler

 

Could the “Christmas Star” light up the night sky on the winter solstice? If the weather cooperates, something very special will be visible on the winter solstice this Monday night December 21, 2020 -- the “Star of Bethlehem,” also known as the “Christmas Star.”

It’s actually not a star at all, despite the names.

Did you know Jupiter orbits the sun every twelve years and Saturn orbits the sun every thirty years? The two largest planets in the solar system don’t line up very often. The two gas giants will cross paths in the night sky on the winter solstice on Monday, December 21, 2020.

This will be the closest Jupiter and Saturn have been since 1226, and the first to be easily observable in eight-hundred years. Wow, you can bet I'll be looking to the night sky on the 21st!

Though the planets are four-hundred and fifty million miles apart, to the naked eye, they will appear as one bright light in the sky.

Astronomers believe that a similar event could have created the Star of Bethlehem seen by the Three Wise Men, guiding them toward Bethlehem more than two-thousand years ago.

For astronomers around the world, it is an exciting and rare occurrence. We could all use something positive to end this year.

Speaking of Winter Solstice, Lathen and Pepper from A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING a small town paranormal romance/mystery. planned their nuptials on the Winter Solstice. But  It’s down to the wire, will the nosy McKay ghosts, Lathen’s werewolf pack, Pepper’s parents, and her best friend help or hinder the wedding and holiday plans? Lathen’s covert military mission threatens life as he knows it. Torn in too many directions will Pepper and Lathen make it to the altar?

Available at: Amazon,  Barnes&Noble, Kobo, ibooks

A peek between the pages of A WITCH'S HOLIDAY WEDDING - After she set her glass down, Lathen brushed a couple strands of hair out of her eyes and searched her face. “Are you all right?”

“I’m tired, my wedding is in a couple weeks, I have ghosts fighting over who is going to do what. Guests that have no idea the place is haunted and… Your family and pack, my parents, Gwen… To top it all off, the head of my clan, who is a ghost, is sitting in front of me wanting to know who is coming to the wedding and whether the ghosts will be outed. How could I possibly be all right?”

“When you put it that way.” Lathen chuckled. “It sounds just a bit… I don’t know…crazy?” His right eyebrow winged up. She saw mischief sparkle in his eyes. “We could still elope,” he offered.