Happy New Year!

We had a nice, quiet New Year's Eve, like we've had for the last several years. We used to go to a friend's house, but I like that we stay home now. We had our little ritual feast--fondue, olives and pickles, spinach dip. I would have gotten shrimp, too, but we had had quite a bit at Christmas and we didn't really need it. Bob got the atomic clock that my folks gave him for Christmas a few years ago, and we toasted the new year with Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante, which we like better than champagne, at midnight.

Bob had to work on New Year's Day. Normally we stay home and don't even leave the house that day, but I decided to go out and get a few groceries--bread and potato chips and milk. I also decided to go to 888 International Market, the Oriental grocery store. I had never been there before, but I know someone who goes there quite a bit to buy fresh seafood, and I had been wanting to try it.

I wanted to get some red envelopes as part of this class I'm taking. I thought they would probably have them there, and they did. I put three Chinese coins into one of the red envelopes and put it in my wallet to attract abundance. I also put three coins, tied with red ribbon, under the front doormat to symbolize money entering our house.

I wandered all over the store yesterday and only bought the red envelopes, but that was all I really needed. They also had a lot of Maneki Neko good luck statues, and I would have liked to buy some, but I have several already and don't really need any more. But they were really cute.

 

I have a few that I bought at Disney World at the Japanese store. This first one above is on my desk at work. I also several several at home. I bought them at first because of Doña, but now I just like them. I like this one better than the ones that I saw yesterday, because the coloring is a little more subtle. Although maybe that's because it's a few years old. I like the ones with their eyes shut best.

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