My Philosophy ~ Patience and Happiness Are Not the Same (Agree or Disagree)

I work at home, and often feel as if I live in the Dark Ages. A typical “happy day” at my house? Wake up. On my laptop from sunup to sundown. In between, break for lunch. While chowing down, I decided to make one more attempt at trying to watch the news online for free. Surfed the Internet for about ten minutes and gave up.

● So what came next?
Next, I decided to play one of my favorite games to amuse myself. What game is that, you ask? Sometimes I type a phrase into the search engine just to see what pops out!

The phrase for the search query was:
“I don’t have the patience to find out what’s happening now!”

The results included a link to a great article.

Patience Is a Virtue, but Don’t Wait to Be Happy by Hannah Eagle

Love it!! The quote or title, I mean. The article was kind of sad, but a real-life incident, and the writer, Hannah Eagle, conveyed her thoughts quite well.

The website is called Tiny Buddha, and the site’s tagline is “Simple wisdom for complex lives.”

As one thing leads to another, my late husband was in the kitchen preparing his midday meal, so I asked him a question:

* “If patience is a virtue, then what is happiness?”

♦ ♦ ♦

My late husband was always my in-house wisdom and enlightenment-free resource.

I was very satisfied with his response.

No, I am not going to write out his answer.

♦ Instead, Mr. or Ms. Reader, the question is for you to ponder.

* Patience is to virtue, as happiness is to ______________.

How would you fill in that blank?

Fun Finds on Amazon:

Enesco Kimmidolls

The Enesco Kimmidoll figurine collection was inspired by the traditional kokeshi dolls from northern Japan, with a philosophy of bestowing good fortune. I chose the Patience doll. But they have Hope, Love, Happiness, Optimism, Success, and more! Purchase the wooden doll figurines or keychains, notebooks, and writing pads, etc.

Enesco Kimmidoll Yuzuki Patience Mini Doll Figurine, 2.25″

Patience; My spirit is resolute and calm. By holding tightly to your dreams with quiet tenacity, you show the strength of my spirit. May the gifts of patience be your reward with all the blessings your dreams afford.

Patience • Strength • Calm #giftideas#Handmade #jewelry #gemstone #bracelet blends amazonite, turquoise, aquamarine, & traditional japa malaelements, finished w/ a symbolic elephant charm. https://t.co/5ofqOiQ6MW
Each stone is chosen for its calming, grounding energy, perfect… pic.twitter.com/EiZMQsavtO

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) March 14, 2026

Japanese Tea Gardens in Texas: A Symbol Friendship

Would you like to visit a Japanese Tea Garden? Great!

Somehow, when I Googled “Japanese Garden,” I was not expecting the City of Houston to pop up on the first page of the results. 😊 It led me to Yelp.

• GO TO the Yelp website. In the search box, type in “Japanese Tea Garden” and for location type in “Houston, Texas”. You get a list of the Top 10 Japanese Tea Gardens or Japanese Gardens.

FUN FACT:

"The Japanese teahouse was built in Japan and reassembled by craftsmen here on location in Houston. It is a particular type of construction that uses no nails in holding the building together. Signifying mutual friendship, it was a gift from Japan."

~ SOURCE: Japanese Tea Garden in Houston, Texas 

(Note: Quote was from a HUBPages.com article, which has been unpublished.)

Japanese Garden Wall Art

Japanese gardens originated in Japan during the Asuka and Naraperiods, drawing early influence from Chinese landscape design and Buddhist aesthetics. Over centuries, they developed into distinct forms—such as strolling gardens, tea gardens, and dry rock gardens—each emphasizing harmony, symbolism, and a deep appreciation for natural scenery. These spaces were designed not merely for beauty but for contemplation, ritual, and the expression of cultural ideals.

Houston’s Japanese Garden in Hermann Park reflects this long tradition and the city’s ties with Japan. Although a Japanese garden was proposed in 1930, the idea did not materialize until 1988, when Japanese Consul General Yasuo Hori began discussions with Houston’s mayor and local Japanese organizations. Landscape architect Ken Nakajima was commissioned to design the garden, which opened in 1992. The project symbolized friendship between Japan and Houston and blended traditional Japanese design with Texas-adapted plantings.

REFERENCES:

Hermann Park Conservancy. Japanese Garden – Hermann Park Conservancy. Hermann Park Conservancy, n.d. Hermann Park Conservancy

“Japanese Garden (Houston).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Wikipedia

The Cultural Landscape Foundation. “Hermann Park Japanese Garden.” TCLF, n.d. TCLF

Japan-America Society of Houston. “Share Your Voice: The Future of the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park.” Japan-America Society of Houston, 24 Feb. 2026. Japan-America Society of Houston

KHOU 11. “Japanese Garden in Hermann Park Celebrates 30th Anniversary.” KHOU.com, 6 May 2022. KHOU.com

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🌿 Most Common Plants & Flowers in Japanese Gardens

Japanese gardens rely on plants that evoke tranquility, seasonality, and natural harmony. Many are chosen for their shape, symbolism, or subtle beauty rather than bright color.

🌸 Key Plants & Flowers

• Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) — prized for delicate leaves and dramatic fall color. 
• Bamboo (various species, including Buddha Belly Bamboo) — symbolizes strength and flexibility; often used as screens or accents. 
• Japanese Boxwood (Buxus microphylla) — evergreen shrub used for structure and low hedging. 
• Cherry Blossoms (Sakura) — iconic spring bloom representing impermanence and beauty. 
• Mosses — essential for creating a soft, aged, serene atmosphere; used as groundcover.
• Ginkgo Trees — valued for fan‑shaped leaves and golden autumn color. 
• Azaleas & Rhododendrons — provide seasonal color and are often shaped into rounded forms.
• Pines (Matsu) — symbolize longevity; often pruned into sculptural forms. 

These plants work together to create the layered, contemplative feeling that defines Japanese garden design.

REFERENCES:

Bulla, Adriano. “12 Traditional Japanese Plants For Your Backyard Zen Garden.” Gardening Chores, 26 Jan. 2021, https://www.gardeningchores.com/japanese-garden-plants/.

Chandler, Glen. “18 Japanese Garden Plants You’ll Want To Grow Right Now.” Plant America, 27 Jul. 2025, https://plantamerica.com/japanese-garden-plants/.

Janet Loughrey, Garden Writer & Photographer. “20 Japanese Garden Plants: Symbolic Perennials, Trees & Shrubs.” Garden Design Magazine, 17 Jun. 2025, https://www.gardendesign.com/plants/japanese-garden.html.

Haverford, Selina. “26 Japanese Garden Plants.” My Garden Inspo, 28 Jul. 2025, https://mygardeninspo.com/japanese-garden-plants/.  

Artists I Fancy : Kat Lowry

Pinterest started in 2010 and it was either that year or the next year 2011 that I created my Pinterest account. Even though my account was created with the intention of supplementing my affiliate marketing and other home biz efforts, a lot of my pinboards are personal, i.e. just stuff I like to collect. Two of my favorite boards are Artists I Fancy and Legends, Myths, Fables, Folklore, Culture.

Was going through my Facebook memories and found a lovely piece of Asian art and couldn't remember where I found it. Thank goodness for the Google search feature that helps you find images. So I found a source to credit the image but in the process, one thing led to another and I found this amazing artist, Kat Lowry. Her artwork was a Japanese sun goddess named Amaterasu.  Her art was so beautiful I couldn't decide which board to pin it to, so I shared it via both pinboards. Take a look! Isn't it lovely?  The first image is from her profile on Deviant Art where she uses the name Fragile Whispers.  The second image that follows was shared via her latest post (Apr 2018) on her blog called Kat Lowry Illustration.  Are you impressed?  I am!

* * *

Holidays and Celebrations: Do You Celebrate Japanese New Year?

The beauty of the United States of America is in its diversity.  People of different ethic groups and/or nationalities celebrate holidays and traditions that other groups are not even aware of.  But it's cool when I find out about them.  For example, I had a lot of Chinese friends so I learned to check every year to determine when Chinese New Year would occur.  My Japanese friends never mentioned their new year celebration.  But now I think I know why.

• The Japanese New Year (正月, Shōgatsu) is an annual festival with its own customs. Since 1873, the official Japanese New Year has been celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, on January 1 of each year, New Year's Day (元日, Ganjitsu). However, some traditional events of the Japanese New Year are partially celebrated on the first day of the year on the modern Tenpō calendar, the last official lunisolar calendar which was used until 1872 in Japan.  (Source:  Wikipedia)  

It's January 1st, same day as America's New Year.  However, the traditions are different.  In case you didn't know, Japanese New Year is the most important holiday in Japan.  Did you know the kadomatsu (image below) is a traditional decoration for the new year holiday?

Other customs and traditions include bell-ringing in the Buddhist temples on New Year's Eve, sending postcards (just like sending Christmas cards), children receiving gifts of money from adults, and various forms of entertainment and of course ... great food!!

I subscribe to a newsletter called "Just One Cookbook". The publisher shares easy Japanese recipes. In the newsletter I received for the week ending December 4, 2020, she shared lots of information in order for you to prepare for Japanese New Year!

• ​What is Oshogatsu​
• ​Menu Roundup​
• ​A 5-Day Osechi Cooking Timelime​
• ​How to Pack Osechi Ryori​
• ​Popular Side Dishes & Desserts to Serve with Osechi Ryori

* * *

Planning to celebrate Japanese New Year?

Whatever you're celebrating Happy Holidays!

**

Do You Celebrate Persian New Year?

Do You Celebrate Chinese New Year?

Kawaii Interior Inspiration | Glitter Puffs (Reblog)

A writer at Squidoo (a website acquired by HUBPages) introduced me to “kawaii”, which by my translation into plain English means “adorable cuteness”!  A more detailed explanation of the term, according to Artsy.net is as follows:

“The Japanese concept of kawaii—best translated as “cuteness”—has grown from a national trend to a global phenomenon. Sanrio’s Hello Kitty has been valued at $7 billion; the Oxford English Dictionary named an emoji its 2015 Word of the Year; and Nintendo’s Pokémon Go recently became the most downloaded game in smartphone history. The kawaii movement is wide in scope, spanning Manga comics, Harajuku fashion, and Takashi Murakami’s “Superflat” artworks, but what’s behind the aesthetic, and why is it so popular?” 

* * *
Quote Reference: 
Gottesman, Sarah. "The Art Genome Project : What Is Kawaii?" Artsy. N.p., 28 July 2016. Web. 02 Aug. 2017.

An amazing phenomenon!  Yes?  That's why I had to reblog the source link and share these adorably cute images published by a fellow blogger via her Blogspot blog who was looking for home decorating tips for a child's room.  (Also posted on my Tumblr blog.  Lots of kawaii lovers in the Tumblr community.)

Kawaii Interior Inspiration | Glitter Puffs

https://foxnooze.tumblr.com/post/174897714171/via-kawaii-interior-inspiration-glitter-puffs

https://goshoppingbees.tumblr.com/post/174897043553/strawberry-baking-bedroom-set-use-coupon