I Was There for The Last Time - Nandina Arrangement

Our house sold unexpectedly quickly! The settlement is around the corner. Therefore, I went back to the Washington Crossing, PA house with my daughter on Saturday (11/29/2025). It was the only time I ever went back there since we moved out; to see what I left behind. We spent almost whole day there to clean up. One of my daughter’s bedroom set went free to a good home, paintings to a person who knows art, many books donated to library, the Irish harp free to a musical therapist who plays for the elderly and those in hospice…etc.  To move out of our beloved home, it’s just not easy and felt emotionally heartbreaking! I thought my husband and I were growing old there together until the end.

Bye bye for many plants that I planted for Ilkebana 
materials, nandina is one of them 

“ Late Autumn Greetings”

 As Autumn deepened and the holiday season begins. This time of year can evoke feelings of sadness due to the lack of sunshine and especially for my husband’s Dementia, but it also perceive as happiness of holiday family gatherings and soon will be enjoying the beauty of winter wonderland! Actually we have the first accumulated snow (2 inches) today in Rhinebeck. 

Dogwood, mum and pine / ceramic (11/23/2025)

Freestyle - Using Leftover Materials

We have moved to the new home for more than three weeks now, the house is still a mess, it will take a long time to get to the condition as I pleased! It’s a blessings that our children live in nearby and they have been helping us throughout the moving, hoping us to settle down as soon as possible!

I had my first class lessons at the new place on 11/10/2025. After home, I was able to make an another arrangement using leftover flowers that Hata Sensei prepared for us.  (11/14/2025)

Special Materials and Arrangements for Feastive Occasions or Arrangements for Celebrations

This is the third lesson;  “Autumn Festival Celebrations” is my theme. The bittersweet, branches and pine I cut from my yard, fall color mum provided, I added two apples to complete this arrangement. 

Final arrangement in the class  (11/10/2025)

Tried to arrange at home, no flowers yet 

My First New Class at Pound Ridge Library

I’m ready for my first new class on 11/10/2025. It’s with the Dutchess Putnam Westchester Sogetsu Group. Hata Sensei teaches here too. I am so happy and fortunate that I still have the opportunity to learn Ikebana under her guidance! Even though it needs one hour and twenty minutes to get to the library through Taconic parkway. Hata Sensei and I are so happy to meet again! We have 17 students today, most of them are new faces to me.  The difference between DPW Sogetsu Group and Mainline Branch are the materials, they provide flowers for you (purchased from the group), not prepared by ourself. I think both have its own advantages! I cut my branches from my new home backyard, and used provided fall color mum which were just what I need.

The subjects are: 1). Variation No.1 Slanting Style Moribana;  2). Variation No.4  Upright Style Nageire;  3). Special Materials and Arrangements for Festive Occasions or Arrangements for Celebrations. The first two lessons are basic styles, Sensei would like us to practice repeatedly until we reach mastery the skills to perfection!

Lesson (1) Moribana (suiban)

Lesson (2) Nageire (tall vase)

A Last Glimpse

Stunning morning at the pond near my Washington Crossing home. It’s my last glimpse on October 26, two days before we moved to our new house in Rhinebeck, NY., another beautiful, historic town. I will miss Bucks County, we spent our whole life there, bringing up children, from youth to old age, to the final stages of life! 

A last lingering look, courtesy of my daughter:

Beautiful fall colors. (10/26/2025)

 

Take it Easy - Simplified Arrangement

October is the month full of anxiety and hope! It’s a preparation and moving month. I am feeling overwhelmed, have a lot of things on my mind during this busy moving process. It’s just too much to do. To temporarily relieve the stress, I made this “Simplified Arrangement”, one of the subjects in my old Mainline Branch October class lesson. 

10/24/2025

Our New Home - Rhinebeck, New York

“Rhinebeck is a historic and charming town in New York’s Hudson Valley, known for its well- preserved architecture, cultural attractions, scenic beauty.” It is a popular destination for weekend trips or getaway from NYC and beyond!

Our “New Home” has been renovated since beginning of October, ready for occupancy anytime. We took a special trip to our new home before we officially move there. We found out that it is actually convenient by Amtrak train from Penn station to the Rhinebeck station (1hour and 40 minutes). Besides, the scenery along the way of banks of Hudson River is gorgeous and it’s starting changing beautiful fall colors! It’s a pleasant train ride, although the weather was not that great!  (10/8/2025)

Fall Bloom Orchids

September’s class was my last lessons at Sogetsu MainLine Branch. I said goodbye to my dear classmates, I felt a little sad to leave this class, after all we have been together for 11 years under Hata Sensei’s guidance. But after I have moved to Rhinebeck, New York, near my children, I will still have Hata Sensei to be my teacher! I will join her class at Pound Ridge, NY. I am so excited and lucky. I still can learn Ikebana! Time goes by so quickly! The moving day is just around the corner. In November, we will be continuing our new chapter of golden years with totally different place and surroundings.

7 flowers, the last two buds blooming in two day

9/15/2025 Cat. Hawaiian Passion “Carmela”

Encyclia (Green Hornet) keep blooming,
 bud after bud, last a long time 9/13/2025

From Dull to Bright and Interesting

For September’s class lesson would be applying gold leaf to any kind of container:  bamboo, cardboard tubes, ceramic … your choice.  So, I was looking for my container collection, I eyed this dull, rounded black basket, I thought I could make it to look more attractive just applying gold leaf to the color black, it would pop the whole thing!  Hata Sensei said that my design and arrangement were all good!

Rearranged at home, I think it’s better

Do you like my gold leaf design on basket?

back view 

Gold dust on philodendron