Riversleigh Manor is all abuzz and humming with activity. Of course, when isn't it? *laughs*

"There's a new land coming over the Faraway Tree," the Enchantress said to us at breakfast one recent morning. "The Land of the Chinese New Year!"

Her news was greeted with cheers and excitement, and almost immediately after our meal preparations for the Chinese New Year commenced amidst much visiting, laughter and storytelling. Paper lanterns and other crafts were made. Stories took root in fertile, creative minds, and over the next week or two will have been shared with an appreciative audience.

"It's the Year of the Fire Red Dog," I overheard one of my fellow adventurers say to another as I made my way thoughtfully down the long corridor leading to the attic stairs and my garret room.

Hmmm, I thought as I climbed the steep stairs, Fire Red Dog... What can I do for the New Year that represents the Dog? An image slowly formed and took shape in my mind. A pleased smile curved my lips, and once back in my room, seated before my computer, I began Googling images, the Chinese New Year and Paintshop Pro tutorials.

The morning and afternoon wore on as I continued working, only taking a break in between for the noon meal. Finally, after hours of tinkering, testing this or that to see what worked and looked best and deciding on how to put my work together, I sat back and beheld the end result.

Rolling my shoulders to release tension and the stiffness that had stolen into them while sitting at my computer, I stretched and stood up. "Yes, they will be pleased," I said out loud. "...I think."

I am ready for the New Year:

The Story of the Chinese Zodiac

The Rat, who heard the news spread it far and wide, yet when he came to his best friend, the Cat's, place he paused.

I'm one of the smallest animals and less favored, he thought to himself, if the Cat goes I won't stand much of a chance in being one of the 12!

So the Rat lied to his best friend, the Cat, and told him the party was in two days, when the Jade Emperor had really set it for the next day. The Cat was estatic, dancing for joy. A party! He loved parties, and to have a year in his honor, that would be a special treat! That night he had sweet dreams of the coming banquet and slept late into the morning, unaware of the animals (the Rat, the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Ram, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog and the Boar) gathering and going to the banquet being held in their honor.

The Rat rode on the Oxen's back all the way to the party, hopping down as his ride neared the emperor's palace. He raced the rest of the way to be the first to be greeted by the emperor. This is how the Rat claimed the first year of the zodiac and why the Cat wasn't included.

When the Cat found out he'd missed the party, he was furious and heartbroken. He'd been betrayed by whom he thought was his best friend, the Rat! This is why cats hate rats and chase them.

Ok, so the Zodiac story has a slant to it other than an impartiality to all the animals, but we now know why Cats chase Mice and their cousins! *winks*

moon phase