chuckling,.. Michael, lately I seem to get the bus situation on a regular basis, with no regard for actually being a car. I'm sure that here in Alberta that is where the truck limo came from. answering the REAL question: no you have not achieved fuzei. Fuzei is in actuality a specific air of 'fresh breath/breeze of mountain', that is, go to the highest mountain, where the air is the purist, crispest cleanest, most envigorating that you have ever felt, combine this with a deep ancient forest earthiness, that connects the souls of your feet in a sense of completeness,... now perhaps we are getting close to the sense of fuzei. --however, I am trying to use its concept as a working design tool. You would need to ponder what your definition of 'tranquility' is. I actually read your needed 'air of fuzei', as '+happy thoughts+balanced immediately'. comments on the rest: - your viewing platform is the key. It should be a rustic outside teahouse (chaso) that has the stream running through it, with a finished interior to the barefoot standard. It would be surrounded by woodland. -This would likely be the elevated part of the garden, with the waterfall emerging from directly outside one wall to the inside 'flow through' area. This outside area would be defined by the sense of deep woodland, large leaves, high humidity, cool, etc. that would eventually when built answer 'fuzei'. The inner patterns would be attuned to your cultural taste. I would suggest that the entering waterfall area be natural (so) with stone (perhaps with an inset basin, and within a foot or two after the basin, transition to become highly finished (shin), the (perhaps offset) kneeling stone being the transition device. After this point the stream would be of high finish, and by using several right angles or reversals (Okinawan pattern) would slow the water. - At 39% or 61% of the length of the teahouse, the right angles will again transition through gyo to so, using both manmade finished items and natural stone, which has one internal 2" waterfall of stones tuned in the mid and low range. At the edge of the teahouse, the stream would emerge off center with another slight waterfall of 3". -Koi would be able to swim into the teahouse and back out to the pond. Alternatively part (39%) of the inside floor of the teahouse could be cut inwards, under the roof, as a 'bay', docking area, with sitting boat stones doubling as walkout stones. The stream would run directly into this 'bay'. Details for the stream are numerous, not mentioned here for simplicity. -The inner workings of the teahouse: I would suggest that the shape be a large square, or if no limits exist on budget, an elongated 8 sided teahouse. This would be to accommodate the inside stream, the outside area, and provide the high level of acoustics that fulfill the separation of outside and inside. The inner roof panels, the angles should be adjustable, lowerable for control, when entertaining. The construction of course goes back to your cultural patterns (childhood = 3 generations). These roof panels or side panels that are part of the design of the walls would also direct cool air or retain heat when the sunken hearth is in use. Once you've built this much, or something more attuned to your taste, and feel a sudden need for an intaking refreshing breath of purity and air, that is invigorating to deeply inhale, physically releasing to exhale, you are getting close to a feeling of fuzei. ______ An alternative would also be to use different heights inside the teahouse. Highly controversial at first thought, yet practical & suitable if designed well, using outer perimeters as 'levels to the inside'. This would create a 'boathouse + teahouse' combination. The definitive social order of 'approach' would need to be well addressed in the design and building phase. small refinements along the way: your 'enclosure/perimeter' would be the Douglas Fir forest, the 'device' by which you bring the pattern of that forest into the garden, is shakkei. -if separation is wished from the house then use the stroll garden to do so. -any elevation except what is gained from pond excavation is not really needed, unless more of the up/down plane of motion will help you separate from the 'outside'. -that would be the time to call the trucks with soil, I would first call the backhoe. fuzei has more connection with human perception ( & scientific reality) of the sensory experience of space, its enclosure and our response to it, specifically in regard to 'how good it makes us feel'. At one level of the art of placement (fusui/fengshui), this overlaps in that 'if fuzei exists, then everything must be in its right place'. Beyond this, in my experience so far, no other relationship exists. edzard

Well, I was interesting in being beta tester but didn't see where to sign up...

I linked to the site below but am wondering b'c you joined GW today, I suppose to post what you posted, and asked folks to sign up/ Is any money involved in buying the app? If so it seems to me that such advertisements are not in accord with the terms of use here at GW/ If I'm wrong please tell me no money is involved and what happens if someone does sign up in terms of getting the app you speak of? From the terms of use: (No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.) Carolyn Here is a link that might be useful: Direct link to veggie gardner

Nope, not making money off of anything that I'm talking about here. Been on these boards since 2003. Pretty aware of that rule. If you are talking about my blog . . . I thought the rules stated that you can link at the bottom to your blog or website if you have one. However, my blog doesn't ask for money in any way to readers so I didn't think it was a money making effort. I have not submitted any affiliate links on here. And there have been quite a few posts that don't mention my blog at all. So . . . no, I'm not trying to make any money off anyone. Oh! Maybe because on the little videos I say something about getting step-by-step instructions? Nah, that's a free. I'm not selling anything, just wanted to help people. Made some step-by-step instructions for my friend so she could continue to talk to her architect about her plans for her custom house. Thought I'd offer it to you guys too. Sorry, if it seemed shady -- didn't mean for it to come across that way.