Solstice celebrations

We marked the Winter Solstice just as I wanted in a quiet, peaceful and reflective way. The girls and I got up at dawn and lit a small fire in the garden which was a magical way to start our day. The rest of the day was spent pottering around, walking Indy and preparing a lovely meal for the evening.

Once Paul got home we all enjoyed a meal and then headed outside to light another fire. There is a real magic in fire and I'm so happy that the girls feel it as I do.

Then it was on to burning out huge Yule log. In the forest it really didn't look that big but in our little fireplace it seemed enormous. The girls really enjoyed watching their hopes for the new year fizzling up the chimney and I feel that it marked the day in a thoughtful way for them.

Winter Solstice

So here we are with the last few days before the wheels turns anew.

Standing in the circle

Beneath the web of light

Dancing in the moonlight

On a cold New Years Night

And it seemed that we were lifted

Flown across the years

Power-circled shifted, by power-circle seers

And the Goddess abd John Barleycorn

Will put flesh upon the bones

Fly ribbons round the barrows

Plant food prints round the stones

The Goddess and John Barleycorn

Will keep the spirit strong

For those who remember

For those that sing the song

So stand in the circle, weave the web of light

Dance in the moonlight

Bring fire to the night

Release the past that made us

Release the fire within

Revel in the mystery

And embrace your

Sacred kin

by Brian Boothby

We have been to search for our yule log and a beauty called to us. It lay beneath a beautiful tree so we asked if we could have it. The girls and I took it in turn to ask the question and Iz sealed it with a kiss!

We decorated our log with hopes and resolutions for the new year and also with things we would like to let go of. We'll burn the log tomorrow after a special meal. I know this time of the year is a time to be social but for us it really is a time to hunker down together and just enjoy each others company and to be still and plan for the year ahead. This is a time of year that I truly feel in my bones. I feel the last turns of the great wheel and the prickle of excitement at the beginning of this new year is tangible.

I will be filling in the 2011 tab soon with all my wishes and hopes for this year - there are many!

We've also been tree decorating for for the 21st.

How unimpressed Indy looks with her tinsel collar!!

Strange breakfast!

We had these for breakfast today. They are vegan wholewheat spelt onion and carrot scones of my own invention. Sounds a bit odd but they were really delicious and has spurred me on to try out all sorts of variations as they're so easy to make and very portable.

Scruffy

Had to share this picture of Indy looking very scruffy. I came down in the night to find her sleeping on the sofa, naughty, but she looked so cute I didn't have the heart to mover her!

Winter colours

We took Indy for an afternoon walk in the winter sunshine. The colours of the trees look amazing with the light behind them. Here are just a few to share.

It's days like these that we need to breathe deeply and gives thanks for all the good things we have and to let go of the bad stuff. When we have beauty like this around us life has to be good - right?

New pr♥ject, just because..

Just wanted to share a little on off project I've started. There's a lot of crochet going on in this house at the moment with Christmas coming but sometimes you just have to do a little something for yourself. The girls have all been helping by adding in squares every now and then so it really is a l♥ve blanket.♥♥♥

A festive mantle

We have allowed ourselves to feel just a little festive today. I'm not a big fan of starting Christmas too early but I think the 1st December is ok to start with a little bit of seasonal lighting. It's been so cold today that the fire has been lit since the mid afternoon.

As I type this Paul is stuck on a snowy train station waiting for a train that may never come. Hope you're home soon my love!