The closing of the year

As I meditate during these days Holy Nights, I revisit my path these past 12 months and my intentions for the New Year.










I found a poem that I wrote at the end of 2007 when I was trying to slow down and be more present and "in the moment".

" Dirt and dust will always be
but not the little girls I see
they will grow and go away
while the grime will always stay
so, I choose to play and roam
instead of scrubbing down this home
they'll remember times of fun
and not the cleaning that was done."

For busy moms, the New Year is a time of reflection, but more important it is a time to start anew. A fresh start.

An afternoon at the beach

What a beautiful day! One of my girls was under the weather, so I took the other for a walk along the beach. How relaxing to watch the tide flow in and out and watch Lily run all around and collect seagull feathers.

Silent Nights

We spent the few days and nights after Christmas just relaxing, playing and being.

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending" - Maria Robinson

Sewing Mittens

Here is our Mitten Tree. It was a great pattern from the Sew Mama Sew! blog. Here is the link.
We placed the finished mittens on a branch and had guests take one on Christmas Eve.

Lily & Brooke were careful sewers. I can't believe how well they have come along just by doing a few Holiday projects. They can thread a needle, sew a button and tie it off.

The Return of the Sun

We celebrated the Winter Solstice on Saturday night. Out of cut greenery & branches, we created our spiral garden in the backyard. We carried our candles and our thoughts of the passing year into the center where we lit our own from the larger source candle. As we walked out, we sent intentions for days to come.

Then we ate dinner by candlelight and had no electric lights on until bed. It was truly magical.

Fabric Gifting Bags

I decided to add a little eco-friendliness to our Holidays this year by sewing fabric gift bags. I used fabric I already had around the house. They come together quickly and can be tailored to fit any size gift! Next year, the bags can be re-used and cut down on waste in our landfill.

Holiday Blooms

These flowering cherry trees at the end of our driveway bloom
each year from November-February. I get countless inquiries
each season when all others have gone dormant and gray. I
believe the species to be prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis'.
What a joy to see happy honey bees find nectar to gather!
And a bit of blossoms in winter warms the soul.

Giving

The girls spent many hours sewing, baking and

decorating gifts to pass out to friends, dance and cello

teachers. They sewed those scissor covers by hand themselves.

It is a pattern from Living Crafts magazine's website.

Crayon decorated cookie bags were a big hit!

Grandma's Apri-Tart

We spent a chilly Saturday exploring a recipe handed down from my grandma.

3 generations of bakers and the better part of the day later, the apricot tart was complete.

Wonderful holiday memories.

Lessons from Life

I have been viewing others' blogs and longing to share my journey as we grow in our homeschooling life. I am blessed with the ability to stay home and homeschool my two amazing daughters. We are following a nature-based way of school and a mindful, organic way of living. I want them to experience life, as well as, read about it. I am learning a thing or two, by the way.