Winter Solstice

We began our day by making paper suns- one side black for the darkness, one side yellow for the sun. Tonight we put the dark side out and in the morning we will change it to the sun!

Then we baked spiral cookies..yum.. Here is the recipe, with step-by-step instructions. Tonight we have a few families coming over to do our winter spiral in the backyard, followed by a potluck and fun!

It is such a magical time when we walk the spiral. I have come to really enjoy this as a holiday favorite. It feels so real and earthy and so far removed from the jangly Christmas that seems to be going on around me.

Here is a verse I read before we started our walk into the light. I apologize that I handwrote it from some source I do not know. If anyone knows, please comment, so I can give credit. Thanks!

Deep mid-winter drawing near
Darkness in our garden here
One small flame yet bravely burns
To show a path which ever turns
Earth, please bear with us as we go
Seeking light to send aglow
Branches green and moss and fern
Mark our path to trace each turn
We walk with candle toward the light
While Earth awaits with hope so bright
In the light which finds new birth
Love may spread over the Earth
Deep mid-winter drawing near
May light arise in our garden here

So much to do, so little time...

As we plunge into this first week of Advent, my head is spinning with ideas, thoughts and "shoulds". While washing the dishes, I started thinking about what I really enjoyed about the holidays. And what I don't. Sometimes I wonder why we spend so much time and energy doing things we think we are "supposed" to do..and barely have a moment to experience what we long for.
So, as I sip my hot cocoa beneath my newly decorated tree. I am really meditating on how I want to enjoy this season. Perhaps, three types of cookies instead of 10 will do. Possibly, we can skip Santa at the mall.. let's just sing carols around our tree.

The Tree

My husband puts the lights on our tree each year. I decorate. But, now we have 2 other little elves to help! It is magical to listen to our favorite carols while unwrapping precious ornaments from years past. "Ooh,remember this one?" "We made these last year.."

Before children, I had to have a diffeent theme and color on my fancy decorated trees. But, when I had my girls, I wanted something more. (probably from exhaustion the first few years!) We placed only the sentimental ornaments. The ones we got in Old Salem. Our First Christmas together and the yearly ornaments my mom has been getting me since I was very young.

Now we have many more homespun treasures to adorn the tree. And adding more memories each season. :)

The Lantern Walk

We read stories about Saint Martin and sang Lantern songs all day long..

The Lantern Walk is such a magical part of journey to the holidays.. the girls look so forward
to this each year and this one was especially so, since they are coming of age to really understand Saint Martin's story.

We used our watercolor painting for lanterns and they finger knitted the handles. Pattern from Earthways.

We used Jodie Meslers's Martinmas songs from her blog.
It was a brisk, windy night, and somehow I feel it is the decent into the winter season.
A warm cappuccino and some knitting will top off the night. *wink*

Fairy Capes

I decided to sew Fairy Capes for my girls birthday party. They were surprisingly easy and look great! Maybe someone can use this as a pattern for Halloween costume.

Here is a basic tutorial. I used 1 yard flowy fabric. Hem sides and bottom. Measure how long from child's shoulders. I just eyed it up *wink*
Then sew large stitches across the top and pull one of the threads to "gather" around neck. I again measured this on my actual child to see how wide I needed it to be and adjusted by pulling- easy!

Then I added a layer of pink tulle and a grosgrain ribbon for ties. Pin ribbon over gather stitches, hiding tulle edge. (I sewed tulle up over edge of cape and went back after sewing and trimmed it off.)

Sew ribbon on both edges..top and bottom for extra strength.

Trim strings and voila! My girls can't wait to try them out!

Michaelmas

We attended our first official Waldorf Festival with the homeschooling group in Asheville, NC.

Though it was raining, they set up inside a school used for waldorf-inspired preschool/kindy classes. There was a wonderful puppet-show, fairy wand making, corn-husk doll making and a cider press! We brought organic apples from the farmers market and a glass jar to fill.

The girls loved plopping in the apples and then pushing the wooden press round and round while watching the luscious juice pour out. It tasted amazing!

Festival File Folder

Here is a great tip now that the season of Waldorf Festivals is beginning. A few years ago, I went online and printed out songs, verses, recipes, etc. for each festival. I started a Festivals folder. So, now I just start at the beginning for Michaelmas and put it at the back when finished, then my next one is ready to go. I already have most of what I need, no need to re-print and it is all organized in one place!

Anyone else have Festival organizing tips? I would love to hear

Planting Spring Wheat grass

Each year at the Spring Equinox, we plant wheat grass in baskets, shallow dishes or plates. It always looks so festive and lasts through the spring.

Day of Love

Here are some sweet treats we received from our favorite Valentine, my hubby. We spent a snuggly, rainy day just enjoying each other. Then me and DH went to a nice dinner.

Ground Hog Day!

This is our groundhog, inspired by the book "Go to sleep Groundhog!". We also celebrated Candlemas/Brigid's Day by lighting candles at our meals and having Candlemas Crepe's. We talked of the return of longer days and read a story of Brigid. Our week celebration will continue by making our own candles from beeswax, baking a Feather Cake, making a Brigid doll from fresh rosemary and bit of early spring cleaning.

We also went into the garden and clipped some branches from my forsythia bush. We bring them in each February for forcing. There were already a few yellow flowers open! The lovely signs of spring...

Three Kings Day

I baked a Buttermilk -Maple Spice cake this morning hidden with a special Fairy Coin. The lucky one who gets this piece is "king for a day" and gets to decided what fun thing we do!

Lily was the lucky winner. We spent the day drawing horses and birds and enjoying Daddy's homemade pizza. Sharing our gifts of love and time together was a day well spent.

Shiny and New

We spent the morning having peppermint hot cocoa and taking down the holiday decorations.

Then we organized our new attic space; perfect to house lots of containers! I am going from room to room decluttering, making piles to give away and recycle. It is freeing to have a clean, organized space to begin a new year.

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.