Ha! I shall update on Christmas snack table developments as there may be additions next week...This week I’ve been helping my younger daughter learn her part for Carol of the Bells, as she is off singing with school today at the local care home. And I’m preparing to host our annual vegetarian Christmas family meal on Sunday. as we go to relatives for actual Christmas lunch this is a seasonal celebration we can enjoy at home.
What a gorgeous Advent calendar of seasonal beauties in the collective moments poem this week - a delicious range of images to capture the imagination and senses. My three - Christmas baking - that unique scent of fruit, spices, and utter richness! The exquisite delight of each tiny picture revealed in my adventure calendar each day - and lighting candles every evening, enjoying the glow and the scent. Just magical - never fails to lift my spirits and my heart. I’m finding a slower pace, a considered Advent, taking time to notice , savour and enjoy along the way each day is suiting us just fine. Everything seems extra significant and layered this year with real shafts of insight and depth.
Ah today's poem got me a little misty-eyed too. This time of year is so special - all the layers of meaning and memory from our own lives, under- and overlaid with everything we've ever read and watched about the season.
Seasonal things of the week for me: my partner making vanilla fudge for friends, from her grandmother's passed down recipe (and us both picking at the leftovers all day...) and the office Christmas party - we're hardly ever all in the same room, so it's nice to get together once or twice a year. Everyone looked most dignified in their gold paper crowns from the crackers.
So true Sarah - that’s a lovely way to describe it - the layers of meaning and our collective memories and experiences of the season all distilled into something we share which blesses us all!
Realising (and being quite happy about it) that I have bought no less than three almanacs - Lia's, a book lover's almanac and a northern hemisphere witches' diary/almanac. I shan't miss A THING.
Watching Orion rising over the ocean from the shore of La Palma island, whilst Geminid meteors zip across the sky and the Milky Way arches above my head…
(Mine isn’t particularly ‘wintery’ because I’ve just come back from a much needed winter sun break in the Canaries…but the stars referenced are winter ones…)
The Christingle service singing Silent Night by candlelight was a lovely moment this week. Also I have really noticed the darkness as we get nearer to the solstice
The schools nine lessons & carols at our lovely cathedral. There is nothing quite like ‘Once in royal David’s city’ opening verse, the soloists voice clear & high - a bell pealing, angelic & true.
A night time bus trip to the busy lit up city, teenager giggles & festive coffees to revive our weary shopping arms.
Clementines studded with cloves - leaving one in each room of the house - truly the scent of the season for me 🍊
We've been breakfasting by candle and gentle side lights. Woe betide anyone in the family who floods the kitchen with light, a gentle lean in to the gloom is an easier start to the day. Homemade paper stars, making yet another list only to slowly cross items off and a low effort swag on the front door instead of a wreath bringing me joy.
Too many trips to the post office, loaded with colorful wrapped packages and seasonal offerings, dried apricots, sugared walnuts, locally roasted coffee. Grateful for the help of the kind clerk who helped me get it all boxed up and shipped off. Promises to get it all done in one trip next year.
sewing hearts from Christmas fabric, on the salvaged 1892 Singer hand sewing machine that my neighbour put in a skip;
the birds have eaten most of them, but I managed to pick a few holly berry laden branches to bring home (the farmer says they eat them all every year just before Christmas.)
the days are so short, barely light at 8 and then dark again by 4
Oh my goodness the clay water table thing hits so close to home, this time of year half of the garden is under the water table I swear!
This week I have been rearanging the christmas decoration garlands to fit the fireplace at my parents home (where I am living currently) that is about twice the size of my old one!
And well, the annual mass tidy before other family members arrive on Monday...
A blackbird singing his heart out after dark in the town centre car park - so unexpected and unusual and simply gorgeous that it made me cry.
Always the most beautiful sound.
Ha! I shall update on Christmas snack table developments as there may be additions next week...This week I’ve been helping my younger daughter learn her part for Carol of the Bells, as she is off singing with school today at the local care home. And I’m preparing to host our annual vegetarian Christmas family meal on Sunday. as we go to relatives for actual Christmas lunch this is a seasonal celebration we can enjoy at home.
What a gorgeous Advent calendar of seasonal beauties in the collective moments poem this week - a delicious range of images to capture the imagination and senses. My three - Christmas baking - that unique scent of fruit, spices, and utter richness! The exquisite delight of each tiny picture revealed in my adventure calendar each day - and lighting candles every evening, enjoying the glow and the scent. Just magical - never fails to lift my spirits and my heart. I’m finding a slower pace, a considered Advent, taking time to notice , savour and enjoy along the way each day is suiting us just fine. Everything seems extra significant and layered this year with real shafts of insight and depth.
Icing hundreds of little gingerbread stars, which will be presents for teachers and other school staff.
My beautiful old apple tree blown down in the storm but alive with blue, great and long tailed tits snacking on the grubs in the lichen.
That’s sad but a lovely image of the birds capitalising x
Gosh I’ve written about birds a moment ago, and described it the same as you! An avian coincidence!! I’m sorry your tree has fallen. X
Ah today's poem got me a little misty-eyed too. This time of year is so special - all the layers of meaning and memory from our own lives, under- and overlaid with everything we've ever read and watched about the season.
Seasonal things of the week for me: my partner making vanilla fudge for friends, from her grandmother's passed down recipe (and us both picking at the leftovers all day...) and the office Christmas party - we're hardly ever all in the same room, so it's nice to get together once or twice a year. Everyone looked most dignified in their gold paper crowns from the crackers.
So true Sarah - that’s a lovely way to describe it - the layers of meaning and our collective memories and experiences of the season all distilled into something we share which blesses us all!
Realising (and being quite happy about it) that I have bought no less than three almanacs - Lia's, a book lover's almanac and a northern hemisphere witches' diary/almanac. I shan't miss A THING.
🙌
Wrapped up the fall term and sat outside last night, bundled up, staring at Orion, and watching for meteors.
Watching Orion rising over the ocean from the shore of La Palma island, whilst Geminid meteors zip across the sky and the Milky Way arches above my head…
(Mine isn’t particularly ‘wintery’ because I’ve just come back from a much needed winter sun break in the Canaries…but the stars referenced are winter ones…)
The Christingle service singing Silent Night by candlelight was a lovely moment this week. Also I have really noticed the darkness as we get nearer to the solstice
Being charmed by all the goldfinches flocking to my shiny new bird feeders.
The collective noun for goldfinches is a charm (I expect you already know this!)
Well, yes I did actually..... But glad you spotted my little attempt to be funny all the same!
Oh the solstice spiral looks beautiful ..
This week for me
The schools nine lessons & carols at our lovely cathedral. There is nothing quite like ‘Once in royal David’s city’ opening verse, the soloists voice clear & high - a bell pealing, angelic & true.
A night time bus trip to the busy lit up city, teenager giggles & festive coffees to revive our weary shopping arms.
Clementines studded with cloves - leaving one in each room of the house - truly the scent of the season for me 🍊
Ooh I’m going to try the clementines and cloves idea in the rooms here! What a lovely idea!
We've been breakfasting by candle and gentle side lights. Woe betide anyone in the family who floods the kitchen with light, a gentle lean in to the gloom is an easier start to the day. Homemade paper stars, making yet another list only to slowly cross items off and a low effort swag on the front door instead of a wreath bringing me joy.
Too many trips to the post office, loaded with colorful wrapped packages and seasonal offerings, dried apricots, sugared walnuts, locally roasted coffee. Grateful for the help of the kind clerk who helped me get it all boxed up and shipped off. Promises to get it all done in one trip next year.
sewing hearts from Christmas fabric, on the salvaged 1892 Singer hand sewing machine that my neighbour put in a skip;
the birds have eaten most of them, but I managed to pick a few holly berry laden branches to bring home (the farmer says they eat them all every year just before Christmas.)
the days are so short, barely light at 8 and then dark again by 4
Oh my goodness the clay water table thing hits so close to home, this time of year half of the garden is under the water table I swear!
This week I have been rearanging the christmas decoration garlands to fit the fireplace at my parents home (where I am living currently) that is about twice the size of my old one!
And well, the annual mass tidy before other family members arrive on Monday...