Aah the dog baubles are wonderful Lia & will make you smile for many years - Merry Xmas & Thankyou for curating every week - your break is well deserved !
For me this week
Starting my annual reread of ‘the dark is rising’ which starts on midwinter eve, cosy under the duvet - the walker is abroad ...
A festive baking frenzy for friends & neighbours - shortbread stars, sausage rolls & florentines.
Visiting my 102 yr old Grandma Betty - a Yorkshire lass who has a penchant for dark chocolate pralines & salt & shake crisps. A special lady who has so many memories of Xmas past - we leave her with a smile & full hearts every time
This night will be bad, and tomorrow will be beyond imagining... The dark is rising is 50 years old this year, would you believe it? I'm of course rereading too (tempted to listen to the radio play as well)
The radio adaptation is sooo good! I'm listening again this year, it's extra spooky to just hear the snow crunching in a dark room with just some candles on.
My first grandchild was born on the 20th, a little girl called Bella, (& she is absolutely beautiful). Her birth is a wonderful celebration of the circle of life after the death of my beloved father in September, & my dear mother-in-law just three weeks ago. I'll be making my Yule wreath today, as I do every year on the Solstice, & it feels like the perfect way to honour them.
I marzipanned my first ever Christmas cake this week, after weeks of lovingly feeding it whisky. Attended the last Sunday of advent carol service, which made me cry; the Christmas message of hope for peace felt very much needed at this time (saying this as a non-believer who just really likes sacred choral music). The annual Dark is Rising re-read - happy day after Will Stanton's birthday to all those who celebrate. And this morning I did my annual half-climb of Arthur's Seat to welcome the sunrise after the longest night 🌄
Best wishes for a restful break, Lia. I’m grateful to you for guiding this virtual community. It brings me joy each week to learn how alike and unique we all are. Traveling this week and so flamingos and mermaids take the place of dogs on the tree. Spied a flash of pink decorating a ghost tree on the river that turned out to be a flock of roseate spoonbills. Starting in on the Christmas indulgences with a plate of fried Ipswich clams and onion rings, followed by a slice of chocolate covered Boston cream pie. Getting cozy in winter pajamas early in the evening and staying in them all too late into the morning. All fine except I have to drive to Miami this morning. Best wishes for peace and joy 🕊️🕯️🎄🦔🍄
Walking through the Kew Gardens Christmas lights display with a warm cup of mulled wine, admiring the flower shaped light installations and twinkling trees
Making mince pies (a little late this year but finally!) with grated bramley apple in the mincemeat to cut the sweetness, making the pastry as thin and delectable as possible...I never eat shop bought mince pies, only home made ones!
Happy Solstice ! I spent mine enthralled by a solstice meditation and journey with Peruvian artist Ingrid Pumayalla taking us through sound poetry and image to speak with our ancestors through place , spirit and nature … I drew throughout the cacao festival taking my place to grind the rare beans and hold their sacred plant soma for moving into the light as plants do after sulking over the dark days in damp soils here and there in the cooler and darker days . So nature it’s nurture and hoping for peace in 2024 🌀🙏🌿🌱🍃
Watching a beautiful solstice sunset which then inspired a painting. Drinking my morning tea, watching the usually ordered queuing for the bird feeders descend into chaos.
Thankyou for your stewardship Lia - enjoy your well earned break. A gentle week with homemade mince pies beside the Christmas tree, wrapping gifts and - another one - the son back from Uni. Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas. X
I’m finishing my last day at work listening to Kate Rusby’s fabulous Silver Bells album, before I embrace the sellotape and complete the wrapping later on. It’s been a wild and windy few days in my part of Lancashire, perfect for hunkering down with family and a mulled wine or three. Happy Solstice one and all x
Some of the many paper origami stars I made as gift tags and embellishments coming back to me as lovely picture messages from friends who have hung them on their Christmas trees after receiving their parcel. I do the Icelandic Jolabokaflod idea every year and send a book and bar of lovely chocolate to friends to read on Christmas Eve
Please have a well deserved break Lia -the job you do is amazing and much appreciated. Gorgeous “poem” of Christmassy/ solstice images. Too many seasonal moments to choose just three. So I’ll choose three favourite scents - the piney smell of the Christmas tree and greenery filling the rooms downstairs - baking mince pies and sausage rolls - and the cinnamon/ clove / orange combo so redolent of CHRISTMAS!
I made some clementine pomanders studded with cloves and a cinnamon stick “ stalk” that Emma told us about and they are scenting the rooms beautifully! I pinned a thin scarlet ribbon round the middles of each as a reminder of the Christingles we used to go to when the children were small!
Aah the dog baubles are wonderful Lia & will make you smile for many years - Merry Xmas & Thankyou for curating every week - your break is well deserved !
For me this week
Starting my annual reread of ‘the dark is rising’ which starts on midwinter eve, cosy under the duvet - the walker is abroad ...
A festive baking frenzy for friends & neighbours - shortbread stars, sausage rolls & florentines.
Visiting my 102 yr old Grandma Betty - a Yorkshire lass who has a penchant for dark chocolate pralines & salt & shake crisps. A special lady who has so many memories of Xmas past - we leave her with a smile & full hearts every time
Merry Xmas lovely folk xx
This night will be bad, and tomorrow will be beyond imagining... The dark is rising is 50 years old this year, would you believe it? I'm of course rereading too (tempted to listen to the radio play as well)
I listened to the bbc adaptation last year - loved it !
The radio adaptation is sooo good! I'm listening again this year, it's extra spooky to just hear the snow crunching in a dark room with just some candles on.
I've read the book so many times it's become cosy and comforting - the radio adaptation reminded me it's actually pretty eerie, spooky stuff!
My first grandchild was born on the 20th, a little girl called Bella, (& she is absolutely beautiful). Her birth is a wonderful celebration of the circle of life after the death of my beloved father in September, & my dear mother-in-law just three weeks ago. I'll be making my Yule wreath today, as I do every year on the Solstice, & it feels like the perfect way to honour them.
Gosh Joanna - all the “ feels” in that comment. Sending a hug even tnough I don’ t know you.
What a difficult time for you - sending sympathy but also congratulations on the beautiful new baby in your family xx
I marzipanned my first ever Christmas cake this week, after weeks of lovingly feeding it whisky. Attended the last Sunday of advent carol service, which made me cry; the Christmas message of hope for peace felt very much needed at this time (saying this as a non-believer who just really likes sacred choral music). The annual Dark is Rising re-read - happy day after Will Stanton's birthday to all those who celebrate. And this morning I did my annual half-climb of Arthur's Seat to welcome the sunrise after the longest night 🌄
Best wishes for a restful break, Lia. I’m grateful to you for guiding this virtual community. It brings me joy each week to learn how alike and unique we all are. Traveling this week and so flamingos and mermaids take the place of dogs on the tree. Spied a flash of pink decorating a ghost tree on the river that turned out to be a flock of roseate spoonbills. Starting in on the Christmas indulgences with a plate of fried Ipswich clams and onion rings, followed by a slice of chocolate covered Boston cream pie. Getting cozy in winter pajamas early in the evening and staying in them all too late into the morning. All fine except I have to drive to Miami this morning. Best wishes for peace and joy 🕊️🕯️🎄🦔🍄
Walking through the Kew Gardens Christmas lights display with a warm cup of mulled wine, admiring the flower shaped light installations and twinkling trees
Making mince pies (a little late this year but finally!) with grated bramley apple in the mincemeat to cut the sweetness, making the pastry as thin and delectable as possible...I never eat shop bought mince pies, only home made ones!
Us too!
Going to the sea on a very stormy solstice morning with a flask of tea and homemade biscuits to welcome in the lighter days with dear friends
Keeping an eye on the weather and the forecast, hoping the rain holds off for a solstice fire in the garden later.
Happy Solstice ! I spent mine enthralled by a solstice meditation and journey with Peruvian artist Ingrid Pumayalla taking us through sound poetry and image to speak with our ancestors through place , spirit and nature … I drew throughout the cacao festival taking my place to grind the rare beans and hold their sacred plant soma for moving into the light as plants do after sulking over the dark days in damp soils here and there in the cooler and darker days . So nature it’s nurture and hoping for peace in 2024 🌀🙏🌿🌱🍃
seeing rainbow clouds for the first time !
( also known as nacreous clouds )
I saw them too in Birmingham - a shimmering mother of pearl, and just STUNNING!
eating the first mince pie of the season in silence and making a wish
Weirdly, I also enjoyed my boys arriving home with shed loads of dirty washing, lol
Watching a beautiful solstice sunset which then inspired a painting. Drinking my morning tea, watching the usually ordered queuing for the bird feeders descend into chaos.
I need to try a mincemeat samosa!
Thankyou for your stewardship Lia - enjoy your well earned break. A gentle week with homemade mince pies beside the Christmas tree, wrapping gifts and - another one - the son back from Uni. Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas. X
I’m finishing my last day at work listening to Kate Rusby’s fabulous Silver Bells album, before I embrace the sellotape and complete the wrapping later on. It’s been a wild and windy few days in my part of Lancashire, perfect for hunkering down with family and a mulled wine or three. Happy Solstice one and all x
Some of the many paper origami stars I made as gift tags and embellishments coming back to me as lovely picture messages from friends who have hung them on their Christmas trees after receiving their parcel. I do the Icelandic Jolabokaflod idea every year and send a book and bar of lovely chocolate to friends to read on Christmas Eve
Please have a well deserved break Lia -the job you do is amazing and much appreciated. Gorgeous “poem” of Christmassy/ solstice images. Too many seasonal moments to choose just three. So I’ll choose three favourite scents - the piney smell of the Christmas tree and greenery filling the rooms downstairs - baking mince pies and sausage rolls - and the cinnamon/ clove / orange combo so redolent of CHRISTMAS!
I made some clementine pomanders studded with cloves and a cinnamon stick “ stalk” that Emma told us about and they are scenting the rooms beautifully! I pinned a thin scarlet ribbon round the middles of each as a reminder of the Christingles we used to go to when the children were small!
Scents mean so much at this time of year don’t they ? Transport us, comfort us .. merry Xmas Sue xx