Winter Solstice :: 2010

The shortest day of the year is here and it's been very, very sweet for us today. J is home from work now for the whole of the festive period and we are really feeling in the holiday mood. I spent a leisurely, relaxing morning colouring in pictures with Little Lady, tweaking my Christmas decorations (will show you those tomorrow), tidying up a little and generally loving the fact that were are all home together and all felt warm, cosy and colourful within our four walls.

After lunch, with nothing in particular on the agenda, we all wrapped up and ventured up to the park again for a second installment of sledging and ice-crystal admiring. The Little People were desperate to show their Daddy how well they could whoosh at (quite terrifying) speed down the snowy slope. He was suitably impressed, and even had a few goes himself, borrowing Little Lady's pink sledge and racing Little Man down the hill. 

While they were hard at it, Little B and I took a stroll through the woodland, gathering a few twigs and branches of greenery to bring home for Solstice.

Nothing elaborate, just a jug for the foliage, a few wooden stars, a tray covered in silver tin foil and some tealights.

Putting this simple table display together to celebrate Solstice with my family gave me a huge amount of pleasure.

We ate a lovely dinner together and chatted about the year and the fact that this day felt Quite Special.

A quiet moment as we lit the candles.

Later, after dinner, we sat around the fire and I gave each of us a dry pine cone.

We took it in turns to throw our pinecone on the fire and make a wish.

Crackle crackle, eyes screwed tightly shut, heart felt wishes made.

I would so dearly love to know what my little family wished for.

But I was solemnly told that I couldn't be told, because then the wishes wouldn't come true.

Ok then.

Wishing you all a happy Winter Solstice, I hope all your dreams (and mine) come true.

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Comments

[Jillian]

Oh how lovely. Thank you for sharing. Hope you have a wonderful festive season with your family xx

[Karen]

We have done the same today, Lucy. Collected a Yule log from the garden as its too cold to go anywhere further from our cosy house and brought in a bunch of winter greens and holly berries. We have the same little wooden decorations too. Its the beginning of the light part of the year even if that is hard to imagine. I have so enjoyed your blog this year and wish you and your lovely family happy Winter Solstice and a very happy Christmas. Karen X

[Enid Shaw]

very good description of a great family day.
hope your wish comes true

[Louise]

I'd just like to say thank you. I taught myself to crochet a granny square this year because of you and I've always wanted to do that.
Thank you very much
Happy Holidays
{*}

[Jennifer]

Lovely post, Lucy. Your home is glowing with warmth and love! xx

[Louise]

what a beautiful post. Lovely pictures too.

[keri]

Sounds like a charming way to start your holidays! Have a MERRY MERRY Christmas, Lucy - and family! God bless you all!

[Andrea]

Lovely! I do think it is important to honour these ancient festivals and to remember our pagan heritage. That aside, the return of longer days is worth celebrating!

[Allyson]

Beautiful pictures as always :) what a lovely day you had! We just had Summer Solstice- although with everyone in warm clothes and snow (!!) on the Alps you wouldn't think it was Summer!

[Marie]

A lovely day, thanks for showing all your glowing photos. This is a good time of year for making wishes, I hope all of yours come true :-)

[Vicki Porter]

Hi Lucy
Thank you so much. Your blog makes my heart so happy. Hearing you talk about your little family with so much love is really lovely.Thank you for all you do. Vicki

[Anita]

I live in the US, I know you all have shorter winter days than we do. Our day was 9 hours and 43 minutes long today. How long was yours?

[Lisa]

How sweet. I love the idea of throwing pine cones into the fire and making a wish. I love hearing all your stories about your family. Very lovely.

[felicity]

Lovely Lucy, I wish I could have done similar, Im still in the tired hazy baby days Im running out of time for eveything! How I miss sleep! Next year though Im really going to try and live by the seasons and celebrate all the old traditions and feast days! hope you have a lovely Christmas! Fliss xxx

[pamela]

It's all downhill 'til summer now Lucy! Happy new year;) xxx

[Lynda M O]

YOu have encouraged me to venture into crocheting realms I had thought beyond me, for that I thank you, Following your pregnancy was a great time and Little B is a welcome addition to the blog. happy Holidays to you and yours.

[Robin]

Lovely post Lucy! You sound wonderful and more relaxed. Many wishes for a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. AND I hope your wish comes true! ox Robin❤

[Angela Krautman]

Dear Lucy, I just wanted to thank you for being so inspirational. Since starting to read your blog in September, I have rediscovered craft. I've been crocheting every day, making Christmas presents for family and decorations for the house. My husband has noticed a significant positive change in my general mood and disposition. Thank You! : )
I would like to send you and your family lots of good wishes from the colonies. xxxx

[Holly McLean]

I love that you marked the winter solstice with your children and I like your centerpiece. Natural is the way to go.

[Steffie]

It is so fun to hear of your fun, winter wonderland type of days!! i live in Texas and at the moment we are at about 25c!!! My husband is running around in short pants and we both had our bathing suits on earlier today cleaning up the backyard after a quick dip in the hot(warm) tub!! it just doesn't feel like the Christmas season. Thank you for sharing a little part of your wintry, Christmasy season with all of us!! Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!

[Melissa]

Dear Lucy,
Another beautiful and endearing post from you. Thank you for adding colour and shiny thought bubbles to my day.

[Krista - Poppyprint]

What a lovely celebration. Enjoy your holidays together all cozy in your hooky home.

[Joolz]

Merry Christmas Lucy and family!

Thank you for brightening my year with your yummy colours and all things crochet! I am thinking of you tucked up in Attic24 with swirling snow as we celebrate Christmas in Australia (it's going to be about 26C here).

Cheers - Joolz

[Shelley in SC]

Just love the fresh greenery and twigs in the jug with the little red stars. So sweet and simple.

[ellen kelley]

Me too. Lovely wishes for you.