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

[Goads]

Lovely post, Lucy. Thank you for adding colour and shiny thought bubbles to my day.

[vildkatten]

It's nice you keep celebrating winter solstice, I remember when you started. We love the moon but this year it really ruined the illusion of the darkest night, lighting up the world completely.

For a while this evening we had the coldest temperature in Sweden with -33,1°C, got past for a while but is now back as number one. Lucifer wants to go out but it's just too cold.

[Beverly]

Dear Lucy,
Thank you for the positive example you set of how to build strong family relationships using celebrations and simple, everyday objects. You are an inspiration!!!!!. I wish you and your family a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[Nancy]

Thank you, Lucy, for another lovely post. I have a message for you over on Ravely :-). Happy Holidays!

[Cornelia]

Beautiful! Griessli Cornelia

[Lucy]

Thank you for sharing such a lovely day. It has made me feel even more Christmassy! Merry Christmas to you and yours. Lucy :0)

[Fiona]

That is the loveliest post I have read in a long time Lucy. What a wonderful thing to do. I love your simple but beautiful Solstice display and the wish making is very special. I look forward so much to creating similar family rituals with my little F. By the looks of that second from bottom picture your house is looking very festive and cosy.

[sumea]

a lovely post lucy
your home is looking so pretty
warm and cosy too

seasonal hugs xxx

sumea

[Patsy]

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year Lucy and Family!
XOXO

[Gill]

Oh I love your Solstice pictures. This year I promised myself I would celebrate it properly but yet again it crept up on me in amongst all the shopping and cleaning and organising and...oh you get my drift! Anyway Blessings to you and yours for yesterdays Solstice (even slept through the blooming eclipse too!)and happy thoughts go to you all.

Love and stuff xx
PS Laura Ashley calendar arrived today! Yippeee!!

[susan]

Ah Lucy, I love reading your blog. It is magical, a soothing balm to my soul.

[Sue]

A lovely day for you and your family, Lucy you have captured the spirit of mid-winter and the coziness of the holidays with your words and photos.
Thanks for another inspiring year, especially your recent crochet ornament tutorials. I've enjoyed making a few for my little ones to place on our tree.
Yours continues to be my favorite blog :)
Happy Christmas to you and your family.

[ali.b]

Beautiful!! A lovely post and just a little bit envious lol - have a lovely Christmas and best wishes to you and yours for the New Year xx

[Lema]

Dear Lucy, Your home and your family 'traditions' truly show that you know the meaning of a real home and the value of family life. Thanks for being a constant reminder to us all. Happy christmas xx

[Donna]

What a beautiful day you had :0)
Thankyou kindly for the lovely message you left on my blog... I was most surprised that you had visited, as it must take you aaaaggggeeess just to read all your comments, it really made my day :0)
Have a great Christmas Lucy. Your really a lovely person you know :)
Warmest wishes to you and your brood.
Donna x

[Karin]

What a heartwarming post!

[Helen]

What a wonderful family time you are having, Lucy! I love your gorgeous decorations using Christmas greenery. I'd also like to say a big thank you for your inspiring blog, and for welcoming me to the blog world earlier this year with your sweet comments when I first started mine. They meant so much, thank you!! I hope you and your family have a really wonderful Christmas - and I hope your winter solstice wishes all come true.
Helen x

[Ruth]

Ooh it does look cosy and colourful at your house for Christmas - thank you for sharing! I hope all your pine cone wishes come true for 2011 and have a very happy Christmas!

[maggie]

Absolutely delightful. Many many good wishes to you and yours.

[Baukje]

Thanks for the 'warm' story.

[chez chouke]

Wow, it sounds so warm and nice! Cherish your family life! Love, Chez Chouke

[Edith Bieri]

Lucy, I love your blog posts and wish you and your family a merry Christmas and a happy New Year
Edith from Switzerland

[Sarah west mids uk]

Dear Lucy how wonderful and cosy it looks at your house. Thank you for your lovely blog this year. You have had an eventful year but still managed to stay in touch with us all out here. Have a wonderful Christmas together
and a very Happy New Year!!!
xxx

[Shannon]

What a lovely day and a beautiful home. Hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas!

[Hahnsmum]

That was truly lovely Lucy..l miss my children at Christmas but alas they are all grown up & flown the coop, & a except the youngest who is home with us fulltime..He comes home 2mora from respite so l will try hard to give James a nice Christmas..Stay safe & warm..
Best Wishes,
Pam Clarke..
New England,
NSW, Australia..