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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very good description of a great family day.
hope your wish comes true
Posted by: Enid Shaw | December 21, 2010 at 10:19 PM
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
Posted by: Karen | December 21, 2010 at 10:19 PM
Oh how lovely. Thank you for sharing. Hope you have a wonderful festive season with your family xx
Posted by: Jillian | December 21, 2010 at 10:17 PM