Happy Solstice

Today is the shortest day of the year. In terms of light that is, I'm sure I'll still have kids up at ten o'clock :).

While my hatred of being cold is well known among friends and family I do love the Solstice. It is such a cozy time of year when the light wanes early and we can surround ourselves in the soft tree lights and candles that are around the home. It is the dark before the Light of the World comes. 

The day begs for something cozy and warm for dinner; soup with crusty bread? Stew? A nice comforting casserole?  I will have kids out and about this evening at dance classes but everyone should be home by 7:00pm and I intend to have a roaring fire built to welcome them in.  

I was trying to get a picture of the full moon last night but between the clouds and the dopey wires I couldn't get something nice. Maybe tonight.  The Full Dark Moon as December is known should be shining bright and in the wee hours of this morning was a lunar eclipse. I missed it. A lunar eclipse is when the full moon passes through part or all of the Earth's shadow. I knew about it and wanted to get up and see it but my dear husband took me out for dinner and some quiet conversation and by the time we got home I was tired and forgot to set my alarm. Oh well.

Dawn posted a really nice Solstice craft, making suet cakes for her outside tree. It fits in so nicely with our observance of the Ember Days that I posted about at O Night Divine. The days set aside by the church, four times a year, to make sacrifices and penance in thanksgiving for God's beautiful and holy creation.  So many of my nature loving friends Macbeth, Dawn, Jennifer (have you seen her garden photos?) incorporate this love of God's creation into their lives and homeschool so well.

I'm working on it.

 

I hope everyone has a happy, cozy Solstice.