Winter Solstice

We started the day lighting candles all around the house to enjoy the Solstice in all its peace and darkness. It was very nice spending the day in candle light and thinking of the return of the sun after the longest night of the year. Kelwyn and Adeline found glow sticks in their Advent stockings, and it was such an overcast all day we lit them early. Kelwyn and I made cranberry rings for the birds, by stringing fresh cranberries on florist wire. I made a circle, twisted the wire together and placed yarn around it for hanging. Kelwyn wanted to place them on our Christmas tree for a little while before taking them outside. I made some delicious walnut bread for a Solstice dinner at our friends home. Maria made an amazing chocolate yule log for our dessert, delicious. It was a lovely evening with friends and Kelwyn slept with his glow stick to keep his little light through the darkness.

Advent and St. Nicholas

We have been enjoying celebrating the past 2 Sundays of Advent with our candle lighting, cookies and cocoa. We started this tradition last year when Kelwyn was 2. He loves to blow out the candles when we are done. I have really enjoyed the time with my family and the peacefulness and silence we share with the dark and candle light. I like the cookies and cocoa too!The little ones woke up this morning for to see if St. Nicholas left any treats in their shoes they left by the door the night before. Kelwyn dumped out his nuts on the floor and was being such a sweet big brother by showing Adeline the nuts in her shoe. After breakfast we enjoyed reading some new books, The Story of the Snow Children and Around the Year. Both beautifully illustrated and sweet stories. Little elves and gnomes have also been visiting our Advent stocking every night. My plan was to knit 24 tiny advent stockings this fall so we would have one for each day. But, I only got 6 done. So, we are just using one for now and each night. Maybe next season......

Crafting

With the cooler weather here I am having the urge to knit as much as I can, by our new fireplace and sip on some hot tea or cocoa. (It is not done yet, so I will show pictures when it is all finished with rock work and mantle.) Back in mid Autumn I knit Kelwyn his yearly vest to keep him nice a toasty this winter. I was afraid he would refuse to put it on, but no complaints! I remembered this little pilot cap I knit for Adeline last fall, but it was way too big at the time. So, I pulled it out and sewed a cute flower on it to spice it up a bit. I just finished this darling little tunic for Adeline. I just love how it turned out and the yarn is just divine. (I got is at the South Eastern Fiber Festival in October). She seems to enjoy it too!

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My most recent project was a quick knit elfin hat for Kelwyn. I got this pattern from my new book More Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It was not as long as I wanted because I was using up some some old yarn and it ran out, but still adorable and will keep him warm.Over the weekend I got out for a few hours to the Big Crafty for a little shopping and admiring of local crafters. I got some beautiful earrings from my dear friend Kelcey and she gifted me a lovely ornament for our Christmas tree. Thank you, I love it!! Check out her beautiful work at her etsy shop. Amazing!!

Slowing down

I have been feeling a little hurried and stressed lately and I want to slow down to enjoy this special time of year. I feel myself rushing through one task to get to the next. Crafting projects to do on my own and with the kids piling up in the corner of my mind, cleaning, baking, holiday decorating. I was reading another blog about mindfulness and this quote really rung true for me.

"If while washing dishes, we think only of the cup of tea that awaits us, thus hurrying to get the dishes out of the way as if they were a nuisance, then we are not 'washing the dishes to wash the dishes.' What's more, we are not alive during the time we are washing the dishes. In fact, we are completely incapable of realizing the miracle of life while standing at the sink. If we can't wash the dishes, the chances are we won't be able to drink our tea, either. While thinking of other things, we are barely aware of the cup in our hands. Thus, we are sucked away into the future -- and we are incapable of actually living one moment of life!"

-Thich Nhat Hanh

I want to enjoy every moment now. Enjoy the ups and downs of parenting and be there for my children with loving and caring arms. Not the hurried arms and mind I feel I have sometimes with them. Practice mindfulness. Remember to breath and slow down...... Every moment with them is so precious.