Happy Soltice to all!

Being the season, we made our yearly pilgrimage to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation for The Winter Solstice Celebration. We got there just in time, grabbed our Sun Crowns and a seat just as the band"Europa" started playing a merry little tune....

The Solstice celebration is put on by the Women's Spirituality Circle...

I really wished that I lived closer so I could play with them... they are some really passionate and FUN wild women!

They cast the circle with a reading first of Santa Lucia, and then one of the young gals from the children's group with a halo of lights on her crown, went round the quarters and lit all the candles... They broke it up this year quite nicely, in consideration of the less mobile, elderly, disabled, and small children, by doing a few songs, mostly the Solstice Carols by Megha Morganfield. There were readings and meditations, a few carols, and a set of dances, and refreshments set up in the back of the circle for those in need!

We had a wonderful time, including grandson Robert, who made his first trip to the UU. He very much enjoyed all the candles, cookies, and running around, not to sure about the dancing thing, but looked like he was having a blast with his cousin Sorren.

So another year, and another return to the days of sun and fair weather!

The Spiral Chant, and dance at the end of the evening is always my favorite... circling around and "meeting" everyone on the way back through the circle, smiling, and raising the most marvellous energy...

This is the path that I have chosen, one that heals my heart.

This is the path that I have chosen, weaving light from dark.

I am strong and whole, I am beautiful,

I am strong and whole, and I know it in my soul,

yes I know it in my soul.

Happy Solstice, and please check out this incredible post from the PNW, Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts,

http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/

Also, the dawn of the new day from Newgrange in Ireland.

http://www.servecast.com/opw/211208/index.html

Just click on the link and watch the replay of the live feed.

It is really cool.....it is long (aboutan hour total), but there is a bit of a history lesson in there too... about how Newgrange is much older than Stonehenge, and how it was constructed and the surprise when it was unearthed.....Seeing the light come through the roof box for the first time in about 5,000 years must have been pretty cool....You don't get to see much due to weather, but they replay the 2007 broadcast which was stupendous!

Greetings To The Winter Solstice

Brightener of Darkness, hail!

Keeper of Clearness, Opener of the Depths.

Gifts of plenty are arising, Winter winder, white snows' fall.

Joyful be the heart within us,

Open wide the guesting door,

Wisdom waken in abundance,

Warn our being to the core.

From: Caitlin Matthews Celtic Devotional Daily Prayers & Blessings

Sugar Plums and Sparkles

Well with the holiday creeping up, and having a curious now three year old in the house that often responds to the word "no" with a wicked giggle, I thought it best to keep back some of the older, more fragile ornaments...
Until I started moving my old tin top Mason jars out of the way for some Christmas fluff...
I put the whole display together in about 30 minutes, and was delighted with the results...
I have to say that I got the idea from Laume, and her blog, Beach Treasures(see sidebar) and her wonderful little shop in her hometown of Susanville Ca, that had some wonderful Halloween displays. So instead of Something Wicked This Way Comes, it's more of Sugar Plumes and some Golden Apples....
And the precious three year old has only wanted to see the sugar plum fair fly, and play with the blocks.....
And unwrapped three presents....

Harry Potter fans

I have been reading and listening to "The Half Blood Prince" in what I thought was preparation for the release of the movie this holiday season... but sadly I hear that it will not open until July...

I had an idea for some Christmas prezzies listening to the movie...for my poor tortured nieces and nephews, and grandchildren that have had to put up with us Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling knuts...

Punn Intended...

So here they are...

The first one born in muggle captivity...

At least at out house....

Pigmy Puffs!!!!!!!
P.S. Kate do not show these to your kids!

Phoebee's been attacked by and Octopus

Well at least it kind of looked that way to me....
I spent the evening putting in her synthetic dreads tonight....
My back is sore, and so are my hands....
At least it is a fiber kind of thing and I did get to play...
So it wasn't a total loss...
And it's just hair...
It's almost a normal color...


I did say almost...
It is hard to tell in the photos, but the extensions are blond, dark blond, hot pink and burgundy. Some of them are striped....
Who knew hair could be so fun...
This is the same kid that hated having her hair braided twice a day ( it was a survival thing, her hair was down to her butt.)
Different...

Sorren's Happy Tuna

The darling Miss Sorren turned three yesterday...
She is a charmer, smart as a whip and keeps us all on our toes...
We had the traditional pancakes for breakfast, they were Sun Fuzzy yellow with some yellow sugar confetti. They were a happy breakfast item, perfect for our little princess....
We had a quite family dinner, of spaghetti of course, and her Tinkerbell cake after... then we let her open her presents... the clothes and new shoes didn't go over nearly as well as the Tinkerbell tea set and the new outfit for her Waldorf doll, Izzy, who is now decked out in the latest attire for the up and coming mermaid.
Our little one is growing like a weed, expanding her horizons, and astounding us with her wit and wisdom....
Knock, knock...
Who's there?
It's me, Sorren Skye!
Can I come in?

Chany likesSnow

I've been playing with my Painter again.....

Chany got me started with this cool picture of her...

There was alot I wanted to do , but I don't really know what I'm doing yet...

Mostly just having fun....