Looking out my window at the beginning of this new year, I see a big garden slumbering under a blanket of leaves that was bountiful and beautiful this summer. Beyond that, I see a large plowed field growing a winter cover crop and an enormous pile of wood chips waiting to become more pathways and mulch. In this still time of winter, when I look back over the past year, I see a lot of ...
Twice the Adventures!
Today, my two little adventurers are nine years old. It's hard to believe it's been this many years since I first held two tiny, bundled babies in the quiet of a cold, snowy December dawn. It would take volumes and volumes to recount the journey I've been on since that winter morning, but in short, it has been wonderful, and difficult, and constantly evolving, and I'm grateful ...
Over the River and Through the Woods…
Over the mighty Columbia River, through the pine woods, and over four mountain passes we travelled to Grandmother's house for the holidays. After driving all day long, we arrived in the snowy mountains of central Washington to the warm lights of my parents' house shining through the winter night. Little white lights twinkled on birch trees through the snow, and one brightly lit pine tree stood ...
Boughs of Holly
"The holly and the ivyNow are both well grown Of all the trees that are in the woodThe holly bears the crown" Only recently have I come to appreciate holly. Since my background is in Horticulture with a focus on native plant restoration, I had a lot of negative feelings about this plant as an invasive species always popping up in the forests near houses where holly was planted. It was prickly, ...
Holly Faeries
"O, I am green in Winter-time, When other trees are brown; Of all the trees (So saith the rhyme) The holly bears the crown. December days are drawing near When I shall come to town, And carol-boys go singing clear Of all the trees (O hush and hear!) The holly bears the crown! For who so well-beloved and merry As the scarlet Holly Berry?" ~Cicely Mary Barker ...
Thoreau’s Winter Walk
On this first day of winter, I'll welcome in the new season by sharing a few of my favorite passages from "A Winter Walk" by Henry David Thoreau: The wind has gently murmured through the blinds, or puffed with feathery softness against the windows, and occasionally sighed like a summer zephyr lifting the leaves along, the livelong night. The meadow mouse has slept in his snug gallery in the ...
Raven Steals the Light
I love to spend the Winter Solstice curled up by the woodstove with a hot mug of mulled cider or wine, listening to stories, poems and folktales by candlelight. Of all the stories I have heard on the longest night of the year, the Pacific Northwest coastal creation myth of Raven Steals the Light is my absolute favorite. I have heard of its telling with a few variations in ...
Gluten-Free Celestial Solstice Cookies
Our favorite Holiday cookies to sweeten the palate on the longest night of the year are these gluten-free shortbread cookies half coated in dark chocolate. Pure deliciousness. There isn't much of a recipe to share. They're very simple, and with everything else to do this time of year, simple is key! I use Bob's Redmill Gluten-Free Shortbread Cookie Mix, cut out with moon and star shaped ...
Window Stars
Paper window stars are one of my favorite winter projects. They look beautiful and bright with the light shining through them, and they make great holiday gifts! The last couple of years, I called on my origami skills, and the kids and I just winged it by folding up squares of wax coated kite paper from our Waldorf school store into different shapes with points on the end and glued the center ...
Beneath the Mistletoe
Many of us have a little sprig of mistletoe hanging in our doorways this time of year, and perhaps have shared or stolen a kiss beneath this plant. It's a powerful little plant indeed to draw people together in this way. I have also heard that it is a good plant to have in your home for good fortune this time of year and for keeping away negative energy. If you live near oak trees, you ...