pausing

We had all three daughters (and a beau) in the house for our Solstice dinner last night. Some are "here today, gone tomorrow", because now that they are grown, we share them with others. We missed Stewart and Dawn...they live very far away and are having their own adventures. On the dinner menu? Three sisters casserole, of course (via Kripalu). The table, the conversation, the mood...it all just sparkled. Maybe you celebrated last night, too?

The winter season is filled with festivals and holidays that embrace light in the darkest of days. The Solstice is my very favorite.  I invite you to pop on over to Junkaholique's blog post and read something quite thoughtful. Artemis' words may not match your own feelings about the holiday season, but they resonate a lot with me. There are so many ways to see and navigate life and in a more gracious world, there could be room for all of us.

With thanks to my friend Stacy, I invite you to read this too, Why We Need the Winter Solstice. It's an eye opener.

I found this patch of wet out in the balsam orchard. Under nearly a foot of snow, one of the many little springs has bubbled up. There may be weeks and weeks of winter left, but now we have turned the corner, renewal is right under our feet.

To honor the season, I'm signing off for a bit. I'll follow my mammal instincts and hunker in to this quiet time. We'll be gathered in with those we love and food to sustain us. Candles, wood fire and starlight will keep us safe against the dark.

May peace, hope, light and celebration inspire your days, dear readers. xo