New Solstice Hats

We had a pledge this year to only give each other gifts made by ourselves for Winter Solstice. So, i took some cues from J about wanting a new hat and found this great tutorial on-line. I also had bought this pattern for Lil C online months ago and thought that my Solstice gifts this year would be handmade hats.

I am quite happy with both hats, and am proud that my sewing abilities have gotten so good that J thought i 'cheated and bought my gift.' Unfortunately, Lil C's will be small too soon but the pattern goes until he's 3 so i will definitely make one again. It will be good with lighter fabric for the summer, and i suspect he will like dressing up with this hat - i see him as a train conductor and J says the hat is one bikers wear. Incidently, he now wants an adult version too!

Happy Summer Solstice

I think i officially love Summer the best. Especially June - The flowers that are in bloom (like this sunflower, our first successful bloom in 3 summers!), the fresh berries available locally, the great summer dresses i can wear - ah, summer!
In honour of our first summer as a family of 3, i decided to start displaying Nature Tables, a la Waldorf Education. I`m still learning about it all, but i really am attracted to it`s philosophy - love of nature, imagination, creativity, and not forcing children to learn a certain way. I won`t get into it all here, but for now i think it`s a style of parenting i will follow, more so than schooling. For our first table, i put some things that represent Summer for both J and myself (shells, knit strawberry, lavender, twigs, rocks). And, i was able to add some pinecombs that C and i played with at the park too! He was quite fascinated with them. The all sit on an old plate that my mother gave me, a Serbian one with painted Poppies on them (also kin to Summer). And, instead of playsilks, i've used a vintage table cloth with a blue butterfly appliqued on.

I picked up this lovely book too recently at our local library. It is an older book that was re-published recently. The text is a lyrical poem that goes through each of the months. A perfect way to start our journey celebrating the everyday and natural world we live in.
Today, on our walk today to our LLL meeting, i took some photos. I just love seeing the surprise in everyday life, the colour and art hidden in the concrete of the city. We are lucky to live near a pedestrian railpath and use it a lot to get around. I was so tempted to glean some of these Black-Eyed Susans as mine haven`t taken this year, for some reason, but i didn`t. This way i can enjoy them each time i walk by.

Happy Winter Solstice

I love tradition, and now that we have a wee one, we're starting a new tradition for our family. J and i have celebrated the Winter Solstice for years, but we wanted to do something that honours our community. So, we baked - correction, J baked as i was sick in bed - some festive loaves that we'll be giving to our neighbours today. Nothing says holiday like some baked goods - this year it's cranberry orange loaves. We got the recipe from our stand-by book, Veganomicon. Too bad i was so stuffed up that i couldn't smell the magic coming from the kitchen!

I also went with a woodlands theme for decor. Our tree has some new ornaments, made by me and bought. I made some cute acorns, loosely following this pattern as well as this one that i modified for an acorn.
I also bought C his first ornament and was so happy to have an excuse to buy/splurge on one of Tamar's work. We'll put it in his room afterward. I also bought this great crocheted pinecomb at a local craft fair, and the mushroom is from my favourite bookstore in the city.

a crafty vegan's 12 Days of Christmas - Day 8

Happy Winter Solstice

I love this day as part of my holiday season - it's one tradition that my partner and i have made all our own. We usually do some special things together, and luckily this year, the day falls on a Sunday! We are planning to watch Christmas movies at home, and possibly open 1 present each. But, most importantly is a trek down to Kensington Market for their annual Solstice celebration - Festival of Light. Everyone who comes participates in some way - either marching in the parade itself or observing the many skits along the way. I love both the family feel and Pagan dedication that brings people together. Quite wonderful.

Now, all we have to do is work up the strength to walk out of our cozy li'l house and conquer the snow - even more fell overnight!

Day 8 - Happy Winter Solstice!

My partner and i celebrate this day and love our new tradition for it. It started out in honour of my pagan sisters, and then it became our own ritual to go to Kensington Market's Festival of Lights extravaganza.

I really can't do this fun evening justice except to say it's full of street theatre, music, participatory audiences, a march, and cold feet. We take a lantern with us each year, promising to make our own one year, but so far it hasn't happened. I had every intention to make this one from Bust's current issue, but alas, life got in the way. Next year, for sure, i promise myself!

Traditionally, we took this day to have as a special occassion for just ourselves, and open one present each. Because, we're carefully watching our present spending and making this year (and therefore have less presents to open), i think what we'll do instead is enjoy some nice eggnog by the fire, with my sister who will be visiting is. Bless her for coming to see us.