Happy Holidays

As I sit writing this on Christmas Eve morning I send out a wish for you to have a wonderful holiday season in whichever way that you celebrate. Hanukkah is now over with as is the Winter Solstice, and Yule was originally a 12 day festival, so its time is still upon us as is Christmas and Kwanza. Enjoy your celebrations, whatever they may be.

This is the journal page spread I did for the Winter Solstice. From the darkness to the light.  It was fun doing some collage for it this year. I have been spending my time baking, finishing last minute gifts and watching favorite Christmas movies as many of you have.  All that hustle and bustle before the big day.  Memories of love ones passed pop into my head as I listen to music they loved or remember times gone by.  Such sweet memories.  My mom died in December a week before the holiday many years ago, but its not been a sad time for me. So many can not enjoy the holidays after a connection like this. I know that my mother would want a party to be going on and she'd want to be at the center of it.  I mourn her loss more on her birthday than on the anniversary of her death. If this is an issue for you I hope you can see beyond the sadness and celebrate in a way that you can.

Merry Christmas,

Kate

Celebrating the Solstice

I have celebrated the Winter Solstice for years.  I usually have a fire, sometimes outside and sometimes inside.  This years fire is in my wood stove.  I like to make a list of things that I want to release or let go and then some that I want to bring into my life in the coming year,  Then I throw the list into the fire.  Its a simple and fun ritual to do on this day.  This year I decided some art for today would  be nice too.  So I created this 2 page spread in my art journal.  It seemed to cement the experience of the day for me.

Happy Solstice.

Merry Christmas From Our House

My little snow couple are here to wish you Merry Christmas

My snowflakes are all hung up and blowing in the breeze, this is one of seven.

Only a spinner and weaver would have a woolen mill for a decoration. I love my little house.

My tree this year is all birds. It seems appropriate that a real tree should have birds in it.

This is a little bell pull of birds which I turned into a temporary garland.

This little cardinal is made some kind of straw.

My crow is a little ragged but loved.

My cats keep trying to attack this bird garland I added.

There are a couple glass birds but I have never figured out what kind of bird they are.

They have such character I love putting them on the tree.

I love this little owl, he is so cute.

This little glass cardinal is another favorite.

This little partridge has actual feathers on it, I love the idea of a partridge in my tree even if it isn't a pear tree.

For the top of the tree I have a funky cloth bird. He is big enough to make his presence known.

I have another small tree that this year held some favorite ornaments.  The nutcracker collection was from my mother.

Wishing you all peace this holiday season and in the coming new year.

Making the Holidays Yours

We are well into the Holiday Season. I find myself back at another stage. When my daughter was born I missed the big family gatherings and would lament about the loss of them every year. I had to make new traditions and create my own holidays.

I still watched all the sappy Hollywood movies, still longing for that wonderful time.

 

Too often I would feel like Charlie Brown with his sad little tree. No matter what I did it felt lacking. I know it was just my perception of things. I know that we had wonderful holidays.
This year my daughter will not be home for Christmas, and I am finding this to be hard.

I have been looking for ways to make this year special for Dave and myself. We've been remodeling so there is no money for a trip. I found myself not even wanting a tree or decorating. I decided that would really make me depressed. So we got a tree and the house looks festive, things are looking up. I added new decorations and that was fun to do. I want to be like the happy guy to my left.

So how do you do that. So many of have issues with these holidays. Maybe a parent died at this time, or we miss their celebrations, just don't feel like we are in a situation to be merry. It doesn't matter the reason there are always things you can do to make yourself happy and content. I thought I'd share some of the things I plan on doing this year. They are simple but they are enough.

1. Decorate even if its just for yourself, you'll get pleasure out of seeing the beauty in your home. I decorated my tree with all birds this year.
2, Celebrate the Winter Solstice. Do a search the internet for ideas on how to celebrate this holiday.
3. Cook new foods- I am planning on making home made cinnamon rolls for Breakfast on Christmas Morning.
4. Feed the ducks on Christmas Day - we do this every year and I really enjoy it. we head down to the river and pay attention to those animals who get neglected on this day.
5. I signed up for a class that starts  Dec 15, a new creative activity always gets me going.
6. I'll still watch sappy movies but I will work on knitting projects during them.
7. Go see Christmas lights.
8. Go to the Museum exhibit for its many displays. This year in addition to the gingerbread houses and santas there is a penguin display that I want to see.
9. Participate in secret santa buying for others. Its fun to help families in need.
10. Bake christmas goodies and invite friends over. I did this already and it was great fun.
11. Skype on Christmas Day so I can share Christmas with my daughter even if we are not together.

These are just some ideas but you can create your own, you can make the holidays be whatever you want them to be.  Just be creative and have fun.

Samhain

I was playing with spray inks last night and the raven jumped on the page so it sure seemed appropriate for today.  Happy Celtic New Year!  Samhain is the Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest/beginning of winter.  Its a time to be thankful, celebrate loved ones who have died and more. Its the halfway point between the fall equinox and the winter solstice.   Happy Halloween  Happy New Year. Oh by the way Samhain is pronounce Sow wen. Here is Loreena McKennit's awesome song Samhain Night. Enjoy.