On A Winter's Night

Today

is the

Winter Solstice,

the shortest day

of the year.

About 13 years ago we started a tradition
that became one of our favorite things.

We acknowledged our pagan roots (!)
and started celebrating the
Winter Solstice.

Our first celebration was
a night time ice skating party
on a pond
with a bunch of friends
and their kiddos.

There was a little cabin we could go in
with a fire in the stove
so we could warm up.

And a big bon fire
by the pond.
I also set
luminaries around the pond
for effect.

We had chili
and hot chocolate
and celebrated the arrival
of Winter.

It was a lot of fun.

We've done different celebrations through the years.
Sometimes we've invited people over
to participate in
musical performances
or readings and recitations
but it was all about
Winter
not Christmas.

And we've gone back
to the pond
a time or two.

To celebrate Winter's arrival today
Doug made crepes!!

A few years ago
he gifted himself with a
fancy-dancy
crepe maker
and every now and again
will thrill us
with his crepes.

Here Abbie is getting a lesson
on how to flip
the crepe.

Here Jake's eyeballs
are getting ready
to roll into
the back of his head.

Doug discovered
a new filling today:
cream cheese
and
apricot preserves.
Yum.

But nothing can beat
good, 'ol
Nutella.

Crepe chocolate fest...
a good way to welcome
Winter.

In my quest
to make peace with
the long, bitter cold
Winter
we have here
I went on a short
Winter Walk
with our dog,
Luther.

It really is beautiful
to be out in the
crisp, cold air.

My night-time
Winter photos
look spooky,
but it wasn't.

As I walked
I hummed in my head
a favorite song:

Loreena McKennitt's version of Good King Wenceslas.

She always helps me connect
with my Celtic blood.

Happy Winter!

Tomorrow the daylight
IS LONGER!!