Winter Solstice
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| Subtly festive |
Over the weekend, I decorated our mantle with some candles, string lights and evergreen boughs. (I took Reggie Darling’s advice to only decorate with colors that complement the room’s decor.) Now I feel a bit more in the holiday spirit.
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| Lights out, full effect |
I also spent a few hours clearing out piles of stuff that had accumulated in various corners, causing our living room to look a bit like something from “Hoarders.” A few bags were donated to the local thrift store, and remaining papers and photos from my Dad and Grandma have now been gone through and sorted into various containers for storage. I found some more pictures and documents that surprised and fascinated me, and I’ll share some more early 20th century family history with you next week.
Some interesting tidbits about Winter Solstice and how it’s celebrated in various cultures here and here.
Good Yule, everyone!
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In the very early hours of this morning, we saw a total moon eclipse: a full moon, the solstice, the eclipse- not to happen again for 150 years, A remarkable sight!
Happy Solstice! Your mantlepiece looks lovely, very festive.
Now you’re making the holiday tradition your own! This is lovely, the kind of peaceful, joyous, nurturing festive that I would expect from you and that I’m sure delights those you live with.
I look forward to seeing what you’ve unearthed. . .
Just beautiful!
I’m from a culturally Christian but atheist background, Gary’s culturally but not religiously Jewish. He’s always refused to have a tree. However, early on, I put pine roping and lights above our entertainment center (we call it the altar), and he was pleased at the effect, and dubbed it the horizontal Christmas tree. We’re all fine with it, and find that the holidays are continuing to evolve. I admit I’m crazy over the purple tree at Borders, which I’m hoping to pick up on clearance!
How lovely! It’s perfectly festive and inviting…
Happy to hear that you are feeling more festive.
Your mantlepiece looks lovely and the candles radiate such a warm and friendly glow.
Happy Holidays!
God Jul! I think that’s how the Swedes say it. Mixed holidays, done following your own life and history, are the best sort. Especially when you can say, I’m doing this because I want to. Your mantel looks lovely.
Looks lovely.
I think it needs more CowBell!
I too stayed up to watch the solstice lunar eclipse. The cloud cover was spotty, but gave a clear view every 5 minutes or so. Effin’ spectacular! Especially when it turned red. Quite a few of my neighbors were also out moon gazing in the wee hours. I am dying to know what you found in the family archives.
Decorating the mantle is not something we do over here, though Scandinavian interior design magazines show beautiful arrangements taken from Scandinavian homes. The Christmas tree, flowers and candles and the traditional Christmas foods cover the Xmas over here. Naturally families gather together, from far and near.
Your mantle decoration is very pretty!
Looks so pretty and welcoming.
We’d planned a tree, but it seemed foolish to haul one home in the torrential LA rain. Then we learned our Son is stranded in London and won’t arrive home until Christmas afternoon. Our decor and dinner plans will be simple yet homey and welcoming.
We missed the eclipse – the cloud-cover was too thick.
Your mantle looks lovely. Candlelight is always so gentle and kind.
All looks beautiful – and I’ll bet you feel ‘lighter’ (no pun intended!) after decluttering too… Great solstice to you.. in Australia it is our longest DAY..!
Can I have a glass of gluhwein to go with the candlelight? So inviting…
Hope you enjoy these festive weeks. 🙂
How lovely! Like something out of a magazine. Happy solstice to you!!xoxo
It never hurts anybodies cleaning up efforts to watch a few episodes of those hoarder shows!
I think being a fashionista is helpful becuase you’re already oriented towards going through your closet — sometimes other household areas fall by the wayside.
Your room looks very inviting.
Duchesse – I’m so envious that you were able to see and enjoy this! I’ve looked at some pictures posted online and it looks amazing.
That’s Not My Age – thank you, and Happy Holidays to you too!
materfamilias – thanks, it’s nice to find my own ways to acknowledge the season.
K-Line – thank you!
dana – “culturally Christian” is a good way to describe my upbringing as well. My husband is Jewish, also mostly culturally, though his family did have a Christmas tree for a few of his childhood years.
Rubiatonta – thanks so much!
Hostess – thank you, and Happy Holidays to you too!
LPC – God Jul to you too! And yes, it’s good when we get to decide the type and scope of celebrations to fit who we are now.
metscan – thank you! Decorating the mantle isn’t unheard of here, thought it’s not as traditional as a tree.
Miss Janey – thanks so much!
citizen spot – the petit monsieur would love some Cowbell, but I think les chiens might not like it too much…
Terri – thank you. Candlelight really is a miracle worker for ambience!
Aunt Snow – hoping you haven’t washed away with this morning’s deluge, but I’m seeing sunshine where I am now, hope you’re able to get that tree soon!
LBR – thanks so much. Hugs to you!!!
Semi Expat – oh heavens yes, it was SO good to clear out all of those piles. Like a 50 lb. weight off my back. Hope your Solstice was an enjoyable one as well!
RoseAg – thank you. Yes, I think having a bent toward simplifying and decluttering my wardrobe has also focused me in that direction with regard to my living space.
Fuji – is that the same thing as “glug”? I have a friend who makes that every year. Thanks, and Happy Holidays to you!
Warm, beautiful, and very inviting!
Duchesse and Pseu, alas it was very cloudy and foggy here – I got up in the middle of the night to see the solstice eclipse – Nada. There are spectatular photos of it though, on the web.
pseu, I’m “culturally Catholic”, but that could be said of most of Québec – even those who are Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Protestant, Orthodox or Buddhist. Long-distance sweetie is culturally Jewish – not without some drama in Central Europe. Neither of us are remotely religous, except that I worship cats of course.
I love the Solstice. In a few weeks, in the Northern Hemisphere, we’ll observe our house plants coming back to life after a difficult period. I brought in the ivy on my balcony just a few weeks ago – it is hardy and even in a slightly warmer climate I’d just leave it out, and here, it would do fine if rooted in the ground. I thought the pots were dead but the little leaves are starting to grow again.