❄️ Happy Winter Solstice! ❄️
We were greeted by the sunrise over the water this morning and the sun has stayed out as the day has progressed, which has been a first for us in a little while. The air is crisp and clean. Our walk was full of woodland creatures and there is a magic in the air.
Happy Yule!
{Interior illustration from The Shortest Day, by Susan Cooper, illustration by Carson Ellis // Image taken from an article on the NPR HERE // Carson Ellis website HERE}
Today, marks the “winter solstice”. Today, also marks the “great conjunction” where Saturn and Jupiter will appear to be the closest they have been together from our vantage point since the middle ages. I think there is something auspicious in that.
Now, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the rain and overcast sky blows out to sea later and we have a chance of spotting the planets tonight, aligned close enough to kiss.
There is magic in the air today, you can feel it humming.
{Interior illustration from The Shortest Day, by Susan Cooper, illustration by Carson Ellis // Image taken from an article on the Art of The Picture Book Blog // Carson Ellis website HERE}
After a morning trip to the library we returned with a stack of books to read. I love the sound that the plastic book cover makes as you open the book and begin to turn the pages.
We sat down together. A nest of curly hair rested just under my chin and soft little hands pointed out the objects as we read a Halloween I Spy Book and feasted on pumpkin sugar cookies as an afternoon treat.
The sunshine was streaming in the windows. One of the dogs was laying on my feet and all was well with the world.
Winter is a slow, low time. Everything
is hiding from the cold; just staying alive is
enough. Days are short, but the long frosty
nights blaze with stars and spring
is just a moon or two away.
I saw the most delightful children’s book this weekend. It was illustrated by Mark Hearld. An artist whose work I truly admire.
This was one of the first pages I turned to. With my love of foxes, I was sold! It has gone on my wish list of books, at it has been so charmingly constructed.
{A First Book of Nature, by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Mark Hearld}
We are still re-organizing things! I feel like, “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie”, once you start, it just kinda snowballs.
This was my calendar page today, it made me smile:
“Oh, please don’t go—we’ll eat you up—we love you so!” ~ Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak (1928-2012)
What a great loss to the children of the world be they big or small!