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~ For people who are passionate about respecting the earth, walking in nature, observing wildlife, local diet, making do, repurposing, organic gardening, foraging for wild plants and fungi, natural health, scrumptious healthy cooking, renovations, DIY, crafting, raising children simply and mindfully, their dogs, taking time for stillness, and living in harmony with the seasons.

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Tag Archives: Yule

preparing to celebrate Winter Solstice

20 Wednesday Dec 2017

Posted by Delena Rose in Winter Solstice

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

snowflake cookies, winter celebration, winter holiday, Winter Solstice, Yule

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We are blind to the beauty of the stars

if not for the black of the night sky.

Darkness moves in harmony with the light
and out of that dance, all life is born.
~Glynnis Osher

We celebrate Winter Solstice here at cabinorganic. During the darkest, shortest day of the year it seems that there is nothing more important to do than celebrate. It’s been over a month of doing morning and evening chores outside in the dark, as well as spending more time indoors—a strange shift in our daily rhythm after spending most of our time outside in the spring, summer and fall.

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On this day we use minimal electric lighting and instead light candles and a fire. We spend the day baking cookies with a winter theme (star and moons, or snowflakes), read books about the Winter Solstice, make music, play outside, then we have a feast.

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Buttery ‘Sun Bread’ is often involved.

Afterward dinner, we open a few Solstice presents and spend the rest of the evening visiting, playing more music, and enjoying our time together.

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For us, Winter Solstice is about welcoming the return of the sun and longer days. It is also an appreciation and celebration of the dark. We do not fear the dark but welcome its gifts. Winter Solstice marks the turning of the wheel- a new year—a new cycle— beginning again. So we honour this day as our own New Year’s and end the night with bubbly and toasts. We also spend some quiet time during the day and evening, reflecting on the past year and making plans for the coming year.

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I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy Winter Solstice, Happy Holidays, and all of the best in the coming year!

 

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making holiday stockings from bits and pieces

20 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by Delena Rose in handmade, make it

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Christmas stockings, fabric scraps, holiday crafts, make stockings, sew, stockings, Yule

Last weekend a friend and I spent a few fun days making stockings. I really wanted the final project to look nice but did not want to drive the hour to the city just to buy brand new fabric. In the spirit of ‘making do’, I pulled out my little bin of fabric scraps to see if there was anything to work with. Indeed, the scraps were bright and festive and colorful, however, many of them were very small pieces. Undaunted by the challenge, we decided to make ‘patchwork’ stockings!

I started by sketching out some designs freehand on newspaper. Here is Lucy’s design (I helped her with hers)…

Then I cut the fabric into uniform shapes and began sewing. All of the stockings are lined and very sturdy. The entire project did not cost me a cent!

Although I prefer to buy as little as possible this time of year, I can never resist hiding just a few little treats to enjoy inside holiday stockings. They are even more meaningful when you can design and sew the stockings with friends and family as you will always have the memory of those fun afternoons making something beautiful together.

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a simple and elegant holiday garland

01 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by Delena Rose in appreciate the seasons, make it

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Christmas, Christmas craft, decorating, garlands, holidays, make a garland, paper decorations, star, Yule

Every year at just this time,

In cold and dark December,

Families gather around the world

All gather to remember.

With presetns and with parties,

With feasting and with fun

Customs and traditions

For people old and young.

~Helen Moore

It’s December and the holiday season is now upon us! To brighten up this darkest month of the year, I decided to make festive paper garlands to hang around the cabin. Instead of visiting the local craft store (always a fun outing), I decided to ‘make do’ by using materials that I already had on hand. After rooting through my paper stash I found this bright red paper with gold flecks embedded in it. I actually bought this about 12 years ago while taking an art class and never used it… until now.

I started by punching out large and small circles with my paper punches. Then I laid out a long length of red sewing thread. I applied glue stick to the back of one circle and stuck two together, making sure to sandwich the thread in between. I glued both the small and large circles on in a random pattern with about an inch and a half of space in between. I kept going until the entire length of thread was full.

Lucy kept me company while I worked…

I am going to make a bunch of these garlands as they are so cheerful and versatile. So far, I’ve hung a few outside…

… draped a few over the hearth…

… and over doorways…

I’m going to get back to work and make a few more of these as I think they will make more of an impact with three or more garlands hung together. I will add photographs of the finished project when I’m done. In the meantime, have fun decorating your own homes for the holidays!

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DELENA ROSE

Lucy’s Life at the Cabin

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