epiphany/helligtrekonger

We had a minor celebration tonight, mostly to mark the ending of yule. And because we like cake. It's actually a kringle, sweet bread with a filling of yummy stuff like cinnamon, shredded coconut, brown sugar, butter and marzipan. I made it round and kind of sun-wheel like, I think somebody forgot to do the right rituals around solstice - it's getting darker every day! Really! Well, hope my kringle can make a little difference, I feel like being in 'Night on Earth' - the scene where Roberto Benigni as the taxi driver drives at night with his sunglasses on. But hey, thats actually funny, so I guess I shouldn't be so bummed out about the darkness... (wait a second, I'll just have to locate my sunglasses. Now, that's better!)
Well, in order to keep things simple, I just made it ... well, simple. Ha. One kringle and three candles, since I didn't have a 'proper' helligtrekonger candle.
I rolled three balls of clay, squeezed the candles into them and placed them on a piece of bark. That's simple, right?! Kiddoes made the kings of bees wax, the kings were on a very long journey and one of the kings were kinda cute so he got married. And he also got a white horse, I think they forgot he was probably already married. Aren't all kings? Anyway, gotta love those kings.
Where was I, oh yes - one kringle, three candles and two cups of coffee = party! (you might wanna notice the fancy sugar design on the coffee). There's a golden coin in the kringle, and the one who gets it are king for the night. We could't eat it all up and didn't find the coin. Well, there's breakfast to look forward to then, maybe I'll be the lucky one and become a king tomorrow. Fingers crossed. And happy epiphany to you all!

three more days

... of waiting, baking, making, nibbling, wrapping, decorating, reading, playing ...

 

 

 

 I've decided not to have a traditional yule tree this year. Instead we brought in some branches from a cut down tree and put them in a jug. Wrapped it all with some crochet pieces and laces, all of wich I inherited from my maternal grandmother. Decorated it with wool, straw, birch bark and all things natural. Mostly gifts from Nissen.

 

 We've added Peppermint Bark to our favourite seasonal sweets - as have most of the blogging world, I expect - and no wonder! But the cookies with orange rind and hazelnuts are exceptional too.

 

A gift in the making, but perhaps you can guess what it is ...

.:Wish you all a lovely, magical and peaceful yule:.

Mother Earth Day

Well, I added »Mother« to the official name, but that's what I call Her. She nourishes, protects, educates us and add a whole lot of magic to it all. She is beyond explanation, in her abundance of beauty and wonders. She has got lots of faces in all ages. Her wardrobe is outstanding in its uniqueness, with the uttermost richness in the details. She is also extremely old and fragile, so we have to nourish and protect her too!

Here's a couple of details for you.

Happy Mother Earth Day!

The Lovely Queen Winter

I was wondering why it is we only talk about King Winter. It seems to me the beauty of winter can't entirely be the doing of a masculine being.

Trees dressed in an abundance of tiny delicate white silvery pearls ...

Mystic glittering mist drifting about in intriguing ways, teasingly dancing between trees and over meadows ...

Paintings of dramatic feather like art on windows ...

... ice flowers ...

... and landscapes made of ice and crystal rocks where small people are caught in the ice and frozen to blue shadows ... (can you see them?)

And when I found this crown made of ice in the garden, I just knew I was right: there certainly is a Queen Winter.

I'm sure her beauty and loveliness is beyond my imagination, but nevertheless I had to try to make her image in wool and silk.

And make a little indoors winter landscape for her with silk and lots of crystals...

Can you feel the cold?

..............:Happy beautiful feminine winter!:...........

Outdoors: Hail King Winter

Oh, King Winter, the beauty of Your kingdom and all the joys to be having there! I want to thank You for the divinely beautiful lace curtains that You draped around my house. And thank You for the abundance of snow and ice for sledding and ice skating. The beauty of it all, the wonderful reflections of light and the joys of playing and exploring truly makes my heart sing.

December potpourri

Oh, wow, the first day in another year and another decade! I simply can't believe how fast time flies!

Today is also the exact date I began blogging - one year ago! I'm thrilled to have met so many new sweet, wise, creative and dear people - I want to thank you so much for all your lovely comments and for your interest in my little blogging adventure. I can't believe I've met so many wonderful new people in this virtuel way - weird, interesting and sooo fun! - And I hope those of you reading and (still) not commenting will say hello as well - I'd love to hear from you!

I'm always running a bit late, but in order to say properly goodbye to the old year before progressing into the new one, I thought I'd show you some pictures with a little bit of the atmosphere from our yule. I had to edit a lot :)
















All of the small wooden and woolen things are gifts from Nissen. Every night in december he comes at night and puts a little bag next to the childrens bed with these tiny treasures. Those little gifts, baking, reading and the gift making pretty much summons up our yule. Simple and down to earth.

I'll end this first post of the year of 2010 by wishing you all a very happy, fun, creative, magick, meditative, loving, and enriching New Year - and may all your dreams and wishes come true!