Just wondered how others are celebrating this day? We shall go to Forest school in the morning & then I am taking my bairns to Royston Heath with a friend and her little girl in the afternoon. There’s a cave there, some burial mounds and it is on a meeting of ley lines. We’ll take some homemade bits to nibble on and forage what we can. Hoping to have a fire in the back garden later when we return.
I’m going to try and embrace the darker months this year, historically I am not good at this but I want to change - how do you deal with the darkness of winter?
Assuming this threatening cold doesn’t knock me off my socks (sigh softplay strikes again - knew I shouldn’t have gone) - I’ll be having friends round on Sunday and I’m doing some home made pizza, chilli, bread, brownies and muffins. I’ll have a small bonfire and some papers on which folks can write things they wwant to get rid of to pop on the fire.
On the actual day I’ll take Rye out for a walk, and I think it might be nice if he makes an elf house and leaves a little offering
Joxy thats a lovely idea of writing things down and throwing them in the fire, I could certainly think of a few! Hope you’re cold does little more than threaten, get som echinacea down you!
Much love X
Ohhh I am lol, I’ve had to doses already, plus I’ve just taken 3000mg of vit c.
Poor Rye tho is looking very sorry for himself… and he’s not keen on the taste of the echinacea tincture, managed to get him to drink one dose. He won’t take manukee honey either. So I’ve had some and I suspect he’ll be in bed with me tonight, so he’ll probably want boobie, so hopefully that wil help him.
Yeah I always think this time of year is good for clearing away the mind clutter and regrets and then afterwards to have a period of just being, before starting to plan where to go next.
Mmm, just as I truely realise there are times for natural pauses in life i.e winter, or a womans period, I also realise our society does not really encourage tus to do so. Maybe this is why I’ve never made an effort to de-clutter or pause at these times, to busy working for the man and carrying on like I need to be super mum! This year I will try.
Healing vibes coming your way, and there’s nothing like mummy love to heal a poorly child.
Ohhh I am lol, I’ve had to doses already, plus I’ve just taken 3000mg of vit c.
Poor Rye tho is looking very sorry for himself… and he’s not keen on the taste of the echinacea tincture, managed to get him to drink one dose. He won’t take manukee honey either.
Joxy, have you tried Sambucol? It is black elderberry extract and is an antiviral supporter. We were recommended it last year during the swine flu palaver. Apparently it is not good to use Echinacea during the flu as it increases cytokine production but the sambucol is ok (not suggesting that Rye has the flu but just thought I’d mention it - can’t remember ther the source but found it during a google search for black elderberry extract last year). Both of use took it last year and we both escaped the swine flu - rather a miracle as over half my class tested positive to it (I only had 8 children in for 5 days!) I have just started taking it again yesterday as C has started with a sniffle and is exhausted from school and I am feeling very tired. It is quite sweet, we use the normal one rather than the sugar free version with sweetners. It is quite expensive I suppose at about 8 pounds per bottle but it is sold at Boots and you can get it in the 3 for 2 offers.
I am also celebrating my “Champagne Day” on 23rd. It is the anniversary of the day when C’s father left me (at 28 weeks pregnant!). I decided the following year, when C was exactly 9 months old to the day, that I wanted it to be a happy day and a celebration of the day my life changed (for the better) and I toasted my wonderful new life with my daughter and a glass of champagne. This year will be my fourth Champagne Day and I feel truly blessed. I am independent with a beautiful, lively, loving and happy daughter and I am very happily content with life (ok, would happily accept more money and selling my house but…..). I have already bought the champagne (organic of course!) which sat in the fridge awaiting my big day.
We will also celebrate the turning of the year by switching the season table at home and in my classroom and I will also be running another Forest school session with my class to follow on from our pixie houses last week. I love Autumn, It makes me think of cosy times and I love to be outside playing and walking with C. It is so beautiful. I like the thought of burning the wriiten messages - may well do that too.
Chin chin for Wednesday.
Lou xx
I’m going to try and embrace the darker months this year, historically I am not good at this but I want to change - how do you deal with the darkness of winter?
A timely post and it has got me thinking. I’m feeling quite despondent at the moment and I think it’s a combination of the changing season and the time of the month. Benedict was poorly last week but Pip and I went on a lovely nature walk. We did hand print leaves courtesy of the idea from Joxy’s blog and I incorporated the prints into a thankfulness tree, I’ve yet to finish my felt leaf garland too.
Having read this link I’ll do my best to rustle up a warming tea, light a candle, hang up our crafts and if the rain stays away light a small fire in the garden, if not set the wood burner in the lounge to task!!
Thanks for the thread I’m already feeling more positive about our Home School Day tomorrow
San x
I love the autumn equinox. I’m not really a summer person, love autumn and winter, everything seems to get going around then, whereas I struggle to get anything done in summer, I just feel lethargic. I know the last few weeks, its almost felt like I was waiting for something to happen, its like that every year, and the equinox seesm to be when I spring into action. With that in mind, I’ll be doing an in-depth “Autumn” clean next week to prepare us for the activity of the colder months. I’ll take Harry blackberry picking again, and maybe have a go at making some jam, possibly folllowed by jam tarts. If there are any leaves about, we might collect some and make a collage or something. Depending on the money situation, I woudl love to go a an open ritual on near us, but might not have the petrol money, so we’ll see. probably will some some kind of mini ritual myself when the kids are in bed and DH is safely enscounced in front of X Factor!
oxy, have you tried Sambucol? It is black elderberry extract and is an antiviral supporter. We were recommended it last year during the swine flu palaver. Apparently it is not good to use Echinacea during the flu as it increases cytokine production but the sambucol is ok (not suggesting that Rye has the flu but just thought I’d mention it - can’t remember ther the source but found it during a google search for black elderberry extract last year). Both of use took it last year and we both escaped the swine flu - rather a miracle as over half my class tested positive to it (I only had 8 children in for 5 days!) I have just started taking it again yesterday as C has started with a sniffle and is exhausted from school and I am feeling very tired. It is quite sweet, we use the normal one rather than the sugar free version with sweetners. It is quite expensive I suppose at about 8 pounds per bottle but it is sold at Boots and you can get it in the 3 for 2 offers.
Ohhh, no I haven’t, but I shall certainly go and see if I can find some, thank you.
As for the darker months, I tend to plan to do warm and comforting crafts. This year I have planned:
Crochet: Granny Stripe shawl (was going to do a blanket, but I saw a nifty way to turn it into a short of shawl)
Various hats, scarfs, socks and pjs in crochet.
Making tealight containers, at this stage out of glass jars, painting them, using tissue paper to decorate etc.
Baking pies and making stews with dumplins, winter hearty soups.
Candles really come out too - I dont’ have a real fire, so instead the tealights and candles get lit on an eve when its particuarly dark and blustery. I find something so wonderfully snuggly about sitting with candles burning. A few feel good dvds are handy to have on hand too, and especially some lovely music, and of course some great books.
I think I am going to make a winter plan - list of things/tools that will enhance the cosyness of the dark long nights. Maybe go so far as to create a solid rhythm for myself for once the kids are in bed, see if that doesn’t help with the feeling I normally get during winter. Just got my late MIL’s sewing machine working so long dark nights provide the perfect opportunity to make those elusive curtains and toys/presents/advent calendar for the children!
An open fire would be the ultimnate winter comforter but stupidly I’ve never thought of candles en mass instead! Excellent , a reason to treat myself to lots of new candles!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Much love x x x
My plan for tomorrow is go foraging for elderberries, haws and sloes. Make some equinox brews to see us through the darker months
As far as things to do in the darker months, I am looking forward to more family time, as the children won’t be able to play out for as long. So some games evenings, film evenings, knitting, crocheting, sewing, music, and lots of lovely food :D
Must try Sambucol, it looks as if it’ll be great for over winter I am a spring and summer person, I hate the nights drawing in, and the stuffy indoors feeling when all the curtains are drawn etc :( But I do celebrate the turning of the wheel, and the tip towards the dark, I feel it so strongly! I always seem to grieve for the summer for a while. Anyway, jam making and Elderberry syrup making are what we will be up to, and lanterns with jam jars. I do love mid winter time, but then January and February - ugh!
Removed some produce from our garden, cooked evening meal with it, and some eggs from a friends chickens.
Also lit candle, honoured the gods and goddesses, and proceeded to burn insence. I allowed DDs to play in park after picking up DD1 from school, to enojy the last of the light.
