♥...loving...♥

oh, let's see.

lots and lots and lots of research goin' on around here these last couple of weeks.  Everything from tar pits and La Brea, the Ice Age and dire wolfs, to prehistoric camels ("Really?  There is such a thing as a prehistoric camel?!" "Of course!" says He,) and Charles R. Knight.

there have been digging things out of pebbly sand,

building with Lincoln Logs,

and a first-time visit to Build-a-Bear.

there have been inventions

and first video chats with The Cousins (Trevelyn got his much-wanted webcam from Santa).

Mama has put in looots of miles (91, actually) with her Walk It Out wii game.  seriously.  which is why I've been absent for the last two+ weeks -since December 13th- been havin' fun with that.  I can walk for an hour or a few each day, or chase the children with my camera and stay close online.... I'm hoping to find a way soon to get into a groove that supports both.  :)  (it's so satisfying, though, to walk for 7 or 10 miles straight and feel good and strong and not exhausted! so loving that!!)

the children have received a couple of "shake it up" games as well... one is Active Life Outdoor Challenge, and the other is Active Life Explorer.  Both require an "active life" mat, which is similar to, but different from the DDR mats.  Active Life Explorer is a newer game, comes with the mat, and is easily found on Amazon (or was a week ago, when I ordered ours!).  A.L. Outdoor Challenge is older, and best found at your local Gamestop, if you're interested.  Pretty fun games for getting the winter wiggles out.

Christmas morning we found a music keyboard waiting for us... haven't put it through it's paces much yet, it's still in it's Play With Me spot, and gets tinkered with.  soon, I'm sure, we'll start learning what to do with it.

we also found a beeee-a-uuuu-tyful new guitar next to the Christmas stockings.  verra excited about that.  (ours was busted... quite literally.  the head was snapped right off.  it's a mystery how that happened... finally over that sadness since we have a gorgeous replacement.)

there are new computer games in our lives,

a new baby doll,

lots of fancy new dinosaurs (breath-takingly beautiful, in fact),

and new games to check out from Aunt Robyn.  (you know we love that.)

we've been jumping on the tramp (well, Trev has!, I've been busy on my rhythm island... :) ),

visiting with family,

and watching Christmas shows and movies.

we've been rallying a monster truck around the kitchen and driveway,

watching dozens of space and prehistory documentaries,

and putting together first small-piece puzzles.

there's been loving,

reading,

making,

and lots and lots of magic tricks.
(magic rings,

magic wands,

and magic cup capers.)

we have been hypnotizers,

film makers,

and organ players.

we've also been toy makers,

bakers,

and anatomists.

life is.... life.

noisy and quiet,

loving and vexing,

spicy and sweet.

I think that catches us up!
we're good,
life is so good,
and all is right with the world.

Christmas

Solstice

Solstice Eve

Early Morning - Unedited

In pictures.

What can I say?  Sometimes I have words, 

and sometimes I have pictures.

 Our fireplace is sealed, if you can imagine that (!!!), so we make do.

A toy Maddie made up.

Trevelyn's ice lantern

Magical Pine Cones

Here's one that might appeal to our Christian friends, as well as our more heathen ones.  :)

It would only take a very few dollars to make as many bags as you like - good blessings for yourself, friends, neighbors, anyone you'd like.

Frankincense and Myrrh are wonderful herbs and incense that have been used in spiritual and religious practices for ages and ages.  Frankincense has long been used as a powerful purifier, as well as for protection and consecration. Myrrh also purifies, as well as creates peace and lifts energetic vibrations.

Certainly pine and/or spruce cones can be gathered from the ground on walks.  Besides that, you'll only need glue, a bit of gold glitter, and Frankincense and Myrrh.  Frankincense and myrrh aren't nearly as hard to find as you might think... any incense store should have little packages of them for you.

Put your frankincense and myrrh in your smallest mortar and pestle (well--not too small - you don't want it bouncing out!)

and grind it up to a dust.

Add your glitter,

and then water down in another dish a bit of glue.

Paint on a bit of glue or roll them in a shallow dish of the watered glue, then toss your cones in the dust mix.

Leave them to dry,

and then place several in a bag for the ones you wish to send the Blessings.

Include a little note, telling them of your wishes for them, and to burn them in their fire when they feel it is appropriate - Solstice, Christmas, or for the New Year are all very nice..

Many, many Blessings to You and Yours.
xxoo

The Coming Solstice

The sun crosses over at 10:30 tomorrow night, our time.  I had fully thought that we would be celebrating the return of the sun on Wednesday, and then I started wavering.... celebrate before it comes, or celebrate when it has returned?  I was having a hard time deciding...
It turns out that Eric isn't working on Thursday, so there we have it.
And really, we have enough projects and Happy Things to keep us busy for two full days, so let's do that.  :)

I'm sure for those of you that celebrate Winter Solstice, you have your celebrations, activities, and crafts all planned and ready, but I thought I would share some of our favorites with you.

Since Wednesday is before the return of the sun, and theoretically the shortest day of the year, I think it would be nice to feed our wild animal friends then.

2010

We have a little field a couple of houses north of us, so we'll string popcorn, cranberries, apples and oranges, and hang them from branches for any small creature that dwells within or might care to stop by.  If we make enough, maybe we'll take a few to a neighborhood park, as well.


Wednesday and Thursday are supposed to be cloudy (we actually have a tiny chance of snow!!), so maybe today we can make our Sunprints.

January, 2010

Today we shall pop the popcorn, so that it is stale and ready for stringing tomorrow,

and we'll choose our Yule log, and bring it in to dry, and decorate.

The Ice Lanterns must needs be made today,




(I started mine this morning),

Wednesday and Thursday we can make Gingerbread men and Sugar Cookie Stars.

We'll make a large batch of Magickal Pine Cones (scented with Frankincense and Myrrh),

and some time over the next two days we'll make our Reindeer Food.

We'll open Solstice presents (Solstice presents usually look like -as needed- snowboots, thermals, snowpants, new coats, new mittens, and a little splendid something or two that they've had their eye on),

and we will bundle up and head outside to burn our Yule Log, burn notes of things we'd like to get rid of, and make wishes for the New Year.

We'll make fudge, candied nuts, and we'll make peppermint bark.

We'll snip rosehips and toss them with white and red glitter to decorate packages and stars.


We shall honor, sparkle, sweeten, love, and sing praises of this beautiful, joyful, and wondrous world of ours.

Happy Solstice, everyone.
Blessings and Joy to All.