BRRRRRR!

  We have been enjoying this winter wonderland very much despite the extreme cold!  Next week is a good friend of mine's birthday which we will be celebrating with a lovely dinner coordinated by moi, so I will share that with you soon.  In the meantime.....

a little poem written by my personal designer when she was five years old:

The snow rests peacefully on the ground.

The roses no longer bloom.

All the plants lay under the snow,

But in heaven it is always sunny.

Blow, boisterous wind, stern winter frown,
Innocence is a winter's gown, 
So clad, we'll abide life's pelting storm,
That makes our limbs quake, if our hearts be warm.
-William Blake

A Bit of Wonderful!

I have been keeping very busy since the start of the new year, but there is always room for a bit of wonderful!  Today, I will share with you a newfound (by me) artist/illustrator. 

I am steadily trying to improve my German language skills, and because of my love of art, one of my close friends gifted me a Daniela Drescher book for Christmas.  It is a wonderful gift; Drescher's illustrations are positively mystical!

Daniela Drescher was born in Munich, Germany.  She is an artist, children's illustrator and author, and a seasoned art therapist.   She now lives in the southwest of Germany with her husband and children. Her books are inspired by nature and the imaginative lives of fairies.     

For Christmas I received Ein Sommernachtstraum, which is Drescher's interpretation of a Midsummer Night's Dream.  Here are some examples of the enchanting paintings from Ein Sommernachtstraum.

Drescher's use of color is amazing!

Many of her books are also available in English.  They are excellent books to curl up with on a dreary day!  With a cup of tea, of course!

New Year 

Hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday!  Ours was very quiet; I believe it is just what we needed!  Tomorrow is Epiphany,

 so the kings have arrived at the manger.  This was our great grandmother's creche. 

Some young friends of mine came for a tea party over Christmas, and they each received an angel that we made, along with a little poem. We sang and danced and made tissue paper rose windows.  It was delightful!

Sadly, tomorrow our tree comes down.  We have enjoyed many evenings sitting around the tree reading, knitting, playing board games, drinking tea, and reflecting.

  

Wishing you all a joy-filled New Year!

Peace & Joy

The tree is decorated...

The scene is set...

The love is growing...

The light is streaming...

Wishing you all a wonderfully magical Holiday Season!!

Because it is all Rather Delightful!

Santa Lucia Day

We baked some lovely Santa Lucia Buns!!!  Inspired by traditional Northern European lussekatter.

Fresh out of the oven!  I have vivid memories of baking these kind of buns with my mother as a small pup.

My personal designer helped me with my Santa Lucia look, having had experience when she was young.  We kept it very traditional with the white dress, red sash and greenery.  

Nothing says holiday cheer like a dog with a wreath on her head!

St. Nicholas

Ida Bohatta

From a very young age, I can remember our family celebrating St. Nicholas.  At our house, Santa isn't known for bringing presents (we exchange gifts, often handmade, from one another on Christmas morning), but on the eve of the 6th of December, we shine our shoes and set them out with a little hay and a carrot for St. Nicholas' white horse!  

In the morning, we rush down to see if he has left us a small surprise--a clementine or little book, something small enough for your shoe.  St. Nicholas was a 4th century Greek bishop known for his kindness and generosity and was said to have left coins or other small things for the poor on their windowsills or in their shoes. This story inspired the idea that he would leave children presents in their shoes on his feast day.  This has been a tradition throughout Europe since the 12th century.  St. Nicholas was the inspiration for Santa Claus.

This year, St. Nicholas was very generous and left a package of biscuits and a handknit scarf in my little shoes! 

Of course, I had to take a frolic in the snow!!  My scarf was just in time for our fresh snow too!  Maybe its bright colors will help me to not get lost, as well as stay warm. 

                                                                            

                 I just adore my new scarf!!!!

 Advent

Advent...what a beautiful time of year!  A time of waiting, reflecting, preparing and traditions, but most of all a peaceful time to spend with family.  Advent takes us into the darkest part of winter and brings us a luminous light from within.

  I love lighting candles at dinner, making presents for friends and family, and opening a door on the Advent calendar each day; it makes Christmas more special for me.

Our main Advent tradition is "Mary's Star Path."  On top of a bookshelf, we lay out a "snowy" piece of fabric, and on it place a path of 24 gold paper stars, with bigger stars for each Sunday of Advent.  Mary, from our Nativity set, travels along this path each day drawing one star closer to the manger.

Each day, accompanied by a special song, Mary moves on to the 

next star, and the previous one finds a home in the "sky," a 
blue piece of fabric with little stars draped across the back of 
the scene.  During the first week the landscape is bare except 
for rocks, crystals and shells; the second week plants are 
added; the third, animals; and the fourth, people. 

   

"On the golden star path walking,
Mother Mary travels far, 
Brings to us the light of heaven, 
Brighter than the brightest star."

Oh, where do you come from,
You little flakes of snow?
Falling softly, falling softly,
To the earth below.
On the trees and the bushes,
On the mountains so far,
Tell me snowflakes,
Do you come from
Where the angels are? 

- Hedwig Haberkorn

Ida Bohatta