Photo by Cherie Langlois |
We’ll be two days past the shortest day of the year when you read this, but as I blog right now, here in the Northern Hemisphere winter solstice is today, December 21 (you can blame it on our tilted planet).
If I could see the sun, which is impossible due to the impenetrable cloud cover at present, it would hover as low on the horizon as it gets, signaling another long, SAD-inducing winter has officially started. Still, I feel near-giddy with good cheer, because:
1. Christmas is nearly here—yay! Despite the inevitable stress that comes with being a grown-up during the holidays, I still feel a childlike sense of wonder and joy when I wake up Christmas morning.
2. My daughter and I will be making delicious pumpkin-cranberry bread for gifts today, which will steep our house in the wonderful scents of cinnamon and cloves.
3. We’re planning to see Avatar for my birthday tomorrow, and I can’t wait. Hmm, I wonder if blue skin would make me look younger?
4. I may actually get my Christmas cards done this year, so our friends and relatives won’t think we’ve been abducted by aliens with blue skin. I made photo cards with the photo I’ve included here, which sadly is not what our waterlogged farm looks like today.
And last, but not least:
6. Winter solstice means that after a few days of seemingly standing still (“Solstice” comes from the Latin phrase “sun stands still”), the sun will start inching up higher into the sky again, stretching our days out longer and longer up until the summer solstice in June.
The winter solstice has been celebrated by various cultures, including the Celts and Romans, since ancient times, so maybe it’s no wonder I feel the magic and promise of this day in my blood.
As a hobby farmer, I revel in the lengthening days, looking forward to when we can once again rise to daylight and finish our evening chores before darkness descends.
Spring suddenly seems just around the corner (and down a long road) instead of light-years away, and I can spin hopeful dreams again of planting seeds, harvesting dandelions,and picking out fluffy chicks to replenish my flock.
What farm dreams do you spin as the days grow lighter?
Wishing you a bright and merry holiday season!
~Cherie
