Sunday 31 January 2010

Candlemas 2nd February



And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
  And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Luke 2:25-40

Candlemas takes it’s name from the blessing of the candles on this day for use in the church throughout the coming year. It is also a celebration within the church of the presentation of Jesus in the temple.

“At the beginning of February, when the infant light of spring is greeted thankfully by the hoary winter earth, it seems fitting we should celebrate a candle Festival  to remember that moment when the Light of the World was received into the Temple, when the old yielded to the new.”
“All Year Round”


Verse for Candlemas:

“If Candlemas Day be fair and bright
Winter will take another flight.
If Candlemas Day be cloud and rain
Winter is gone and will not come again.”


Ways in which to celebrate:

One would be to think of goals & things you would like to see happen in this New Year together, in this time of new beginnings, as the earth becomes spring again & do something to celebrate that.

Of course the major activity is usually candle making in some form - rolling candles, candle dipping or making earth candles outside in the ground & lighting them.

If the ground permits, tilling a plot for march planting.
The ground is covered in snow here, but we shall be cosied up, looking through our seed catalogues & making plans....

Dinner in candlelight - We shall light our birthday ring as well as all our home made candles.

Bake fresh bread & enjoy Vegetable soup or chowder & baked custards as your Candlemas meal.

We can also offer simply made stories & poems about our friends the bees & work with beeswax & honey in some way during the festival.

Most of my inspiration for this festival comes from “All Year Round” however I found this lovely Candlemas song from Our Little Nature Nest



What a lovely song! we shall certainly be singing this, as well as using the beautiful watercolour as inspiration for our own wet on wet on painting day.

Candlemas is a wonderful way to talk about my own relationship with the Lord with my girls - How Christ has promised to be our light in the darkness, that He lights my way & that He is the light - I am fully reliant upon Him. And for that I am fully thankful.

Happy Candlemas!

This morning we woke up to find...

...a wonderful white world!



We dressed fast, grabbed juice boxes & banana's & headed off to buy coal, as we were very short on supplies.
Once home again, we set off on foot to our local park, calling for our neighbour freinds.
We spent a few hours in the park, building a snowman, snowballing, sledging & generally having fun. And I forgot my camera.

Here is a shot of the park on a day last year. Today we have lots more snow!



We had a late breakfast of hot chocolate, porridge, fruit & toast then settled to our own activities.

Rosie went into the garden to play









Elianna made a fine zoo for all the little wooden animals in our home



















Hubby read & I napped, did a little spinning & knitted.







Somewhere in the midst of all this we ate a simple lunch

The bright sun of earlier in the day is fading now, I am blogging, the girls are playing 'zoo' & hubby is still reading : )
Soon the girls will have their evening bath & tonight is 'pizza night' We will be watching The Sound Of Music

Thank you friends for the many emails & messages I have received to ask' why so quiet'? - we have had a lot of illness & my uncle had passed away - his funeral is tomorrow.
I hope to post our February circle time plans either tonight or tomorrow.
I hope you all have had a super day, whatever the weather : )

Saturday 9 January 2010

Gail

Gail is finished!

Here it is being blocked:





And here it is being modeled by the lovely Elianna







The yarn is Alpamayo Sockweight - 80% Superfine Alpaca and 20% Silk from Woolhunter

Rosie picked out some sunny yellow tissue paper to wrap it in & it will soon be delivered to it's new owner, my wonderful mother-in-law, in time for her to take it into hospital to hopefuly bring a little home comfort as she goes in for her op.

Tuesday 5 January 2010

Another Snow Day...

Scenes from our day...

In the garden:

The girls play house


One of the Fairy houses, all covered in snow


By the fire:
The girls playing & creating in the glow of the fire




I am busily working on 'Gail', which has now become a work in progress for my MIL, who will be having a hip replacement op very soon. I hope to have this done for her to take with her to the hospital, to give her a touch of home & comfort.





Not great photos, but I hope to put up a picture when it is finished & blocked.

Fireside:

Saturday 2 January 2010

Epiphany ~ 6th January


Matthew 2:1-12:

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.


Some ways we will celebrate Epiphany:

Add the kings to the scene in our nativity.

Sing 'We Three Kings'

A verse to say together:

Three kings come riding to follow a star, over mountain & valley & crag.
They travel along to a country far, three gifts they have in their bag:
Gold for a king as merry we sing,
And incense to burn in the fire,
And myrrh for his parting in sorrow we sigh,
And the little child bids them come nigh.


Read The Story of Babushka

Bake Twelfth Night Cake

Make crowns from sugar paper & glitter

Friday 1 January 2010

Happy New Year!









A Happy New Year to you all!!!

Last night my poor husband was tucked up in bed at 8pm with a cold! Earlier in the day I found this beautiful shawl whilst surfing the internet. So I had a look through my yarn stash & found some beautiful alpaca / silk fingering weight in a lovely pale blue / lilac blend. I downloaded the fab never not knitting podcast & cast on the shawl. I had a really cosy eveing, knitting, listening & praying & meditating upon the new year.

This morning my husband gave me a lie in, 'till 8.30am! (unheard of!) When I did get up, the girls & I went for a lovely walk in the woods. This afternoon we are off to visit my mum & dad & have a late lunch with them. So, I am off to watch a movie with the girls & hubby & get knitting on my shawl!

Happy new year!