Winter Solstice

It was a cold, misty, overcast Solstice morning in our neck of the woods. I was finally able to get a Yule fire going and welcome the Solstice. However, we could not see the full, "blue" moon, nor the lunar eclipse. I don't think I'll be around for the next Solstice full moon, lunar eclipse in 456 years. I suppose I am just grateful to complete another trip around the sun and hope for a couple of more. Besides you can always catch a replay on youtube like below.

Solstice Wreath

My Solstice wreath is made from things that have grown on my place over the past year. The ring is made from grapevine prunings of the new vines that grew this year. Then small cedar, spruce, fir and holly boughs are added, along with dogwood tree berries and crab apple boughs. Finally a few pine cones. At the solstice it will be offered to the fire for the seasons to come. The circle continues.

Crescent Moon and Venus

Tomorrow Venus will be at it's brightest of the year. But, since, the weather is predicted to be snowy and cloudy, I thought I should try to catch such a rare sight along with the crescent moon a day early (the photo is not to scale, but accurately reflect images of Venus and moon). The view was a lot better live than in the photo. I once heard the waning crescent moon described by a child as a "toenail" moon. I don't think it could be said any more descriptively or poetically.

Xmas Tree

Humans throughout our existence have developed all types of traditions for celebrating the winter season . One of the more enduring is to include evergreen decorations to symbolize that life continues even in the coldest, darkest times. The most recent of which is the Xmas tree used in modern times.
We cannot have a live tree indoors due to my wife's allergies, so I cut a scrappy old cedar tree and decorated it out on the patio as I have done in the past.
I harvested him about 600 feet directly behind where it sits. You can see some of his brothers and sisters in the background. I saved the boughs that were trimmed to add to my Solstice wreath which is a work in progress.
In the mornings I can sit at the bistro and look out at my pretty live tree. It will really look pretty when it snows and the birds from the feeder sit in it.
Deck the Patio. Fa! La! La! La!