Happy Winter Solstice! (activity ideas & links)

*** Ok, so I scheduled this post for the 22nd, got confused, posted on the 21st by accident, then, after researching, found out that this year's solstice occurs at 12:30 am on the 22nd.  Hmmm . . . I'm not sure what to do with that.  Anyway, we're enjoying the gorgeous weather today, staying up late with candles and no tv tonight, then tomorrow when it's rainy and gross out we'll do the quiet indoor stuff.  Works for me.  :)

I loooove celebrating winter solstice.  It's the eye of the hurricane.  I finish shopping and planning and running around like a crazy person, and in the middle of a week filled with baking and sewing and last minute preparations, I'm guaranteed a day of quiet serenity.  No tv or electronics (for the record, I'm scheduling this post ahead of time . . . no cheating here).  We spend lots of time playing outside (weather permitting, but rain gear is certainly donned if it isn't too cold and wet), smelling and taste-testing soup simmering on the stove, playing board and card games, reading, and making crafts together.

Ahhh . . . I love it.

Last year we made paper stars, but this year we have a few new activities:

• playing with our winter scented play dough - pink peppermint, green pine, white sugar cookie with gitter, and brown gingerbread  

(pinterest inspiration)

• cutting more snow flakes to hang (pinterest magazine snowflakes)

• hanging twig stars outside (extras from a co-op service project) 

(pinterest inspiration)

• feeding the birds with feeders made from this fall's leftover munchkin pumpkins (pinterest inspiration)

Today, we're breathing in.  Filling our cups.  Tomorrow I'll finish baking and sewing.  Tomorrow there will be more daylight to burn.  

Happy Solstice!

May you find or carve out your own moment of peace this week.