The End of the World as We Know it?

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.  If the end of the world comes today, I'm going to be really mad, because I already bought Christmas presents...

Nonetheless, my friends, I wish you all a very happy and blessed solstice.  All hail the return of the sun!

Have Yourself a...

Merry Little Christmas!

I want to wish all my wonderful friends a very merry holiday!  Your support and encouragement means more to me than you could possibly know.  It has been a true adventure getting to know each and every one of you.  Welcome to my Merry Little Christmas...

I didn't think I'd get to decorate for Christmas this year.  We're having our basement carpeted, so everything was crammed into the storage room; chances of digging the decorations out seemed pretty slim.

But- hooray!- we were able to find a few of them.  Here I am, very focused on putting lights on the mantle.

It doesn't look too bad; at least we found my little trees, which look pretty with the Buddha and the lights, I think.  Kind of an eclectic, ecumenical, inclusive Christmas- why not, right?

Arlo likes to wear silly hats...




































Or maybe not.

But Colin does enjoy putting them on him, and he's the only one out of the three dogs that will tolerate it.

Sunny and Scout really don't care, but  naps are always good...

My Norfolk Island pine served as our Christmas tree.  I had to go to four or five stores to find lights.  All that were left were a set of multi-colored and a set of blue LED lights, so I got them.


The electric blue is very trippy; reminds me of the sixties...

Caitlin making a goofy face at the camera while opening gifts.

Don't you like my warm and fuzzy Christmas socks?




Enjoy your holidays!

Belated Imbolc (She Sleeps...)

She sleeps, perchance to dream of Persephone's return...

I missed celebrating Candlemas (Imbolc) on February 2, but feel I should acknowledge it now. For those not familiar, I'm including an explanation from Barbara Walker's The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets:

"Candlemas was properly considered sacred to women and to the Goddess of Love. Among Celtic pagans it was the Feast of Imbolg, which stood opposite the great festival of Lammas in the old sacred year. Omens were taken on Candlemas Day for the new growing season, especially the weather." This is the origin of Groundhog Day.
Walker also writes, "St. Brigit's (a canonization of the old Celtic goddess Brigid) Feast day was the first of February according to the pagan calendar. It was called Oimelc, Imolg, or Imbulc, the day of union between god and goddess."

Symbolically, this fertilization is considered to coincide with, or represent, the germination of the seed, both literally and figuratively, as well the anticipation of new growth. So come on, people, plant your seeds and germinate some new ideas!