It was a wintery festive holiday without very much evidence of winter. It certainly is strange to live in a place now that doesn’t experience snow. I don’t miss driving on ice, but I do miss the big white blankets over the landscape.

This year, I took a deep breath and told myself that I was not going to ruin the entire season by making extensive gifts for every person I’ve ever met. I sent the Solstice card I designed to everyone and it felt really lovely to do so. I’ve been thinking a lot about “tradition” lately and I don’t think such things should be so stressful! It’s much nicer to spent the end of the year enjoying your family with thoughtful gifts rather than making a mad dash to remember people who are distant 364 days of the year.

We had our usual festivities here. A promenade to investigate the evolution of nature; a turning of the wheel of the year; a grand feast; gift exchange between the family; and some divinations. It’s soon to be my least favourite part of the year so I am trying to get myself prepared for that. Otherwise, this month I’ve been busy doing the Diamine Inkvent Calendar. A new ink every day, ending on the 25th. It’s been such fun.

The feast was a stuffed tofu roast that was so good it got its own recipe page. I made it up as I went and my family have all agreed that it is the best meal I’ve ever made. So that’s a lot to live up to!

Now it’s on to New Year, time to collect our thoughts of the last year and begin to look forward to the new one.