Solstice Poultice

As I have mentioned before, today is my favourite day: December 22. The second shortest day of the year, today means that the days will start to become lighter and longer, that the winter will eventually end, and that summer is on its way, albeit not for many months.

Although I appreciate the stark beauty of snowy winters (even the ones that result in a week of -40C weather we recently survived), I ache for the colour and life of our too-short summer months. I want to go outside without first having to put on four layers. I want to feel the sun on my arms. I want to see my garden sprout leaves and grow. Today, these things don’t seem so far away.

In other happy news, my energy levels are slowly climbing out of the dark pit that was my first trimester. They say this happens, but I didn’t believe it until I was able to pick up a paintbrush and actually spend some quality time with the background of the lotus mosaic. Skeptical? I’ve got proof:

Although my hoped-for completion date of Christmas is no longer a reality, my updated “due date” is not too far away: January 16th (coincidentally - or not - it is also my birthday). I’m now half way through the background:

I hope you have a wonderful Solstice/Christmas/Hanukkah/Vacation/Whateveryoucelebrate and a glorious New Year!