For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given

and the government shall be upon His shoulder

and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, 

the mighty God, the everlasting Father, 

the Prince of Peace.  

Isaiah 9:6

My husband and I went into the city for dinner, and as we walked down the sidewalk, someone was broadcasting Christmas carols. It was snowing, the storefronts were all decorated, carols were playing, it was quite festive. Arm in arm with my honey, we walked to the restaurant.  

After dinner Handel's "Messiah" was the song we heard on the sidewalk. Symphony performance only, no choral performers. I started singing, 

And the gov-er-ment shall be up-on his shou-ou-ou-ou-ou-ders.

How do you know this song? He asks. I must have sung it with a choral group many years ago, because my brain was remembering alto harmonies.  

So, since that night Handel's "Messiah" has been stuck in my head.

For unto us a Child is born

Halleluiah!

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, 

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap..."

 by C. C. Moore

from

A Visit from St. Nicholas

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Luke 2:8-12

 The holly shrub covered in winter ice.

"... The holly bears a blossom as white as lily flower,

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet saviour..."

from the carol: The Holly and the Ivy

Winter Solstice

the shortest day

the longest night

In many cultures, people burn fires all through the night

to encourage the sun to return.

God Jul
 Glædelig Jul
Rõõmsaid Jõulupühi
Hyvää Joulua

Gleðileg jól

Blithe Yule

A very simple ornament to decorate and make your own. 
materials:
clear glass or plastic sphere ornaments
acrylic craft paints in an assortment of colors
small paper cups

Pour a little paint in a paper cup, add an equal amount of water, mix. Pinch the rim of the cup to form a spout.
Do for each color of paint you are using.
Remove the top of the ornament, be careful not to break the ornament if it is glass.
Pour a little paint of one color into the ornament, rotate it so the paint makes trails inside. Add another color, rotate again, repeat if you desire. 
"Less is more" applies here; two colors can be striking, four colors can be too much and muddy.
It is nice to leave some parts unpainted, so that light shines through.
Turn the ornament up side down, on top of a cup, and let excess paint drip out. Leave for a while.
Replace the top of the ornament carefully
Enjoy.

We pass by this brick building everyday, yet we do not see it. Now that it has put on its Christmas cheer, we are again reminded how beautiful the building really is.

Old granite gate post.

A shelf of joulutonttut

They keep showing up this Christmas season. 

They bring their friends. 

They are invading my house.

Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? 

We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.

Matthew 2:2

Angel

Messenger

Watcher

Guide

Announcer

Herald

 

Over the river and through the woods, 

down a narrow dirt road, 

one very cold night, 

I came upon this lighted tree, 

all alone in the forest. 

"Rejoice Rejoice" it said. 

"You are not alone in the darkness. 

I am here."

A new Christmas stocking for a new member of our family.

Such joy and blessings.

"When the first baby laughed for the first time, its laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies."  J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Listen, my children, to your father's instruction 

and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Proverbs 1:8

Piled rocks

A cairn, a trail marker, a stack of stones.

We all need something to point the way. 

The Magi used the stars, what do you use?

"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer, and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen!" *

These might not be Santa's reindeer, but these eight were seen nibbling their way across the meadow.


* from "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore

Joulutonttu

The Christmas Elf is minding the fireplace, and watching over all the holiday preparations.
This little tonttu was a gift, he is made from handwoven wool fabric, and is as cute as can be.

This wreath is exactly what I hoped it would be. It is about five feet in diameter, made with assorted pine branches, cones from a white-pine, and clusters of wild rose hips. It took a bit of effort to hang it above the mantle, the tall ladder and the tall husband.

The Christmas Wreath 

evergreen

eternal life

the hope of spring in the dead of winter

the circle of life

a crown

the king.

Yummy Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter (2 sticks)
8 oz cream cheese (brick style)
3/4 cup white granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cup all purpose flour

Let butter and cream cheese soften to room temperature.
In a large bowl cream together the sugar and fats, add extract.
Sift flour, add to mix and combine well.
Wrap dough in waxed paper and chill overnight.
Preheat oven to 375'F.
Roll dough to 1/8" thick.
Cut out shapes with cookie cutters.
Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 6 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack.

Just like the earth; round, fragile, and beautiful.

So they call this a Christmas Cactus. It has nothing to do with the holiday except it blooms this time of the year.  I consider it a welcome sight as now the days are dark and cold; all the plants outside are bare and dormant; and this little plant decides it's the right time to blossom.  There is hope, life goes on, the darkness will not prevail.

Starting to decorate for Christmas. A swag of assorted pine branches, rose hips, and one large cone.

My kotitonttu.

A kitchen tonttu. A kitchen elf.

He oversees the baking of the pepparkakor.

Pepparkakor

1/2 pound butter

1 1/2 cup white granulated sugar

1 Tablespoon maple syrup

2 large eggs

3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3 teaspoons ground ginger

3 teaspoons ground clove

2 teaspoons baking soda

3 cups all purpose flour 

Cream together softened butter and sugar. 

Add eggs and syrup. Stir to combine. 

Sift together dry ingredients. 

Add to butter mixture, mix well. 

Wrap dough in wax paper and refrigerate overnight.  

Preheat oven to 375'F. 

Cut off a chunk of the dough, leaving the remainder wrapped in the 'fridge. 

Roll out dough very thinly, using a minimum amount of flour.  

Cut with cookie cutters. 

Bake on a buttered cookie sheet for 4 minutes. 

Cool cookies on a wire rack. 

Store cookies in a covered tin. 

Our traditional cookie shapes: snowflake, tonttu, pig, camel, elephant, heart, boy and girl, mitten, candy-cane, Christmas tree, and stars.

Please consider the good works of Heifer International.

red and white

Ilex verticillata and Betula papyrifera

"Happiness is a warm puppy."  Charles M. Schulz