Enjoying the Space In-Between.

Well here we all are on t'other side of festive proceedings, which included our traditional viewing of The Nightmare Before Christmas, gingerbread people, Solstice cake, and obscenely-shaped carrot snacks for certain reindeer. And I must say, at this point it's quite lovely to just potter and pause, and rest in the space between. With cake of course. Heh. Currently we are pyjama-ed and spread out on the dining table, with the morning sun streaming in the windows, avec art supplies and the Moon-child's art in various stages of completion. We're munching on slabs of hommus on rye toast, sipping veritable rivers of peppermint tea, and Joni Mitchell's Blue is on the rekkid player, (which seems to have emerged as our most-played album of the summer so far). The kitten is doing some kind of mad, wild-eyed circuit of the room, and a package full of beautiful, handmade clothing from Gaia Conceptions has just arrived.

Nativity scene for Advent and Christmas. No, I haven't suddenly become all religious. Um, it's a Steiner thing. Initially I had ambitious plans to do a handmade holy family, (Mazza, Jozza, and Jezza). I made Mazza following the instructions in the book All Year Round, and by the time I had finished her I was completely over it all, so I snatched a doll from the Moon's dollhouse and made him some suitably bliblical garb, and did a quick needle-felted job on the Chosen One. Also didn't have adequate shepherd-like figures. So two gnomes and a laconic owl had to suffice. Ta da.

It's all deeply pleasant really, and so very good to just stop. I've decided that I'm not going to embark on a Summer School subject, (to try and fast-track my degree). For although I'm surprisingly fascinated by organic chemistry, I don't fancy my summer break being swallowed up by yet more study. Instead, I've been needle-felting things, painting a chest of drawers a lovely yellow for the Moon, watching old movies with my family, contemplating knitting projects, and a number of sewing projects, including some brightly coloured bunting for the kitchen. I'm still in search of a fabulous novel to be excited about...(any suggestions??)

I also find it's the time of the year when I feel most motivated to 'spring clean'. When the tree is taken down, (looking a bit worse for wear because it was delivered by Oxfam three weeks before Christmas. Three. Weeks), and there are pine needles from here until next year, I find I get all inspired to rearrange furniture and reconfigure things in general. This is partly spurred by the need to make room in our wee house for new stuff, because although we try to keep the acquisition of Stuff to a minimum, it does creep up on one, particularly during the festive season. So I have been rummaging through cupboards filling garbage bags full of clothes, toys, and sundry flotsam to give to charity. I can feel the home exhale. It feels clearer and more peaceful. 

And the Moon now has a violin, (her Steiner class embarks upon a strings program for the next few years and she chose the violin, which I'm very happy about. I don't even mind the somewhat screech-y practising). Ok, I'm off to gnaw on a juicy mango. Hope you're all travelling well, and are able to get some lovely rest time. How is it all going for you?