I posted this video last year, but I hope you don't mind that I'm posting it again. I had almost forgotten about it myself. I took many of the photos in the slideshow — some show winters on our beloved island, some show the snowstorm in our own backyard last year, and some show the Lucia Parties over the years. Cate Kerr took most of the snowy landscapes. My beloved Pop is the "wise man" on the snowy road, just down from our island house.
This video still touches my heart. We hope it touches yours, too.
A Blessed Solstice to all!
Click here to play a Quicktime movie (high res version) or click here for the YouTube version.
“In the Bleak Midwinter” performed by Craig Olson
Music by Gustav Holst (1906)
Lyrics by Christina Rossetti (1872), revised by Craig Olson (2006)
Photography Credits:
Snow scenes by Catherine Kerr and Joanna Powell Colbert
Interior scenes by Paul Bingman, Chele Eva Armstrong and Joanna Powell Colbert
My sweetheart has a Solstice gift for you: From now through Christmas Day you can get a free download of his entire first album "Beyond the Cedar Moon" with no strings attached.
He says: "Just click the link and follow the prompts. Feel free to share or give as a gift. It's DRM-free, high quality 320 kbps mp3 or loss-less audio. (That's geek-speak for "really cool!")"
This is one of my alltime favorite albums. Just exquisite songs (in the acoustic singer/songwriter genre). Oh, and I co-wrote one of the songs, "Ave Stella Maris." Enjoy!
I discovered that I love being unplugged, both from the internet and the phone. Nine whole days. What happens when you unplug? It’s all about slow time, natural time, as my friend Waverly Fitzgerald so often writes about. The days at Camp Zoe were divided into sections that reminded me of medieval Hours: Waking; Morning Meeting; Noontime Meal; Noontime Concert; Workshop 1, Workshop 2 (or, River Play Time); Evening Meal; Evening Concert; Evening Ritual; Drum/Fire Circle; Bedtime.
And on Solstice Day, my true love sent to me . . .
A song & slideshow from our family to yours.
Click here to play a Quicktime movie (high res version) or click here for the YouTube version.
On the twentieth day of Advent, my true love sent to me . . .
Melody: 17th century English traditional
Lyrics by Helen Farias
When Christmas’s tide comes in like a bride,
With holly and ivy clad,
Her candles aglow, her mantle of snow,
Shall make our weary hearts glad.
Your door open wide to call her inside
To brighten the gloomy day.
Our wassail is blest, our carols are best
To drive the cold winter away.
This time of the year is spent in good cheer
And friends together do meet
To sit by the fire, with magic conspire
To make their holidays sweet.
The Lady and Lord with circle and ward
Will bid the good spirits stay,
And at our behest they’ll banish the rest
To drive the cold winter away.
So these are the days we joyfully praise,
Despite the darkening year.
We trust that the Light that shines in the night
Dispels all sorrow and fear.
The stars in the sky that sparkle on high
And here comes the Good Dame, plum pudding aflame
To drive the cold winter away.
On the seventeenth day of Advent, my true love sent to me . . .
"Firedance," a lively song to celebrate the Return of the Sun by Canadian group Jaiya. (It's only a clip, not the whole song, sorry! But you can hear how lively it is.)
You can buy the CD or download it here.
"Yule is come, now beat the drum,
and light the Solstice flame . . .
Tonight we raise a hymn of praise,
for the Sun returns again!"
On the fifteenth day of Advent, my true love sent to me:
Fabulous revised lyrics to a favorite carol:
Lady Greensleeves
Lyrics by Lady Isadora
Midwinter Moon is shining bright
The Yuletide log is burning
Good people gather round tonight
The Sabbat Wheel is turning.
Joy, mirth, the Sun’s rebirth
Now as of old we greet thee
Gladdening the songs we sing
Of praises to the Lady.
‘Twas at the feast of bright Beltane
When we were all a-Maying
Sweet minstrel queen in her gown of green
Swing round, a lay was playing
And though now robed in snow
Her wintry garb deceives
For bedecked with holly and mistletoe
She is still our Lady Greensleeves.
So drink ye wassail everyone
Good pagans all make merry
With wine as red as the reborn Sun
As red as holly berry.
Dance, sing, come join the ring
As her Yuletide spell she weaves
Fair Queen the Evergreen
Sweet lovely Lady Greensleeves.
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