in celebration

{our feast for the birds, in preparation for Solstice}

Just Delicate Needles

It's so delicate, the light.
And there's so little of it. The dark
is huge.
Just delicate needles, the light,
in an endless night.
And it has such a long way to go
through such desolate space.
So let's be gentle with it.
Cherish it.
So it will come again in the morning.
We hope.

--Rolf Jacobsen
Translated by Robert Hedin

Into the holidays we go! I'll be back in this space later next week. I wish you all much joy and love for a Blessed Solstice, a Merry Christmas and a most Happy Holiday week!

Comments

[Vivien]

Merry Christmas to you and your family. I love reading your blog from many miles away and wish you and yours peace and happiness at this time of year. With love.

[Suzanne]

A blessed Christmastide to you and yours!

[jean]

love and peace to the soulefolk.

[jean]

love and peace to the soulefolk.

[Carrie]

Thank you for sharing that beautiful poem with us. I love the idea of decorating a tree for wildlife,it is my most favorite idea for the holiday season. I hope you and your family have a blessed holiday.

[Susie O'Keefe]

I do read your blog everyday. It is one of my greatest joys and inspirations. Peace and blessings to you and yours...

[bex]

Happy, Happy to you & yours! Xxx

[julie]

Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family! Enjoy all the celebrating!

[qalballah]

Hope you all have a peaceful time.
xx

[Ram in the Thicket]

Merry Christmas to you and your family ;o)

[Mary Beth]

Happy Solstice Soulemama! Enjoy your time with family and friends.

[Mom2-2boyz]

I can't even begin to tell you what inspiration you have brought to our house since stumbling upon this blog. We have a handcrafted tree in the boys room, a new handmade by momma birthday crown with a beautiful number five on top (wearing it today) and hours and hours of quality time spent just inhaling all the sweetness that my children bring me.I have even asked my husband for a sewing machine this year. Thank you so much Amanda. Enjoy your beautiful family. Have a wonderful week.

[Lisa Z]

Amanda, I am a new reader to your blog. It has become a source of inspiration and beauty in my life every day. Thank you so much for your beautiful pictures and thoughtful words. I am looking forward to your book very much. You have in a short time taught me to appreciate my own love for beautiful things. Some days I look at all my baskets and fabrics and yarns and books and magazines and kids' things and wish for less clutter. But then I see the photos of your home so full of loved items and it looks quite a lot like my home-y house and I feel better!

Blessings on the Solstice and the New Year!

Lisa in Minnesota

[bigbucketgirl]

Wishing you all you wish for yourselves and more. From us to you, and our 3 to your 3.xxx

[camerashymomma]

oh happy days! enjoy your time together.

[Christi]

Love the 'bird feast' - and thanks for sharing the poem, too.

Hope you and your family have a wonderful, wonderful Solstice, Christmas & New Year!

[asti]

Have a lovely peaceful Solstice and Yule!
Winter warm wishes from England x

[Nona]

The best to you and your family. Thanks for the inspiration, the beauty you share and for helping the world to be a more peaceful place. We need more like you.

[Natalie]

You are a light, that I will welcome back... thank you for sharing your brilliance. Merry Christmas.

[Susan Marie]

Oh, such a beautiful, beautiful poem! It's by a Norwegian poet; translated by a Minnesota poet; published by Copper Canyon Press, a press in Washington State; and posted by you in Maine. That's a list of very special people all reading and writing in northern climes.

(_The Roads Have Come to an End Now: Selected and Last Poems of Rolf Jacobsen_)

[jean]

peace and light to the soulefolk.

[blackbird]

Merry Christmas to you and your family from me and mine -
you are a daily inspiration.

[coffeechris]

Amanda,
I read your blog everyday, you have been the light in my advent this year and inspired me in so many ways. Thanks for keeping me awake to my talents and gifts. A very "Soule ful" Sostice and Warm Christmas wishes to YOU and your family. Thanks for the gift of sharing.

[Kirsten Michelle]

thank you so much for this beautiful poem this morning. your lovely space here is a daily reminder of the things that matter most...i thank you for sharing glimpses of your day with us.
wishing you and yours the happiest of holiday seasons!!!

[Amber]

What magical images! We hung our cranberries on our nearby tree for our birds, too, but our tree was a dry juniper not that snowy evergreen you have. (Aren't pomegranates so beautiful when cut like that?)!

The warmest and coziest wishes to you and your family for the holidays.:-)

[Bluebirdbaby]

Happy Holidays! We are getting ready to feed the birds too :)

[Jo]

Your pictures really do bring glorious motherhood to life! Merry Christmas!

[hanne]

how lovely to see one of my favourite norwegian poets here!:)
happy solstice, happy christmas. may it bring lots of blessings.

[hanne]

how lovely to see one of my favourite norwegian poets here!:)
happy solstice, happy christmas. may it bring lots of blessings.

[Joy]

Thank you for sharing so many inspiring photos and ideas all year long! Warm wishes to your family for another lovely season and a wonderful 2008! In peace, joy

[Anne]

Wishing your family love and light. Enjoy!

[Claudia]

Wishing all Soules a blessed Solstice. May the light of your hearts warm you in the darkness and guide you happily into the new year.

Blessed Be.

[shel]

Warm wishes to you and your beautiful family this holiday season.

peace

[Emerald]

Greetings and good wishes from London, UK.
Have a wonderful break (you deserve it) and I look forward to reading more about you dear Soules. We all have so much to get excited about next year, what with *the book* and all. I wish you every success.
xx

[Suz]

merry merry and enjoy your Soule-time this special season - what a gift you are - you shine bright - are a delight!..and to all a goodnight! (ha) much love

[heather]

peaceful holiday wishes to your family.

conngrats on the front page mention of your blog in typepad's december newsletter!

[Dallas]

Gorgeous decorations. I posted my outdoor bird decorations last week in my blog, but I think I'll go back and make a pomegranite one too. I haven't seen those but they are great.

[Jessica]

Sigh, I just love your pictures. Lovely.

I was so excited to see you featured in the Typepad December newsletter this AM! Congrats! Have a wonderful holiday week!

[Becca Selma]

beautiful! i am also getting a sewing machine this year! you are a huge inspiration to me :) i'm sure the birds will enjoy that delicious looking pomegranate! happy solstice!

[julie]

Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family... enjoy celebrating!

[mereteveian]

Many thanks for being a peaceful "home on the net" for me, - love to visit your blog with every update. Have a wonderful time with the family and a happy new year!

[Kelly]

What a beautiful poem and Merry Christmas to you.

[abbyjane]

Oh, you too, Amanda! Every happiness to you in the New Year.

[Krystle]

All the best for Christmas and New Year to you and your family :) Take Care

[dear libby]

I only so recently stumbled across your bloggy site and I simply adore it. :)

Keep up the fantastic work!
Happy Holidays.

[Stacey]

Hope you all have a wonderful Solstice.

[Josie]

Happy Holidays to you all. xxx

[Di]

Wishing you and your family and magical Christmas and a very blessed New Year. Looking forward to reading your blog next year as I have so enjoyed it this year. take care Amanda.

[Katherine]

Happy Solstice and holidays!

[Amy T.]

Your pictures are straight from an LL Bean catalog! Thank you for sharing.