Where is our Christmas Spirit?

I don't know why, but we're feeling quite disinterested in this year's festivities...

We are really struggling to motivate ourselves to look for gifts & write the mountain of cards that we send every year & if it wasn't for the kids - we probably wouldn't celebrate at all! It's not a case of "Bah Humbug", it's more to do with being opposed to the commercialism that takes over this time of year. We have talked for years about the paper & packaging that is just a complete waste of resources & looking at alternatives to Christmas cards, so now as I blog - Sime is writing cards for the final time, complete with messages for folks to send us their email addresses, so next year we can send our own e-card instead...

We have never spent lots on gifts & in fact, we usually buy from charity shops for the kids. We also do a "Secret Santa" with our friends & the rule is that it should either be home-made or second-hand & cost no more than £5. We always buy a real Christmas Tree just before the Solstice, but again it seems so wasteful - ok it ends up as fire wood for the following winter, but it just doesn't feel right... We'll probably have a look at some potted trees, which are being sold at The Lost Gardens of Heligan (a rediscovered Victorian garden) a big local attraction that's nearby.

Now our youngest is nearly 14, we would like to think we can ditch Christmas altogether & just celebrate the Winter Solstice, enjoying some nice family time & the peacefulness of our surroundings.

Comments

Anonymous said…

I would love to stop writing cards and send e-cards instead. Unfortunately, most of the people I send cards to are older family members who don't even know what e-mail is!!

14 December 2010 at 04:36

Just Humans Being said…

We came across this dilemma last night... So we'll just continue to send to those who don't have email, but as our daughter pointed out - the younger generation are already just sending e-cards & eventually this ritual will die out. I think that we're the only European country that does this bizarre thing every Christmas, but it is nice to hear everyone's news...

14 December 2010 at 09:24

Nettles

Our garden yesterday.
Tall Nettles TALL nettles cover up, as they have done These many springs, the rusty harrow, the plough Long worn out, and the roller made of stone: Only the elm butt tops the nettles now.
This corner of the farmyard I like most: As well as any bloom upon a flower I like the dust on the nettles, never lost Except to prove the sweetness of a shower.
~ Edward Thomas ~
Every time we venture out to pick nettles, Sime always goes on about this poem!

Anyway, thought I'd share with you the article I've written for next month's Parish Magazine...

Our hedgerows are coming alive with food aplenty, but hardly anyone really notices the nettles that surround us, they grow quietly while using their juices to produce a medicine that can bring health. Anaemia, arthritis, rickets, tuberculosis, respiratory diseases, colds, catarrh & lymphatic problems can all benefit from this wonderful wild & free super food.
Nettles are rich in calcium, iron, phosphorus, potass…

Take Time

How often do you take time to be thoughtful and quiet? To breathe and be in nature? Do you start your day slowly, even when busy?
We like to spend our mornings gently waking - reading to each other, writing, sometimes singing, making breakfast and taking time to leisurely eat and digest our food before we begin our day. We choose to live in the slow lane, from where we observe others rushing through their days, often stressed and with a need to fill every moment doing what they consider to be meaningful. We feel no guilt in being lazy and happily sit around chatting instead of doing what we loosely planned to do. You may think it's procrastination, but we prefer to think of it as "going with the flow". There is more to life than filling your days with stuff, working hard, keeping up with your neighbours and it's not until you get off that treadmill that you can see for yourself just how great life can be. Part of the process for us in slowing down was to write mor…

Soil, Soul and Society

Please take some time to watch this video.
Take some time to look at your life and learn how to live differently.

If you are unhappy, make changes to your life.
Find gratitude in each day.

Try not to criticise others and instead feel compassion.

Enjoy time in nature.
Be quiet and calm.

There is so much anger and stress surrounding many of you out there at the moment...
Take care of yourselves, take time out from the news and stop worrying about how many times your neighbours are venturing out. Occupy yourselves doing something new and interesting instead.

Most of our days are spent weeding, planting, cooking and eating.
We go to bed earlier than we have done in years, usually aching...pleasantly so though!
We are learning about growing vegetables, enjoying playing with soil and it feels good spending lots of time out on the land.

Sending you all much love,

Kay and Sime xx

Just Humans Being...

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