And the pendulum swings...

I could go on and on about how this post makes me think and feel.   But I won't.  It needs time to sink in and process, and then I'd still be here hours, maybe days from then, typing away.  Just a few things:

Fireworks are wasted on the long summer days of July.  Once you've seen a spinning ground bloom flower skitter across the ice of a frozen pond, you'll know what I'm talking about.  That's why we stock up on July 5th and hoard it for nights like this.  (Note to self: don't forget the spinning ground bloom flowers this year.)  Sparklers and California Candles, it turns out, look beautiful, respectively, inside a wine bottle, and sticking out of the top of a headless snowman.

We put the lights in that tree at the top 3 years ago and have never taken them down.  See how the tree has grown?

Growing up, we had real candles on our Christmas tree, with a candle snuffer, a bucket of water, and a fire extinguisher close at hand.  Now, I light them only on an outdoor tree.

As for questions:

The ice candles holders are made with a bucket filled with water that is either left to freeze outside if it's cold enough, or kept in a chest freezer until frozen.  I've tried various methods of making the hole in the middle for the candle, involving disposable paper and plastic cups, either weighted down with rocks or a plate over the top, or with duct tape criss-crossed over the top of the cup to hold it down.  Sometimes this works, sometimes the cup pops up and out or breaks when the water freezes, and sometimes the cup is near impossible to remove.  This year, in a panic, to salvage these unsuccessful ones before our Christmas party, I took a propane torch to them.  Just turn it on it's side so the melting water can drain out, heat a hole right in the middle, and pop a candle in it.  You can float glitter, leaves, branches, berries, etc., in the water or leave them plain like this.

The snowflak(y) made from plastic 6-pack holders and a stapler was made according to instructions I tore out from a magazine, one that was probably published in the past 5 years or so.  Does anybody know if it's O.K. for me to share how it's done?  If I knew which magazine it's from, I'd just e-mail and ask.   I finally made one of these this year and would like to make more.  It was super easy and turned out incredibly beautiful from such humble and trashy materials.

Too-ticky was right.  Nothing is certain.  Last night there was freezing rain.  This morning the snow was hard and slick like a stone in a river.  Now, rain is falling on the roof above my head.

C drove an hour and a half in the freezing rain and darkness last night to pick his mom up at the airport at midnight.  When they finally cancelled her flight at 3 a.m. he drove another hour and a half home.  At 5 a.m. she rented a car with three other stranded people and drove the last 3 hours from Missoula to Whitefish in that awful weather.  After only an hour of sleep on the airport floor and only a little over an hour of sleep at home, C then turned around and drove back down on icy roads to get her and bring her here.   His mom hadn't slept at all.  Needless to say, there was a lot of napping today while I baked cookies, did laundry, shovelled slush and ice, and split firewood... followed by a nice dinner of shrimp and mussels (yum!), and our outdoor candle and fireworks lighting.

If you're travelling this week, I wish you more luck than ours.  My brother has to get from Queens to the Newark airport on Friday to fly home to Seattle.  Let's hope the transit strike is resolved by then.

Chris at Grandma Grace did some leg work and found instructions online for making the 6-pack snowflakes here.  Thank you, Chris!  My instructions call for a coat of white spray paint, too, but it doesn't really need it.

Also, in some places fireworks stands open for a day or two around New Year's Eve.

Comments

[knitteriam]

Your day of napping sounds wonderful. That plastic snowflake is really splendid, maybe a closer picture if we can't find the directions and legally post them? Maybe we could figure it out by looking at it. We don't get much snow here in NC but I am definitely going to stock up on some fireworks this summer, just in case. Two years ago we had 17 inches in about 5 hours. I thought I had died and gone to heaven! It was so deep I had to hoist my 4 year old on my hip to get to the hill to sled. We kept falling because I am short and as I stepped the snow was up to my knees. He thought this was hysterical and we would laugh and laugh. Your photos bring back those fond memories. Did I ever tell you that my mom's name is Iris and that is why I originally took a look at your site from another blog site? It's cool that you turned your name around and incorporated it into your site. I hope more people read your blog. It's a treasure!

[gail]

What a wonderful loving christmas and solstice you have!! I will do the ice candle holders this year; thanks for the inspiration. Our church (a Unitarian one) celebrates the solstice in a big way, with candles on the inside walls, a solstice service, kids walking in holding candles, light/star/candle songs and readings. We celebrated last night; my daughter is in the youth choir which provided the music. The church was packed. Your photos have inspired me to do more at my home as well.

[Chris R.]

I love all your craft ideas. I am very bored at work so I googled snowflake pop can and found a web site with instructions.
http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/winter_crafts.html
I have 3 people trying to find me some fireworks and I am going home a freezing some bowls tonight.
Did I mention I love your ideas?

[Judy]

All the candles in the snow remind me of the farollitos [candles stabilized in sand and in paper bags] in New Mexico that line pathways and rooftops of [adobe] houses during the holiday season. Christmas eve in Santa Fe has hundreds of them in and around the plaza.
I watched a PBS show about Tasha Tudor a few years ago. Her family did a Christmas event that is an evening hike in the woods to an outdoors creche all aglow with candles. It was magical.
I really enjoy your blog. Every photo[ even the ones you don't think come out very good]is a little work of art and your boys are beautiful[ they remind me of two boys I know who are now young men]
All my best to you and your family this Christmas season.
Judy

[Kristin]

Lovely photos! I love the ideas for the solstice. I've been so busy I let it pass us by last night and wish we had done something. I'll try to use some of your ideas next year. I love the ice candles. I've been wanting to try them, but the weather turned warm this week and we have a very small freezer. I vow to give it a go as soon as the weather turns cold enough again!

[lauray]

Merry Christmas to you and your family..:)
Love those pictures you took there. It brings the mood in. Have a great time.

[chelee]

Just when I think your pictures are the greatest, you just pop a bunch more out!
What a great idea saving up fireworks for the winter.
I think we have the same weather system. Yours is more extreme, we live in Eastern Washington so when you said it was raining all day today, I felt it too(-:

Have a wonderful holiday and my fingers are crossed for your brother.

Chelee

[Christine]

Ohhhh thank you for sharing the link to the snowflakes!! I can get multitudes of the six pack holders at work. I might just have a blizzard of them when I find where I put my stapler! :)

We always buy fireworks in the summer and set some aside for New Year's Eve. I wish it was cold enough here to have ice candles! Your pics are beautiful as always!

[molly]

I have really been enjoying your Christmas posts recently. Those ice candle holders are beautiful!

[blackbird]

beautiful...
these images have brightened my heart today --
as I head into the busy world to buy food for christmas meals!

I wish you and yours a gorgeous weekend.

[rebecca]

Just want to tell you how much I am in awe of your beautiful photography!