Epiphany

We have been counting down the 12 days of Christmas, leading to Epiphany.  Since Christmas morning the Three Kings have been making their slow journey towards the holy baby.  Mary and Joseph have already made their journey and this is a nice continuation of the excitement at discovering that they have moved a little more each morning.
To celebrate this we have a ring of twelve felt hearts. Each morning there is a small gift, the gift is from nature and this year I made them small fossils and stones.  Aishlyn had been studying the inner workings of the earth in the last term at school so it seemed appropriate.
There is such a build up to Christmas day and then it is all over.  This little ritual is a nice way of winding down from the festive season and reminds us that it didn't all just end on Christmas day.

This is a little verse for the Three Kings from 'Winter' by Wynstones Press that was shared on 'A Little Flower Garden and Waldorf Essentials'. It's really lovely, I think I will use it next year. 

Kings came riding,

One, two, three,

Over the desert

And over the sea.

One on a horse

With a saddle of gold:

The children came running,

To behold.

One in a ship

With a silver mast:

The fishermen wondered

As he went past.

One came walking

Over the sand,

With a casket of treasure

In his hand.

All the people said:

Where go they?

But the kings went forward

All through the day.

Night came on

As those kings went by.

They shone like the gleaming

Stars in the sky.

At Last a Garden!

I have been a frustrated gardener for so long now and at long last I have a garden.  It's a small garden but a garden all the same.  Our new house has quite a large front yard and a small courtyard area at the back.  I was going to put the vegetable patch in the front yard but after observing the amount of sun we get I decided to do a raised bed in the back.  The thought of growing our own food is so exciting. 
It was such fun setting up the raised bed, filling it with compost and soil then planting our lovely little seedlings.  I got a wonderful book for Christmas called 'One Magic Square' and I have been reading all about companion planting, natural pest control and crop rotation. So much to learn on this gardening adventure!

I was lucky that I had a very willing helper.

We also had the help of our 4 year old friend who came over from next door to join in the fun.

And to watch over all our beautiful plants, our flying pig!

I will keep you all updated with the development of our little garden.