yule – Page 3 – Wineberry Wood Press

21Nov 2023 by catbird 3 Comments

Simple Snowy Tree Lanterns

Craft Project, Nature Art, Play, Winter, Winter Solstice

This is a winter variation on my favorite simplest lanterns. It makes use of pressed ferns which look remarkably like little evergreen trees. While some ferns die back in the winter, there are a number that are evergreen, so take a look around for some ferns growing even if it's the dead of winter. These lanterns use the simple jar method and are quick and easy for kids to put together. If you are looking for a more elaborate lantern, I have tons of lantern ideas here. Light up the longest night with beautiful lantern! Snowy Winter Tree Lanterns We used a punch to make the snowflakes, but you could also cut them from folded paper. My son made yet another lantern from the paper the snowflakes were cut from…

12Nov 2023 by catbird 17 Comments

2023 Winter Solstice Countdown Calendar

Craft Project, Free Printable, Play, Recipes, Winter, Winter Solstice

Countdown to the Winter Solstice with activities, recipes and crafts. Come back each day for a new surprise! The doors won't open until the correct day (So 1 opens on December 1st, on December 5th you'll be able to open 1-5, etc.) The calendar includes two exclusive excerpts from my Winter Solstice book that will only be available through this calendar and only in December 2023. This calendar is now closed. Look for a new calendar in November 2024!! Click on the image below to go to the calendar!! (This will take you to a new window) Click once to open the door and click a second time to open the tutorial. Happy Winter Solstice! Click Here for the materials list-- there are some spoilers here, but I tried my…

03Nov 2023 by catbird 3 Comments

Scented Window Star Diffusers

Craft Project, Play, Winter, Winter Solstice

Waldorf style window stars make a beautiful decoration this time of year, but I wanted something more. I decided to use them essentially a diffuser for holiday scents. They looks stunning and fill your home with gentle scent. To make these stars you will fold them the same way you would standard window stars, but you can’t use the traditional kite paper because it will repel the oil. (Kite paper is coated in wax.) Instead use regular tissue paper, which you can cut into squares yourself or you can find tissue paper for floats which conveniently comes in pre-cut 5.5 x 5x5” squares. (This is what I used) This is a great kid project and a fun way to involve littles in holiday preparations. Adding some paper snowflakes to the…

02Nov 2023 by catbird 9 Comments

Winter Solstice Cookies

Recipes, Winter Solstice

When I first found out I was a celiac (as an adult) I lost my joy for baking for a few years. I had to basically relearn how to bake before I could experiment and be creative again. I am finally back and excited to experiment with colors and flavors again. Last year I focused on natural colors and herbal flavors and these are some of my favorites. Longest Night Cookies Raspberry Rose Moons Orange, Rosemary, Tahini & Honey Cookies Winter Walk Gingerbread Nettle Rosehip Thumbprints

02Nov 2023 by catbird 3 Comments

Longest Night Cookies

Recipes, Winter, Winter Solstice

Celebrate the longest night of the year with these naturally colored shortbread cookies. You can skip the spruce needle powder if you don't want to deal with it and they will still be delicious, but it is a nice touch. These are gluten free cookies, if you prefer a gluten full version, use your favorite shortbread recipe and add the blue butterfly pea powder and the spruce powder with the dry ingredients. Ingredients: Cookies: 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature ¾ cup powdered sugar 2 tsp vanilla 2 large egg yolks 105 g oat flour 105 g sorghum flour 80 g sweet white rice flour (mochiko) 80 g tapioca starch 1-2 TBS blue butterfly pea powder 1 tsp powdered dry spruce needles (optional, powder in a coffee grinder) 1 tsp…

01Nov 2023 by catbird 2 Comments

Stargaze on the Longest Night

Play, Winter, Winter Solstice, Wolf Moon

Winter Solstice is the longest night, so why not take advantage of all that darkness and do some stargazing? You will find a "Stargazing Picnic tutorial" in my Winter Solstice book, or you can just grab some blankets and look at the sky. The stars are easier to see in the winter because there is less humidity and haze and several iconic constellations make their debut in the winter months. If you are in the Northern hemisphere look for: Auriga (the charioteer) Canis Major (greater dog) Canis Minor (lesser dog) Orion (the hunter) Taurus (the bull) Ursa Major (greater bear/ big dipper) Ursa Minor (lesser bear/ little dipper) Draco (the dragon) Cassiopeia (the queen) Perseus (the hero) Different cultures have different names for constellations which can be really fun to research!

01Nov 2023 by catbird 1 Comment

Hot Chocolate Hike

Hibernation Celebration, Hike Ideas, Recipes, Winter, Winter Solstice

There is nothing more exciting them packig up a thermos of hot chocolate and going on a winter hike. I like to choose routes that I know will have a place to sit down partway through, because while we usually have no problems sitting on the ground, in winter that can be too cold. We always bring these handy collapsible cups to make serving easier. (And they are infinately entertaining on their own.

30Oct 2023 by catbird No Comments

Cinnamon Birds

Craft Project, Winter, Winter Solstice

These are a classic holiday craft-- I remember making them as a kid and I now make them with my kids. I love the birds strung on a garland and paired with dried orange slices, they look and smell amazing. They are also super easy to make with kids and are basically play dough until you dry them. Use cheap bulk cinnamon for these not the nice stiff you use in baking. This is a rare case of quantity over quality. When I made these as a kid I always added glue, and I do think it makes them a little sturdier, but they work fine without it and leaving it out makes them compostable which is nice. You can paint or decorate these but I never do because I…

29Oct 2023 by catbird 2 Comments

Take a Winter Walk

Hike Ideas, Winter, Winter Solstice

Hiking in the winter is often more fun than the summer in my opinion. There is no poison ivy, you don't need to worry about snakes and there is a quietness that you don't get in the spring or summer. Look for birds and lichen in the bare branches, they'll be much easier to spot. Cracking ice is always a good time, and we love searching for tracks in the snow or mud. See if you can find buds on the trees, that is nature's way of telling you that while it's cold and dark, spring is coming. birds are easier to spot in bare branches tracks! racing log boats cracking ice in a shallow pond bark rubbed off trees by deer antlers foggy days find them in teh mud…

29Oct 2023 by catbird 5 Comments

Solstice Simmer Pots & a Gift Idea

Craft Project, Folklore, Winter, Winter Solstice

One of the easiest things to do around the winter holidays is to make a simmer pot. A simmer pot is basically a homemade air freshener made by simmering fragrant pieces of fruits, herbs, and other spices in water. You throw some nice smelling things into a pot and let it just simmer on the stove all day. It makes the house smell amazing and cozy and like the holidays. There are three other important facets to this tradition beyond the lovely scent for me: 1) I use up discarded things like orange peels and fallen evergreen branches. It kills me when I see recipes that tell you to cut up 3 fresh oranges or apples. There is no reason. Eat the food. Lots of people don't have enough food and…

Tag: yule