December 26, 2021
How valuable it is in these short days,
threading through empty maple branches,
the lacy-needled sugar pines.
Its glint off sheets of ice tells the story
of Death’s brightness, her bitter cold.
We can make do with so little, just the hint
of warmth, the slanted light.
The way we stand there, soaking in it,
mittened fingers reaching.
And how carefully we gather what we can
to offer later, in darkness, one body to another.
-Winter Sun, Molly Fisk
We take advantage of the warmth while we can, these shortened days, getting in a walk or some play in the yard after noon. Bundled up we don’t mind the cold anyway, but finding the sunshine is a must. The rays on my face conjure an immediate smile.
I find similar delight in Winter’s offering of citrus fruits. They feel like a shining gift in reminder of the Sun. This year, my youngest son and I sliced some lemons and oranges to dry out for a sun catcher. Not having a dehydrator (which I highly recommend using if you have one), we dried them in the oven. The lemons didn’t turn out so lovely, but in the sunlight the oranges are quite pretty. Hung on a pine bough from our yard, along with a sea star, we found it a perfect way to welcome back the Sun!
We hope you take part in crafting a little sunshine into your lives during the cold winter months. And, in sharing our craft idea, you might consider it a little bit of soul-sunshine that we are sending your way!
