A Natural Christmas

My theme for this first week of Advent is "Cherish and care for the earth". I express my unity with nature at Advent in many ways:

• by offering small gifts of love and attention in recognition of all I receive from the earth;
• by learning the names of my neighbors- the birds, bugs, trees, and plants;
• by advocating for earthcare with my community;
• and by finding joy and fulfillment in simply being alive, instead of in an excess of buying, eating, using, and wasting.

Each year, this first week, I bring nature indoors, by collecting greens, pine cones, straw, and other natural materials to use for decorations, and for making gifts.

I've been collecting fallen branches of evergreens for the last weeks, and now I will bring them inside to deck my halls.

Greens are the first decorations I put up around the house, along with a few candles, to open the door to a little light, and to connect with the earth. Evergreens are a symbol of eternal life, and also symbolic protection against trouble. Today I bring the protective spirit of nature inside.

Agenda:

1. Read "Present Moment Awareness"

2. Holiday Mindset

3. Advent school plans

4. Stick tree hanging

5. Twig ornaments

6. Make sweet, salty, or spicy nuts

1. Read "Present Moment Awareness":

I'm reading this book by Shannon Duncan (2001) that takes awareness one step at a time: First, body and senses; then beliefs and limitations; then emotions; and finally, reactivity. It seems like a straightforward plan!

I've started the third section: Emotional Presence, about how to stay present to strong emotions so they can become less overpowering and we can choose our responses rather than reacting.

Emotions are present to help us to prepare our bodies to act: Our brains assess the situation, emotions are triggered by a perception of the situation, and then we respond. Emotions are a felt thing, a physical manifestation of thought.

When we are in constant emotional turmoil, stressed and on guard, it becomes nearly impossible to enjoy life. When we are absorbed in negative scenarios our negative mood is amplified. In fact, most of what stresses us is not worthy of panic: We may face challenges, but they are really only circumstances to be dealt with.

"When we can reduce or eliminate our belief-driven emotional turmoil, we eliminate much of our stressful and needless anxiety and begin to gain a real sense of inner peace."   

2. Holiday mindset:

In order to keep the main thing the main thing this week, my intentions and priorities are:

1. Savor the experiences of making crafts and lighting candles with my grandsons. 
2. Prepare to communicate with everyone about my feelings regarding climate and biodiversity loss. 
3. Make a list of gift-making ideas, and used books and toys: Make a plan, order supplies, and get started!

3. Advent School plans:

Our fall schedule includes a two-day pre-school, with coloring pages on a different theme each week, related outdoor projects, field trips, and art. I want to focus on nature awareness, process art and basic art skills (drawing, painting, cutting, glueing, etc.).

This week the theme is the Earth:

1. Make stick ornaments (stars, trees) with yarn wrapping and beads
2. Look at winter animal books
3. Make pinecone bird feeders, and refill the other bird feeders
4. Decorate the outdoor tree

4. Stick tree hanging:

In 2023 we made this stick tree decoration, which we now hang each year on our door. It's a great way to have a tree to decorate without taking up room or cutting a tree.

We decorate it slowly, adding a couple of new decorations each day, using glittery pipe cleaners to wire things securely on to the sticks; that is important because this hanging sees a lot of toddler action!

Ideas for decorations: Pinecones, plastic balls, duplo people, dried oranges.

5. Twig ornaments:

This year we will make some new ornaments together, for our stick tree, and for gifts gifts.

Supplies: Twigs, clippers, hot glue gun, yarn

The boys had very little interest in this project, but I think they are cool!

6. Make sweet, salty, or spicy nuts:

This is a simple and nice alternative to baked goods. You can make them sweet, or salty-sweet, or spicy-sweet.

Ingredients:

• cooking spray
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 4 c. raw nuts (combine walnut or pecan halves, almonds, cashews, etc.)
• 1 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 2 teaspoons spices (I used half chili powder and half cinnamon on this batch, but cumin and black pepper also work)

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.

2. Heat sugar, water, and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until the butter is melted. Cook for 1 minute and remove from heat.

3. Combine any kinds of raw nuts in a large bowl. Add salt and spices if you want, and stir.

4. Drizzle the butter mixture over the nuts and stir to coat, the spread them out on the foil into a single layer.

5. Bake nuts in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then take them out and stir them around to make sure the syrup has coated them all. Spread back into a single layer and return to the oven for just a few more minute- watch them because they can burn easily. Allow to cool before serving.