A New Year and Longer Days

Golden light for the grey days at the beginning of our winter!

This charming porcelaine candle-holder with bare branches and cheeful little birds

was given to me by a good friend at Christmas.

A touch of fairy lights and a pretty reflection in the polished wood of my sideboard.

When we were going through a series of grey days with wind and rain,

I thought it would be very cheering to take photos of the candle-holders

that have come into my life over the years.

This sweet house was given to me by my grandson a few years ago.

A fine porcelaine village scene with snow-topped houses and a church

and pretty pine trees.

Many of these photos were taken either in the early morning or late afternoon.

This is a flower-shaped faceted glass candle-holder.

The glass is neutral in colour, but it has taken on a red glow because of the red candle.

More faceted glass on a crocheted red mat and illuminating a beautiful snow scene

which is my son's Christmas card this year

A warm image created by a very pretty Swarovski crystal candle-holder

which my daughter gave me.

I made the three red crocheted little bells with silver edging this year.

I bought this Art Deco style glass heart-shaped container

from a Lausanne market stall many years' ago.

I like to fill it with some marbles and a candle and a muslin ribbon gave it a soft, flowing feel!

I have also used this little dish for homemade chocolates or biscuits. to serve to company.

This is the same glass dish in which we can see the glass stem, or stand.

I wanted something light and airy with a touch of gold to celebrate this first day of the new year.

The symbolic message I wish to share with this image is this:

Let's always rise above adversity,

 the flowing ribbons remind us to bring lightness and gaiety

into our lives and to nurture the child within us all.

The white candle makes me think of the white page in our book of life, 

waiting for us to write our continuing life story.

The flame of the candle shows us that whatever else is happening in our lives,

there is always a light shining somewhere to guide us out of the darkness.

For anyone living in the Northern Hemisphere, it's great to remember that right after the winter soltice. the days get longer by an average of 2 minutes and 7 seconds a day.

So that means between December 21 and December 31, we have gained 21.10 minutes of light!

Isn't that uplifting?

In the wise words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who recently died:

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it is those little bits of good put together

that overwhelm the world."

I wish you all a Healthy and Happy New Year

filled with light, warmth and kindness, especially kindness.