...and & El Dia de San Juan
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| Petunia loves to cuddle and lay her head on my shoulder when I pick her up! |
Today was another hot and glorious day! I like to have a little celebration on Midsummer's Eve-or Summer Solstice- to celebrate with the kids the longest day of the year. Craig also worked a double today, so having extra special fun helps keep the focus off of "where is Dada"! In the morning we played outside and finished a rainbow ring knitting craft. Then before lunch we made a nice batch of blueberry ice cream with fresh blueberries from our garden. I am sad to say I had planned to take photos of all of this but I could not find my camera until later in the day- thank you Mr. Sticky-fingers Jonas!
Then at nap time I dropped the kids off to nap at my mother-in-laws house so that I could meet with my dear friend Chris for a bible study. (I promise to write more about Chris one day since she is a huge part of my life and my walk with the Lord). Afterwards my kind in-laws invited us to stay for a tasty dinner and "a how to make a button-hole tutorial"!
I also had planned to take the kids out to catch fireflies and to have some nighttime fun, but to my surprise both kids fell asleep on the way home and remained asleep. I brought them in and got them into bed all by 6:45. Wow! They didn't even wake up when I put their PJs on! So no extra fun tonight! Just a nice relaxing night for Mama with some yummy tea!
But my blog does not end here! It was four years ago today that I first visited Spain. I was four months pregnant with Deirdre. I had, before I knew I was pregnant, planned to complete my cultural exchange in Morocco, to do independent research in Europe, and then study abroad in Ireland for a year. Blessedly I got to do the first two parts, but came home before study abroad in late August. (I did however make it to Ireland and Belgium the next summer for more research!)
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| Santiago de Compostella |
After spending a month in Morocco, Spain was a daunting change. It was the first part of my trip alone backpacking. Thankfully I spoke, and still can speak, Spanish very well. When I got to northern Spain, Galicia to be exact, I was in for quite I surprise.
I went to Spain and various parts of France to study their folklore, and more specifically their Celticity through their folkloric depictions of women. In ancient times Celts moved through Europe settling in different places. While today there are only six recognized Celtic nations, I argue that Galicia should also be one due to its folkloric similarities to other Celtic nations. I also asserted that a nation should not be defined as being Celtic based solely on it speaking a true Celtic language alone and that a nation's mores and folkways, as depicted through their folklore, was a better litmus test to Celticity.... ANYWAY :)
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On the beach in Tarifa before I got to Galicia- how I love the Med.
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I arrived in Galicia on El Dia de San Juan. It is an old pagan festival celebrated near the Summer Solstice. In celebration Galicians make bonfires in the streets to ward off evil spirits and meigas. During the day the women go into the countryside and gather various herbs. Then they hang the herbs over their doorways and in their houses, shaking them all throughout the house first and sprinkling them with water. So here I am trying to prove that Galicia is a Celtic nation and I arrive on the day of of their biggest pagan festival, that everyone including Catholics celebrate. Not ot mention they were also playing their national instrument, the bagpipe! Needless to say I had a blast. That day was one of the many highlights of my trip and I will never forget it. So on the 24th, I think I will have a bonfire and drink some Queimada to reminisce.
So enjoy the photos of Spain and me in the garden with my baby goose Petunia after the kids were asleep. I wish you all a blessed Summer Solstice-Midsummer's Eve-& El Dia de San Juan!
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