[Rosemary]

At this Solstice, blessings to you all and hopes for warmth, peace and companionship, in the return of longer days.

[SallyintNorth]

Lokewose 

[Fleecewife]

Our house is full of the scents of feasting 
Solstice greetings to all those who recognise and celebrate the start of the new growing year.  I am so happy to see the return of the sun    Juliet

[SallyintNorth]

I am so happy to see the return of the sun    Juliet

More in the knowledge than the light for a while, I never think the sunset/rise times really start moving noticeably for a few more weeks.  (Just the occasional minute, not every day, for the mo.)  But knowing we're past the shortest day certainly brings a lightening of the spirits!

Our tups came off today, their spirits went the other way I think! 

[doganjo]

O F G S - not another flipping celebratory label   

[Penninehillbilly]

Our house is full of the scents of feasting 
Solstice greetings to all those who recognise and celebrate the start of the new growing year.  I am so happy to see the return of the sun    Juliet

The Solstice means much more to me than Christmas, which is such a man made and commercial day, and just a day off work for us, apart from seeing to animals, which is rarely 'work'.
I try and get the Christmas lights up and ready and light up at Solstice time to greet the new year and return of light, easy this year at just after 3pm, someday we'll get round to doing a special meal  .
One thing I always think re Stonehenge, I would celebrate the first sunrise in the new year, that's the special sunrise :-).

[Fleecewife]

I am so happy to see the return of the sun    Juliet

More in the knowledge than the light for a while, I never think the sunset/rise times really start moving noticeably for a few more weeks.  (Just the occasional minute, not every day, for the mo.)  But knowing we're past the shortest day certainly brings a lightening of the spirits!

Our tups came off today, their spirits went the other way I think!

This year there is a noticeable difference already.  On the Solstice itself, it seemed really dark at 1510 (don't forget I'm in Scotland - it's dark up here for AGES in winter)  now 9 days later it's still light after 1600.  Part of it is the sunshine some days.  Maybe I'm just a positive thinker    I often get really miserable in the dark days, but not this year 

[Penninehillbilly]

I've noticed it seems to hold in the half light longer, presuming it's because of clear sky and moonlight.
We also picked up some more reduced Christmas lights this year, even got them on the barn so it's a twinklefest out there.    + don't need a torch round the yard. 
Sheep are going through haylage like crazy though, do they know something we don't? Or Either very nice haylage or are they just gannets?