First Day Of Winter

For the first day of winter I thought I would post a great poem for you to enjoy! How wonderful that it has been raining today. I have been happily listening to the rhythm of the rain pattering out in my garden all day :)

Oh, Gray And Tender Is The Rain

by Lizette Woodworth Reese

Oh, gray and tender is the rain,

That drips, drips on the pane!

A hundred things come in the door,

The scent of herbs, the thought of yore.

I see the pool out in the grass,

A bit of broken glass;

The red flags running wet and straight,

Down to the little flapping gate.

Lombardy poplars tall and three,

Across the road I see;

There is no loveliness so plain

As a tall poplar in the rain.

But oh, the hundred things and more,

That come in at the door! -

The smack of mint, old joy, old pain,

Caught in the gray and tender rain.

May this poem help you think of all the lovely things that a rainy day can bring, and remind you of the important things in your life......

By Briony
Photo "Rain" By Bartek (aka. Bartoz) found at http://www.bartoz.deviantart.com/)

Ice Hotels

It is rare in winter that I feel inspired to go away. If I were to consider a trip to the country or beach, the images in my mind would be a mosaic of warm fires, sweet little B&B’s with a hot breakfast, warm coats and mittens and perhaps a trip to the snow! However to some, the ultimate in a winter retreat is to hole up and hibernate in one of the many ice hotels that have sprung up over the past couple of decades from Europe to Canada and even in Romania.

So what is an ice hotel? Well an ice hotel is a hotel made up entirely from sculpted blocks of ice and snow. Simply put, it is an oversized and extravagant type iof igloo! These hotels are recreated every year, year after year. They are novelty type destination and are often built by artists to varying themes with artist inspired architecture and laden with ice sculptures, ice furnishings and even ice glasses for the bar. Not surprisingly, these structures are entirely reliant on sub-zero temperatures. So when spring is almost sprung, they inevitably start to melt!

The first ice hotel was built in 1989 and is the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden. It started as an exhibition of ice art, but one year when some visitors asked to stay, they officially became the first ever ice hotel guests and slept happily in sleeping bags on reindeer skins. The entire hotel is made of snow and ice blocks borrowed from the Torne River. Each year it is recreated with approx. 10,000 tons of ice and 30,000 tonnes of snow and the hotel itself spans about 6000m2 when completed. Really it is the ultimate in recycling, as each spring/summer the entire creation once again becomes part if the Torne River's rushing rapids and courses towards the sea. To read more about this fascinating place, visit the Ice Hotel website at http://www.icehotel.com/.

An Ice Bar In Melbourne

In October last year the Funk Bar recreated itself to become the first and only ice lounge in Melbourne, “Chill On Ice Lounge Bar”, http://www.chillon.com.au/. Needless to say everything in it from the walls, to the chairs are made from roughly 30 tonnes of ice- even the drink glasses are ice. Interestingly only 22% proof alcohol is available as anything less would freeze. With this little detail-I wonder if this is why Russians drink Vodka so much!?

However, unlike the Ice Hotel of Jukkasjarvi, this Ice Bar is not maintained in its frozen state by natural means and with 2 freezers and 4 fans to keep all this ice frozen, one must seriously consider the useage of energy to maintain this false environment for the short enjoyment and amusement of a few. It may be fantasy to some, but I must admit, at $30 a pop for a 30 minute session to freeze my ass off in a bar that completely ignores the fragility of our real world, I don't think I will be headed there anytime soon!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this little blog on ice hotels and may you lie in bed tonight, and think of how nice and warm and snug it is under your winter blankets:)

Written by Briony

Mandalas

I was speaking to my brother-in-law about starting a new blog called the "Wheel of Seasons", or what I guess would be more commonly referred to as the Wheel of the Year. Interestingly he raised the idea of mandalas as a symbol he immediately thought of. These are fascinating pieces of art found all over the world in many different cultures. I guess the best way to describe them , are as a sacred space which usually takes the form of a circle. Through expressing yourself within this space, it is hoped that you will find some kind of truth about you and the world around you. It really is a form of self expression and can be used as a tool for spiritual transformation. Some cultures also use them for ritual and meditation.

For many of us living in the urban/suburban environment it is hard for us to really remember what the seasons mean. Although, we may take note that the leaves are turning yellow and falling to the ground, or that the winter frost has arrived in the early morning darkness, we can easily forget how treating the seasons with respect can be vital to our lives. I quite like the idea of the Wheel of the Year celebrated in many pagan religions. It marks the year with Sabbats and Solstices- times to reflect on the changes within our environment and the changes within ourselves. I believe the the mandala is the perfect place to express this reflection.

My experience with Mandalas

Many years ago my closest friend took me to the Theosophical Society in Melbourne CBD. We sat around with a group of people from all ages, listening to calming music and drawing mandalas on paper. As the hour progressed, we were supposed to release negative energy through noise- which was supposed to be exerted gutterly! It was an eye opening experience and one that I did in fact find quite therapeutic :)

I also have the most beautiful Tongan painting in the shape of a mandala on my living room wall. It has been painted on some type of bark in natural brown, and black ink. It begins with a central wheel enclosed within a star and leads to 24 pointed arrows pointing outwards.

May you find or create some mandalas in your own world and take the time to have a look in nature. Mandalas exist in many things, from orange halves to snowflakes to the the intricately woven spiderweb (also a well known symbol of creation)!! I would also suggest looking at the following interesting website: www.mandalaproject.org/

Written by Briony

"Mandala Seasons" Gouache 13" diameter

by Marnie Miller (Victorian Artist & Educator)

Winter Wine Warmers

What a wonderful way to keep your red wine warm and your white wine chilly! :)

I had a wondeful time making these and really haven't seen much around like them. They are created from the arms of two old woollen jumpers felted in the washing machine. I have adorned the black holder with colourful little felt blobs and circles, and the grey on with the caption "WINO" which is of course tongue in cheek humour.

Recycling old woollen jumpers into felt craft was a bit of a past time last winter and I am looking forward to making more crafty things this winter. To me felt and wool epitomise winter. There is something special about rugging up all cosy and warm in your woolly gloves on a cold, misty morning......

Personally the thought of rocking up to someones house for dinner with a bottle of red wine in it's own little cosy is kinda cool!! It could sit on the middle of the table as a kind of decoration in its own right. If it was chilly white wine - well your hands wouldn't get cold picking the bottle up to pour...... The fact that wool is a fabulous insulator just tops of how useful these little wonders could be :)

Photo and Wine Warmers by Briony

Four Seeds

Pomegranates and Persephone
Seeds of seasons
Ripen
Lush blood pips
Dribble
On black tar ground

Hades Temptation
Food of the dead
Squashed underfoot
Yet resurrected
And consumed

Demeter wails
Daughters Enslaved
Seasons unleashed
Oh Winter Bitterness
Of the Iron Queen

Photo & Poem by Briony
A reason behind the season of winter?