Category Archives: Litha/Summer Solstice

It is berry season! If you are putting up jams and compotes and shrubs and jellies and sauces, then it is quite possible that you will have leftovers: Simple sugar syrup Fresh fruit Strained jams Fruit purees Fruit syrups This happens quite naturally when cooking from a recipe that does not match the box size […]

I hope you have a few moments for the retelling of an ancient Celtic story and the wonders of imagination. You see there were two brothers who shared the same job; to care for the earth. One was responsible for the part of the year where dark turned to light and the other brother, the […]

The berry season has arrived in full force! It will not be the best of seasons here. The weather this spring was not ideal for strawberries and raspberries and low yields made for an increase in pricing. So when a “offer” came along, it did not matter that the berries were a little small as […]

Red and white are the colours of the Canadian flag, making strawberries and whipped cream a perfect fit to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday, July 1st. But truthfully this is a lovely summertime treat for any occasion as long as fresh local berries are available. Changing out the fruit for blackberries or raspberries works and mixing […]

Most Litha celebrations are sourced in European traditions. Whether it be an Italian all white midnight picnic or Celtic dancing around the community bonfire, summer solstice marks the shifting from the growing/waxing half of the Wheel of the Year to the half that is connected to dieing/waning and death. Nordstjernan.com an online magazine celebrating all […]

The Wheel of the Year is all about our relationship with the sun, so a respected and tended fire is always a perfect addition to any solstice celebration. Because we are outside more at this time of the year, that can also be a campfire, a small bonfire on the beach or even some burning […]

Probably the most common symbol of Summer Solstice is the sun itself. Litha after all is a celebration of the longest day and all the benefits that come with the sun’s lifegiving light and heat. In hot weather appetities are smaller and lighter dishes are popular. This frozen dessert/fruit salad is a simple way to […]

For several years I was a bit of a support person for an Afghan Sewing Cooperative. To be clear the members were from Afghanistan. This was not a quilt making group. One of the unplanned benefits to me was the trying of many new, tasty dishes and on very hot days, Doogh was a cooling […]

Having something that young people will enjoy making to offer at celebrations is usually a good thing and I try to post at least one option at these times. That is not to say that someone under the age of majority has to be around to make these tasty treats. You can take this idea […]

A quick and simple side for Summer Solstice Brunch. The Salmon Florentine Benedicts are filling so something light such as these shooters can be a good balance if hashbrowns are feeling like too much. Strawberries are local here right now and raspberries arrived the day after I took these pictures. Apricots are from the Okanagan […]