As I did this time last year, I am trying my very best to embrace and celebrate the month of January. It can feel like a long, dark month during which all we seem to do is recover from the excesses of December, both physically and financially, and that seems like a waste of a month to me.
The more I think about it, the more I have come to treasure and relish January as a time stay at home, stay local, savour small pleasures, work quietly through to-do lists and make plans for the year ahead. Last year I had a lot of fun finding one good thing a day to celebrate throughout the month but this year, now that I am at work every day, that's just not achievable. Some days this week have been so full to the brim that I can barely tell you what month it is, never mind what was good about it. But I still like the principle.
So, here are some things that have brought me happiness this January:
:: The shapes of the bare trees against in the sky, even in the mist.
:: Bunches of daffodils on sale everywhere, especially these pale ones. They seem like the right shade of yellow for January somehow.
:: Buying oranges for marmalade.
:: Starting new books. (Also - note the cough syrup. January is also, sadly a month of germs and illness.)
:: Favourite winter woolens, old ones, new ones and handmade ones.
:: Making things for the house.
:: Making things for the house.
:: Green shoots, inside and out.
:: Working on old WIPS, like never-ending blankets.
:: Working on old WIPS, like never-ending blankets.
:: Planning new WIPS, like warm pink mittens.
There is one thing I haven't managed to do so much this month and that is get outside. The best days, the really ice-cold, crystal clear ones, have sadly fallen on week days when all I can do is look longingly at the sky from the window. and make sure I really take in the sunsets as I leave work in the afternoons (and isn't it getting lighter and lighter each day? I can really feel the difference.) Sometimes the weekends are just so full. Never mind, there will be lots more opportunities for walks before this winter is over.
I hope January is being kind to you.
I hope January is being kind to you.
Oh January isn't so bad :0) it is wonderfully cozy and warm...your blankets looks so lovely inside your basket :0) mari
ReplyDeleteI love the look of that basket you have made, and the french toast looks like a perfect January breakfast!
ReplyDeleteI'm hibernating; planning lovely veg rich stews, candles on the mantlepiece and warm chai. I've been lucky enough to get playtimes stood outside in the sun. Sharp, but not freezing!
ReplyDeleteI've gotten to where I quite like January, it is a good time for reflection and finishing up old projects.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you've found lots of things to love in January. Beautiful photos - the trees in the mist are lovely and the French toast made me smile as we had that for breakfast today too! Hope you get that frosty walk soon. xx
ReplyDeleteI actually love January, it is a time for rest if you can find it. The busyness of November and December leave me exhausted.
ReplyDeleteLove your thoughts and your photos,
Meredith
January is always kind to me as my Birthday lands on the 19th, it is normally the day assigned by the media for everyone to give in their new years resolutions! We got out today to Attingham Park and it was joyous but it has been so grey. We have missed the cabin for weekend walks with a shelter and a break for tea but we will have to wait a little longer to get that fixed - cashflow! Here's to January. Jo xxx
ReplyDeleteJanuary has no less or no more going for it than any other month. And they all have something!
ReplyDeleteJanuary can sometimes seems to me to be a long and depressing month with coughs and colds and some yucky weather but there are also good things about it, sometimes it is good to hunker down at home and relax after the busyness of the Christmas season, it is good to reflect on what has gone and look forward to the new year and making plans. xx
ReplyDeleteI feel as though January is slipping away too fast but I'm a bit of a winter lover! It's lovely seeing all your cheerful things, the tree silhouettes have to be one of my winter favourites :-)
ReplyDeleteI feel as though January is slipping away too fast but I'm a bit of a winter lover! It's lovely seeing all your cheerful things, the tree silhouettes have to be one of my winter favourites :-)
ReplyDeleteHow deliciously cosy it looks with you. I'm hoping for a walk tomorrow. I hope you manage to get out and about too. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely pictures you take, I just love your blog xx
ReplyDeleteYou've found some lovely things to do this month. Knitting is on my list as well. As the snow is falling I find myself wanting to wrap up and knit a little bit faster. Enjoy your January!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to relish the positives this month. In a way I quite enjoy clearing the clutter of Christmas & starting afresh. I've started redecorating my kitchen, started an evening print course & feel quite inspired. I absolutely love your black & white plate in your first photo. Is it a 1950's design? I would love to know more about it.
ReplyDeleteHello, thank you. It's by Carly Dodsley and I bought it on holiday in Derbyshire last summer. It's a recent design and her work is fairly widely available I believe. x
DeleteI can't believe how quickly January has gone and am so enjoying the light gradually creeping back. Lovely photos -always full of style. I particularly covet your lovely jumpers. X
ReplyDeleteFor me, January means one birthday party to attend every weekend - which is a lot of fun! The round starts with my sister, then there are two friends' birthdays, and next week Sunday it is my Dad's.
ReplyDeleteOther than that, it was mainly getting back into things at work, after the extraordinarily long Christmas break (2 1/2 weeks!).
I know what you mean about not getting outside enough. I haven't been for a proper, long walk in weeks - not since New Year's Day. There were shorter walks with my pregnant friend who can't go on our regular runs with me anymore, and of course there are the daily walks to and from the train stations on my way to and from work, to the shops, to my parents' etc., but no long, proper walk just for the sake of being OUT and catching daylight. I miss that, but I know I'll be back to those beloved walks soon.
I rather like January myself. Planning the year out while sat in the warmth. Lovely! x
ReplyDeleteI am always pleased to see February, January is a miserable month and I am glad to see the back of it....that said you seem to have found the best of the month and cheered me up no end!
ReplyDeletexxx
I have just come inside from a walk/jog with Jack. The river is swollen with snow melt, the paths are sodden and both Jack and I look as if we had been sprayed with muck.... It is good to be out but I have to say that the wet weather puts a dampener on my spirits. It looks just so cosy at yours! Love your woollens and dream of making myself a pullover like your grey one. I hope you'll get a chance for a bit of outdoors this weekend. Thanks for sharing the lovely photos. x
ReplyDeleteI don't mind January at all as long as there is some sunshine and happily there has been. It's the endless grey at any time of year that gets me down. I hope you've managed to get outdoors this weekend – I find that always makes me feel better. Cosy, beautiful pictures as ever, Gillian. I love your grey vase with the white tulips. You have lovely stuff! Sam x
ReplyDeleteLovely photos Gillian. I feel the same, that instead of moaning about January we should look for the positives and enjoy the fact that we can hunker down, keep cosy and get on with indoor jobs or craft projects. I've been busy making cards :) x
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you are embracing January! This year I am not doing too badly so far, so I hope that you will find the same. xx
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. I'm buying lots of daffs too - always cheap as chips (good job, after all that Christmas spending). It seems like everyone here's coming down with one thing or another so there's a lot of coughing and sneezing going on.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying with January but it's the light levels which really get me down. This winter has been such a wet, dark one. I can't wait for a bit of sunshine.
S x
I love all the daffs in the shops in January, the promise of warm spring days to come, meanwhile most of my trips out are to walk Flora - it's a mud bath out there! Have a cosy week xx
ReplyDeleteI love your blanket! I find this time of year, when the end of winter starts to melt into the very first hint offspring just lovely. I love that it is time to snuggle under blankets but also have bunches of daffodils. Have a lovely cosy week. I've lots of ideas for costing up in winter and enjoying the spring days ahead over on my blog if you'd like to visit!
ReplyDeleteLove this post! Just got back from a snowy (New England) walk with a 13 year old dog! Slow going but nice to be out after hibernation yesterday! LOVE the sweaters - any info on them? And so nice to see the winter sampler - Posiegetscozy is one of my favorite blogs! Stay cozy!!!
ReplyDeleteHey Gillian,
ReplyDeleteApart from being laid up, I've enjoyed January. I always have though. I like the frugality of it after the excess of December. I like the planning; garden, camping trips, home improvements that sort of thing. I'm not keen on all of the rain we've been having. I love the pink wool. I've been thinking that some fingerless gloves would be good. Can't make them, but I'd like some.
Have a lovely week Gillian. Not long until half term ;)
Leanne xx
Lovely post and photos Gillian and Spring is getting closer for you now. Love those daffodils, especially as I've just had a bulb catalogue delivered and there are some beauties in it and I just don't know what to pick. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI love that the evenings are getting lighter also.
ReplyDeleteYour January has looked lovely so far! I've been a bit down with all the rain but there's been plenty of good stuff too. How did your marmalade turn out? I was planning some but haven't got round to it (again) yet! That's a lovely pink yarn....looking forward to seeing the mittens. Have a super week. xx
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by the idea that a grocery store is selling fruit specially marked for making marmalade with. I can only think that people in the UK must be much more into preserving than we are in the US because we'd never see that here. I think that is so cool. I made marmalade yesterday with tangelos and it came out so good. I may blog about it soon. It looks like January is being pretty good to you. I'm glad you're finding time for things you enjoy amid your busy days.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, thank you. Please may I ask where the candlesticks in the first picture came from? I am present shopping and they are just what I was looking for. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHello, they are by the "curve" candlesticks by Danish brand SuperLiving. Aren't they gorgeous? I was given them for Christmas. You can find them here:
Deletehttp://www.northlighthomestore.com/
https://www.scandinaviandesigncenter.com/
Yes, they are lovely and will make the perfect wedding present. Thanks very much for the information, it's much appreciated.
DeleteI like January too, Some years I struggle with it a bit but this year has been fine, i have rather enjoyed it. Lovely photo's X
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