Settling Into January

 

Strong shadows play across the furniture this morning. There is little snow left in our yard, but my distant view shows pure white on the Sooke Hills not too far away. 

On New Year's Day, in anticipation of the snow melt to come, we took another walk to Tod Inlet to admire the forest in its rare snowy state. 

Someone built a tiny snowman with a very happy smile. He seemed to beg to have his photo taken. The snow we had was fine and powdery and didn't pack well, so not too many snowmen were built. 

Also on Saturday we undecorated the tree. I collect all the ornaments before putting them into their boxes, and thought they made a pretty sight on the table. 

It's always a bit sad when the decorations come down. I know that some wait until Epiphany, but our tradition has been New Year's. 

The white poinsettia still looks great and sits atop the piano. Green growing things are what I like to include more of in January. It's a quiet month, some say bleak, but the peace of these calmer days is welcome and restful. Tim returned to work this morning and I've been puttering around the house. 

I'm looking forward to the hyacinths, and my one amaryllis blooming. Forcing bulbs is a fun way to hurry spring along, at least indoors. She can't be hurried at all outdoors. 

January is a good time to begin new projects. I have several in mind, a new quilt, and some embroidery. I'm continuing with my writing project based on the letters sent to my mother-in-law over the 21 years we lived in Ecuador.

What about you? Any new projects? 

This is what I've read/am reading. I would NOT want to meet up Helen Turstein's Elderly Lady. She's utterly devious! Charles Todd's Ian Rutledge is a much more likeable character. I have not yet started A Pattern of Lies, with a new-to-me character Bess Crawford. I've barely begun The Last Days of the Incas and think it will add to my knowledge of the history of the Andes region of South America. 

I like to keep a couple of books in circulation, picking them up as my mood suits. Once I really get into a novel, though, I read steadily until it's finished. Last year I recorded 105 books read, and I know there are more unrecorded. 

What are you reading?