Savouring the Days

 

"There has been some lovely weather

--to look at."

Beatrix Potter

Early last week another "atmospheric river" flowed through our area. Oh, the rain. It poured down for two days, making little lakes in our garden and running in small rivers on a daughter's property right into their home. So much water! 

The first thing I do when I get out of bed in the morning is open the curtains. On Tuesday morning I saw very little. Thick fog obscured everything but the street lights. By mid-morning it had burned off and blue sky emerged. The world was full of light and so were my spirits. A beach walk seemed just the thing! 

Alas, as I crested the hill to Island View Beach I saw more fog covering the water. How mysterious and quiet it was. Bufflehead ducks played in the water and made hardly a noise. After walking for about 25 minutes the fog began lifting and when I turned to return to my car the sun was so bright I had to shade my eyes with my hand. What a difference! 

I heard the eagle cry out and hoped he would turn to face me for the photo, but perhaps he, too, was protecting his eyes from the blinding sun.

Soup has been on the menu this week. Split Pea Soup here, made from my mother's recipe with the substitution of a smoked turkey leg rather than a ham bone. Equally delicious. I do love soup and also made a smooth broccoli soup one day. 

Motivation has been low this week and I'm savouring the slow days of January. I stirred myself enough to make some Bran Muffins. I add raisins or dates to them and this version had chopped dates. Yummy with a bit of butter. 

I did a sketch of houses that remind me of our visit to Leiden and Amsterdam in the summer of 2024. The unfinished watercolour has been languishing in my painting box and this week I took it out and finished it. 

Another thing I'm savouring are the snowdrops appearing in various places - this small patch is in my garden, near to the house and quite sheltered. How white and crisp the flowers are! Our temperatures are unseasonably warm, so much so that a daffodil is blooming in our daughter's garden. We could very well get a blast of winter yet, and I rather hope we do. This warmth is quite strange. 

And so ends another week. We're getting together with friends for dinner one evening this weekend and also taking a short road trip. My husband is becoming interested in beekeeping and wants to visit an beekeeper who is full of information to share. I'll go along for the ride.