January 2025 - A Seasonal Diary
A seasonal diary of nature spots and little moments
“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness”
Hello January
Oh my goodness did we actually just turn tge front cover over on my first ever calendar? PINCH ME! I am so excited to be using it finally, I've been waiting months! This month the illustration is of a male blackbird and would you believe it i spent a few special moments in the garden with the very bird! A beautiful day, the sun was out, so was the frost mind you but I was not to be deterred. You have to get your Vitty D where you can in mid-winter Yorkshire I’d made some shortbread (don’t be fooled into thinking this is regular, i am not farmers wife shaped and fall extremely below par in the domestic department) none the less i was sat outside with my homebaked goods. My art journal spread accross the table along with my calendar. Sat there all Hygge organising my weeks with a fire and a little black feathery mate with a yellow beak and bright eye. He seemed brave, he was munching tge spicy breadcrumbs i’d whizzed from a stale loaf. He was seemingly undeterred by the chilli kick or me sat huddled in blankets like the deranged garden creature that I am.
Historically January has always started with an optimistic bounce, promising myself this year I will change, it’s a new year so therefor a new me. I've seen 33 January's thus far and the new me always turns out to be the old me but with just one more layer of self disappointment. I figured this out a few years ago and have since accepted January for what it actually is, a chance to hibernate and rest. The me from last year is perfectly acceptable, she just needs a rest, that’s all. And would you believe it for the first time in my life I have loved this month whole heartedly, my soul be fed, my creative flame be lit. A slow January filled with baking, homely pursuits, frosty walks, fires (oh so many fires! I seem to have found my new obsession, sitting by a large naked flame slowly roasting myself like a Christmas ham. Did you know tumble dryer fluff is an excellent fire starter? Thank you Sian the forest school lady at nursery for this excellent slice of knowledge.) and minimal work (just enough to keep a float). January will be the annual rest future me will cherish.
A list of things I did, saw and enjoyed in January
Toasted bread on an outdoor fire with the boys
Pulled them around a frozen puddle on a sled. Cursed myself for not catching a photo to paint this moment. I'll have to rely on memory.
Countless long walks with the dogs on nursery days
Spotted a barn owl, deer, greylag geese lots of hares and some beautiful frosty leaves on one particularly beautiful walk.
Made friends with a blackbird as mentioned above
Marmalade! I made some. 9 jars to be precise. It’s a little runny but the self satisfaction level is through the roof.
Made shortbread
Made Nick a very moist chocolate cake if I do say so myself- Recipe here
Made wax wraps
Made some really bad toys
Listened to too many audiobooks
Read a really good book about a hare
Watched the comings and goings of a broken winged chaffinch
Grieved the loss of a broken winged chaffinch
Daydreamed about having an open fire in the house.
Walked by the light of the moon
Sat outside with a fire, consequently smelt like smokehouse steak until I could be bothered to wash my matted mass of frizzy strands you could loosely describe as hair.
Went for a hike. (A 3 mile lightly inclined walk with a toddler on my back and a complaining pre-schooler flagging behind) I am calling it a hike
Saw a dipper on the hike! The joy! The glee!
Accidentally scratched Tobe’s nose with my binoculars. Joy and glee replaced with my guilt and his loud (dramatic I might add) crying.
Made a banging quiche if I do say so myself
Wrote a very modest blog post
Went to see the William Morris exhibition in York
A January gallery
January In Watercolour
Stories from the studio, a little glimpse into my watercolour creations from this month…
What has January been like for you? Have you seen anything out in Nature that’s made you smile or just peeked your interest? I would love to know, tell me in the comments below...
