“Without darkness, nothing comes to birth, As without light, nothing flowers.”
~ May Sarton
Over the past few years, the month of January has taken its place as one of my favourites of the year. Right now it’s bitterly cold outside but the sun shines brightly and the snow glitters as if sprinkled with fairy dust. The pantry is full thanks to the toil of summer so there is no need to venture outside.
January is a month of home, of inhabitation, of stillness. It is a time of new beginnings, fresh starts, planning, organizing, and putting things in order. Routine is gently returning, habits are forming that bring intention to the year’s areas of focus, there is a gentle cadence to each day that carries us softly into the new.
The days are growing ever-so-slightly longer, the promise of spring a faint whisper. By the time February arrives it will be time to start thinking about garden planning, but for now January invites us simply to hunker down and enjoy what she offers.
Yesterday I baked oatmeal cookies and made granola bars; maybe today I’ll make bran muffins. We are back to our whole food plant-based way of eating and our bodies say thank you. Gerry plans to take advantage of these days when it’s too cold for snowshoeing to finish up a small painting project. I’m getting to know some new characters as I write their story.
These days are good ones.
The window washer is here and the thermometer registers 65 degrees this morning. What a difference latitude makes!
As always, this post is lovely – I especially like “the sun shines brightly and the snow glitters as if sprinkled with fairy dust.” Sometimes I wish for snow to slow things down and instill silence.
This is a good day, and I will rejoice in it!
What a difference, indeed! Even the smaller distance between our former home in WA and here has made a world of difference in how we experience January. Have a wonderful day, Marian. Enjoy the new outlook clean windows bring!
You really are a gifted writer…Your words just flow and linked together perfectly…It sounds like you have everything set for a peaceful January..I am somewhat envious in that we seem to stay on the road and don’t have much time to just “be”…I need to fix that….
Nanci, thank you for your kind words. Hope you find a good measure of pockets of stillness this month.
Such restful words: you write as well as you photograph :). I have always loved January for its lean spareness too.
Ah, a kindred spirit. Thanks so much for stopping by, Alexa.
I felt calmed by this post. So peaceful. Thank you. I certainly love the idea that the days are getting longer…