The lights of the City of London at dusk spread on the horizon beneath the clearest of ombre gold and indigo skies, a ruby necklace strung along the skyline, a few stars visible and a perfectly manicured fingernail moon caught in the skeleton branches of a tree.
I watched a squirrel eating camelias, hanging onto the thinnest twigs, he tore the knicker pink flowers off then ate the nectar bearing centre and discarded the petals like confetti.
Sparkly frosts and icy paths - and potential snow on the way. We might be in the Narnia season - always winter but never Christmas, which I always hated the thought of but now quite like after the frantic festivities.
The birds are emptying the feeders as fast as I can fill them. Blue, great and coal tits, nuthatches and robins, while the dunnocks wait underneath for the dropped seeds and a Jay watches from a nearby tree, it's beautiful colours glowing in the morning sunlight. . .
The new year rushes in with gale force winds and a waterfall-like rain squall rushing in for just ten minutes, then hours of rain...and then the return of blue skies, giving way to starry nights. The frosty wind brushes your cheeks but also finds its way into every gap in your clothes, making you feel underdressed. The grass freezes underfoot. The crescent moon is like a sickle, Venus unearthly bright. The steady beat of Sirius twinkling as Orion marches onwards. Jupiter like a beacon, Mars like an ember.
Lia, the way I GASPED when I was listening to the podcast and you said "Sam Lee"!! I love his work so much and this is such a perfect collab.
Anyway, to business - slices of apple in whisky and ginger wine to welcome in the new year; frost crunching under my feet as I went to smash the ice on the birdbath; spotting speckled thrushes high in the trees and wondering if they are winter visitors, as we don't usually see them so much
A sense of relief that things have calmed down again, lovely as it all was. Everything is suddenly fresher - the cold, the blue skies, the frozen pond. My mind has turned to garden plans for the year ahead.
That box of chocolates, the one I was going to save for a bit longer. You know, until at least Twelfth Night, to have something special to open up then? Yet how could I? In these days in between, I didn’t want it to feel lost and unseen. That’s no way to treat a gift! And so, I welcomed it as I welcome in all this new year…with openness. The first few tastes…delicious❤️Happy 2025
Trying to get out of the habit of a lie-in and into the habit of back-to-normal with a few inmprovements such as a couple of good walks a week. Loving the Merlin bird app for foggy walks. Some surprises in the city!
It's been properly cold, the bird baths have been frozen most mornings. Being outside has meant wearing more layers, moving more briskly (and more cautiously). Bonus points: hordes of shiny garrulous starlings at the bird feeders, the last long low rays of sunlight flaring brightly just before dusk.
Hosted a NewYears Day open house for neighbours and near friends - and thrilled to be well enough, intentioned enough and energetic enough to cook, prepare for and enjoy it immensely! Mulled wine scent, happy chatter and twinkly candle light everywhere it was truly a joy to have a house full again. Felt like a beautiful promise that 2025 will be different!
How wonderful Sue! So pleased to hear your mojo has reappeared and optimism is on the horizon for 2025. Sending warm hugs and lots of continuous well wishes for this year ahead 🥰 xxx
Thank you lovely Living Almanac friends - it is so encouraging to have your kind responses. Kat is right - optimism seems to be back snd I feel so much more ME!
Not much but everything to me. Walked down to the shops with my dear husband and daughter (and her naughty cockerpoo) after days in bed. Came back with a jar of capers and tons of vegetables for my new vegetarian life. Lots of Happy New Year’s from the people I know, in the city I love, where I have lived by the Park for 35 happy, sunny years. Chilly, bring on Spring!
Welcoming in the new year with candlelight and homemade sloe gin which warms.the bones as it goes down, the bright slice of a new moon in a gold & blue dusk, and a new year's eve call from my son in Australia, already into 2025.
This morning we saw five donkeys in a sparkling frosted field doing their very best impression of a Christmas card that missed the last post.
Yesterday my daughter and I braved the cold to plant out the pansies given to us by my mother in law, and this afternoon they are winking at me through the window as I cook the twelfth night pudding cake - cake of the month! A little early for twelfth night I know, but it will be my daughter's 15th birthday cake which we celebrate tomorrow while we're all off work.
The lights of the City of London at dusk spread on the horizon beneath the clearest of ombre gold and indigo skies, a ruby necklace strung along the skyline, a few stars visible and a perfectly manicured fingernail moon caught in the skeleton branches of a tree.
I watched a squirrel eating camelias, hanging onto the thinnest twigs, he tore the knicker pink flowers off then ate the nectar bearing centre and discarded the petals like confetti.
wow! what a moment to witness!
Sparkly frosts and icy paths - and potential snow on the way. We might be in the Narnia season - always winter but never Christmas, which I always hated the thought of but now quite like after the frantic festivities.
The birds are emptying the feeders as fast as I can fill them. Blue, great and coal tits, nuthatches and robins, while the dunnocks wait underneath for the dropped seeds and a Jay watches from a nearby tree, it's beautiful colours glowing in the morning sunlight. . .
The puzzle sprawled out on the dining table - slowing taking shape. So as the pace of our days this week.
We just finished the 12 days of Christmas puzzles. It was a present, with one small puzzle a day. It was good fun, and not overwhelming.
The new year rushes in with gale force winds and a waterfall-like rain squall rushing in for just ten minutes, then hours of rain...and then the return of blue skies, giving way to starry nights. The frosty wind brushes your cheeks but also finds its way into every gap in your clothes, making you feel underdressed. The grass freezes underfoot. The crescent moon is like a sickle, Venus unearthly bright. The steady beat of Sirius twinkling as Orion marches onwards. Jupiter like a beacon, Mars like an ember.
Lia, the way I GASPED when I was listening to the podcast and you said "Sam Lee"!! I love his work so much and this is such a perfect collab.
Anyway, to business - slices of apple in whisky and ginger wine to welcome in the new year; frost crunching under my feet as I went to smash the ice on the birdbath; spotting speckled thrushes high in the trees and wondering if they are winter visitors, as we don't usually see them so much
Ha ha I KNOW! Such a coup… lovely things x
Oh and how could I forget - pinning up a new calendar, and later the same day, opening this year's Almanac to read January, snuggled up in bed!
A sense of relief that things have calmed down again, lovely as it all was. Everything is suddenly fresher - the cold, the blue skies, the frozen pond. My mind has turned to garden plans for the year ahead.
That box of chocolates, the one I was going to save for a bit longer. You know, until at least Twelfth Night, to have something special to open up then? Yet how could I? In these days in between, I didn’t want it to feel lost and unseen. That’s no way to treat a gift! And so, I welcomed it as I welcome in all this new year…with openness. The first few tastes…delicious❤️Happy 2025
Trying to get out of the habit of a lie-in and into the habit of back-to-normal with a few inmprovements such as a couple of good walks a week. Loving the Merlin bird app for foggy walks. Some surprises in the city!
It's been properly cold, the bird baths have been frozen most mornings. Being outside has meant wearing more layers, moving more briskly (and more cautiously). Bonus points: hordes of shiny garrulous starlings at the bird feeders, the last long low rays of sunlight flaring brightly just before dusk.
Hosted a NewYears Day open house for neighbours and near friends - and thrilled to be well enough, intentioned enough and energetic enough to cook, prepare for and enjoy it immensely! Mulled wine scent, happy chatter and twinkly candle light everywhere it was truly a joy to have a house full again. Felt like a beautiful promise that 2025 will be different!
Happy New Year, that sounds fab!
How wonderful Sue x
How wonderful Sue! So pleased to hear your mojo has reappeared and optimism is on the horizon for 2025. Sending warm hugs and lots of continuous well wishes for this year ahead 🥰 xxx
Sounds like a lovely day Sue. X
Thank you lovely Living Almanac friends - it is so encouraging to have your kind responses. Kat is right - optimism seems to be back snd I feel so much more ME!
Not much but everything to me. Walked down to the shops with my dear husband and daughter (and her naughty cockerpoo) after days in bed. Came back with a jar of capers and tons of vegetables for my new vegetarian life. Lots of Happy New Year’s from the people I know, in the city I love, where I have lived by the Park for 35 happy, sunny years. Chilly, bring on Spring!
I went straight from carnivore to 100% plant-based. It’s been a wonderful change to my life. Happy new year, new you.
Welcoming in the new year with candlelight and homemade sloe gin which warms.the bones as it goes down, the bright slice of a new moon in a gold & blue dusk, and a new year's eve call from my son in Australia, already into 2025.
This morning we saw five donkeys in a sparkling frosted field doing their very best impression of a Christmas card that missed the last post.
Yesterday my daughter and I braved the cold to plant out the pansies given to us by my mother in law, and this afternoon they are winking at me through the window as I cook the twelfth night pudding cake - cake of the month! A little early for twelfth night I know, but it will be my daughter's 15th birthday cake which we celebrate tomorrow while we're all off work.
A shelf of reduced mince pies next to Easter eggs in our local co-op
Yep, here too, skipping valentines completely
And indeed Lent.