New Year's Day has always been a time to set goals and good intentions for the rest of the year. Along with all the usual resolutions, such as getting fitter etc, I decided to use this moment to do something I have been meaning to do for years. I have always been a keen photographer, so inspired by your inspirational words, I have decided to do two things:
1. Take a photo of the day, everyday. Nothing posed or particularly special, just something that happened or summed up my day.
2. On my daily walk, there is a small nature reserve with a bench at the end of a tree-lined path. I'm going to take a photo from the same spot every two weeks this year to create a visual record of how the seasons turn.
On the same walk, I passed by some common gorse starting to flower. I don't know if it was early, but it was a welcome glimpse of the spring to come.
I love these resolutions, and am so chuffed that you have been inspired by this. It gives me an idea actually, as there is a 'chat' function on substack that allows readers to post there own pictures...maybe it might make a nice regular addition, though I'd hate people to stop commenting here. Hmmm...will think!
I've been in bank holiday mode - lots of big bracing walks, alternated with playing video games under blankets! The most seasonal moment of the week for me is a bittersweet one: getting the Christmas decorations away for Twelfth Night. It always makes me think of the descriptions of Christmas Eve in Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising (again - sorry!): "Out of the boxes came all the familiar decorations that would turn the life of the family into a festival for twelve nights and days..." So as I pack them away, I am thinking about unpacking them in just under a year's time... it's au revoir, not goodbye, and a bit much sentimentality to have for Tesco tinsel, really! Still, I love the winter, but Christmas is the best.
That is such a gorgeous way of thinking about the Christmas decorations. I have just done mine, and wishing I'd done it with a little MORE sentimentality now..
Yes, I loved it! It really brought out the eeriness of the story which I'd sort of lost sight of because I know the book inside out by now. Wonderful to experience it anew at the same time as listeners around the world! :)
I love these! Especially hearing about your New Year party. So the first of my three things is an icy swim we dragged ourselves out of bed for on New Years Day. It was glorious in the end but at first it was that kind of cold that stops your heart beat and makes you forget how to breath. Luckily we were in the company of lots of other brave swimmers and it finished with steaming hot chocolate - hurrah! The second of my seasonal things is plumes of old man’s beard suddenly seeming to be the only thing breaking up the bare hedgerow. On grey January days like these, they look deliciously gothic to me - like the trees are weeping white shadows. My third thing is a little branch of willow catkin I snapped off to take home, because it’s scaly buds are just peeling back to reveal the white softness and I couldn’t bear to leave behind this tiny first sign that the world is moving towards life again, however small each increment. That’s rather long but I’ve loved storing up these things, week but week, to share on here and am so glad you are carrying it on!
Glorious things. I am a huge fan of the winter lighting up of the old man's beard on the hedgerows too. So glad you are enjoying this. More of a challenge in the next month or so I feel, but we are equal to it!
I know they turn so gold in evening sunlight, just beautiful. Yes definitely it’s more difficult to notice the tiny changes in midwinter. That said in January I feel I can really settle into winter - it’s February, the “little black month” that is difficult for me. I’m restless for spring and it’s STILL so cold!
I love keeping my eye out all week too and making my list of 3! What is old man’s beard? Also cheers to icy swimming - never done it, but admire people who do!
Old man’s beard is a name for wild clematis. It’s particularly easy to see why when it’s in seed (it has these seed heads that are wispy and beautiful, a bit like a very trailing, sparse dandelion). I’ve always known it as travellers joy when it’s in flower, and old man’s beard when it’s fluffy x
I visited my parents house in Dorset over new year, and my favourite thing ever is laying in bed with the window open and listening to the storm wind and rain outside. The contrast between knowing how horrid it is outside and being curled up all cosy and warm is one I can’t replicate as well away from the seaside. And then in the morning I was woken by sun streaming in, a cool breeze tickling my face and the sound of seagulls.
I feel surrounded by the heavy greyness of this wet and foggy weather, so the sunshine of the Bank Holiday Monday was so good to see and brought a big group of swimmers to the beach chatting and eating homemade cinnamon swirls. I too have been looking out for the new buds and shoots, on trees, on the downs and in my garden even the clematis and blueberry bush are reminding me that spring will come. I've been painting winter trees, search for a palette that speaks of calm winter skies rather than dull foggy ones.
A deep sense of peace - the calm after the storm - once New Year’s Eve was over and Christmas was put away for another year. I love the festive season, but love this bit just as much. All part of the rhythm of the year.
The pile of Christmas trees (literally thousands) at my local park in Brooklyn waiting to be mulched and turned into wood chips for the local playground. The smell of the park is glorious!!!
I love reading everyone’s weekly highlights. Mine for this week are: a wintery walk into the sparkly, snow-covered mountains on New Year’s Day and drinking a warming cup of home-made lentil soup at the top; taking time to sit and watch the garden birds, investigating possible nest sites, stocking up on seeds from the feeder and chattering noisily in the magnolia; a magical full-moon dip in the sea followed by sauna with Lithuanian oak whisks and the sound of ‘wolves’ howling in the background.
What a fab three! Thank you for sharing. Candy cane sunrise here and I watched a glorious flock if merry fieldfares on my walk the other day. Here's to a joyful January.
A week since New Year’s Day. A wet, wet walk, picnic in rucksacks, unable to sit on the wall at the weir on the river, the water level is so high the pebble beach is completely covered. The sound of the raging river is amazing , glad the heron didn’t find it too wet and joined us. First snowdrops under the tree in the garden. Trying to find the wolf full moon, so cloudy. Managed a couple of glimpses. Appreciating each and every sunrise, the colours, pinks and pale oranges as it catches the tree at the bottom of the garden. Even just the lightening of the sky on grey days. Breakfast with the garden birds.
#
New Year's Day has always been a time to set goals and good intentions for the rest of the year. Along with all the usual resolutions, such as getting fitter etc, I decided to use this moment to do something I have been meaning to do for years. I have always been a keen photographer, so inspired by your inspirational words, I have decided to do two things:
1. Take a photo of the day, everyday. Nothing posed or particularly special, just something that happened or summed up my day.
2. On my daily walk, there is a small nature reserve with a bench at the end of a tree-lined path. I'm going to take a photo from the same spot every two weeks this year to create a visual record of how the seasons turn.
On the same walk, I passed by some common gorse starting to flower. I don't know if it was early, but it was a welcome glimpse of the spring to come.
I love these resolutions, and am so chuffed that you have been inspired by this. It gives me an idea actually, as there is a 'chat' function on substack that allows readers to post there own pictures...maybe it might make a nice regular addition, though I'd hate people to stop commenting here. Hmmm...will think!
I've been in bank holiday mode - lots of big bracing walks, alternated with playing video games under blankets! The most seasonal moment of the week for me is a bittersweet one: getting the Christmas decorations away for Twelfth Night. It always makes me think of the descriptions of Christmas Eve in Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising (again - sorry!): "Out of the boxes came all the familiar decorations that would turn the life of the family into a festival for twelve nights and days..." So as I pack them away, I am thinking about unpacking them in just under a year's time... it's au revoir, not goodbye, and a bit much sentimentality to have for Tesco tinsel, really! Still, I love the winter, but Christmas is the best.
That is such a gorgeous way of thinking about the Christmas decorations. I have just done mine, and wishing I'd done it with a little MORE sentimentality now..
Did you listen to the bbc radio drama?? I listened for the first time with my 12 year old - so good & spooky!
Yes, I loved it! It really brought out the eeriness of the story which I'd sort of lost sight of because I know the book inside out by now. Wonderful to experience it anew at the same time as listeners around the world! :)
I love these! Especially hearing about your New Year party. So the first of my three things is an icy swim we dragged ourselves out of bed for on New Years Day. It was glorious in the end but at first it was that kind of cold that stops your heart beat and makes you forget how to breath. Luckily we were in the company of lots of other brave swimmers and it finished with steaming hot chocolate - hurrah! The second of my seasonal things is plumes of old man’s beard suddenly seeming to be the only thing breaking up the bare hedgerow. On grey January days like these, they look deliciously gothic to me - like the trees are weeping white shadows. My third thing is a little branch of willow catkin I snapped off to take home, because it’s scaly buds are just peeling back to reveal the white softness and I couldn’t bear to leave behind this tiny first sign that the world is moving towards life again, however small each increment. That’s rather long but I’ve loved storing up these things, week but week, to share on here and am so glad you are carrying it on!
Glorious things. I am a huge fan of the winter lighting up of the old man's beard on the hedgerows too. So glad you are enjoying this. More of a challenge in the next month or so I feel, but we are equal to it!
I know they turn so gold in evening sunlight, just beautiful. Yes definitely it’s more difficult to notice the tiny changes in midwinter. That said in January I feel I can really settle into winter - it’s February, the “little black month” that is difficult for me. I’m restless for spring and it’s STILL so cold!
Such a good idea! This is my favorite scene for the beautiful twigs and buds that start to appear.
I love keeping my eye out all week too and making my list of 3! What is old man’s beard? Also cheers to icy swimming - never done it, but admire people who do!
Old man’s beard is a name for wild clematis. It’s particularly easy to see why when it’s in seed (it has these seed heads that are wispy and beautiful, a bit like a very trailing, sparse dandelion). I’ve always known it as travellers joy when it’s in flower, and old man’s beard when it’s fluffy x
A tiny wren following us on a walk along the river, a new years boggy walk and soup made from leftovers in our new flasks 🙏🏻
Oh lovely, wrens being known in Germany (I think) as winterkonig - winter king!
I visited my parents house in Dorset over new year, and my favourite thing ever is laying in bed with the window open and listening to the storm wind and rain outside. The contrast between knowing how horrid it is outside and being curled up all cosy and warm is one I can’t replicate as well away from the seaside. And then in the morning I was woken by sun streaming in, a cool breeze tickling my face and the sound of seagulls.
Chrysalism (n) The amniotic tranquility of being indoors in harsh weather❤️🐛
Ooh...
That is gorgeous. Yes there is nothing quite like that contrast. Extra cosy.
Quiet mornings feeding the garden birds and the resident squirrel who now taps on the window for more peanuts, oh and much moon gazing.
The cheeky blighter!
Squirrel taps 😍😍
I feel surrounded by the heavy greyness of this wet and foggy weather, so the sunshine of the Bank Holiday Monday was so good to see and brought a big group of swimmers to the beach chatting and eating homemade cinnamon swirls. I too have been looking out for the new buds and shoots, on trees, on the downs and in my garden even the clematis and blueberry bush are reminding me that spring will come. I've been painting winter trees, search for a palette that speaks of calm winter skies rather than dull foggy ones.
that sounds like that would be the most guilt-free cinnamon swirl of the year! The general sog is awful isnt it. Glad you found some joy.
A deep sense of peace - the calm after the storm - once New Year’s Eve was over and Christmas was put away for another year. I love the festive season, but love this bit just as much. All part of the rhythm of the year.
Yes! The calm after the storm. Perfect.
The pile of Christmas trees (literally thousands) at my local park in Brooklyn waiting to be mulched and turned into wood chips for the local playground. The smell of the park is glorious!!!
Amazing. Hello Brooklyn! How fabulous to be able to imagine the scent of a Brooklyn park at this very moment.
I love reading everyone’s weekly highlights. Mine for this week are: a wintery walk into the sparkly, snow-covered mountains on New Year’s Day and drinking a warming cup of home-made lentil soup at the top; taking time to sit and watch the garden birds, investigating possible nest sites, stocking up on seeds from the feeder and chattering noisily in the magnolia; a magical full-moon dip in the sea followed by sauna with Lithuanian oak whisks and the sound of ‘wolves’ howling in the background.
Your snowy walk with lentil soup made me sigh. Perfect.
Lighting a candle when I get up and reading a chapter of War and Peace (planning to read a chapter a day in 2023) before everyone else rises
The clouds parting for a moment on my evening dog walk to reveal the wolf moon in all its cold, mysterious beauty.
Celebrating la fête des rois with a delicious flaky frangipani galette.
Yum, I didnt make one this year... Love a morning candle
What a fab three! Thank you for sharing. Candy cane sunrise here and I watched a glorious flock if merry fieldfares on my walk the other day. Here's to a joyful January.
I have just spotted six fieldfares in my neighbour's apple tree, as Im writing! Sadly they are not proving very easy to photograph.
Oh and meants to say also, candy cane sunrise - gorgrous
The best!
Fabulous! They are such little fidgets aren't they 😆
They're just being very close in colour to the tree, and its background...
ah yes. Camouflage at its best 😁
Beautiful morning light casting dark shadows of leaf- less trees onto golden walls.
Ah, gorgeous. That golden light.
A heron visiting the burn that runs past the house.
Ooh how great
A week since New Year’s Day. A wet, wet walk, picnic in rucksacks, unable to sit on the wall at the weir on the river, the water level is so high the pebble beach is completely covered. The sound of the raging river is amazing , glad the heron didn’t find it too wet and joined us. First snowdrops under the tree in the garden. Trying to find the wolf full moon, so cloudy. Managed a couple of glimpses. Appreciating each and every sunrise, the colours, pinks and pale oranges as it catches the tree at the bottom of the garden. Even just the lightening of the sky on grey days. Breakfast with the garden birds.
Glad you caught a glimpse or two! Yes what a soggy week...
I watched Redwings eat the berries from the Rowan in the garden next door. The birds have disappeared now that the berries have all gone.
Me too! Except fieldfares here.