After several years of mild winters, real winter weather arrived with the New Year. This year, we've actually had snow that stayed on the ground for weeks, followed by a stretch of bitter cold. I love beautiful snowy days, but the below zero weather wasn't my favorite. With so much winter weather, we’ve done a lot of cozy things at home, like making soup, doing puzzles, crocheting warm blankets, sorting through closets, and planning next year’s garden. Maybe you noticed that I used the word “we” to describe my activities. You see, my hubster has officially retired! It has been so nice to do life together again.
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| Blacklick Woods |
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| Blacklick Woods |
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| Burning Lake-Pickerington Ponds |
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| Blacklick Woods |
Let’s start January with a bit of crafting. I kept going with the crochet scarves I showed you last month until I had enough for my entire family. We had some laughs as we posed for a group shot with everyone wearing their scarves. Next, I made some more earrings. You could say that I’m an earring-aholic, and this way I can have a rainbow of earrings to match every outfit. After that, I made some Christmas wall art that I didn’t finish in time to actually display. I finished up the month with one tiny project, the painted stick you see poking out of my houseplant. My granddaughters were visiting, and when they found wooden skewers in the drawer, they decided to paint them for various uses. Mine became a plant accessory, and it's special because it reminds me of time spent with my family.
My favorite part of winter is the snow, especially if it’s the kind that sticks to the trees, making them especially scenic. If you know me well, you can probably guess that I went to my favorite parks to revel in it.
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| Blacklick Woods |
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| Blacklick Woods |
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| Blacklick Woods |
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| Blacklick Woods |
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| Blacklick Woods |
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| Blacklick Woods |
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| Blacklick Woods |
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| Blacklick Woods |
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| Pickerington Ponds |
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| Chestnut Ridge |
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| Chestnut Ridge |
But the snow was just as lovely at home in the garden. I especially like when the faded summer flowers are wearing snow hats.
Since garden flowers are lacking right now, I decided to photograph a few of my favorite things inside the house. I’m sure we all have items on display that are filled with sentimental value, yet of little value to others. I often think that a decorator would probably try to convince me to remove them. No thanks, it’s items like this that make house a home.
As January comes to an end, one of my favorite holidays follows. Yes, I decorate for Valentine's Day. You mean you don’t?
And so here we are at the end of a very wintery month. Despite the cold and snow, there have been many sunsets visible over the patio. They haven’t been terribly dramatic, but I enjoy them just the same. Since the houses nearby block the best view, I could run down to the pond to see them better. But winter sunsets happen at dinner time, so the back door view will have to do.
Hope to see you back here next month. We’ll surely have more winter in store. However, in the 20 plus years we’ve lived here, I have always had something in bloom by the end of February. Hope we can continue that this year! Until then, thanks for stopping by The Nest.
