I'd like to apologize to the Detroit area residents who aren't enjoying the traditional winter weather this year. I'm afraid that the snow and cold might be my fault. You see, I wished for a real snowy Michigan winter like I enjoyed as a child! We haven't seen the ground since Christmas, with frequent snow, and bitterly cold temps. I find it cozy, but it can be difficult to get around in it. You see, I don't yet have a winter worthy car to drive, so I'm forced to drive the bulky SUV, or to ride along with hubs. I miss my sporty little car, but she does not like to go out sliding around the roads. So she can sit in the garage all cozy until it warms up a bit.
January is traditionally the Cozy Month. We tend to stay home, and pursue our home based hobbies. I'm a reader, so I've been reading and listening to audiobooks, which are well suited to my other hobby, crochet. I recently finished this denim blue blanket for use in our bedroom. I also make various types of soup, which pleases our soup loving souls. You'll see pictured below the ingredients for Coconut Sweet Potato Lentil Soup with Rice, a vegan favorite of ours, and the finished product under that. You can find the recipe here. Also pictured is my own recipe for Cozy Chicken Soup. Sorry, I haven't written it down, but basically, you cook various veggies and potatoes in chicken broth, then add in rotisserie chicken. Thicken and season as desired. You'll also find me baking cookies. This month's choices were Tahini Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Raisin.
I taught preschool for 15 years, and in my mind, I often channel those years, especially when it comes to decorating for holidays. Yes, I decorate my home for Valentine's Day. It's one of my favorite holidays actually, even if some people call it a made up celebration. All holidays are made up, but one dedicated specifically to love is just right for me. We'll go out to eat, I'll bake something, and we'll probably indulge in some treats, but no gifts are exchanged otherwise.
We were called away suddenly for a death in the family, and hopped in the car for a long car ride to Florida. You know what they say, the funerals may be awful, but it sure is nice to have family together, allowing us to process our grief together. We did spend some time sightseeing around the area, as we always do. Even in Florida, it was clear that it was winter. Some trees are actually bare, and some even had fall type colors on the leaves. On our return drive north, we witnessed the effects of the big winter storm that we missed, as Kentucky was just covered in ice. The freeway was clear and dry, but I'm sure they struggled with the snow and ice, which became evident every time we had to get off the freeway. I took a lot of photos out the windows of the car, trying to capture how beautiful it was, despite the ill effects.
And so, it's time to close with sky watching, as usual. Thank you for stopping by my Nest. In winter, of course nothing is blooming outside, so I have to turn my focus indoors. I'm not sure what spring will bring here in the new house. I did plant a few daffodils and tulips, so that will be nice. And I do have my front window boxes to plant, and I can fill container plantings. But my garden is still in the dreaming stage. I think I've said that whatever garden I come up with will be considerably smaller than we had. But I still need growing things, with the possibility of butterflies passing through. We'll see what I come up with. See you here again next month!
