January
Things to Notice: The Light
In January, there is a noticeable shift in the light as daylight hours gradually lengthen. The quality of the light is so different from any other month - it’s somehow clearer and cleaner and feels like a fresh start - and there are so many different ways to experience it in January. When there’s snow on the ground, it reflects the loveliest blueish light indoors, and is perfect for taking pictures next to our North-facing kitchen window. Sun sparkling on the snow or frosty roadside grasses in the early morning is an entirely different kind of magical light to watch for. Those shimmering, frosted sunrises can be truly breathtaking and are worth getting outside for if you can. Sun pillars are most often seen here this month, too - it’s the most amazing phenomenon on very cold days where you can see a pillar of light above the rising or setting sun. It’s light from the sun reflected from the surfaces of millions of ice crystals - it feels so magical to experience the phenomenon. And of course, the metaphorical light and energy of a new beginning in January gives all of these types of light more significance.
Things to Make
Winter Soup is warming, delicious, nutritious, and a great way to use up leftover vegetables. Here’s my go-to winter soup guidelines (it can hardly be called a recipe): Saute a chopped onion in a bit of olive oil in a large pot. If I have some ground meat or sausage on hand, this is the step where I cook it up, but it’s also a great vegetarian soup. Add two or three carrots, peeled and chopped, and some celery if you have some to use up. And parsnips or turnip, or really whatever other root vegetables you want to use, and some cubed potatoes. Top with water or broth, and simmer until the carrots are tender. You can put a parmesan rind in for some added flavour if you have a bit on hand. At this point, add in some canned tomato product - it can be crushed tomatoes, diced, or even condensed tomato soup. Add in a can (or equivalent) of beans if you want (yellow-eye are so nice - I cook them up in our instant pot and keep them in the freezer.) Add a generous handful of kale (frozen or fresh chopped) and/or frozen peas or corn (I don’t usually add peas and corn if it’s sausage and bean.) Continue cooking until everything is warmed through, season with salt and pepper and serve with crackers or rolls. It freezes and refrigerates well, and is even better the next day.
Beeswax candles are another way to add light to your winter days, and if you’re looking for a project, these are pretty easy to make with a few supplies. The scent is so sweet and lovely - it’s literally summer sun in candle form. You can make rolled candles using sheets or poured. You can also buy locally made beeswax candles at most farm markets or local craft stores.
A card or letter for a friend is a lovely way for them to be able to hold a reminder of you. If there’s someone you haven’t been able to see during this past year, making and sending a handwritten card is a perfect way to connect in a tangible yet safe way. There is infinite inspiration online for simple and more complicated cards to make; pop-up cards are especially fun. I sometimes tuck in a few individually packaged tea bags so we can imagine how lovely it will be to have tea together again.
Things to Do
Pick up some discounted paperwhite or amaryllis bulbs from the store. Check to make sure they’re intact and not squishy or mouldy before buying them; it’s okay if the flower stalk is starting to emerge. Plant and water them, and watch through the month as they grow.
You might feel inspired to tidy; taking a bit of time to go through your toiletries is an easy, practical way to have a mini fresh start. Bonus: every time you go to wash your face or brush your teeth, you’ll be giving your past self a high - five. Take everything out of your cupboard. Toss any expired products, keep only the ones you use and enjoy. Pass along any you haven’t opened and won’t use. Wipe down the shelves in your cupboard, wash out your toothpaste / toothbrush cup - really make it sparkle. This is the sort of thing that is easy to put off, but doesn’t take very long and is so lovely once it’s done - make a cup of tea and put on your fave podcast, and enjoy the process.
Also, (this is not medical advice - talk to your doctor) - fish oil and vitamin D have become so important to me in the winters. Fish oil keeps my skin from drying up and flaking off entirely, and vitamin D is good for all body systems in the Northern hemisphere at this dark time of year. (Oh doctor, oh doctor, oh dear doctor John, your cod liver oil is so pure and so strong - did anyone else learn that song as a kid?)
I hope that you find light this January.
Love,
Sherrie