Before posting February’s ideas for A Year of Light later today, I thought I would recap a bit of what I noticed, made and did in January.
Noticed:
Light: honestly, this past month was very, very grey. There were a few sunny days, but they were few and far between. This did make it extra nice to see the sun when it did appear, and it felt more urgent to take advantage of it and get outside.
Sun pillars: I only saw a sun pillar with my own eyes once in January, a couple of weeks ago as I was driving as the sun rose. It was so, so beautiful. I’m hoping to see more in February - these coldest mornings and evenings of the year are when they appear.
Made:
Winter soup: I made a giant batch of winter soup early in the month, taking the opportunity to use up straggling vegetables in the fridge and freezer. It was delicious and warming and filling.
Beeswax candles: I tidied up the space where I keep my wax and equipment, and decided not to make more candles until we use up more of the ones we still have on hand. I had a small stash set aside that I had forgotten about, which was a delightful surprise. The daylight hours are getting longer, but it’s still nice to have a candle lit at suppertime.
Cards: I did send out a few cards this month to friends and relatives, and included individually wrapped tea bags in some. I also connected with a longtime friend for a FaceTime visit last weekend - I hadn’t seen her in years, and it was so nice. These little ways of connecting are so important for the heart.
Did:
Bulbs: I had an amaryllis bulb that I planted in November and gave up on after over 6 weeks of it sitting in the pot and doing nothing obvious. I finally took it out of the soil to find the roots shirveled and browned, and I thought it was a dud. I popped it back in the pot to deal with later, and then - it started to grow. It still hasn’t opened, but is almost a foot tall now and looks like it will very soon!
Tidying: I had one of those days a few weekends ago when all I wanted to do was tidy. I cleaned the back porch where I keep jars, soapmaking supplies, and extra household goods. I tidied the garage, kitchen drawers, and cleaned the dishwasher filters. It was lovely, and I’ve been enjoying the results ever since. And just this past week, I went through the bathroom cabinet and tossed a few things that had expired or I would never use, freeing up a bit of space. It’s such satisfying work!
I hope that you noticed the light and did some satisfying things in January. The shortest month starts tomorrow, and the new photo and ideas for February will be up shortly! <3