January Blues …

Feeling a little blue in January is normal ~ Marilu Henner

 

 

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It is a strange time of year – after the excitement and anticipation of Christmas and the New Year – suddenly everything seems to go flat – a sort of limbo – waiting for something to take us through the rest of the winter and eagerly expectant for the first signs of Spring.  Because of this bloomin’ cold I feel even more low in spirit than usual – a constant hacking cough for which vast quantities of herbal cough mixture plus honey and lemon drinks, can’t seem to stop.  I have cossetted myself, tried to keep warm and quiet – too much exertion causes coughing fits – hence a lot of reading and Christmas gift DVD’s have been watched. 

The weather hasn’t been conducive to going out – lots of heavy rain – then hard frosts – then high winds – a real mixed bag.  But I have managed to take a few photos along the way even though I have felt like a cross between a limp lettuce and a weak kitten – pathetic, I know! 

“The shortest day has passed, and whatever nastiness of weather we may look forward to in January and February, at least we notice that the days are getting longer.  Minute by minute they lengthen out.  It takes some weeks before we become aware of the change.  It is imperceptible even as the growth of a child, as you watch it day by day, until the moment comes when, with a start of delighted surprise, we realize that we can stay out of doors in a twilight lasting for another quarter of a precious hour. ~ Vita Sackville-West"

frosted webs

frosted seed heads

“January is the quietest month in the garden.  …But just because it looks quiet doesn’t mean that nothing is happening.  The soil, open to the sky, absorbs the pure rainfall while micro-organisms convert tilled-under fodder into usable nutrients for the next crop of plants. The feasting earthworms tunnel along, aerating the soil and preparing it to welcome the seeds and bare roots to come.”
-  Rosalie Muller Wright

indoor hyacinth bulbs starting to flower

using up Christmas leftovers for pea and ham soup and the last of the Stilton cheese

a Bullfinch in the hedgerow

just finished  - an excellent read

half way through – a medieval detective story by C.J. Sansom – not the genre I would normally read but finding it most enjoyable and well written

the pile of books waiting to be read grows taller by the minute

"Bare branches of each tree
on this chilly January morn
look so cold so forlorn.
Gray skies dip ever so low
left from yesterday's dusting of snow.
Yet in the heart of each tree
waiting for each who wait to see
new life as warm sun and breeze will blow,
like magic, unlock springs sap to flow,
buds, new leaves, then blooms will grow."
-  Nelda Hartmann, January Morn

 

 

a rather tatty Hellebore in flower

the cotton wool puffs of Clematis

Christmas present to myself

January sunset

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“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:  it is the time for home.” 
-  Edith Sitwell

And then along came something that really cheered me up.  It was food shopping day – the first time I had been near the shops since Christmas – it was raining and miserable – I hauled the bags in through the front door and noticed a note from the postman on the floor.  My first reaction was - oh no another trip to the depot to pick up a parcel – but then I read ‘parcel left in greenhouse’ hurray  - a postman with a bit of common sense!  Inside the parcel were some bulbs, sent out-of-the-blue, by a dear blogging friend.  She had remembered that I had said I was having trouble finding Camassia bulbs – she came across some in and end-of-season sale and treated herself and me to some.  Wasn’t that a lovely thing to do – who says bloggers aren’t the kindest of people.  Thanks C – you made my day.  And then to top it all the sun came out.  Perfect.