Evening Sky ~ Last Friday Sky of January 2025

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

Welcome to my Skywatch Friday post. I snapped these photos on my way to buy some produce at some of the smaller shops in another neighbourhood.

It was going on 5:30 p.m.  It's so great to see that it isn't dark so early anymore. Each day the light remains for just a bit longer and soon it will be spring and time for planting.

Enjoy your weekend and thank you for stopping by!

The Gift of Colour in a January Sky

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

How are you all doing this January?

It's horrific and/or dramatic news around the world these days. I'm trying to avoid spending too much time on the news so I can keep peace of mind.

I was so happy to see some beautiful colour in my sky this week. We were expecting snow today but it didn't arrive. I hope you are keeping warm and happy where you are.

Joining in with Skywatch Friday this week.

Cushion Covers

 

My theme word in 2024 was 'create'. I'm afraid I didn't actually create too much due to various interruptions (read more here). 

I hope to try again in 2025 and have selected renew as my new theme word. I selected it to help remind me that I need to renew myself in body, mind and spirit. This word is very open ended and will also help remind me to renew my creativity. Creativity helps my mind and my spirit too.

I've started the first month with a project for a loved one whose birthday is coming up next month. She lives over 1200 km away but she is going to be visiting the province soon and will be staying about an hour away from where I live.  We've made tentative plans to get together for lunch; perhaps an overnight visit if she can manage the time.  I already know she loves the cushion and the colours I've used though she doesn't know I've made it for her.

Front

Back

I still have to block the cushion cover to make it look crisper and 'straighter'. I'm also hoping to make a cushion insert.

I like how it turned out and it has helped reduce my stash of crafting supplies so I've decided to make another cushion with coordinating colours.

Sunny at Last

It was a beautiful, sunny day but such a cold wind.

I wish you all a fabulous weekend. Let's all send warm thoughts and prayers for the people of Los Angeles and the people of the Pacific Palisades community in particular. The devastation there is unbelievable.

Joining in with Skywatch Friday.

The First Week of January

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

I hope your first week of the New Year has gone well for you. I've had a steady week...not overly busy but getting a few things done.

The decluttering continues.

A few master bathroom items were tossed

and replaced as per the next 3 photos.

I also got rid of an area rug. I really like the print but the rug never did have a comfortable home here and I didn't like the quality so out it went. It was purchased on line so I wasn't able to check it out well before I bought it. I've had my eye on another area rug but after checking it out in the store, I decided it wouldn't do so I'll manage without a replacement for now.

A carpet that wouldn't cooperate

 

I didn't like this cushion cover so I'm remaking it.

I've started the re-do (sorry for the poor lighting).

The cushion cover finished. Now for the backing.

I waited weeks for a notice from the library about the books I put on hold. Earlier this week I picked them up.

The first books of 2025

I purchased a lot of fruit and vegetables which need to be used quickly because they aren't top quality.  I'm trying to use the vegetables in new ways.

A completely vegetarian meal (below) which is quite unusual for us.  I have been craving sweet potatoes with peanut sauce (a Ugandan dish) and it was yummy.

Green beans & almonds, sweet potato and peanut sauce, mixed beans & cabbage

The broccoli, potato, chicken coconut curry was especially delicious so I'll be making it again.

So that's it for now. I. hope to be making similar progress in the weeks ahead. Have a great week!

Hello January ~ Tuesday 4

Welcome to the New Year friends to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4. Toni liked to talk about each new month and it's meanings. 

January was named for Janus the two faced god who looked behind and ahead.  Its the warmest month in the southern hemisphere and the coldest in the north.

Garnet is it's gem stone.  Garnets come in all colors but the rarest is the Tzavorite.   

January 7 is Eastern Orthodox Christmas because some eastern churches use the original Julian calendar which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. 

  

January became the first month of the year in 450 BC for the Roman world.

Let's talk about two faced January.

1. Looking back, what do you hope continues or does not change in your life?

The love of my DH, family and friends and a good church group.  

 2. What good came to you from the previous year?  

I found a new church that I like and that fellowships at a time I can attend.

3.  Are there things you hope to accomplish in the new year?

I tend to have too many things I'd like to do. Experience and time has taught me my limitations.  For various reasons I cannot do as much as others or even as much as I used to do. This year I will focus on continuing to declutter and making a cosier home. I will also focus on more crafting.

4.  January's flowers are the carnation and the snow drop. Do you sometimes buy flowers for your home? What kinds of flowers to you like best? 

Yes, I sometimes do buy flowers for my home especially in the Spring and Summer.

I definitely don't buy as often as I used to due to the high cost. Once in a while someone else buys me flowers. 

My nephew delivered a bouquet to me on January 1st.  I was happy. If it wasn't too dark as I type this post, I would take some photos and share them with you.

The End of 2024 in the Sky

Hello dear friends and fellow bloggers,

Happy New Year to each and every one of you. I hope that 2025 is your best year yet.  May the year be everything you hope it will be.

Today on the first Friday of the New Year 2025, I'm sharing the last sky photos taken the day before Christmas 2024 and the day after Christmas, in that order.

The day before Christmas

and the day after.....

We've actually had a lot of rain but just before Christmas the sky gifted us with some pink pastels.

Thank you for stopping by and viewing my Skywatch post. I hope to hear from you and to visit your blog as well.

Happy New Year!! 

“Don't wait until February to start living in January.”
― Anthony T. Hincks