Sundays in January

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Bliss Field – January morning walk

Sundays in January are refreshing and relaxing. The rush of the holidays is over, the house is back in order and work is back on schedule. They are that period of time just before we begin to tap the trees and work in the woods.

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Small stream – January morning walk

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Sun through the trees – January morning walk

I can spend a little more time in the kitchen on things like creamy potato or butternut squash soups and making homemade doughnuts. I can take a walk with the dogs and think hey the temperature’s good today……it’s 20 degrees……and actually mean it! I can watch the birds busily working at the feeders while looking through the chicken book (yes of course I need more!) and thumb through the seed catalog with pen and paper ready to make my wish list. One more cup of coffee then to fry the doughnuts, not rushed, not hurried. Life is good!

When the days begin to lengthen the cold begins to strengthen

Morning sun January 2015

Rising sun Stevens Mills Slide, VT

Invariably in January in northern Vermont we get some bone chilling, finger numbing, hurts to breath days.  Just as surely, I hear Grampa Hue’s voice saying “as the days begin to lengthen, the cold begins to strengthen”.

Fence posts in January

Fence posts near Johnson, VT

This has been one of the first days of sunshine in a long time – so no matter what the thermometer says (-4 the last time I looked), the day just doesn’t seem so bad!

Missisquoi River January

Missisquoi River near Richford, VT

I stopped to watch an otter play on the ice this morning on the Missisquoi River then had to stop and take a picture of the railroad crossing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finches at feeder

Now for another cup of coffee sweetened with  maple syrup and some birdwatching – from inside the house!

Pinnacle Mountain in January 2015

Pinnacle Mountain Canada