Snow on Snow

In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter,
Long ago.

Christina Rossetti * 1830 - 1894

Sled:  by my mom who loved to paint

Joy

What are the little things you do to to seek JOY during the cold and sometimes bleak month of January? If you live where the sun doesn't shine for days upon end, it sometimes takes effort to find the small things that bring JOY. A little extra Vitamin D and some special effort to create moments of JOY can help us through this time of year. Whether it be a trip to Starbucks with a friend you haven't taken time to chat with for awhile, or taking the time to read a good book in front of a cozy fire, there are small things that can help JOY return if it is lacking in its fullness. What are your deliberate techniques for finding JOY on a cold winter day?

*Please take the time to read the comments readers are contributing to this post.  I have really enjoyed reading about things that bring you JOY!  Thank you for taking the time to comment.

Bunny Prints in the Snow

Little rabbit prints converge under a bridge at the wildlife refuge as they search for food or shelter.  Although the wildlife refuge seems quiet on a cold winter day, signs of life are all around.  Prints from rabbit, deer, birds, and coyote cross the trail as we walk along the refuge trail.  Groups of birds rustle in the tall grasses or fly from the branches of the Russian olive trees as we walk by.  The seeds and berries from grasses, shrubs, and trees provide a great source of food during the cold months of winter.   Because the ponds are frozen, the geese, ducks, and pelicans that usually live there are gone.  They have moved to sections of a nearby river that are not frozen solid.  Quiet reins, yet signs of other life are in evidence as footprints in the snow.  

Can't you just imagine the rabbits hopping along on the ice?   

January & a Quilt Block

Little treasures for each season were lovingly stitched, painted, or stamped by my mother. Each reminds me of how she embraced each season for its positive qualities, even though spring was obviously her favorite time of the year. This January quilt block features adventure and whimsy as she combined her own hand-applique, satin ribbon and French knots, and tiny buttons in shapes of bunnies and snowmen. Always frugal, fabric choices came from mom's fabric scrap bin, making this block homespun and all the more interesting to look at. I look at this and remember how much mom enjoyed designing and creating each scene. Winter.

Between Friends

"Between loving friends

there need be no secrets. . .

the trusting heart is always safe

with another who truly cares."

~ Anglund~

This little tea house is part of a scene on my back porch.  It greets guests and family as they enter our home.  Do you know the saying "Back door friends are best"?  That's how it is at our house.  The front door greeting is a simple porch light.

Happy New Year!

With ordinary talents

and extraordinary perseverance,

all things are attainable.

~ Buxton ~

Happy New Year!  Wishing you the best in 2010!  Go for your dreams and succeed!