January.....ing







Well hello. Nearly halfway through January, time is flying! It is a funny old month. The weather has largely been miserable but Sunday morning, there was not a cloud in sight - for about 7 minutes. As I am writing this, there is more clear sky!

Finishing a purple cardigan that I started knitting in June last year. It has taken far too long, my knitting mojo has left me and is hiding somewhere. Not under the sofa, of that I am certain because I vacuum clean regularly under there. Anyway, just one sleeve left now.

Enjoying my growing collection of Ice Cream Soda quilt blocks. I always have a small zip bloc bag with all I need for one block in my work bag and make sure to take 30 minutes at lunch time to sew.

Watching "Hospital" on BBC2 a sobering but nevertheless uplifting documentary series about NHS hospitals in Liverpool. Sobering because the NHS is under immense strain, uplifting because NHS staff is so dedicated to delivering good service despite the circumstances. I am also watching "A Good Place" on Netflix. This always makes me laugh. Shame that the episodes are so short.

Listening to "The colour of Bee Larkham's murder" by Sarah J Harris.  I just finished actually. This is a murder mystery written from the perspective of an autistic 13 year old boy with face blindness and synesthesia. Jasper sees sounds in a million shades of colours and the paintings of his soundscape help to solve the murder of Bee Larkham. It was nail bitingly suspenseful at times and there were moments when I couldn't bear to continue with the books because I worried so much that something would happen to Jasper. The descriptions of Jasper's soundscapes are just beautiful and will appeal to anyone with a love for colours.

Sticking to my one and only New Years resolution. I am folding the laundry as it comes out of the drier. Socks inside out? I don't care. PJ bottoms with one leg inside out? Never mind, I just fold it up like that. I put my own clothes in the laundry basket they way I like to wear them: right side out, socks in pairs but particularly my youngest don't have a care in the world..... but there have been grumbles about school trousers being the wrong way and maybe by the end of the year my silent protest will catch.

Checking sunrise and sunset times every day. It is still dark when I go to work in the morning but I can tell a difference in the evening. I swear I notice the subtle one or two minute differences and love the lengthening days.

Wondering what to do about the fat robin in my front garden that chases all other birds away from the bird feeder. I bought a second feeder which is hanging further away but that cheeky things is awfully territorial. It won't be able to fly much longer, it is getting really fat.

Marvelling at the clever magpies in the back garden. They gently shake the bird feeder and then pick up the mealworms from the ground. The pigeons get the seeds that also fall. Meanwhile the resident robin here is far less territorial, or simply outnumbered by the dozen or so blue tits.

Appreciating my warm hands after my bike ride to work or back. I have two new pairs of mittens. One is a very thick pair of felted wooly ones that my mum gave me for Christmas. They are my happy mittens. The other pair are skiing mittens. I like to use both but the wooly ones are not waterproof and are therefore sunny weather only mittens.

Loving the snow drops popping up everywhere. I didn't feel like crouching down to get a decent photo though and you just have to imagine the abundance of tiny white flowers.

Procrastinating. Always procrastinating. Mostly over stuff I need to do at work and to a lesser extent at home. For example, the Christmas decoration box is still not tidied away and my lecture updates are taking forever.

Envying Jack for his long lazy days interrupted only by the occasional need for a walk or the urge bark at some passing dogs or foxes. That and of course checking out the squirrel population in the back garden and making sure breakfast and dinner are served on time. I probably wouldn't take up barking as a hobby but lounging on the sofa sounds marvellous.

As always, I am inspired by my friend Jo over at Three Stories High. Her January...ing post is such a happy read, treat yourself if you haven't already :-)

Thanks for visiting, it is lovely to see you.

Christina xx

Comments

  1. Your dog looks so comfortable and contented.

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  2. Thanks for linking in and joining in. I love these posts - a little window into someone else's world. Your soda blocks are beautiful, such wonderful colours, they will really pop with some cream. Cheering you on for your jumper. I am knitting the sleeve on my blue jumper and finally there are shorter rows. The ones which made up the front, back and shoulder all in one row were soooo long. Casting off 128 stitches has made a huge difference, decreasing down to the cuff now. Jo xx

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  3. I don't know what you call those quilt pieces, I thought they were hexies at first . . . whatever you call them, you must call them gorgeous. They are like looking through a kaleidoscope :)

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  4. I am with Connie, gorgeous is the word that springs to mind with regard to those beautiful Ice Cream Soda blocks.

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  5. Hi Christina, a very enjoyable post. It's good to see what you've been up to, such lovely colours. I too have a purple jumper that I'm knitting, though it's been in the knitting bag longer than being knitted. I need to finish the woodland blanket first before I think about anything else. It's a sort of race against time as my MIL is very poorly. Arh Jack, he looks so relaxed and completely peaceful. Cathy x

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  6. Happy mid-January, Christina, and the month certainly is whizzing by so fast. You January-ings was a fun read and I will check out Jo's post next.

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  7. Love that picture of Jack on a quilt in the sunny window, oh he looks so cosy and comfy and happy. What a good life he has! I am doing the same thing with socks. And I'm wondering if they actually wear them whichever way in they find them. It wouldn't surprise me. Hope you have a good week. CJ xx

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  8. Plenty of sunshine here so vitamin D deficiency isn't a problem. I love your new quilt pieces. xx Susan

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  9. Those quilt blocks are so pretty.

    Several months ago there was a very territorial dove in my yard, bullying all birds that came to the bird feeder. After a while the bully disappeared. I hope fat robin will eventually go away.

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  10. What a beautiful shade of purple on your sweater! I look forward to seeing how it turns out. Seeing Jack on the back of the sofa enjoying the sunshine made me really miss my Buddy. Wah. Have a super week.
    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  11. Jasper is the name of the seahorse (trinket) friend that the little protagonist, Ari, has in my SiL's novel, The Clay Girl.

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  12. I used to complain to my younger daughter about how long it took to sort laundry when everything of hers was inside out. It's amazing how things change when they are out on their own and finding time to do their own laundry. It takes a long time, but they do get it lol ( she is 24)

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  13. I'm with you on the laundry, I started doing the same thing a while ago and these days I even get some laundry help! Love your quilt blocks. Have a great week. Jane x

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  14. Your audiobook sounds very good, I will have to look for that one. I still do all the laundry in my house because (I'm letting out my weird secret!) I actually love doing the laundry. There's something about the pattern to it, the good smells, the sense of accomplishment when the hampers are empty...I'm not ready to give it up. They all know how to do it, though, in case I ever fall down on the job, or you know, if some of them grow up and move out someday, in which case I am not coming over to do laundry, no matter how much I enjoy it. :)

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  15. I can say a little more over here. We don't tell our daughter everything about my illness as we don't want her worrying. I've been in the hospital since last Thursday, I still have a leakage from my gall bladder surgery and may need further surgery. My cancer remains stable and causes no problems.
    I want to get active.

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  16. Hi,Great photos,love Jack.My fav colour is purple,can't wait to see that knitting finished,lovely quilting blocks.I watch the Hospital programme too,very sobering.I know I shouldn't but I love the Magpies,they have their own bath on the wall at the bottom of the garden,so funny when they have a wash the water goes everywhere.Happy 2019.xx

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  17. I think your January...ing post makes a lovely happy read too. You are working so quickly on that new quilt!

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  18. I can't believe how much of the new quilt you've done already! The blocks are stunning. I'm enjoying January things too, including birds and flowers, although I have pesky hens scratching up my hellebores in place of your greedy robin!

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  19. Hi Christina - always enjoying hearing about what you are up to. I am considering taking up some knitting, inspired by a friend who knits socks. I know you have done this and wondered if you have a online link to a pattern I could use. My friend advises using a you tube video. I tried to email you at Christmas but not sure you got it. X

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  20. Lovely post! The cardigan is a beautiful colour, and I love that quilt! I havent' seen any snowdrops yet, I hope soon. Also very envious of Jess, dogs seem to have a great life! x

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  21. I've been watching 'Hospita' too, it's criminal and heartbreaking that the new hospital and equipment is just sitting there . . .
    Very impressed with Jack balancing on the back of the sofa, bless :-)

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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