The Colours of January

The illuminated Lausanne Cathedral
as the bells rang out to celebrate the New Year!
The crowds were dense, but we found a bench to sip our mulled wine
which I had made at home and put into thermos mugs!

The tower was bathed in a deep blue light afterwards
and the crowds dispersed to continue their celebration
or to go home
I'm not a night owl, so I did the latter!

A delicate sunrise taken from my balcony with the cock on the church steeple.

I enjoy my daily walks and loved these tiny oval red berries
hanging on the branches like Christmas lights.

The centre of a beautiful Amaryllis bloom which opened up on Christmas morning.

A late afternoon walk with sun-kissed branches and a waxing moon
rising higher in the sky.

I decided to crochet a Temperature Blanket for the very first time.
These are the colours that represent the temperatures in the first seven days of January.
Cool colours, which are my favourites.
The average daytime temperature has been around 6-7 Celsius.
The dominating colours so far are Wisteria and Sherbet.

The middle round of the small squares is the coolest temperature of the day 
and the second round is the warmest.
I'm using white to join all the squares.

I couldn't resist getting a small pot of sunshine in the shape of these yellow Primula.

My daughter and I went to see the new film version of the musical 'Cats'.
It was very good. The costumes and settings were wonderful!
We had already seen it in London some years ago on the stage.

The Magnolia buds look very promising against the Winter's sky.

A small perfect rosebud was still blooming in one of the neighbourhood gardens.

Tightly encased catkins still know that they have to wait a little longer
before stretching their limbs!
I have used this image for my January header.
It's a subtle reminder that Spring follows Winter.

More catkins in the park nearby against a gorgeous limpid blue sky.

Another beautiful sunrise in shades of pink, blue, lilac and purple.

This one inspired me to take out my coloured yarns to start a separate crochet project

Here are all the colours.
Seven squares already joined in a row.
I'm considering adding single coloured squares to frame the others.
I've chosen Bluebell to do this.

This month of January is full of new energy
and we're already gaining an extra minute every day.

We are getting some grey days but a generous amount of sunshine and clear blue skies as well.
January doesn't need to be dull
it can be whatever we want it to be!
We just need to seek out the colour and beauty around us
and if we can't see any ...
well, let's just create it!

16 comments

  1. Lovely photo's and, as usual, wise words! Good idea to create colour on dark grey winter days!

    Your blanket is off to a good start. Can't wait to see how it progresses.

    Beautiful sunrise photo! Love that.

    Have a good week.

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sarn, for your always kind comments! Yes, January needs colour - though we have been blessed with some gorgeous clear skies. When it's grey or rainy, we need to create some happy colour! I'll be giving updates on my crochet projects.

      Delete
  2. Beautiful photos Sandra, the cathedral looks very dramatic. I love the colours you have chosen for your temperature blanket, very pretty. Can't wait to see it progress throughout the year...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many thanks, Catherine. Glad you like my choice of colours for this cooler time of the year. It will be interesting to see how it evolves through the seasons!

      Delete
  3. Sandra your enthusiasm for life is contagious, thank you . . . It's so inviting to read your words and spend time admiring your beautiful photography. You have lifted my spirits. I'm going to start looking for the beauty in January.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for your kind comment, Connie. Beauty is out there just waiting for our eyes to notice it. Sometimes it something as simple as a light-beam shining into our home, or raindrops pattering on the window pane!

      Delete
  4. Such beautiful photos, Sandra--I especially love the soft sunrise with the church steeple in the background. Our January has been strange, and--surprisingly--I am truly missing seeing any snow. I don't ever remember a winter like this one. They are getting it all around us, but we seem to be in a little pocket of dryness...

    Your crochet is lovely--I agree about those beautiful cool colors. They are perfect for January! Hope the rest of the month is filled with more pretty colors for you :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Carol. Glad you enjoyed the sunrise and the crochet.
      I hear that winter is milder than usual just about everywhere. We are experiencing above average temperatures. I do hope that our summer will not be hotter than average. They seem to get worse every year. I do not like heat at all and prefer the cooler months of the year!

      Delete
  5. Lovely advice on enjoying January. A friend just voiced how she hates January. I can not imagine feeling that way. She might need more sunshine than I do.

    Your photos are lovely. You do know how to find color.
    And your squares are beautiful too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Tammie. The sunshine will be there soon enough - and then we shall all say it's too hot! I love the discreet sunshine of the cooler months of the year.
      We have to create the things we need that make us content and serene!

      Delete
  6. I am impressed with your use of color in this post. The best to you in this new year.
    You have inspired me to start a crochet project using colors from nature.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sandy. It's really fun doing crochet projects based on a photograph we have taken or even lovely colours we may see in a magazine! I hope you have started this new year well. There's a special energy in the new year, isn't there?

      Delete
  7. Happy New Year Sandra! Love your photography and photos, you know how to capture the beauty in all things! I love the cool colors you have chosen for your new blanket. All the best to you and your family in the new year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your kind wishes for the New Year! The cool colours in the temperature blanket are my favourites too. They will change when the temperatures start to warm up!

      Delete