The view from my window in January...

Happy New Year! I know that 2012 is almost a week old already....but it took me a while to decide on a new blogging project for the year to come. Last year, of course, was my garden. And while I'll still be showing you plenty there, I thought that it would be interesting to share another aspect of home life and how it changes through the months and seasons. Finally I settled on the view from our window...because it's a view that I love, looking right out into the churchyard...and I know that you'll love it too!

I'll try and take the pictures at the same time of day every month, too...to provide the best contrast. And so you will see what I see at 8am,....

looking East...which at this time of year means sunrise...

still plenty of green, but bare and skeletal trees. The limes that form the 'avenue' along the church wall were heavily pollarded at the end of November & so resemble gnarly totem poles right now...but I know that before long the new growth will be softening their stark outline and the birds will be nesting in the boxes that are on the side of this particular tree...

Ok - so that's January! And from the first picture you can see that this morning is bright, clear & sunny...and so mild too. Paul has just inspected & treated the bees for varroa mite with the help of a friend from the local beekeepers association. I'm pleased to report that they are happy & healthy and working hard in their cosy hive...it's quite a responsibilty to have all these thousands of living creatures to see safely through the year, and I'm so glad that all is well.

There's no doubt that, despite the brightness of today, this first month of the year can be a difficult one to get through in many ways. It's so long, for a start. And with all the excitement, colour & glitz of Christmas over, the New Year's resolutions made (& broken...) and the working days back to normal...Spring and all it brings can seem a very long way off. I'm taking advantage of the good weather and taking long walks every morning with Alice to get our dose of Vitamin D, and to lift the spirits and start to shift the couple of pounds I can feel have crept on over the festivities!

Early last week, I was so thrilled to get to the brow of the hill to find a gorgeous rainbow decorating the view...

and it looks as though it ended right over our town! Well, that's what I like to think anyway....in January, you just have to think positively!

I hope that the New Year brings you everything you wish for...I am so looking forward to sharing it all with you! xo