Ready to wave good-bye to January

January

J - Junipers maintain a hint of dark green in winter's landscape.  A couple of old juniper bushes are looking too orange.  They might be sunburned, but could be giving up for lack of deep watering; will find out come spring.  I'm happy they thrive out here midst the  drab-colored, winter sagebrush that covers my acreage. 

A -Appointments - the calendar has been full of lessons, classes, meetings, coffee/lunch with friends, and I am thankful.  It's just what I need in mid-winter.

N - Neighbors are watching out for me.  One of my dear neighbors, a great friend, has plowed my driveway twice already, and despite the few hours of warmer temps in recent days, the piles of snow and the hard-packed drifts are still intact, making turning around in the driveway and hauling firewood a bit difficult.  But my neighbor looks out for me and makes sure I can continue daily tasks.  Another of my neighbors got my truck out of deep, icy snow pack right in my own yard.  Yeah, I thought I could plow right through it in 4-wheel drive, and normally it would be no problem.  This time...not so much.  The snow/ice conditions were just right, and there was NO TRACTION to be had. Bless the neighbors.

U -Undefeated?  Are you following the teams into the Super Bowl?  My team, the Broncos, ... sadly... did not make it past the divisional playoffs.  On the flip-side, I have been totally entertained by watching the Seahawks' last two games. What a team...along with their 12th man!   And that's who I'm rooting for next weekend. 

A - Activity in the arts has been plenteous.  I LOVE the ARTS.  Giving piano, guitar, voice, wet-felting, needle-felting, and knitting lessons has been rich activity for me and others through the month.  Concerts and theater productions are coming up soon! 

R - Rehearsals for the orchestra for "The King and I" have begun.  I missed the first rehearsal, but I have a score and will get more direction next week, prior to the 2nd rehearsal.  I will probably be playing two different parts on the keyboard, possibly cello and a horn part.  Looking at the parts for the harp... yikes...It's a key instrument in this show.   But we have an accomplished harpist, so am looking forward to hearing her play.

Y - Yarn from the stash is getting a good review.  I would like to use up more of it before I'm tempted to purchase new, luscious, beautifully dyed, alluring fibers.  Presently, I have picked up yarn left over from a shawl I made a couple years ago, and I'm hoping there is enough yardage to complete the slouchy beret I've started.  So far, it looks like I'll have enough; plan B is to finish the top of the beret in some left-over scraps of a creamy-colored yarn.  The pattern is February Beret - a free pattern on Ravelry.  I saw one that a teen-aged girl (at my felting class) had made, and it was one of those "I've got to make that hat" moments.  This pattern starts with an i-cord, and then you pick up stitches for the rest of the hat; this is something new for me.

So long, January...rather happy to see you move on...