JANUARY SERENITY

All the glitter, sparkle, and vibrantly colored baubles, that made the house sing during the holidays, have been edited from each room, bringing things down several octaves to a familiar, peaceful hum.

How strangely quiet the house seems.

The children and their families have traveled safely back to their respective homes, taking their pets with them. (three dogs and a cat)

Lady and I snuggle on the sofa......me with my feet tucked warmly under the afghan, she curled up on top.......dreaming, most likely, of her recent romps with the visiting animals.

The silence invites me to reflect, as well. I'm struck by how spending time with loved ones tends to warm your heart and make you smile, long after they're gone.

January is a lovely month........oh I know there are more vibrant months, but the fact that everything has been stripped away, inside and out, gives us a clean slate on which to write our plans. I don't make resolutions, but I do look forward and plan.

The weather drives us indoors where a warm hearth invites us to sit and read.......the kitchen beckons us to taste and create.......the barren garden invites us to envision and scheme.......and January allows us the time. Thirty-one quiet, peaceful days to cherish, and fill with all the little things that bring joy.

Kay