A new year, A new January

 Happy New Year Everyone!

January arrived to us so different than just one year ago. The year's first day had 

a blue morning glory blooming on the fence and greeting Sophie and I on our

early morning walk. 

Last year found us knee deep in snow and in the middle of a snowball

fight with my grownup sons.  Snow has a magical way of bringing the kid

back to us all.........doesn't it? 

We have had such a wonderful long lasting 

fall.  Autumn and I have become such close friends and I am going to miss her dearly!

She left us with the most lovely sunset  before January made her arrival.

As much as I will miss fall, January is a good month to allow me to get much needed things done outside.

I was thrilled when I pulled my bulbs out of storage to find them healthy and

already sprouting....ready to be planted in their containers.

If you plant tulips, iris, daffodils, or other plants with bulbs, you can save the 

bulbs for the next fall planting. 

After your flowers have faded and the leaves turn brown and are ready to drop off, dig up your bulbs. 

Gently brush off any excess dirt.  I store my bulbs in Styrofoam egg cartons.

This keeps each bulb separated and allows them enough air.  You can choose what works best for you and you can research and find answers on the internet.

Store your bulbs in a cool, dry, dark, place.  I used a hallway top closet shelf.

When it is time to plant, your bulbs should be healthy and ready.

I plant my bulbs into galvanized pails and containers and place them into the greenhouse to ride the winter through.  I have to plant them this way to keep the bulbs safe from hungry bulb eating wildlife A shed is also a good place to store your bulbs if you choose containers over outside planting.  In getting my containers with the soil waiting and ready for planting,

I found a garden visitor who was thinking this would be a great winter home.  

I took it to the pond area where the other froggies stay.

 There is much more that needs to be done outside when the days are mild and warm, but for now, the chill of these January days finds me happier to stay inside with the comfort of a crackling fire, a comforting chair, and a sharp needle to stitch the hours away. Are there any outside

activities that you enjoy during January? What do you enjoy doing when you decide to stay inside? 

As I place a new calendar on the wall........I wonder.....who decided that this month  would be called........January??........and

if I really think about it.......too long.......January sounds like such an odd name.

Many of you already know where this name came from, but for those of you who do not, here is just a bit of history.

January was named for the Roman god Janus, known as the protector of gates and doorways who symbolize beginnings and endings with it's original Roman designation, Ianuarius, the Saxon term Wulf-monath (meaning "wolf month") and Charlemagne's designation Wintarmanoth ("winter / cold month").  Janus had two faces so he could see the future and the past. The Roman calendar originally began in March, and the months  of  January and February were added later, after a calendar reform.

The  birthstone for January is garnet. The word “garnet” comes from the 14th century Middle English word gernet, meaning “dark red.” The word is derived from Latin granatum, which means “seed,” and is called so because of the gemstone's resemblance to the red seeds of the pomegranate. As the birthstone for January, garnet is said to bring love, luck, health, loyalty and friendship to people who are born this month. It is also the gem that married people traditionally gift on their 2nd and 18th wedding anniversary.

 The January month birth flower is the Carnation & Snowdrop.  The reason and meanings of these flowers I have posted on my embroidery blog.  If you would like to visit .....here is the link

Yesteryear Embroideries

I hope this new year for you began with much goodness and peace and I hope it remains that way 

throughout the rest of the  year!