I’ve been

second half of January 2026

January was snowy and cold and grey and perfect. If only it didn’t pass so quickly.

The birds might disagree.

Evie likes taking us for a walk in the snow and helping identify whatever this (probably poisonous) thing is:

Northern cinnabar polypore? We aren’t sure.

Evie may be an outdoorswoman, but she also likes relaxing in front of the wood stove:

I’ve been…

baking banana walnut chocolate chip cake (very, very good)

knitting another hot water bottle cover for Anna

learning the word ‘rumbustious’ (meaning boisterous or unruly), which turned up twice within a week in two novels by different authors

making huge batches of soup for the freezer

reading They Left Us Everything by Plum Johnson and The Jane Austen Year

watching the new Maigret on PBS (not good) and Digging for Britain (always great)

first half of January 2026

January is the best month, hands down. Christmas is over, but there are still plenty of treats around. The skies are grey and easy on the eyes. Leafless trees mean the birds are easy to spot. Cooler temperatures mean tea, blankies, candles and deep sleep every night. I love it all. I wish it was like this all year.

There was some minor, annoying excitement last week when Anna came out of work to a completely flat tire. After CAA put on her spare, we swapped cars so she could drive without worry to work the next day and surprise! Our car had an aggressively leaky tire, too. Sigh. Both vehicles have now been to the garage for new tires and other repairs (why are brake pads seemingly made of tissue paper?) so it was time for the dishwasher to break down two days ago.

I’ve been…

baking sheet-pan banana pancakes

knitting another hooded scarf

making yogurt

reading Dorie’s Anytime Cakes by Dorie Greenspan, Flora Nouveaux by Carla Wingett and A Mind to Murder by PD James

watching The Marlow Murder Club and Unforgotten, season 6