What Do I Want to Remember?!

I was inspired to begin noting the weather - and other natural phenomena around me - on a monthly phenology wheel last January. My main goal was to get a snapshot of my activities, day by day, throughout the year.

(And, of course, the weather!)

Now - a year later... 

... as I look at other phenology wheels I find online...

... I wonder if there's anything else I'd like to include...

The weather remains my main preoccupation, probably because it affects my mood and my energy level. And it's always there.

But I might also like to note the colour of the sky! And the length of our daylight hours... Not sure how I'd do that - on  one tiny segment of paper - but to me, they're real mood boosters.

I truly admire those who paint - or embroider - beautiful detailed pictures. But I don't think I could do that... every day!

So I plan to play around with different formats for a while. I don't want to stop entirely. I would also like to make a colourful depiction. 

I realize that the more I take note of the world around me, the more aware of it I become. And I don't want to lose that awareness!

My December Phenology Calendar

I'm celebrating one year of noting weather and natural phenomena in the world around me on on a phenology calendar.

It's been interesting - not only taking time to notice more - but also writing it down. 

This past month, I've been paying particular attention to the waning minutes of daylight, trying to depict the turnaround period when daylight hours stop diminishing and begin increasing. This December, this occurred over a 9-day period, between December 17 and 25.

I've decided to continue noting weather, personal activities, and wildlife I see in our neighbourhood in the coming months - but in a slightly different format.

It's an interesting and satisfying activity. I do need to work on improving my sketches of squirrels!

Thankful!

As I send my daughter a picture of the sunset I am watching... (at 5 pm)...

And she, in return, sends me her 5:30 pm view...

I am thankful that we both have beautiful scenes outside our windows...

That it's so easy to video-chat and share our lives, 450 km (280 miles) apart...

And that it's so quick and easy to send each other photos of things we are enjoying!

Latest Ladies Detective Agency Novel

In August (or was it September?) - I placed a hold on the most recent "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" novel. 

The wait list at the public library was long - but a few days before Christmas I was notified that the book was mine to pick up.

It was a busy time of the year - yet I managed to finish it in three days! 

As usual - it was a fun read! I enjoyed it so much - like a visit from an old friend!

Longer Days!

We've reached an important milestone in the year for me...

No longer do we lose a minute or two of daylight every day... (It adds up!)

We've started to GAIN that much in the afternoon. Soon that will change to two and then three more minutes! Morning and afternoon!!

How I look forward to dawn happening - not at 7:30 am - as we have now... but at 5 or 6 am! And dark arriving - not at 4:30 pm - but at 8 or 9!

The joys of "longer days"!

Creative Curiosity

Not long ago, I was surveying bags and bins of unfinished knitting and crochet projects... and I clearly remember thinking: I really MUST finish all these BEFORE I start anything new...

But guess what?! A few days later, I downloaded a new pattern and IMMEDIATELY went out to buy yarn and knitting needles for the project!

Then I IMMEDIATELY started working on it because I couldn't wait to see what it would look like.

Creative curiosity - Is that my problem?!

Inspiration is a powerful thing!

To Be Happier...

Happy New Year - 2026!

I recently came across a short video clip about happiness...

It was entitled... Five Questions to Ask Yourself, to be Happier.

The first was... What are you grateful for?

Thinking about this question is sure to lift my thoughts from the problem of the day! In fact, when I'm feeling low, Terry often reminds me to "count my blessings"!

The second is: What is going well in your life? Or as they put it, Where are you winning?

It's good to be reminded that we ARE winning most of the time.. achieving some of our goals! And if we're not, maybe we need to set SMALLER goals that will get us moving in the right direction.

The third is... What can I let go of?

I don't think of this too often, but it's easy to have too many goals - and become paralyzed... What should I do first?!

If we have a lot of things we want to do, some may have to be set aside - at least for a while - in order to have more time to focus on others.

The fourth is one of my favourites to think about: What does my ideal day look like? What is my ideal day?

It's a kind of exercise in time management... How will I fit it all in?

I didn't get the final question, even after playing the video clip three times... But maybe four questions are enough to think about. I plan to reflect on all four - to realign myself - now at the beginning of this new year!