That break was longer than I intended, but after all the busy Merry-ness of Christmas, days with all our kids and grandkids gathered around various tables and activities, after we’d waved good-bye to the crew headed to the ferry and the other bunch headed through security to their boarding gates and the two local families walked or drove back to their own digs. . . And after we’d organized the leftovers, eaten a few turkey sandwiches, made a huge pot of turkey soup, took down the tree, put the creche back in its box, put the Christmas tablecloth and napkins and the grandkids’ sleep-over bedding back in storage. . . .
After all that, we immediately succumbed to what one of our daughters charmingly dubbed “the Christmas cough.” Her two were among the grandkids who were afflicted over Christmas, hence the name. I’d be pleased if we could have deposited ours in 2023, but it’s here and hanging on fiercely in the early weeks of 2024. With its dear companion, fatigue.
So I’ve been apportioning my energy carefully (hence the extended blog absence), but getting out for walks whenever I can. Both of us feeling much better on Sunday, we walked 3 kilometres to see the beautiful, sad, yet redemptive film All of Us Strangers, had dinner next to the cinema, then walked back home. A clear cold-but-not-too (temperature hovering just above freezing) evening walk. Perfect date. And by the next day, both of our coughs had ramped up again. Sigh. . .
Still, I was back at it yesterday (a favourite boutique’s post-Christmas sale deserved a look). What I wore? Well, I’d bought the red tights there before Christmas — everything else in the outfit is 4 or 5 to 15 (the tweed, pleated skirt) years old, except for the little silk scarf which I picked up last year. (I’m filing this OOTD under “Bluestocking Chic.” See other examples in these posts.)
I gave a Blundstone and a MOMA slip-on oxford the chance to convince me they’d suit my outfit and my walking ambitions for the day. Care to guess which (matching!) pair I wore out the door?
Getting outside is a great way to shake off the cabin fever that too much rain and a lingering “Christmas cough” can effect. . . especially here in the Pacific Northwest where we enjoy an abundance of winter-flowering plants and shrubs in the urban landscape.
Winter-flowering jasmine. . . whose horticultural name (jasminum nudiflorum) is not nearly as evocative as its Chinese name, yingchun, which Wikipedia tells me means “the flower that welcomes Spring.”
Another yellow winter-flowering joy, the Witch Hazel (hamamelis). This one spilled out over the sidewalk generously from a rather overgrown garden. . . a surprisingly large, gnarled, old shrub, the flowers had no discernible fragrance in the late afternoon. In my limited experience, some varieties are very fragrant, intoxicating even; some more fragrant at certain times of day than others; and some are more a visual pleasure than an olfactory one.
Any bloom this golden, in January, really doesn’t need to do much else though, does it?
We had fuchsias still blooming in pots on our terrace last week, nasturtiums no longer blooming but still extravagantly verdant, cascading from their containers. . . and then my grandson spotted a single snowdrop joining in for an unlikely trio — I’m still hoping the bulbs we planted a few years ago will multiply enthusiastically, but so far, they’re very reserved in their reproduction. . .
And then out on my walk later, I saw a host of snowdrops warming up for their big show — no need for this crowd to look for companions! (tempting to dip a trowel in, just a scoop of soil and shoots and blooms and bulbs to take home and show my solitary ‘drop how it’s done)
Green and white OOTD is also being worn several blocks away (with the tenderest heart of buttery yellow) by an early camellia (honestly, everything’s a bit early this year. . . and we have some colder nights coming this weekend, uh-oh!)
Also green and white with a fragrance that pulls some of us away from errands, destinations, pathways until we’ve spotted the Sweet Box (Sarcococca something-something, there are a few choices) whose delicate white flowers are responsible. Heaven on a sullen grey day in January! Delightfully and mysteriously seductive on an evening walk, the perfume wafts its way a surprising distance.
Besides the blooms and between the leaden and/or leaking skies, I’ve caught uplifting glimpses of snow on the local mountains (too little to stir much hope in winter outdoor enthusiasts, but still, Paul’s got his country skis and his showshoes out of the storage room, might as well check their condition, he says).
I’ve even managed to sketch a bit on these walks. You might have seen my first neighbourhood house sketch over on Instagram, where I posted it with a little explanation of what I’m trying to practice (mainly, just getting comfortable standing by myself on a sidewalk with a sketchbook and two or three simple drawing tools.
Here’s a second one. . . Again (as in the one you can see on IG), I’ve started by laying down a “blob” using whatever colour Caran d’Ache watercolour crayon I tucked in my case (Not at all trying to match the actual colour of the house I’m drawing).
I managed to sketch another one since this, so that’s Three Times! If I could get to 10 or so by the end of January, I’ll be quite tickled with myself. Chuffed, even. We’ll see. . .
And speaking of being chuffed — I’ve somehow written and illustrated my first post of 2024 ( in the 71st year of my life, the 50th year of my marriage, the 17th year of this blog, the 8th year of living in this city . . .oh, the numbers, they do add up, don’t they?!). Didn’t even whinge much, did I? (Yes, there was a bit of this and that to whinge about, some, even, to feel genuinely and justifiably sad about, but for now, there are also sweet blooms that smell delicious and favourite skirts and shoes and hand-holding dinner-and-a-movie-and-a-walk dates (after a marital spat, all tears included, but hey, we’re human). . .
So 2024’s engine’s engaged, we’re 10 days in, c’est parti! How’s it going for you, so far? I’ve got a few new projects happening here (the house-sketching is one, and I’m doing Yoga with Adriene’s 30 Day Yoga Journey again (It’s free; takes only 20 minutes a day; and really helps me point the dial to Good Mood), but I’m not doing a recap of 2023 nor choosing a new word, nor essaying new resolutions. Missed that boat entirely (I’ll blame the Christmas cough). But maybe you have some you’d like to tell me about? Your comments are always welcome.
xo,
f
The red tights are great, Frances, as is the whole outfit. And it cheered me up to see the flowers. (I have lots of green on my patio but no flowers.)
Take care and get well soon!
Author
Thanks, Carol! It cheers me to see the flowers as well — I think of Phil and that wonderful winter garden he and Jane planted for Nonie. . . Bet your view out that patio window is looking pretty right now — snow on those trees! Stay cosy!
Loved your post!
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Thanks, Judy!
Yes, the years add up, but what an interesting, fulfilling life you’ve managed to create out of them. Always enjoy reading, although I never comment!
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Thanks for the encouragement, Jean, for reading, and for commenting today 😉
Oh that persistent cough… seems as if we’ve all been afflicted. Mine is gone but only until I spend an afternoon walking and drinking coffee and yakking with friends… then it rears its head again by evening. We are going away for four days of cross- country skiing in the Laurentians at the end of the month. So we’re hoping our snow followed by freezing rain this week manifested as snow followed by snow up there. No blooms or colour here unless you count the red flash flying by our window which turned out to be my clothespin bag, hanging, forgotten, on the line and picked up by yesterday’s strong gusty winds. Ha. Stu dug it out of the ice this morning. Happy New Year, Frances.
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I think I reset mine yesterday, doing just enough too much that it’s back and brought the fatigue with it.
I hope you get enough snow by month’s end to give you as much skiing as you want — with lots of cosy lazing as balance.
That red flash! I can see it! — we had a big wind the other night and a wooden wind chime that’s hung undisturbed for years was lifted right off its hook. At least it didn’t have to be dug out of the ice!
No new resolutions for me either, but I did choose the word Hope for 2024 and publish a post about it on January 1.
Happy New Year!
I would call your OOTD “Red Stocking Chic” (and it is very trendy now!)
I can’t believe your numbers!
Love your flower post,beautiful,fragrant and it goes well with Elaine’s word for 2024!
Sorry about the cough-we’ve had a lot of Whooping Cough recently here
I had a wonderful Christmas,with a lot of plans for later (including Strauss’ Fledermaus,to show our National Theatre to my DIL,and some lunches,including one in Opatija), but I’ve got some virosis, not with a high temperature,but very exhausting ,I was not in a mood for reading-it says all-so…..
I don’t do New Year resolutions or choose a word,but will journal some musings about 2024.and me
Get well soon!
Dottoressa
Author
Red Stocking Chic! I can live with that — thank you! (and these are a wool-cotton blend, so warm on my legs for winter)
Whooping Cough — there was a bit circulating here a few years ago — honestly, I live in dread! (so I really should re-up my childhood immunization!)
Oh no! For you to be so exhausted as to not be in a mood for reading! I hope you’re back to full strength
I’m glad that you at least had a wonderful Christmas and got to the theatre, to lunches, etc. (somehow we’ve never seen Fiedermaus! Why not?!)
I just googled Opatija — what a beautiful seaside town! I’d love to visit it!
I’m sorry you’re fighting a nasty bug . There are plenty of strange things going around here too . Our Christmas socialising has a great deal to answer for . I tend to give way & pamper my body with peace & inactivity but always enjoy a short walk in the fresh air to clear the cobwebs away . You do look rather delicate/wan/knackered still , so take care . I am making a resolution this year . A number of the Christmas cards I received were putting out feelers for meet ups . These are old work mates who I haven’t had much contact with for some time . I guess once busy lives are not quite so busy now . People retire themselves , partners aren’t there any longer , grandchildren grow up ? Anyway , I shall find out over coffee .
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It’s true about the Christmas socialising — and after the last few years of social distancing and masking, we’re now happily sharing ’round ALL the viruses. With all our family gathered together and several of the grandchildren coughing and sniffling and sneezing carefully into their elbows 😉 we really didn’t have a chance. Especially since we were tired from all the entertaining so immune systems not a full strength.
I think your resolution for the year is quite lovely — increasingly, I find myself thinking of friends or colleagues or neighbours I’ve lost touch with, from years or decades past, and would love a chance to catch up for an hour or two. Perhaps strike up a friendship again, or not, but just see how they’ve fared since we last saw each other.
Buon natale! In my English village, all hopes for the New Year were dashed when we were flooded last week. Around a third – 30 – of the houses were inundated overnight with foul water when our river rose to an unheard of level and it will be six to eleven months before residents can move back in. However, we have risen to the challenges, offering hot drinks, meals and accommodation, help with clearing ground floors of houses and filling skips. I hope the strong sense of community will give some sense of healing to those affected and their Happy New Year will come later. Elizabeth
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Oh dear, Elizabeth! how hard on your neighbours to have their houses so badly damaged — and hard on the rest of you to see them in such dire straits. How admirable that you were able to pull together as a village, helping your fellows, and that you’re all finding some solace in that sense of community.
Happy New Year to you too, and I accept with gratitude your wishes for a cough-free year.
You sent my to my drawer to check for red stockings and yes, well they’re burgundy, but even better there are another pair, an odd dull green colour which have me thinking.
We have snow and it’s still coming…soft and fluffy and very much appreciated by those of us who were worrying about dryness.
Resolutions…I’m still clinging to my resolution from (I think) four years ago to dress by 9 am and I renew it every year. More of a reminder…I resolve to remember to dress. So far fairly successful. The rest of the time I just try to live a life I feel good about.
I’ll need to dress even earlier this morning as I had the brilliant idea of having my bathroom redone while I’m away next month, and someone’s coming to look at it today (they’ve already seen it casually and I’ve worked with this company many times before). I like the idea of coming home to find it all fresh and new but I’m pretty sure I’ll think differently when I’m taking every single item including the shower curtain out of that bathroom before I leave for the airport at 6 am. Sigh.
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Yikes! I’m already complaining because our power’s going to be shut off for most of the day next Tuesday (last stage of installing EV chargers in our parking levels). . . I’d be more legitimately stressed if I had a compromised bathroom on an early-morning-airport day!! Are you off soon? Kicking that snow off your boots and shucking off tens of degrees of cold! (we’ve got a blast of Arctic air swirling snow on us this afternoon — 3 or 4 days of continued cold forecast before it all turns into a messy slurry in a rain, melt, nighttime freeze, sunshine melt, ice inevitable cycle — the January-February West Coast special).
Curious about what the odd dull green stockings have you thinking. . .
Hi Frances,
I love the red tights outfit and all of the lovely winter flowers. I hope you and Paul are over your “Christmas cough” soon.
You mention that things there are blooming early, but here everything seems to be a few weeks behind. Some of the local liquidambar trees are still clinging to the last of their (now more brown than red) russet leaves, and camelias are just starting to get into action.
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Thanks, Sue!
Interesting that your blooms and foliage seem to be a bit behind. We’ve had very mild temperatures until now — last night it was -12 Celsius, with a wind factor that made it seem much colder and it will be that way for a few days more, so I’m crossing my fingers to see which of those nascent leaves and bold early blooms survive!
No blooming flowers on my walk today on a chilly winter morning. Just the twisted branches of the bare trees which to me have their own kind of beauty. I am a bit tempted to try and sketch them.
I have made no resolutions for this coming year , except that I have started once again to attend in person yoga classes. I have practiced at the studio for many years but of course stopped during the pandemic. I missed the energy of the classes. The studio is in a converted mill on a river, it’s waterfall once providing the power to manufacture gentleman’s hats when such things were commonplace.
So many of my friends seem to have been effected with similar bugs which just don’t seem to go away, including the intractable cough. Knock on wood I have been feeling well except for a bout of unexplained tiredness a couple of weeks ago. Here is hoping you are feeling well soon.
Author
Those twisted branches of bare trees — I agree with you that they have their own kind of beauty — and worth trying to sketch. You might like to have a look at this sketchbook page by Lucia Leyfield.
My husband has started back at in-person yoga classes — we were both going (although he got to more classes) until the pandemic lockdown — and he seems to be enjoying those, but so far, I’m finding the online suits my schedule (although you’re right, the in-person energy is tempting me a bit). Your studio sounds as if the setting is an added draw!
Keep knocking on that wood! You really don’t need a bug like this! 😉
It sounds as if you would have been exposed to a rich brew of potential bugs over Christmas. The only downside of a lovely family gathering. We were only 3, and so far we are all holding up. I have cataract surgery in a few weeks so hoping not to be smitten by anything before then. Agreeing with Wendy that you do look a bit peely-wally/wabbit (good Scottish terms much deployed during the Scottish winter). Hopefully the fresh air helped you feel better. I don’t do resolutions, and I’ve never “got” the fashion for choosing a word. Although if I absolutely had to do the latter, it would be “warmer” right at this moment. I like the redstocking chic look very much.
Author
Good luck with the cataract surgery — I need to check in again with my eye doc to see if I’m getting closer to having mine done. I won’t mind being glasses-free again (and without contacts!)
Yes, I probably look the way I feel, in that photo, although the fresh air did help. Black is perhaps not the best choice for improving a “peely-wally//wabbit appearance 😉
Dear Frances, thank you as always for your generous sharing of all these rich details from your life! They cheered me up—at the moment I am having one of those fall-and-injure-yourself experiences in a foreign country. Ugh. Not as bad as your fall in Italy, but I tripped on bad pavement in Oaxaca City. My knee is swollen and scraped and I’m icing it. (It was warm enough here in southern Mexico today to be wearing a knee length skirt and bare legs.) Luckily my husband is a retired nurse who started his career years ago in orthopedics, so he’s taking good care of me. Guess it’s good we are heading to the coast tomorrow (though it will be a mountainous bus ride, ugh!) and I’ll enjoy relaxing there. Xoxoxo
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Oh no, Linda! We feel those injuries so much more, in my experience, when we’re vulnerable and away from home (although, on the other hand, once we’ve got them attended to and we’re on the mend, we realize we’ve exercised some traveller’s muscles we had almost forgotten we had!). You are lucky to be travelling with someone with medical experience. I hope by now you’ve finished the bumpy ride and can give your leg the rest it needs. Take care!
A great post to start a new year! Thanks Frances! Sorry to hear about the cough…the only downside of family gatherings.
I really like the red stockings and both types of footwear look cool. I think I’ll bet on the Blundstones 😜
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You’re welcome and thank you, Genevieve! In fact, I wore the metallic Oxfords that day, but have been in my Blundstones with those stockings as well. Diehards! 😉
Love reading your posts! Always so descriptive.. I feel like I’m there.. including the honest spats with Paul😊 We can all identify. Love all the plant descriptions and colors. Love your determination to sketch! I bet you’ll have 10 by end of January. I always intend to draw but get distracted. Here’s hoping you’ll see your cough in the rear view mirror 😊
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Aw, thanks, Deborah — such kind and encouraging words! Much appreciated!
Here I am, smiling and waving and sending wishes for a cough free and energetic New Year for us all. I’m so sorry you’ve been feeling unwell and I hope you’re soon back to feeling great again!
We’ve also had a dreadful, long lasting cough and the feeling of tiredness that accompanies it.
I almost backed out of our trip to Switzerland ( unheard of! ) when at 3am on the morning of our departure I hadn’t slept and was so tearful. As I was packed my husband suggested we set off for the airport and see how I felt once we were there … promising we could come home again if I needed to. The lack of pressure certainly helped as did the incentive of my son and his family already there!
As you’ll have guessed I made it there but I needed to rest most afternoons and my general enthusiasm was dampened somewhat. Almost a feeling of sadness when normally I’d be feeling so happy!
Anyway enough about me … I love your ootd especially your cheerful red tights … I have a lovely golden pair that really brighten up an otherwise plain outfit 🙂
Your blog posts bring me so much happiness for many reasons … they’re like a warm hug and always so interesting regardless of the topics.
Thank you so much for sharing your life and your thoughts here … and for the wise and kind advice that you’ve given me on a couple of occasions.
I’m looking forward to “tagging along” for another year …
Take care Frances, Rosie xxx
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I can feel those smiles and waves from here, Rosie!! Thank you!
I saw an Instagram post, I think, that let me know you’re in your happy place (even happier when you’re meeting up with more family, I know). I’m glad that you’re still taking it easy, though, and having some quiet time in the afternoon. (I recognize that melancholy you’re feeling, the way it bumps up against the expectations of completely contentment in that place). . . I think it’s really the only way to ensure the bug doesn’t stick around even longer, and relapses are so very tiresome!
Thanks again for the kind words and for your company through the year (you in your gold tights, I in my red! 😉