My calendar for the month of January has been jam-packed with activities. Small wonder then that it seems to have flown by so quickly. I’m sorry for those of you who have felt the opposite.
My month was full of outings, meetups with friends, and finally the eye procedure I needed to correct the vision problem I’ve had since early December. I can see clearly again!
If January is the early indicator, 2019 is going to be another mighty fine year.
The month started off atypically. It didn’t look or feel much like winter at all. I can’t say I was complaining – with no snow and mild temperatures, it was my kind of winter!
Oh, it was cold enough to maintain ice on the skating trails and frost the shoreline of lakes and rivers, but it was not the bone-chilling cold that would finally arrive mid-month.
In fact we are bracing again for another winter storm, however I’m still smiling because I have the luxury of hunkering down at home if I choose not to brave the elements.
… even though I have been and can’t deny the beauty of fresh snow.
I hope your 2019 has started off on the right foot too and the end of January is finding you in bright spirits – whether you are in the heat or the cold. There’s lots more ahead!
Changing Seasons is a monthly photo challenge hosted by Su Leslie at Zimmerbitch.
My Life Lived Full 
so glad your eye is better – and for some reason, I could see a person wearing a sign that said “danger due to erosion – proceed with caution”
you know
“danger due to some hard seasons to watch the flaw-finding and putdowns – just have no room”
–
well that is what I thought of with that sign…
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Interesting how the mind can see a sign and project something different onto it. I do that all the time.
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😉
And quick question – have you been missing your car? The Beamer ?
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sigh – yes. And no.
I don’t get around a lot in the winter. I tend to stay close to home, but parking my husband’s beast of an SUV is certain to trigger a swear word or two when I do go out.
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Hahah – I know what you mean
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It was amazing how fast January zipped by, and now February is doing just the same! Glad to hear your eye procedure went well.
Jude
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I’m so grateful I can see well again! We really don’t appreciate how good we have it until a problem arises!
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Beautiful photographs Joanne. I admire your spirit. Team tennis goes on, even when the temps dip into the 40’s, and this week that happened. I looked like a polar bear swinging a tennis racket! Cannot even imagine what folks are going through these last couple of days. Sending you some virtual sunshine!
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I didn’t realize this blast of arctic cold that found its way so far south. I probably shouldn’t have, but I laughed at the mental image of trying to play tennis layered up for winter 😆
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It was a laughable moment! I lost the match btw. It was a battle of who could reach the ball first, and it certainly wasn’t me.
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I love your skates! The photos almost make me appreciate your Canadian winters, but the weather here in Texas is sometimes too cold for me! haha!
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Thank you – my skates are quite unusual and I’m rather fond of them 💜 … but it’s way too cold outside for me the past few days. I think I’m going to hunker down inside until this arctic blast passes.
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Another blogger posted about how long January has seemed this year with a title that sardonically asked it was “January 72nd” yet? I probably have the number wrong, but it was something close. Anyway, that’s how I feel; for some reason it’s been a month that’s crawled. But you put the time to good use, Joanne. Lots on your plate! – Marty
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I too have seen variations on that January post. I think most people tend to feel that way about January. For me, it’s March … the month that overstays its welcome every year.
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Hi Joanne, Your new year started with a bang, for sure! I have to say I am not missing the snow thing this winter…in fact I am in Costa Rica as I write this and am toasty warm and pampered…glad to start my year this way!!!
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Your Costa Rica photos look so glorious. I soaked up some of that tropical sunshine from your post.
It seems that my comments on your blog are still disappearing into never-never land and I keep getting an error message trying to subscribe to your blog 😕
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Our January has been somewhat chaotic. The high school needs remodeling and delays, etc. meant my teens were out of school for a week and a half while they got the temporary units properly in place. A fresh snow is beautiful. I love that stone that you left. It looks like you are definitely off to a wonderful 2019! 🙂
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Oh dear. If they were out of school for a week and a half, what does that mean to them from a make-up perspective?
We had a massive snowstorm yesterday and overnight and we are currently digging out from 8 inches of snow – much deeper where there has been drifting.
But the sun is now blazing in a blue-blue sky and it really is very pretty right. Give me another week and I’ll be yearning for spring 😉
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Right now they have enough banked days that it doesn’t have to be made up. If we get snow…that’s another story.
I hope that you are enjoying the snow just a little. Otherwise, it really does get old really fast. I’m already yearning for spring! 😉
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January has gone fast. Maybe because we haven’t been snowed in yet. We may get a big storm this week…or not. We’ll see!
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We are currently in the middle of a virtual white-out. It’s been snowing and blowing heavily for a few hours now. I feel so badly for anyone trying to get home from work in this 😕
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That is the best thing about retirement. I no longer worry about getting to or home in inclement weather. If there is a bad prediction and I have an appointment, I cancel it.
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I agree! I used to think commuting was the worst part of my job … and I didn’t exactly live that far away.
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What a great beginning to this year! The snow looks so beautiful and the trails so inviting. It must be hard to talk yourself into bundling up and getting out in the cold… but then so satisfying when you are out there enjoying the scenery.
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So very true – getting outside is the hardest part. When you’re dressed correctly, it really can be a lot of fun outside in the snow.
Gilles was in San Diego all last week for work and came home on Friday with a cold … which he promptly gave me. Now I’m at home coughing up a lung instead of being outdoors today with the Seniors, snowshoeing on yesterday’s fresh snowfall 😕
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[…] Joanne at My Life Lived Full […]
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Fab start to the year Joanne. And i’m So glad your eye operation was successful. Wishing you a creative fun February with lots of new adventures.
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Thanks Su. I’m SO relieved to be seeing well again!!
I hope your February is full of fun and frivolity 🙂
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I’m hoping for clarity and purpose — though fun is always welcome 😂😂
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Lovely shots Joanne! Winter is going to be here, whether we like or not so might as well bundle up and get out there and enjoy it. Love your attitude!
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From one kindred spirit to another 🙂
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I’m glad you found ways to enjoy January. I’ve been busy at work. You guys have much more winter than we have had so far. I gues sours is coming.
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That’s funny. I would have said you had more winter so far than we have. This is one competition I don’t really want to win 😉
Since the snow has started again, I’m just as happy to stay indoors for a while!
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Yeah, I hope I don’t win this one.
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We already have a couple of Maddie-worthy mountains of snow in the yard 😏
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Ours has faded to an ice-encrusted lump 😦
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Poor Maddie.
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Beautiful photos. I’m glad to read that your January went so well for you. It can be a tricky month to negotiate, considering how fickle the weather can be.
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It is a tricky month … and now another snowstorm is ramping up. It’s a good day to hunker down inside 🙂
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Wonderful on your eye, Joanne! Our precious gift of health. Yes, postcard beautiful. Yes, nightmare to drive in, since I have lived in a few northern communities. And yes, to lots more ahead this year. Beautiful photos, Joanne!
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Thanks Erica 🙂 I’m so happy to finally have my vision back in both eyes. It was so bothersome!
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It’s amazing how busy play can make a person. It’s almost like working again.
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I swear I’m busier now that I ever was while working! The difference is that it’s all stuff I want to do now 🙂
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May the rest of 2019 be just as kind to you, if not more, Joanne!
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Thanks – and to you too 🙂
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Being able to see clearly makes a big difference especially for your painting. By February your skating would have taken up a notch with breaking speed. Can you send us some snow, please.
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Being able to see clearly again is really nice. I was so frustrated during those 6 weeks. It affects you in ways you don’t imagine – ie I had become extraordinarily clumsy.
It’s turned very cold here again and another big storm is expected to hit us later today and overnight. It’s too bad we can’t share 😉
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So glad to hear your year has kicked off so nicely. Long may it continue. This probably sounds weird but I’m kind of blown away by the concept of a skating trail. And I really want to try one. Although I suspect they lack rails so it would likely turn into a slide on my bum.
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Maybe it’s because skating wasn’t on my radar until last year, but I had never heard of skating trails before and now they seem to be a ‘thing’, popping up everywhere.
The one at Arrowhead was the longest I’ve seen at about 1.6 km through snow-covered forest. It was gorgeous!
They do lack anything to hold onto, so yes – falling is a real danger. I now wear head protection in case I bang my head on the ice. It actually helps me feel more confident – although that might not be a good thing 😉
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You were so close to me when you went to Col Sam Smith Park. Unfortunately I can’t find my skates so I couldn’t have joined you for skating but we could have gone for a coffee or tea afterwards.
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It looks like such a lovely area to walk when the weather is nice. I live on the east end of the city, but it’s really not so far. We must try to get together for a coffee one day and chat!
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You have been busy and I suppose in some way that makes the winter pass more quickly. I still have a beach walk to fit in before the end of the month, but the weather has not been conducive to walking. Or ice-skating I am pleased to report 😀
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If I’m busy in one area, another seems to suffer. I’m not doing as much artwork as I thought I would be over the winter. So much to do, so little time 😉
I like this kind of problem.
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All that ice and snow would be wasted on me! 😀
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Truth is, not many people appreciate it 😉
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It’s beautiful, when we don’t drive in it, you’re right. That postcard-esque photo is amazing. We got some of that fluffy sort of snow yesterday, which is nice, cause it sweeps right off. My January has been packed. Overfull. Still, it feels like a long month.
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I agree about the overfull part. I’m looking forward to a few days of quiet.
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Glad your eye problem got sorted out and that you had an enjoyable month. I’ve been busy too – my roundup list keeps growing!
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It’s a great ‘problem’ to have!! 🙂
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Joanne the winter scenes are just beautiful. I don’t get that stuff here so it is nice to see. Thanks.
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It has been quite beautiful although I might not be so enthusiastic this time tomorrow after the next big snowstorm has hit us 😉
Photography in a winter-scape it kind of tricky – everything tends to look monochromatic.
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Sounds like you live a rich and fulfilling life!
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Thanks – it’s a constant work in progress 🙂
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Hi, Joanne – Congratulations on a wonderful start to 2019. Wishing you more great months ahead! We have had awesome weather here this past month which has helped increase my walking and outdoor activities from past Januarys. I am excited to take Deb (WBA) off for a hike in our area this week. I’ll keep you posted on that.
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I’m so jealous that you and Deb are going to have a meetup for a hike … I have a serious case of FOMO 😉
I’m looking forward to reading about it!!
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Yay for the start of a good year, Joanne. It sound like you had a wonderful January and congrats on getting the vision challenge fixed. I hope the rest of your year unfolds with equal adventure and success. 🙂
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It is soooo nice to be able to see well again. There are so many things we take for granted … until they aren’t working anymore.
I’m almost afraid to get too attached to 2019 for fear of jinxing it 😉
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One wonderful day at a time. I’m looking forward to you adventures. 🙂
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I’m so glad for the great beginning of your year, and I think the one who has found your green stone feels the same – what a sign of great times to come. Lovely!
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There were several people skating that day and NO ONE looked at my stone!!! I was terribly disappointed that not even the people I was with mentioned seeing it.
Oh well. Maybe with others around, people are too polite to look closely (this is Canada after all 😉)
Hope your 2019 is going well. Big storm is coming tomorrow so I’m prepared to lay low for a while 🙂
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Ahhh! I can’t believe it! But it’s so striking! Even from the distance. Well, I’d also be doubtful whether it’s okay to just take it but for sure I’d look. Be well and safe!
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I consider it a great compliment when someone takes one of my rocks – hopefully it has now found a home 🙂
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The park looks lovely! And I’m glad to see you are still skating.
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thank you! I think it is my sheer stubbornness that continues to get me out there trying 😉
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