“January…when the light is plainest, least colored…like the feeling of beginnings.” — Anne Truitt
JANUARY 2025: This month’s images highlight the lovely blue hues that I always associate with January — a cold clear sky reflected off a blanket of crisp white snow; dry, faded hydrangeas in my garden and fresh, baby blue hydrangeas that remind me of warmer days; new notebooks and sweet treats; favorite places that never get old; and of course, an 11-year-old beagle who looks and acts more like a puppy everyday.
Here’s a review of what I read, watched, listened to, and enjoyed in January:
READ:
The Essential Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz: The Greatest Comic Strip of All Time by Mark Evanier — “Seventy-five years after the first Peanuts strip made its debut on October 2, 1950, the beloved comic strip and its iconic characters remain a touchstone for generations around the world…” (Goodreads). Peanuts books are the best way to start the year.
Paris, Block by Block: An Illustrated Guide to the Best of France's Capital by Cierra Block — “Paris, Block by Block is the essential guide to the unmissable places to go, covering everything from restaurants to boutiques, galleries to parks, all illustrated with 50 of Cierra Block's distinctive maps. Each map starts with an idea – it might be…That's the wonderful thing about Paris – there's always more to explore” (Goodreads). Honestly, the maps are fine (maybe I should do the same with my favorites), but the cover of the book is just perfect for my January décor.
The Little Book of Fika: The Uplifting Daily Ritual of the Swedish Coffee Break by Lynda Balslev — “A little book on the Swedish tradition of fika— the twice-daily coffee break—including facts, quotes, tips, and 20 sweet and savory recipes… An essential part of the lagom lifestyle, fika is the simple art of taking a break—sometimes twice a day—to enjoy a warm beverage and sweet treat with friends. This delightful gift book offers an introduction to the tradition along with recipes to help you establish your own fika practice” (Goodreads). We have been enjoying a fika on weekends and it really does add to the coziness.
The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown — “Robert Langdon, esteemed professor of symbology, travels to Prague to attend a groundbreaking lecture by Katherine Solomon—a prominent noetic scientist with whom he has recently begun a relationship. Katherine is on the verge of publishing an explosive book that contains startling discoveries about the nature of human consciousness and threatens to disrupt centuries of established belief. But a brutal murder catapults the trip into chaos, and Katherine suddenly disappears along with her manuscript. Langdon finds himself targeted by a powerful organization and hunted by a chilling assailant sprung from Prague's most ancient mythology. As the plot expands into London and New York, Langdon desperately searches for Katherine . . . and for answers. In a thrilling race through the dual worlds of futuristic science and mystical lore, he uncovers a shocking truth about a secret project that will forever change the way we think about the human mind” (Goodreads). Dan Brown books are engaging and easy to read — perfect for a snowy January weekend.
AI with Intention: Principles and Action Steps for Teachers and School Leaders by Tony Frontier — “With new artificial intelligence tools sweeping into districts and schools, educators must be able to assess the tools' benefits and limitations and determine if and how they might serve students. Teaching and leadership expert Tony Frontier provides the insight and knowledge necessary to use these tools effectively and responsibly” (Goodreads).
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans — ““Imagine, the letters one has sent out into the world, the letters received back in turn, are like the pieces of a magnificent puzzle. . . . Isn’t there something wonderful in that, to think that a story of one’s life is preserved in some way, that this very letter may one day mean something, even if it is a very small thing, to someone?” Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime…” (Goodreads).
WATCHED:
Drops of God | Gouttes de Dieu | 神の雫 — “When wine authority Alexandre Léger dies, he leaves behind the world's finest private wine collection, and a sprawling Tokyo estate. Before his estranged daughter Camille can claim her inheritance, she must battle Alexandre's protégé, Issei, in a series of wine-related tests” (Apple TV+).
LISTENED TO:
My ABBA and Jimmy Buffet playlists are always the perfect palate cleanser after a month of Christmas music.
January 2026 Instapuzzle Mini-Playlist: Happy New Year (ABBA), Everyday I Write the Book (Elvis Costello & the Attractions), Little Birdie (Vince Guaraldi Trio), Little Things (Adrián Berenguer), Hazy Shade of Winter (The Bangles), My Girl (The Temptations), Waltz of the Snowflakes (Frozen Silence), Skating (Vince Guaraldi Trio), Joy (George Winston)
ENJOYED:
New Year’s Eve at home: Rather than dining out on one of the busiest nights of the year, we had a wonderful French lunch at Le Rêve and returned home with pastries and Champagne that we enjoyed at 5:00 pm — not because “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere”, but because it’s “midnight in Paris”. We watched the fireworks on the Champ-Élysées, followed by A Good Year before calling it a night at 10:00 pm.
A belated Christmas celebration with the Larson, Uncle King, Annette and Konrad, and of course, three adorable beagles on January 2nd: On one hand, it was nice to have the week off to take my time preparing for company; on the other hand, it never really felt like “Christmas Break.” I didn’t get that December 26th feeling of a whole week of wonderful, relaxing, nothingness stretching out before me. It was hard to keep the Christmas decorations up past New Year’s Day, but it was nice having the help of my tall nephews to take everything down on January 3rd.
Our clean, uncluttered home: After the Christmas tree and decorations are down, I enjoy our clean, Scandi minimalism, highlighted this year with touches of powder blue. Yet as much as l revel in the winter sunlight reflecting off the brilliant white snow and love how it brightens the January blues, the light also illuminates a year’s worth of dinginess and dings that require some attention. It’s time to clean out cabinets and closets and rid ourselves of things we no longer want or need. I always feel better in a clean, uncluttered space.
Winter weather: We began the month — and the year — with a beautiful blanket of snow. A light dusting has been almost a daily event like powdered sugar on a lovely confection. This past week, frigid weather hit with a wind chill of -45°. We had a “cold day” off(ish) from school on Friday. Between virtual meetings, emails, and Google Chats, I baked Swedish cinnamon buns and we enjoyed an afternoon Fika. Here’s hoping for more snow in February before spring begins in March (fingers crossed).
