Do you remember the John Denver song?
Country roads take me home,
To the place I belong...
As I sit by the warmth of the woodstove here in the farmhouse while the Dutch winter winds blow wildly around me, this tune came to mind. It is the last day of January. This first month of the new year has passed by far too quickly. It has been a busy month with major maintainence work being done on our trees and more small jobs being finished in the studio. Jos and I are tired but content. Living in the countryside is very different to living in the city suburbs. But it is our place and we are happy we made the move.
A new year brings new energy and new goals. I have started new projects but am working on finishing up some old ones too. While I work, I enjoy listening to an audiobook. This month it is Murder, Simply Stitched by Isabella Alan. It is book two in the Amish Quilt Shop mysteries and a fun read.
Hand quilting is very relaxing to me. I am hand quilting my house quilt sampler which was last year's theme for my quilt group. January saw the beginning of the new theme quilt while I continue working on this quilt. Switching back and forth from doing the patchwork on one quilt and the quilting on another works well.
The sky yesterday was beautiful yet again! We had an amazing day with warmth of the sunshine giving us a glimpse of spring. The birds were singing in full chorus and a sparrow couple have started darting in and out of one of the nestboxes. Starlings are filling the trees and dancing about in murmuration. Their cries are a joy to hear when I venture outside. A couple veered away from the swarm to rest on our "bakhuis" roof after they came to our feeders. It has however scared off the woodpeckers for the time being. Once the starlings move on, they will return.
So back to that song...country roads take me home. That is exactly what has happened for us. Country roads gave brought my husband and I to a place we truly call home. And as I sit this afternoon by a warm fire, I am very grateful for all the hard work that has brought us home!
Creative wishes to you,
Heidi
