Wednesday 18 January 2017

January days and their scarecrow trees










"Pale January lay
In its cradle day by day
Dead or living, hard to say."
-  Alfred Austin, Primroses

For most of us living in the Northern hemisphere, January isn't exactly a favourite month. After the - if often forced - excitement of Christmas, January seems drab in comparison.


If the days are lengthening, it is hardly noticeable in the first few weeks after the winter equinox.

Only on the occasional sunny day does the light seem to linger just that little bit longer.


But sunny days are few and far between in this first month of the year. It is, after all, only the very beginning of winter and spring still a long way off.









In spite of all this, I wouldn't have it any other way, as I quite like the change each season brings.

I'm actually glad to be living in a part of the world with proper seasons!


(Photos dating from January 2014 and 2015)









The trick is not to give in to the downward spiral January often brings, and to add some much needed colour to every godforsaken winter's day.


This vintage St. Michael dress, with a pattern of yellow and brown flowers on a cream background, was just the thing, especially as it is made of a heavy polyester fabric to keep me warm.

It came with a slim brown belt but I like it much better with a slightly wider yellow one, bringing out the yellow in the dress. The round white metal buckle, in its turn, echoes the circle shapes in the dress's pattern.



By far my favourite feature of the dress is its unusual brown plastic buttons.

I chose yellow for my cardigan and tights too, adding yet more, if illusionary, sunshine.


Due to the freezing temperatures, we were obliged to do a photo session inside the house. And look who's come to steal some of my limelight! Oh well, then she'll have to earn her keep and be a model. Not being a cuddly cat, she couldn't wait to get away, though.

Friday's weather, in spite of severe storm warnings, wasn't too bad, with periods of sunshine in between flurries of sleety snow, but by evening more and more clouds gathered and we were treated to all kinds of semi-frozen wetness.


In spite of a murky start, the sun soon made an appearance on Saturday morning. Of course, once we decided to leave the house, she decided to call it a day and to make way for leaden skies and more snow.

My charity shopped fake fur coat was put to good use against the biting cold. Once again, I chose my woolly turban. I also grabbed my warmest gloves, a colourful knitted pair found at our village's weekly market.


Silly poses? Oh yes!

The weather conditions didn't keep us from visiting our favourite charity shop, where it was unusually quiet for a Saturday, allowing us to browse at ease.



There were many new additions in the book department, and after some deliberation, these came home with me.

We don't really need more books, as we're still only half way through sorting out my dad's, but I'm sure we'll find space for them. We also regularly (re)donate books to charity, so that some kind of balance is being kept.


Even the clothing floor (this shop actually has three floors!) didn't disappoint, as I found an abstractly patterned green polyester vintage dress (in my size, for once) and a green skirt. I'd been looking for a plain green winter skirt since last year, but couldn't find one that ticked all my boxes. The shape, colour and size of this one were just right, and it is lined too! Here, Angelica is wearing it with a flowery blouse from Think Twice.


My last find of the day was this red felt hat, which came with a bonus brooch!

Since last weekend temperatures have dropped considerably, so I guess it's time to dig out the jumpers ...


22 comments:

  1. Yay you bought the Wales book!
    I think wearing colour is a great way to lift the spirits. I wore bright purple tights yesterday. It does the trick!

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    1. As I'm going to Wales again this June, I need to be prepared ;-) Oh, I wore purple tights too last week! xxx

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  2. The Marks and Sparks frock is fabulous Ann and just what is needed in drab January, especially with a sunshine cardi and tights. I wore my Tango tights last week, onlookers do need sunglasses, but what the hell! Haven't read Nella Last's books but saw Housewife, 49 on tv, did you see it?

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    1. It's actually rare to find a vintage Marks and Sparks frock in Belgium, which makes it extra special. I didn't see Housewife, 49 (don't think it was aired in Belgium), but this is exactly the kind of stuff I like reading, and at € 0,70 a book, how could I resist? xxx

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  3. Wow! Those scenic photographs are beautiful. And so is that cat!! I love how you put your pretty clothes together into a warm outfit.

    Happy thrifting ;)

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    1. Thanks! I've told Phoebe she has yet another fan ;-) Wishing you happy (and successful) thrifting too! xxx

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  4. Charity shopping - what a great way to spend the day.
    I did the book cleanout and am back to gathering more again. The cycle continues ... *grins*

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    1. Oh, the book cleanout never works with me, it goes on and on and on ... xxx

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  5. The collar on the yellow and brown dress is very pretty too.

    Why is it so difficult to find green skirts?! I've had similar trouble. It doesn't seem like a strange colour. Ah well, worth the wait as you found a lovely one.

    Keep warm, and sunshine bright in your wardrobe choices. You're correct-it does help get through the dull winter days.

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    1. That collar is the only part of the dress which is lined, perhaps to stop it from being too "floppy"? I never understood why green is such a difficult colour to find. In spite of it being a favourite, the green section in my wardrobe is rather poorly ... xxx

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  6. Gorgeous photos of your scarecrow trees, I call them Skeleton trees!! I love that you dress in colour like me, always brighten up the dullest Winter day that way.

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    1. I like Skeleton trees too! Since I started wearing more colour, I get less depressed in winter, so it's actually medicinal ;-) xxx

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  7. lovely outfit, it's so delightful to see you in your beautiful dress and cute yellow cardi and tights, such a fab color combo!. And I'm glad that you're warm in your furry coat, it looks really freezin'
    Fabulous finds too!. Lovely green shades!
    besos & calor

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    1. Thank you Monica, that's quite a compliment from the Queen of Colour, which you are! xxx

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  8. wonderful sunny outfit!!
    and topped with the fur and wooly accessories it´s a fab look for january days!
    sweet phoebe!
    you know - i´m in love with this years winter - we have lots of snow! it is so different to the snowless years - all the bright white and soft surfaces give the landscape a beautiful and almost festive look - at least in my eyes :-)
    xxxxxxx

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    1. Phoebe is definitely sweet, to look at anyway ;-) I envy you the snow you've been having. It's been years since we had that amount of snow. It all goes downhill very fast in a town anyway. It'll be black snow in a matter of hours ;-) xxx

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  9. I'm terrible with books, I don't have any shelf space left, yet I can't stop myself! The 1000 Record Covers one looks interesting though, I probably would've bought that too. Love the red hat at the end, fabulous colour! xx

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    1. I'm exactly the same with books. And we still have so many shelves to get through in my dad's house. I've already started double layers ... The hat actually only cost € 1,20. Now, I couldn't not buy it, could I? xxx

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  10. Your outdoor pictures are just beautiful and I love the sunny warm colors in your outfits. I adore old books I can't resist old sic fi with pulpy covers or old text books in particular

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    1. I'm glad you like the outdoor pictures. I'm a bit of a tree fan, always taking pictures of them. I think my dad had quite a few old sf paperbacks with pulpy covers. Need to check them out ... xxx

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  11. Fab fake fur! you look wonderful and very cosy. I have the Nella Last books in the book mountain, I bought them after falling in love with Housewife 49.

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    1. Love it that you have a book mountain like me. Or rather, a whole shelf with rows and rows of unread books. The Nella Lasts were only € 0,70 each and I'm itching to start them ... xxx

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