january in the rear-view mirror...

I know.  

January is not yet quite done...

but I'm posting my month-in-review a few days early.

Though this should have been the month for winter weather...

it mostly passed us by.

We had a lot of sunshine...

and balmy temperatures.

The sheep down the road were sorry they couldn't shed their winter coats!

 

Just for the record...

let me share a few pic's that prove we did have a touch of winter.

First came a dusting of snow.

That part was great!

Then came the freezing rain.

That we could have done without!

Though it was pretty...

it wreaked havoc with trees.

Branches soon broke off and many homes were without power.

We also had some good family times this January...
from celebration dinners to visitors from afar.

Earlier this month...

my brother and his wife flew out from Iowa for a week.

My sister came from Manitoba at the same time...

so we had a bit of a family reunion.

And they had a bit of reprieve from winter.

Though 'the roses' may not be blooming in the Midwest just yet...

it seems they think it is spring over here.

The camellia pictured above was photographed on January 12th.

We had some good sisterly times together...

including a little outing to Harrison Hot Springs Resort.

We soaked in the outdoor pools...

ate good food...

played some games...

and enjoyed the views across the lake.

 

We weren't the only ones soaking in the view!

The sunny January days were great for getting off the treadmill...

and walking outside.

Let me take you along on a January walk.

A January 20, 2015 walk...to be exact.

I left home for a walk just as the morning fog was lifting.

I took a photo...

to the west.

Half a mile down the road...

I took a photo facing east.

One mile from home...

a photo facing north.

Almost home now...

a photo to the south.

January is also a good month for watching the eagles that are hanging out in our trees.

They are a beautiful and majestic bird!

Just keep your kittens and wee puppies under lock and key. :)

My birthday came and went once more as well this month...

and it was well celebrated!

I ate much...

and cooked little.

On my birthday...

it rained a little.

 Then the sun shone bright.

A double rainbow formed across the sky.

I had to think of God's promise in Romans 8:28...

that He will make something good out of the storms that bring devastation to your life.

I love that verse.

This last weekend...

the January precipitation arrived in full force.

Huge rainfalls and record temperatures were brought on by a pineapple express weather pattern (think warm)...

caused flooding in many parts of our valley.

 All is well on the home front!

Let me end with a January sunset photo. 

All will be silent here on My Front Porch for the next while...

as I take my camera with me and set sail on a South American adventure.

Thank-you for stopping by!