Nicola here, talking about getting out and about in the dark days of January. Although the shortest day is gone the nights are still long and dark and in dull weather it sometimes feels as though there is little natural light at all. It's at times like this that my thoughts turn to the warmth and sunshine of the Southern Hemisphere!
I've been trying to get out as much as I can, walking the dog, enjoying the sunshine on the fine days, 
and looking at the colors of January. The natural world isn't as drab as it sometimes feels in the winter. On one of my walks the other day I saw this bird – a redwing – sheltering from the rain and wind in the hedgerow. When it flew I noticed that it had the most beautiful bright flashes of red on its side. There are plenty of other splashes of red about too; in the berries that line the hedges and brighten gardens.
A few days ago we went on a trip to Donnington Castle near Newbury. Donnington is the ruin of a medieval castle that was destroyed in the English Civil War of the 17th century. The Civil War battlefied of Newbury (1644) is in the fields below the castle. It was a rare sunny day with gorgeous blue skies and we walked all round the castle site and the battlefield and along the river. The blue of the sky made a wonderful backdrop for the castle ruins.
Looking around the garden for color I've found the bright yellow flowers of my mahonia plant which also has a beautiful scent at this time of year and I guess it won't be long until the first bulbs start to appear…
Which colors of January do you like the best? The blue of the sky or the white of the snow? Or are you a 
lucky person living in a warm climate with many beautiful birds, flowers and other things to brighten the month? I'm sitting looking at the pewter grey sky as another storm rolls in so please do add some colors to my day!
(Angus hasn't seen snow yet so here is a picture of Rochester and his friend Meg enjoying last January's snow!)
Nicola, I love the combination of blue sky and snow. I remember when we lived in Herefordshire, we had a day such as that, and it was magical to see the fields and trees covered in a fresh fall of snow against the blue sky.
Nicola, I love the combination of blue sky and snow. I remember when we lived in Herefordshire, we had a day such as that, and it was magical to see the fields and trees covered in a fresh fall of snow against the blue sky.
Nicola, I love the combination of blue sky and snow. I remember when we lived in Herefordshire, we had a day such as that, and it was magical to see the fields and trees covered in a fresh fall of snow against the blue sky.
Nicola, I love the combination of blue sky and snow. I remember when we lived in Herefordshire, we had a day such as that, and it was magical to see the fields and trees covered in a fresh fall of snow against the blue sky.
Nicola, I love the combination of blue sky and snow. I remember when we lived in Herefordshire, we had a day such as that, and it was magical to see the fields and trees covered in a fresh fall of snow against the blue sky.
Nicola, a lovely post. I grew up in a heavy winter area, and the overcast was worse than the snow. But there are lovely subtle shades of gray and misty blues and lavenders as well dark glossy every greens and sometimes the brilliant flash of a bright red male cardinal looking for a date. *G* We had several inches of snow last night, and today is gorgeous, with a dazzling blue sky and the sun blazing off the snow. I like living in a place that has four seasons. With deep winter here now, can the outrageous colors of spring be far away?
Nicola, a lovely post. I grew up in a heavy winter area, and the overcast was worse than the snow. But there are lovely subtle shades of gray and misty blues and lavenders as well dark glossy every greens and sometimes the brilliant flash of a bright red male cardinal looking for a date. *G* We had several inches of snow last night, and today is gorgeous, with a dazzling blue sky and the sun blazing off the snow. I like living in a place that has four seasons. With deep winter here now, can the outrageous colors of spring be far away?
Nicola, a lovely post. I grew up in a heavy winter area, and the overcast was worse than the snow. But there are lovely subtle shades of gray and misty blues and lavenders as well dark glossy every greens and sometimes the brilliant flash of a bright red male cardinal looking for a date. *G* We had several inches of snow last night, and today is gorgeous, with a dazzling blue sky and the sun blazing off the snow. I like living in a place that has four seasons. With deep winter here now, can the outrageous colors of spring be far away?
Nicola, a lovely post. I grew up in a heavy winter area, and the overcast was worse than the snow. But there are lovely subtle shades of gray and misty blues and lavenders as well dark glossy every greens and sometimes the brilliant flash of a bright red male cardinal looking for a date. *G* We had several inches of snow last night, and today is gorgeous, with a dazzling blue sky and the sun blazing off the snow. I like living in a place that has four seasons. With deep winter here now, can the outrageous colors of spring be far away?
Nicola, a lovely post. I grew up in a heavy winter area, and the overcast was worse than the snow. But there are lovely subtle shades of gray and misty blues and lavenders as well dark glossy every greens and sometimes the brilliant flash of a bright red male cardinal looking for a date. *G* We had several inches of snow last night, and today is gorgeous, with a dazzling blue sky and the sun blazing off the snow. I like living in a place that has four seasons. With deep winter here now, can the outrageous colors of spring be far away?
Isn’t it glorious to see that blue and white together, Carol! And relatively rare in the UK when so often we seem to get slushy snow and/or grey skies. I love that crisp cold feeling that comes with the fresh snow and the clear sky.
Isn’t it glorious to see that blue and white together, Carol! And relatively rare in the UK when so often we seem to get slushy snow and/or grey skies. I love that crisp cold feeling that comes with the fresh snow and the clear sky.
Isn’t it glorious to see that blue and white together, Carol! And relatively rare in the UK when so often we seem to get slushy snow and/or grey skies. I love that crisp cold feeling that comes with the fresh snow and the clear sky.
Isn’t it glorious to see that blue and white together, Carol! And relatively rare in the UK when so often we seem to get slushy snow and/or grey skies. I love that crisp cold feeling that comes with the fresh snow and the clear sky.
Isn’t it glorious to see that blue and white together, Carol! And relatively rare in the UK when so often we seem to get slushy snow and/or grey skies. I love that crisp cold feeling that comes with the fresh snow and the clear sky.
Thank you, Mary Jo! Yes, it’s a beautiful thing to look for all the different shades in the colours at this time of year and when spring bursts into life it feels very exciting!
Thank you, Mary Jo! Yes, it’s a beautiful thing to look for all the different shades in the colours at this time of year and when spring bursts into life it feels very exciting!
Thank you, Mary Jo! Yes, it’s a beautiful thing to look for all the different shades in the colours at this time of year and when spring bursts into life it feels very exciting!
Thank you, Mary Jo! Yes, it’s a beautiful thing to look for all the different shades in the colours at this time of year and when spring bursts into life it feels very exciting!
Thank you, Mary Jo! Yes, it’s a beautiful thing to look for all the different shades in the colours at this time of year and when spring bursts into life it feels very exciting!
It was grey, foggy, and icy this morning. But the sun has come out, the walkways have been salted, and the snow is sparkling.
My favorite winter color is the bloom of winter camillas, especially the blood-red ones.
The color in my life today was the fruit salad: red apple, orange melon, grapes, and yellow pineapple.
It was grey, foggy, and icy this morning. But the sun has come out, the walkways have been salted, and the snow is sparkling.
My favorite winter color is the bloom of winter camillas, especially the blood-red ones.
The color in my life today was the fruit salad: red apple, orange melon, grapes, and yellow pineapple.
It was grey, foggy, and icy this morning. But the sun has come out, the walkways have been salted, and the snow is sparkling.
My favorite winter color is the bloom of winter camillas, especially the blood-red ones.
The color in my life today was the fruit salad: red apple, orange melon, grapes, and yellow pineapple.
It was grey, foggy, and icy this morning. But the sun has come out, the walkways have been salted, and the snow is sparkling.
My favorite winter color is the bloom of winter camillas, especially the blood-red ones.
The color in my life today was the fruit salad: red apple, orange melon, grapes, and yellow pineapple.
It was grey, foggy, and icy this morning. But the sun has come out, the walkways have been salted, and the snow is sparkling.
My favorite winter color is the bloom of winter camillas, especially the blood-red ones.
The color in my life today was the fruit salad: red apple, orange melon, grapes, and yellow pineapple.
I like the blueness of the sky when it clears. I live in a mostly cloudy place and when it snows the snow is usually mixed with a good amount of dirt and mud, so the sky is the clearest. The best view I’ve seen in person is by a beachfront…the beautiful skies, the clearness of the ocean, it gives me such a soothing effect.
I like the blueness of the sky when it clears. I live in a mostly cloudy place and when it snows the snow is usually mixed with a good amount of dirt and mud, so the sky is the clearest. The best view I’ve seen in person is by a beachfront…the beautiful skies, the clearness of the ocean, it gives me such a soothing effect.
I like the blueness of the sky when it clears. I live in a mostly cloudy place and when it snows the snow is usually mixed with a good amount of dirt and mud, so the sky is the clearest. The best view I’ve seen in person is by a beachfront…the beautiful skies, the clearness of the ocean, it gives me such a soothing effect.
I like the blueness of the sky when it clears. I live in a mostly cloudy place and when it snows the snow is usually mixed with a good amount of dirt and mud, so the sky is the clearest. The best view I’ve seen in person is by a beachfront…the beautiful skies, the clearness of the ocean, it gives me such a soothing effect.
I like the blueness of the sky when it clears. I live in a mostly cloudy place and when it snows the snow is usually mixed with a good amount of dirt and mud, so the sky is the clearest. The best view I’ve seen in person is by a beachfront…the beautiful skies, the clearness of the ocean, it gives me such a soothing effect.
Shannon, that sounds absolutely gorgeous! Red is such a vibrant colour to see us all through the winter. The fruit salad sounds delicious too!
Shannon, that sounds absolutely gorgeous! Red is such a vibrant colour to see us all through the winter. The fruit salad sounds delicious too!
Shannon, that sounds absolutely gorgeous! Red is such a vibrant colour to see us all through the winter. The fruit salad sounds delicious too!
Shannon, that sounds absolutely gorgeous! Red is such a vibrant colour to see us all through the winter. The fruit salad sounds delicious too!
Shannon, that sounds absolutely gorgeous! Red is such a vibrant colour to see us all through the winter. The fruit salad sounds delicious too!
There is something wonderful about being on the beach on a clear day, Mary. Thank you for that lovely image!
There is something wonderful about being on the beach on a clear day, Mary. Thank you for that lovely image!
There is something wonderful about being on the beach on a clear day, Mary. Thank you for that lovely image!
There is something wonderful about being on the beach on a clear day, Mary. Thank you for that lovely image!
There is something wonderful about being on the beach on a clear day, Mary. Thank you for that lovely image!
It’s this time of year that I miss Europe. Lovely pictures. I’ll get to see snow next month when I go skiing. Tweeted.
It’s this time of year that I miss Europe. Lovely pictures. I’ll get to see snow next month when I go skiing. Tweeted.
It’s this time of year that I miss Europe. Lovely pictures. I’ll get to see snow next month when I go skiing. Tweeted.
It’s this time of year that I miss Europe. Lovely pictures. I’ll get to see snow next month when I go skiing. Tweeted.
It’s this time of year that I miss Europe. Lovely pictures. I’ll get to see snow next month when I go skiing. Tweeted.
Thanks, Ella! It sounds as though you are looking forward to your trip!
Thanks, Ella! It sounds as though you are looking forward to your trip!
Thanks, Ella! It sounds as though you are looking forward to your trip!
Thanks, Ella! It sounds as though you are looking forward to your trip!
Thanks, Ella! It sounds as though you are looking forward to your trip!