What Made Me Happy in 2025 | Week 5+6
A walk in the frosty countryside, tender signs of spring, this view - and news from a certain dectective
I deeply enjoy giving attention to the good things I encounter throughout the day. They can come in all forms and be of all sorts. They can be inspiring or beautiful, laughing-out-loud funny or just silently stunning, kind, warm or moving, they can provide comfort or new insights.
They are seldom life-changing, but to focus on them day by day can become life-changing.
I’ve chosen JOY as my word for this year and I’d love to share with you what made me happy in the past two weeks.
As I published such a long book review last week, I decided not to follow up with another post two days later. I’m very aware of your precious time. :) So this time it’s two weeks in one post.
The first tender signs of spring in the garden
The last week of January gifted us with an unusually mild Monday, 11° Celsius, quite windy, but with lots of sunny streaks. Where it was sheltered from the wind, it was just marvellous.
I pottered around in the garden for an hour, savouring the sunshine and the mild temperatures. I cut down perennials, the rest of the scruffy looking reed and raked up some leaves that had scattered around in the garden. There still are heaps of them in the back corners of the garden under the trees, our so-called wilderness, place of refuge and hibernation spot for all kinds of animals - I hope.
I also looked out for the very first signs of spring - and there they were. Very tender, as it happens, but unmistakably there.
I was surprised to see a ladybug that early on in the year, though, but at least it found itself a very sunny, protected spot …
When I returned to the house to my favourite seat at the window overlooking the patio and part of the garden, I was delighted to see the robin again at the bird bath and the bird feeding place at the corkscrew hazel. I assume that it is always the same robin, the most lovely, proud, curious, joyful bird. Usually it stays further down in the garden, but in winter it comes closer to the house and I’m able to watch it for some time. Always makes my day.
On Friday, I heard birds sing at dawn for the first time this year.
On Sunday, I noticed the first evening song of the blackbirds. I love these versatile tunes. My favourite sound for a beautiful, peaceful evening atmosphere. Listening to their evening song is always an instant relaxation for me.
Oh, and the days are getting longer again, it’s really noticeable now. I'm enjoying seeing it getting lighter a little earlier and staying light a little longer every day.
Spring is definitely on the way!
A walk in the frosty countryside
That said, when February started with fog and frost, I had to revise my opinion about spring being on the way for a while. The wafts of mist even drifted through our (rather small) garden, something I've never seen before!
Never mind, I’m not tired of winter anyway. We had far too little snow. So I’m hoping for some more here … After all, February is a winter month in the Northern Hemisphere, and it may as well behave like one, right?
I’ve taken a liking to early Monday morning walks. This time I followed a small road out of town that I never use because it leads nowhere, really, just to the north-east into the countryside past meadows, fields and very few farms.
It was frosty but sunny and I walked for an hour and a half, enjoying the peaceful morning with almost no one around and no traffic, wrapped up in my thick jacket, breathing deeply and delighting in the view of the countryside. Mostly agricultural, of course, but still. And there are always forests nearby. This is the landscape I grew up with, it feels like home.
The puddles were frozen, but the ditches were not, so I stood still for a while and listened to the busy flowing water. The sun was not yet clear in the sky, but shone through a milky veil. It was a calm and very special atmosphere. I was so grateful to be able to start the week like that.
News from a certain detective
I don’t normally buy books blindly. Books have to earn their place on my bookshelf, as I am very mindful (and rather minimalistic) with my possessions and purchases - even with books.
I usually borrow them from the library first and only buy them if I’m absolutely sure I’ll read them again and again.
Read more about it here:
There are very few exceptions. Rebecca Gablé’s history novels used to be one of them.
At the moment it’s new volumes of three British crime series that I really like. I just can’t wait till they arrive at the library (and the library wouldn’t buy them in English anyway).
So, I was thrilled when The Bookseller arrived, the new volume in the DS Cross Mystery Series by Tim Sullivan.
The books are always named after (the profession of) the murder victim like the Dentist, the Monk, the Politician, etc. Well, given my former profession, I’m very intrigued that this one is called The Bookseller.
Looking forward to starting it! (More in my February book reviews at the end of the month.)
Isn't it always nice when the next instalment of a beloved book series is released? Is there a book (of a series or another) you’re looking forward to?
Oh, in case you’re interested, the other two crime series I enjoy and always buy as soon as possible are Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club and Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike (I also love the TV series, maybe even a bit more).
This view
This is what I’m looking at when I’m not writing (and when I’m doing my stretching-cardio-workout-moving-my-body routine).
My pinboard above my desk is very winterly themed all year round, but I usually replace the snowy trees with a seasonally more fitting picture of trees come spring or summer. I like to keep selected pages from the calendars of previous years to hang them up my pinboard.
I particularly love this dog sledge perspective and the view of the beautiful snowy landscape. Travelling by dog sledge is a secret dream and if I had a bucket list (which I very firmly don’t), it would certainly be on it.
The bear and the antlers always make me laugh! I bought this postcard at an exhibition in Schleswig where the award-winning photos of the GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition were shown.
A cat picture is absolutely essential. Everything is better with cats!
Until next time and have a lovely week!
Claudia
Looking for my previous weeks?
I have old calendar pictures hung up at my work station too! It was lovely to hear about your walks. I’m recovering from foot surgery & looking forward to walking again. But having to stay inside & off my feet, I’ve missed many cold & snowy days, so that part is nice! It won’t feel like spring here until April but that’s ok, I appreciate every season & love this quiet reflective time of year. It gives me time to dream about my garden.
Ah lovely photos! So wintry!
Do you have a cat? We have one that we have had since a kitten and another one that was a stray who adopted us haha.
I'm looking forward to it still being lught at 6pm when I finish work ☺️
I'm terrible at keeping up with posts hence why my replies are always so far behind but I do get there eventually haha 😅🙏