Everyone was home again yesterday. Today, things are starting to slowly return to routine. My husband and G went off to work though G had a late start. I’m doing a load of laundry and pondering what I might want to do today.
I knew I wanted to put up a blog post. Maybe return to doing winter Wednesdays. So for today, just a few images. Even the nature centers were closed yesterday (and it was cold out there!) but I was craving some outdoor time (and sunshine!). So, a few phone snaps from the back yard to start.
Also, not the best pictures because my hands even in the fingerless gloves were COLD. I also should’ve grabbed the real camera for decent bird pictures because we had a great variety. That said, I do like how this zoomed in phone picture of a junco and cardinal sitting in the oak tree has a surreal painting like feel:
The cardinal a bit more in focus. The sun and wind knocked most the snow off this side of the oak tree so that’s why it looks so bare.
Higher up, the trees looked like this:
The trees were making me happy yesterday along with the bright blue skies! Just the tippy top of the trees in this photo had ice left. 
Time to warm up:
On my list of 25 for 2025 (still thinking on that word of the year but leaning toward either savor or trust), try a new hot chocolate every week of winter. So I opted to start out by trying this Belgian hot chocolate recipe.
It was so good and so rich that I couldn’t drink an entire cup (I didn’t even fill this cup full). Half of it is still in the fridge to be rewarmed, perhaps later today.
Definitely a 5 star cup of hot chocolate!
Note, I love dark chocolate so opted for the darkest chocolate I could find that stayed with the parameters of the recipe.
Have you ever had Belgian hot chocolate? Also, if you have a kind of hot chocolate you think I should try, I’m open to suggestions. It doesn’t need to be homemade, if it’s a packet flavor, I’d like to know that as well.
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Now, I’m off to fold a bit of laundry, put away a few remaining stray Christmas decorations, and clean up around here a bit. However, you spend this winter Wednesday, I hope you enjoy it!
Hello my Lovely! Love seeing all of your bright pretty snowy pics. That cardinal sure pops off the screen! So vibrant and beautiful. 😍
I have not had that kind of hot chocolate but it sounds amazing!!
Stay snuggly and cozy my Dear. I keep hoping on some snow up here. So weird without it!!
Blessings. xo
Hello! Cold here! And so much snow! I have not tried that hot cocoa, but it sure looks good. Have a cozy evening. Your photos are beautiful.