Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Sweet November


I am ready for cold weather and find myself welcoming mid-November with a big hug.  Albeit, a gentle hug as I "did something" to pull a back muscle last night (working carefully today to baby said muscle but so far... so good).  It's something I've lived with since a childhood fall and a good reminder to be thankful most days for the absence of pain... sometimes it is what we do not have to deal with that we can praise God for.  :)

Somehow the outside cold and fog and overall gloom make for a perfect day to read more of Gene Stratton-Porter.  As I read through Girl of the Limberlost, I wondered why it has taken me so long to read it.  I suppose it has a lot to do with reading fiction being something I have done more of in recent years.

I tended to nonfiction books even as a homeschool mom, my fiction reading was mostly lighter literature like Jan Karon and Miss Read and James Harriot and cozy mysteries such as Laura Childs' Tea Room mysteries.  All books easy to pick up while waiting for the homeschooler at the library or fencing or taking an Algebra class at the community college.  There is probably a correlation between finishing the "hands on" homeschooling years (beginning of high school) and the reading of longer and deeper books.

Mid-November is a quiet time in our home when most lawn and garden work is behind us but we're not quite into Holiday mode.  Especially this year as Christopher will not be home for Thanksgiving, making it the first time we will not be having a family meal here or traveling to a grandparent's home.  We're not quite sure what we will be doing, yet.

Christmas has been quite different for many, many years now.  Long gone are the days of Christmas crafts, decorating cookies, shopping for "just the right" gift, and many of the fun traditions we held tight when there were young children in our everyday life and there was more income.  Instead we developed other traditions and quieter holidays... different but one can still be thankful.  :)

I'll ponder holidays more later but now I must light a couple of candles (for it is dark, even for mid-day) and curl up with Limberlost for awhile, perhaps perusing a few beautiful cookbooks and thinking through what I want to read next.  I'm fairly certain a re-visit to Mitford is in order as I read through a few of my favorite Mitford novels and end with Shepherd's Abiding as Christmas draws closer.

Dinner tonight is easy, just popping a chicken in the oven along with potatoes and carrots to roast along side.  Tomorrow we will revisit the bird in the form of chicken noodle soup... comfort food on chilly days when one once again loves their flannel housecoat and flannel sheets and over sized sweaters and and there is a throw folded at the end of the sofa.

I am very thankful for a day when I can stay still, for books to read, for food in the frig planned for dinner, and most of all... the opportunity to chat all about it to blog friends.

Especially when Miss Victoria is sound asleep under the rocking chair, dreaming of the birds and squirrels on the other side of the window.  :)

Picture: Cookbook and apples; allposters.com

11 comments:

Shanna said...

I love your descriptions of these delicious, cozily warm-at-home days in November! These are some of my favorite days of the year....

Debbie in CA : ) said...

Sweet, indeed!

Enjoy your cozy day.

: D

Scrappy quilter said...

I love time spent with books too. The coming winter months are perfect for reading. Enjoy your read. Hugs

Donnie said...

I hope your back gets better soon. It's rainy and cold here in Sunny Florida so I'm also curling up with a blankie and a good book. Actually a culinary mystery which I love to read. Take care.

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Your day sounds perfect to me!

I am planning a re-read of "Shepherd's Abiding" myself....Mitford is a lovely place to visit!

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Ps - Thanks for the information on the Goudge books!

allisamazing said...

Your day sounds so cozy and peaceful. Thanks for sharing. ~Alana~

Anonymous said...

My husband got me my Christmas present early this year. Costco has the new Jan Karon book In the company of Others. I like to think there is really a Mitford/Mayberry someplace. Several years ago there were several news articles out that someone {Hallmark?}was in the process of making a Jan Karon Mitford movie. Has anyone else ever heard of this? Did any movie get made..or will be made? I hope so. Sarah

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

I loved The Girl of the Limberlost when I read it in high school, and have reread it a few times since then. But I was sad to find out that the forest/swamp she described is no longer with us.

I love your plans for winter months!

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

I read Girl of the Limberlost recently and loved it! Wish I could find some more of that authors books. Our library does not have. Nancy

Anonymous said...

I do not mean to hijack these comments but I watched Glen Beck on Fox tv today. Most of his show was an introductiion to food storage. Web sites etc to be on his web site. Everyone who comes here knows Brenda has a thorough list of places to go to learn about food storage. Also she has done many posts herself and has the links on the side of her page. Glen is saying like so many others are, that we all know prices are going up and even if nothing ever happened, and he prays it won't...it is best that we prepare. Even if all that happens is you loose your job for a short time and the government is fine it will relieve your stress so much to be as prepared as you can for the food and other needs of your family if you start to prepare now. Get out of debt. To do so sell those things you have you no longer need or don't want and use that money to get out of debt and or buy food storage items. He also mentioned that in the health care plan for some strange reason is a clause that starting next year anything we sell over $600 you will have to submit a 1099 form. So now is a good time to start on clearing out and selling things if that is what you want to do with them before next year. Sarah