Making Room for November

 

How early darkness falls these November days. Even on sunny days the light is mostly gone by 4:30 pm, and today was not sunny. Rain dripped steadily for most of the day, creating a rather gloomy atmosphere indoors and out.

Outside my window

It's Thursday evening and very dark. I've seen wonderful photos of the Northern Lights from the past couple of days, but we saw nothing here due to a lot of cloud cover. I spent some time at my younger daughter's home this afternoon and from her window I watched two deer feeding not 20 feet from the house. One looked at me, chewing steadily, very unconcerned. Ashley showed me a photo of two male deer with their antlers locked taken from the same window a couple of days ago. They are being very careful with the little girls since the deer are everywhere just now, and a bear was sighted in the neighbour's yard. 

I am thinking

about many things. Next month will be filled with Advent followed by Christmas festivities. I know that stores are filled with decorations and lifestyle bloggers have their houses already prepared for Christmas, but I like to wait. Anticipation adds to the excitement. This month is for making plans and thinking ahead. November is often characterized as a dreary month, and today's weather might have confirmed that, but there is much comfort in lighting lamps and candles, wrapping oneself in a cozy shawl for reading, and enjoying cups of tea or hot chocolate in the evening. I want to make room for this month that gets a bit of bad press. 

I am reading

or planning to read the two books above that I purchased with some birthday money. It was very difficult to choose from all the wonderful books available. Jane Austen for Every Day of the Year has a beautiful cover and a gold ribbon. What an insightful and witty writer Jane was. This year marks 250 years since her birth. 

I enjoy the cozy mysteries of Sophia Bennett featuring Queen Elizabeth II helping to solve the crimes. Lighthearted and fun. 

I am planning to read

both of the above books, also part of my birthday gift, in December, and I can hardly wait. I've been very good about not peeking, but it's difficult, particularly the Tolkien book. I'll be collecting my Christmas-themed reading together soon. 

In my kitchen today

I baked bread and enjoyed a warm slice with pumpkin soup for lunch. I also baked a panful of brownies for my husband to take to his beekeeping meeting this evening. Fortunately, not all of them fit on the plate, so there are a few to enjoy at home. 

I am pondering

these lines from Shakespeare: 

"Our doubts are traitors

and makes us lose the good we oft might win

by failing to attempt"

I wonder how many good things or experiences I have missed because of personal doubts and fears. Rather than bemoan the good I could have done, I'm letting these lines remind me to not let my doubts paralyze me, and rather pray for courage to do what I can.

I am enjoying

two types of Murchies tea. I'm always on the lookout for decaf black teas to drink in the afternoons. So far I've tried the Black Currant and it's delicious. A little chocolate along with tea is a lovely pick-me-up.

Other small delights are

* shepherd's pie for dinner

* a few last flowers from the garden

* feeling the cool night air over my face when 

I'm snuggled into my bed

* standing with my back to the fire to warm up

I am creating

a present for a young granddaughter - a play tent with dolls, sleeping bags, and clothes. It's going well. Lists for gifts are being created and items ticked off. We don't purchase a lot, but it's always fun to choose things for the littles and not-so-littles. 

And that's it for Friday's post. Tomorrow morning we're going out for coffee with friends and on Saturday there's a family birthday party for my daughter, daughter-in-law, and myself - a brunch get together. 

I apologize for the photos in this post. Once I took them off my camera and saw them here I realized how poor the light was. 

Wishing you a weekend filled with small delights.