In November, the smell of food is different. It is an orange smell. A squash and pumpkin smell. It tastes like cinnamon and can fill up a house in the morning, can pull everyone from bed in a fog. Food is better in November than any other time of the year. — Cynthia Rylant
It felt like summer lingered for much of October and it was truly glorious, but November arrived with hints of winter. Colder temperatures, a crisp smell in the air, winds that now have a wind chill factor as part of their equation, and clear, quiet skies at night.
These things have encouraged a desire for seasonal cooking. I have a grocery list full of autumn-y things that includes the ingredients for the Cranberry Pie that Bonny shared this week. In addition, there was extra joy in making cinnamon syrup for my morning coffee… gosh, that cinnamon-y smell is just the best but it is even better on a chilly November morning!
I was even happy to see heavy frosts several mornings in a row! I am very ready to settle in to the beginning of the “indoor” seasons!
Porch-view this morning.
We have a large maple tree in our front yard that on Wednesday still had most of it’s leaves. This morning the branches are almost bare and my yard is covered in a carpet of gold. And while I am not thrilled about raking… gosh it is just so gorgeous right now! That yard full of leaves stirs up the joyous memories of childhood walking through the crunchy leaves. I even remember *liking* raking… making huge piles of leaves and laying in them…throwing them at my cousins… and laughing the entire time!
Steve and I have debated (each of us firmly on a very different side of the debate) attending the return of the Pittsburgh Vintage Mixer. Steve is very…leery about attending because COVID numbers are just not going down in Allegheny County and have increased over the past week. However, I feel confident that it will be okay to attend because of these two simple requirements: EVERYONE must wear mask. No mask, No Entry. And EVERYONE must be FULLY vaxxed. No Vaxx, No Entry. (These should be the rules for everywhere…but that is a debate for another day!) Steve is worried that because it is the first event following last year’s COVID Hiatus that it will be packed full of people… perhaps too many people, making social distancing challenging and he really hates crowds. But, as of right now… we are planning on going which means that I am currently winning the debate…for this moment in time, lol.
And with that… let’s get this weekend started! Happy Friday everyone! I will see you all back here on Monday!
We had a heavy frost this a.m. – very pretty, but gosh I’m shivering. Colin & Mailing have been to a few events where you have to show proof of vacination and wear a mask and all has gone well for them (though they did say not everyone was masked the entire time). I hope you can go to the mixer and enjoy!! Happy weekend. And, if I can find cranberries…I plan to make that pie this weekend!
Yes, the crunching leaves while taking my daily walk this week brought me right back to my walk home from grammar school! (over 60 years ago!) The sound triggered a happy memory for me!
Well, you can agree that if it IS too crowded, you will leave. So you will see…
I love that November quote, and can imagine how good your house will smell with cinnamon syrup and cranberry pie. It’s actually kind of efficient that you can rake just once (ok, maybe twice) and get all the leaves from that tree. We have had frost this week, but our maples are still holding onto their leaves and my neighbor’s leaves are still green! I can see both sides of the Vintage Mixer argument, but if you do go, I hope you have fun and stay safe. Happy Weekend, Kat!
The frost looks so magical, doesn’t it? I love going out and seeing everything sparkling. FWIW, it is actually better for your lawn to leave the leaves (ha!) there because they return nutrients to the soil, so if you need an excuse to avoid the raking, there it is.
I hope you enjoy the mixer and feel safe! I understand Steve’s hesitation, though — I’ve never enjoyed crowds. Perhaps there are others who will feel similarly and the crowd won’t be as big as you’re expecting.
I think it would be safe to go 🙂 I love your view and I love the photo for the blog! This is the very best time of year.
When I think of being a kid and leaves it’s always the smell that I remember most. I think the mixer sounds like a lot of fun and those rules should make it safe to attend.
What a great photo. I purposefully step on the leaves to hear the crunch and even kick a few up while I walk. I have the picture book, In November, by Cynthia Rylant. I bet that quote comes from that book. I would love to live somewhere where one had to show proof of vaccination to enter an event. I can almost smell the cinnamon – y syrup from here.
I’m heading to the NE Fiber Fest today and that city dropped their mask mandate. Not happy about it but will mask up and go. Knitters are smart right? You’ve intrigued me with the cinnamon syrup and those leaves are gorgeous right where they are! 🙂