Last month, I copied Carole’s idea to welcome the new month… I liked it. It kept me focused. And it was semi-successful! Ha!
So, Welcome November!
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 their bed in a fog. Food is better in November than any other time of the year. — Cynthia Rylant, In November
Yes to all of that! I am all about the November eats! Pumpkin pie, stuffing, turkey. Yes please! Haha! And even though I cook for a “scaled down” version of Thanksgiving. I still like to have all the parts! November, you are so good!
But food aside, there are some things I want to accomplish this month and I do have a couple of “carry overs” from October’s list as well! I put them up top on my list so they are sure to get done (or at least started… see Steve’s socks! lol)
The List of More has some really good things on it:
- More Studio Tunics, please! Yes, I have two corduroy tunics to sew! The fabric arrived the day before we left so I have a good excuse for not getting them done, but as soon as I have the fabric washed, the sewing will begin!
- I have one sock to knit… still. So Steve’s Sock gets a spot again. Sigh. My excuse… I lost a needle (and I have torn the house apart looking for it…grrr!) I can knit the sock with 4 needles, but I prefer 5. So I need to get another set of needles. This yarn is thin and really needs a size zero, so I need to make a stop at JoAnn’s and pronto!
- It’s November which means I have a new Gnome to knit! The Eleventh! And I have selected Gnemo for this month! Colorwork, a sweater, and a curly beard!
- There is a fun new thing to add this year… watercolor Christmas cards! Yes, instead of buying cards this year – I bought card stock to paint on! I am even contemplating doing a painting for Steve’s Mom and Dad for Christmas. Stay tuned!
- And speaking of watercolor… yes, I start another class today! Kym and I are committed to keeping each other painting and I am so glad! She inspires me and I just love how painting makes me feel.
- The tomatoes
wereare still cranking out tomatoes before we left for Erie, so I left them (and came home to find a bowlful to pick!) but I will be pulling themthisnext week (we are having a week of temps in the 60’s here, so maybe they will keep on cranking out tomatoes and in the dark o’clock to take Sherman out it looked like more were ‘on the verge’ of being ripe!) But they will get pulled – eventually – so I can put their pots to bed for the season.
Now for the Less is More category… because you know that November needs to have at least one thing that I need a lot less of, right?
- Christmas… yes, in November. I like to decorate once Thanksgiving has happened…so Black Friday? Well it’s Trim the House Friday in my house! But this year I am contemplating downsizing the volume of decorating I do. Perhaps a Less is More approach and I don’t know how I feel about that, but I have some time to contemplate…I am generally a person who embraces change but Christmas decorating is all about the care of a little girl who missed out on all that fun. I grew up in a house that put up a tree on Christmas Eve and it was gone the day after Christmas. So I think you can imagine that because of that, I take Christmas to the top… and then push it over. But I am not that child anymore (or at least I hope I am not) and this year of really thinking about what a Full Life is… and is not… has me thinking about full not meaning all.the.things. but perhaps having the all the best parts…and finding joy in them. I have tried to do this in previous years and I have always felt like so much was missing. So my goal is to view this from a different approach this year and achieve success… I hope. Ha!
And with that, I have my “November Lists”… What’s on your list this month?
See you all back here on tomorrow with some Unraveling!
P.S. In case all you readers out there are in fear of a solid month of blog posts… never fear, there will be no #NaBloPoMo for me again this year. Whew, right?
I think your idea of scaling down Christmas sounds good. Take the best. Leave the rest.
We don’t put up a tree …………because cat! Well, AND because it was my least favorite part of Christmas. Then in this house, there is no good place to put one.
We have put out a few favorite decorations and called it a season, but this year I AM thinking of decorating our mantel. Those battery operated lit garlands have caught my eye and I have an IDEA! LOL
Whew is right! LOL We will definitely be scaling back this year since we will be in TX for Christmas!! One year when we went to Pittsburgh for the holidays we did not do a tree and I really missed it. Maybe this year we can just get a Norfolk Pine or something and do a little table top tree. Can’t wait to see your corduroy tunics!
It looks like you’ve got some good/fun things on your lists, and the people on your card list may be very lucky! It’s taken me several years to get to this point, but I think I’ve arrived at what’s important to me for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s good that you’re thinking about what are the best parts and then you can look forward to the season with a sense of joy (and not dread)!
That quote is wonderful and I’m going to post it in my kitchen (and look for the book at the library). Thank you!
I requested it yesterday! I love finding new books by looking for a quote for something.
I hope that the cards go as “easily” as Mr. Surowicz makes them look! 🙂
I always like to think of November as smelling like pumpkin and spice and warm things. And of course that smell of dry leaves getting crumbled underfoot! I’m sure I’ll be doing my usual pumpkin bread baking for the big family Thanksgiving, but my newest nephew is supposed to be born two days before, so I am also planning to make a smaller (but still full!) Thanksgiving dinner for my brother- and sister-in-law and older nephew to take to their house once they’re all home from the hospital.
This is a great approach to November! I’ll be sharing mine on Monday and I’ve got some good ideas brewing.
Okay. First, I just love Cynthia Rylant quotes. (Her “Henry and Mudge” series brought both my kids early-reader joy — and good memories for me now.) Love your list, Kat. AND . . . my best to you as you scale-down your Christmas decor. I used to be an over-the-top decorator as well, but scaled back a few years ago (even before the pandemic). It was so much . . . easier than I had feared! It freed me to use/display only the things that make me happiest — and that made everything I did choose to put out even more special. I hope you have the same kind of experience. (And now . . . off to try my luck at rusty railroad tracks. . . ) XO
November is the Ugly Month here in n.w. WI. The leaves are gone (except for oaks, which hang onto their leaves roughly forever), the grasses are are brown, the skies are gray. Bleah. Plus, we will lose that hour of daylight at the end of the day. But your post reminded me of the GOOD things about November. Must go bake something — pumpkin bread would be good 🙂