Last week’s crazy wild winds loosed what remained of any leaves on trees; save those sturdy oaks… most of their rusty brown leaves remain and it will take a few more wind/rain storms to get their leaves to budge! I love the “new views” that the bare trees reveal and those bare branches seem the perfect foil for the paler blue skies. I am filled with gratitude for blue skies to appreciate!
The trees are bare. Spirits stir in the stripped bare branches. November supposedly renders thin the veil. — Louise Erdrich
These weather changes have likewise sparked those long dormant cooler weather recipes… yes, last week I got out the slow cooker for a roast with potatoes and carrots plus I made a huge pot of soup! (yay for those leftovers making meal planning this week a bit easier!) Sour dough will be soon settled in the refrigerator for a long slow rise before I bake bread tomorrow morning!
My goals this month included slowing down and savoring these November days that seem to have a different agenda this month… I think November is winning as I am stunned that this month is more than half over… or maybe that means that I am eking out a bit of a win? Win or lose, I am profoundly grateful for my “slow down” contemplation this year. It has been a very, very good thing!
Happy Monday, Everyone! I will be back on Wednesday with some unraveling!
I am so grateful for any sunshine and blue skies we get this time of year — the shorter days and gray skies really get me down. But filling, warm meals do a lot to chase away the cold! Perhaps this is the year to really use my slow cooker (I have a fancy one I got as a gift but have barely used it).
I was also grateful for wind and rain that stripped many of the leaves off our trees. There are a few lingering on the maples and oaks but we’ll soon have bare branches silhouetted against the sky. It does seem like time has sped up ever since we turned the calendar to November.
The month seems to be zooming by as fast as the winds are blowing! It has been so, so windy lately. Our figgy is bare of leaves as is our hibiscus – the hibiscus still had plenty of buds that hadn’t opened and the fig had an enormous amount of fruit that had not enlarged and ripened. Oh well, c’est la vie. Today it is quite chilly but we have sun and blue, blue skies and I am grateful for that.
I’m (slowly) adjusting to the darker days . . . and the crisp weather is making me crave all the hearty foods of winter. Taking it slowly (even as time speeds up) is a good strategy these days.
Slow down and savor is my mantra these days, especially because things can feel so hectic as the holiday season gears up. Soup and sourdough is the way to go!
Fall and winter recipes are a welcome change aren’t they? Blue skies are also a treat. I’m glad you are savoring these November days.
This is the last week of my adult classes then I have Advent and Christmas off, I am looking forward to slowing down.
I don’t know if you will receive this comment or not..but just to let you know you have my deepest sympathy and love to you all. This was the worst news. xx
Thank you so much, Cathy.