Warming up November
While I do love autumn, I have to admit that I’m finding November more trying than I remember it last year. It’s dark when I’m headed in to school, it’s dark when I’m headed home, and the darker it gets, the more I think of the sunshine at home. I find myself turning on all the lights I can, and when I find a sun patch, staying there and basking in it until it goes away. My cats would be proud of me.
I think there’s just something about this month that makes me homesick. This is the month of Thanksgiving dinners with family, Thanks+Giving potlucks with friends, the Macy’s parade, massive shopping sales, crispy red and gold leaves, Red Cup Day at Starbucks, and when Target puts out their Archers Farm mint hot chocolate.
Since that line of thinking leaves me nowhere, I’m doing my best to warm up November. Today I stayed near the stove, basking in its warmth, making some pumpkin chocolate chip muffins to make my lunch box a bit more cheerful. I watched a sunset and picked a few apples from the tree in the back garden. I commiserated about the dark with one of my housemates, who is Australian and also missing the sunshine. I strung fairy lights in my room for the first time since college, broke out the good tea from Fortnum & Mason, investigated my book haul from over half-term, binged on Bach, and lit all the candles I could find.
This weekend I buy cocoa and make a batch of soup, collect some more acorns and leaves for my window bowl, and hopefully begin my annual reread of Mrs Miniver. What do you suggest to warm up November?
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Kate! I had no idea you were back to blogging but will be a regular visitor for the duration! You are entitled to miss home for a bit but really…Christmas in England! what I wouldn’t give to try it on for size. Chai Lattes from Starbucks make November something to look forward to…
Hurrah! I’m glad you found me. I’m a sporadic blogger at best, but I’m glad you’ll be along for the ride.
It should be a lovely Christmas, and I have a short holiday to Copenhagen planned with a friend, so all kinds of nice and exciting things to look forward to! I hope your holiday is also shaping up to be lovely.
I could bring you ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ for the parade?! Or doesn’t that thrill you at all?
How did the muffins turn out? That’s a lot of cake cases. Don’t eat them all at once….
The autumn colours are the best thing about November. Possibly the only good thing, but certainly the best. I’ve not had chance to go there very much, but the botanic garden has been beautiful.
I would love to see ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ again!
The pumpkin muffins were good. I took some in to work and they disappeared. The plum cake is rapidly going, too!
I hope you get a chance to see more of the Botanic Gardens before it’s too cold and dark. It’s such a lovely place.