November Diary :: Friday 2nd

This photo was taken last Friday--before the storm. I haven't been back to the same spot yet, but I imagine that the bright foliage has been stripped away by the wind.  We walked in our usual woods this afternoon and many trees were bare. There were two big trees down in the middle of the trail, which made for fun play. The kids balanced across them while Elvis snuffled around in the thick layer of old leaves. It looks and feels like November now. The high temperature was around 50 F. Our cheeks and hands were cold.

Yesterday afternoon Amy and I visited our local yarn shop. I wanted a hank of blue Plymouth Select Superwash Merino to make a hat and mittens for Luke. This morning I cast on the stitches for the hat and am zipping through the pattern. I might actually finish it tonight!

I think I may have mentioned before that my family has a tradition of trying to make it 'til Thanksgiving before firing up the furnace. We do it to save money, but there is something fun about seeing how far into the season we can make it. We wrap-up in sweaters and flannel, and I strategically plan breakfasts and snacks that require the oven:  baked oatmeal (link to my old Home Hum blog), Dutch babies, apple cake, cookies, and brownies.

Our bird feeders are very active now. Each day a pair of cardinals stop by, along with chickadees, nuthatches, tufted titmice, sparrows, and red and gray squirrels. I love seeing these wild friends out my kitchen and dining room windows.

This afternoon I stopped by the library and picked up a couple of books that were waiting for me:  Making A Family Home, by Shannon Honeybloom, and Simplicity Parenting, by Kim John Payne, M.Ed.  I can't wait to look through these books later this evening.