For me, November is time to turn inwards and look to the warmth of home, family, good food, good books, and good music. I can't get enough poetry in November. Funny, that. And this year, I am completely smitten with the following piece of music. It is my November muse.
Hope you are finding your light in the darkening days.
Edit: If you are looking for a charming read for these indigo evenings and like YA fantasy (like I do!), I highly recommend Wildwood by Colin Meloy, singer and songwriter for the Decemberists. The book has beautiful, quirky colour plates illustrated by his wife, Carson Ellis. Find the Globe & Mail review here.
If you're feeling the need for a poetry fix, check out Canadian poet, Alexis Kienlen here. I've read her first book and can't wait to read her second.
Enjoy!
13 comments:
Great choice in music. I am similiar in attitude as you when it comes to these fine months...lots of reflection and happiness. Your photos are wonderful. The light sprinkling of snow on the wood gets me in the holiday spirit.
November. Your excellent opening photograph with the frost on cast iron makes me wish I had visited some graveyards that day...
Dark thoughts for the dark days ahead...
Love the music!
Lovely post!! Down here in the Southeast we still have a lot of light, but we sure have some gray dreary days in Dec, Jan and Feb. Then we have to look to our muses for inner light.
Love your thoughts on November. But when I read on and saw that you like YA, I was immediately going to recommend a couple books by a friend of mine, Karen Bass. And then I read your mention of Alexis -- I know Alexis as well! She used to live up here and has moved to Edmonton. We write for the same newspaper.
Hello from Vancouver Island. I love your blog and your photographs! It is so nice to meet you. I love November and find it is a quiet month that I enjoy with family and friends - lots of comfort foods, cosy fires. I look forward to your blog! Warmest wishes, Michelle from 'Relics and Tales' and 'Mich's West Coast Journal'
Rohrerbot, Welcome! I do find the inward nesting of this time of year comforting. I really like to exercise my mind and creativity this time of year as well. (maybe too many years writing term papers right about now! lol)Anyway, thank you for stopping by. :)
Adrian, Hi! Not sure if blogger obliterated the first part of your comment? Thank you for the kinds words, though. :) I do love that music as well as another piece from the Carnival of the Animals, the "Swan". It is what cellos were made to play. :) BTW, if anyone could take meaningful and gorgeous photos of a cemetery, it would be you. :)
Sweetbay, I remember when I went to Mexico and was stunned by how even the distribution between night and day was. Here we are at the outer edges of what a "day" means. They are so short in the winter and long in the summer. I won't see sunlight in the evenings again for a few months. (I'll rely on glimpses of your southern garden to keep me going!) Right now I am loving your roses. :)
Diane, So nice to see you doing a little blogging again! Always one of my very favourite stop-ins on the 'net. Such a small world that you know Alexis too! She and I belong to an ag writers group and met on a tour a few years back (a winery tour - before lunch! Don't ask!). She has some readings coming up for her new book and I am hoping to get one signed. Lucky paper to have two talents such as you both writing for them. :)
Michelle, Welcome! I have just discovered your blog and am looking forward to reading through your archives. I worked one summer in a museum archive and my favourite thing was reading the journals of the women who homesteaded here in AB. Also, you live in one of my favourite places on the planet, Vancouver Island. :)
A lyrical and evocative opening shot! November has been unusually kind to us in Toronto so far this year. We'll see how it goes on But I am one of those annoying folks who finds every season special. Even the dark days of winter.
Ms S girl : )
I am listening to the music as I type to you and it is so beautiful .. I was having my "fix" of Motzart and Ottmar Liebert two very different artists but they fill me up with wonderful feelings .. if we did not have "gray" cold months .. how could we appreciate those wonderful sunny warm ones ?
I would appreciate a lot less snow, BUT .. I am a 4 seasons kind of gal : )
Love your frosty bench picture girl!
Joy
I think this music was featured on one of the Harry Potter soundtracks. It sounds very familiar. I like November but am in a very different climate (zone 7a). It's when our fall really hits full stride. I hope you have an easy winter. :o)
Like Tammy, I wondered if this piece was from Harry Potter. It seems so familiar. I'm growing to appreciate November. Time to come inside and take a rest. My mind starts coming up with projects for the winter months, becoming busy in a different way. Spending more time watching movies, reading books, cooking and baking. I'll tire of the routine by spring and will be anxious to go outdoors but right now I'm appreciating the slower pace.
Helen, November has been kind to us here as well (relatively speaking). As of today, no snow!
Joy, This does seem to be the season for music, doesn't it. iTunes is loving me these days. :)
Tammy, My hubs and I both think we have heard this in a HP movie as well but I can't seem to confirm it online. (Makes me want to sit down and watch the movies again!) :)
Marguerite, I get itchy to take some courses this time of year. I think I will take something artistic in Jan as well as try out a new fitness endeavour to keep me motivated - maybe strength training. Oh, and dreaming while reading seed catalogues! :)
Sublime music!
Thanks, Anna. I just love it. :)
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