November

November is a between seasons month when it isn't really autumn nor yet quite winter and I love the variety of weather we experience during this month.  Here is a photo taken last week when we had a blue skies and sunshine day.

 Today I was to have met with a friend for a walk along the beach at Weymouth or somewhere and a pub lunch to follow but she had a cold and we have postponed that outing to another day.  In spite of the wet and windy weather we have here today I decided a walk would do me good anyway and arranged to meet another friend in town for a coffee and some French conversation instead.  I donned my boots and waterproofs and set off along the usual route.

 I thought how lovely it was watching the patterns made by the raindrops on the surface of the lake and listening to the pattering of the rain on my umbrella.

 I was the only fool out walking this morning and even the ducks had disappeared somewhere but I enjoyed my walk safe in the knowledge that a cup of tea or coffee and some shared time with a friend awaited me and that once home again I would be able to shed my wet things and be warm and dry again soon.

 I thought this photo taken recently summed up November weather- mainly dull and monochrome yet with the occasional bright spell.  I didn't place the coloured leaf it was like that all on its own!  I would hate to live in a climate where every day was warm and bright any more than in one where it was always grey and wet - I need the variety and the surprise of waking to find a lovely bright morning after days of dismal weather.  I enjoy walking in any weather except perhaps when it is really windy and there is much of beauty to discover at any time of year.  Time spent walking is thinking time and time to be on my own which is as necessary to me as breathing and I don't much mind what the weather is like as long as I don't have to stay cold and wet - it might be different if I was not able to get warm and dry after my walk.

The sun is low in the sky at this time of year and we need to make the most of it whilst it is there - a walk needs to be taken in the morning as after lunch it is getting a little late unless it is a short walk as darkness falls soon after 4.00pm now.  But there is something special about the early darkness when we are able to shut out the world by pulling the curtains and to snuggle down for the evening indoors.  I think that living in the modern world we are in danger of losing touch with the seasons - now that I no longer go to work all day every day I am free to notice the sunsets and the darkness falling, the differences in the trees and plants and the weather too and for that I am grateful as it feels like a link with my ancestral past in some way.  In November I no longer want to feel the grass beneath my bare feet or to sit in the sunshine with my book or to be doing something all day long but to light a fire and dim the lights - candles are good here - and go to bed early.  After all in evolutionary terms it isn't so very long ago that we would have had to slow down in the winter months as without electricity and 24/24 access to all things via the internet and telephone, without the wheel for our transport and so on we'd have to walk more but maybe to do less in the winter months.  So let's hear it for November and the coming winter even though I know I will be one of the first to suffer from the lack of light when my "grey blanket" falls in January!!

Thank you to all those who have left comments on my recent posts especially the advice on knitting my shawlette including some patterns.  I have almost finished it and may well make another using up some of my stash.