November, December, ''Swiftly Flow the Years"-Journals, Advent Candles

 Hi everyone! Are the leftovers eaten, the Tree is up and glowing on the very beautiful but early very dark for day of December? I hope the month brings happiness, peace, and joy to all.

I'll start with something fun! A friend gave me this wonderful trader Joe candles advent calendar.

The scents [I peeked! I sniffed] are lavish and unusual. Each scent refers to a beloved Trader Joe's product. Today's is Swedish Swimmies [Fish], the classic gummies candy; the scent is sweetly berry themed.

I plan to light a new candle every two days, that way I'll enjoy them all through the holiday month. Then they can be reused during the winter, or maybe for my Christmas Eve buffet get together, all lined up and making the house smell fab.

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Catching up with my Nature Journal, below. I will be completing year two.

 

Wish the pages had more room.

Here there are very few trees; those that are here are often ornamentals. So when I was out I had my eyes peeled for any pretty leaves!

Some leaves were pocketed , brought home and pressed for future drawings.

Mo is my faithful supervisor, here with the ancient peach tree. Its brilliant leaves are our best autumn show.

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Nature nerd girl notes:

Mr M is back and brought a girlfriend! They were busy in the bayberry shrubs last week===gorging on the newly ripe tiny  blue grey berries--- though he esp likes to be up top of the ugly locust tree, where he sings away in the golden afternoon sun.

You looking at me, lady? I'm here, twenty years, alright?

The earliest pics I have of the mockingbird are dated 2015, but he was here before that. Sadly all my pics pre 2014 were lost in a computer change.

Vs of geese overhead. Some migrate as late as November, others stay and are traveling between feeding, roosting, spots.

This week I'll decorate a bit, keeping low key due to the short holiday season this year. And I'm invited to a tree trimming party! How fun!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

Sunrise, Sunset  from Fiddler on the Roof

Lyrics

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older
When did they?

When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday that they were small?

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as they gaze

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

love

lizzy

Gale Warnings

 

Hello! And brrrr! November showed her Autumn ugly face, bringing a dark day of cold heavy rain and blustery winds. RED gale warnings have been appearing constantly on phone and screens, as the wind ratchets itself up to a tantrum. The wind makes it very cold, my bones hurt! Though just now, walking Mo, it was milder than expected as I waddled after him in sweaters and two layers of coats. [windchill 40* F]

It is pitch dark at 4.30 on a rainy day! Two weeks to earliest sunset, on December 7.

I am very grateful that I have Mo, my doggy, to be a friend and comfort during these holidays and dark winter months. 

And always, of course! We'll share a laughable tongue in cheek Turkey TV dinner on Thursday. Might make my cornbread stuffing as I bought all the fixin's before I knew there'd be no holiday dinner shared. It keeps well! Turkey TV dinners were my mom's bribe for me and my brother to behave well when she and Daddy had a rare date night and we had the loathed babysitter come. We thought a frozen dinner such an exotic treat in a home where food was always made entirely from scratch, even pizza and donuts! And I'll think of them, the Thanksgivings together.

Below, my gift to you all, is a beautiful poem I came across on IG. Sharing it with you. I am so thankful for you, my internet friends. Happy Thanksgiving!

November by Kevin McManus

 

November, you old vagabond,

with your tattered coat of grey,

you stumble into every town,

with a chill that steals the day.

You bring the ghosts of yesterday,

in your satchel, heavy and worn,

and your songs, in shades of melancholy,

leave the heart a little torn.

The leaves, they tremble at your touch,

as if they fear your solemn rhyme,

and the trees, they stand like soldiers,

guarding secrets lost to time.

So, welcome, November,

with your sombre grace,

and the tales you have to tell,

in your poetry of solitude,

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....