This weekend is the bi-annual Hudson Quilt Show, and Betsy and I went, along with our mutual friend Gail(she's the one in the guest house at Betsy's right now). I'll tell you about the quilt show and show pictures later this week. I did MORE stash enhancing *VBS*. Today my mind is still on the 'season' and blessings.I have to confess I've had a life long discontent with November. I've turned my back, ranted against it, written poetry about it, pretended it ISN'T actually Nov,
suffered through it, etc, etc, etc. You name it(including bad words) and I've probably felt that way. I rarely use the word HATE, it's such a strong word...it should be used very sparingly or not at all. But...I have HATED November. I'm alright again once December comes..it's just November that bothers me.
It's the dying. The falling away of visual life in my surrounding landscape that bothers me. I stand and survey my 'world' and everything is ending, dying, going away. And then the winds begin. I don't like the wind to begin with, and in November it seems to be 'possessed'. Seeking out the weak branches, the last of the fallen leaves, any loose shingles on the roof. The wind seems to stress test my entire world in November. It flips the rug on my porch around, rattles my windows, makes the sign on the door bang, bang, bang. It scares Ebby and cause disquiet and discontent in me.
I find myself in unfamiliar territory this year. A first glimmer, or perhaps a fully lite section is being revealed as November unfolds. I actually 'see' the role November plays in the circle of the year, and the circle of life. I speak as a child of the midwest. I have no actual reality of living without seasons. There is,no doubt, cyclic change for those of you who don't have 4 distinct seasons. I spent a year in Biloxi, MS and a short time later, a year on the coastline of Oregon. Even there I detected seasons(of a sort)just not the drastic change I was used to living with.
And altho I view this new awareness as a blessing,I don't seem to be 'ready'(word wise)to expand on it...at least not today. Discovery is a process, as is quilt making. Like a unicorn in the garden, it isn't for everyone, and will only reveal itself in its own time.
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12 comments:
Hi Finn! The squirrel is adorable. I've always liked fall because to me it meant snow will be here soon.
I'm with you as far as November is concerned ;- ) Ellen DeGeneres pointed out that November starts with NO and maybe that's why so many of us have bad feelings about it!
Hi, Finn, oh the squirrel just made me laugh out loud before I could even read your text to see that he was a birthday card. Well, I don't like to think of Ebby being scared but I must admit I like November. A midwestern November that is, where one month can be distinguished from another. I'm with Sweet P, I always loved that soaring sensation in November that oh wow, winter was coming and you'd better get ready.
Hi Finn, I like November because
1. pickles, olives, cranberry sauce, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy (hold the turkey please)
2. I get a whole week off work
3. it's my birthday month
4. it's the last month before the three months *I* hate show up :)
Yes, I hate December, January and February because they are too cold. Call me a wuss for thinking Oregon winters are too cold but they are! LOL The only good thing about winter is I can cover up the pounds I gain with extra layers of clothing.
You'll never know how funny that picture of the squirrel is to me! We have a running joke about squirrels with my middle daughter! I about died laughing when I saw this picture! Can't wait to see the quilts from the show!
Hello Finn, I have been enjoying your blog for awhile now. I used to think November was dreary and colorless. Then, when my children were small I decided it was a peaceful oasis between hectic Halloween and the sometimes frenetic activity of the Christmas season. Now that my sons are grown, I still like the restfulness of November. I do all my leaf raking then, as the leaves aren't really down in New England until mid-month.
Libby, from Massachusetts
I understand how you feel the way you do about November-- and yet, I also know how we couldn't have the glorious rebirth of Spring without it; that's how I rationalize. I lived from a year and a half in Puerto Rico where there's never the dying away that leads to fresh growth and renewal... it made me feel sorry for the plants and trees thinking of their perpetual weariness. Love the term "stash enhancement"!!
When we're ready, the understandings come. And Finn, you ARE beginning to 'get' it. Now, if you'd like to join me as I dance around the moon kicking through the fallen leaves with summer's abandon and winter's deepest delight...heck, you'd see it all in a flash! The little squirrel knows, that's why he is so happy as he finds his nuts to store away and a camera to pull out and take photos of all of the dancing ;)
This is a very thoughtful post Finn.
Hugs!
Cute picture.
I've, once again, found inspiration in looking at your quilts in previous posts. Thanks for that :)
Finn - I do hope you and November can come to a neutral spot. I have a that same feeling with August - and we came our closest ever to getting along this year. I think there's hope *s*
Hi Finn! I have to agree with you about November weather in the midwest. It's kind of a "blah" month as far as that goes -- the trees are bare and all of the golden light seems to go away much too quickly. I try to think of it as a "prep" month for December -- which I love! (ok, so I love Christmas -- the little kid in me always loves the anticipation of Santa!) I've been away from the computer and I'm just catching up on all my favorite blogs -- you've been busy! What great quilts and fabric finds!
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