A world where there are Novembers
November is one of my favorite months: the world sliding slowly into winter, the days starting short and bright and finishing in cozy dreariness. We are blessed to live in an area where fall shouts in exultation before winter roars through.
T is taking a photography class this year, honing his skills and earning a little pocket money by taking pictures of his friends' soccer games. He borrowed my camera battery to do this a week ago, and we currently can't find it. It's definitely in the house somewhere; I've seen it, and probably moved it to a "safe" location that has fled my memory. Time for some fervent prayers to Agios Phanourios! But what that means for me (and you all by extension) is settling for phone photos for the time being.
At the end of every month, I take a moment to assess my goals. I've been intentional about my word of the year 2026, and have sought out discomfort in small forms.
Last week I went to a local garden club's flower show to see a friend's hard work on the display about native plants and migratory birds, and also her amazing photography. The gardeners shared some resources for native plant gardening that I've filed away for later. The event was outside of my comfort zone (Strangers! Unknown parking situation!) but was lovely.
Another outside-my-comfort-zone experience was a recent Zoom meeting to share my perspectives on some of my experiences as a clergy spouse. Speaking in front of a group, and the Zoom platform itself, are two things I avoid, but this was a stretching, growing, big-girl-pants moment.
Pondering
The importance of the meaning of words.
“Why shouldn't we quarrel about a word? What is the good of words if they aren't important enough to quarrel over? Why do we choose one word more than another if there isn't any difference between them? If you called a woman a chimpanzee instead of an angel, wouldn't there be a quarrel about a word? If you're not going to argue about words, what are you going to argue about? Are you going to convey your meaning to me by moving your ears? The Church and the heresies always used to fight about words, because they are the only things worth fighting about.
-The Ball and the Cross by G.K. Chesterton
Reading and Listening
- Still The Ball and the Cross! As much as I love the physical copy, I also downloaded a free kindle version to my phone so I can read while waiting. I seem to do a lot of waiting this season!
- Don't Mom Alone podcast, the episode featuring Kathy Cunningham, recommended by my sister-in-law
Schola ALM
- As our schedule fills (so many appointments!), keeping up with my Latin and Donne has presented a challenge. I'm still plodding slowly forward. Last week I brought the Colloquia Personarum book with me to all the waiting rooms and caught up on three chapters.
Crafting
- Vest update: So very close to binding off at the shoulders! I was hoping to bring it to knit night this week and steek it there. You know, for moral support. Next week!
- In the 2024-2025 homeschool year, one of our handicraft units was bookbinding. I loved it. I ordered some amazing supplies, gloating over the handmade paper.* I practiced making a sewn boards binding with several Akathist booklets as signatures (the floral paper). It's a little crooked, but making it taught me a lot. Fast forward to this fall, and I had a need for a new journal for a specific use. I used regular printer paper for the signatures and some special paper for the endpapers and cover. It's miles better than my first! I want to try other kinds of binding. Stay tuned...
Domestic Doings
- Color me inspired! I have delved into more Anne Waters recipes from this cookbook. This week I tried the cauliflower soup, beef stew, minestrone, and tortilla soup. All of them delicious and economical.
- Little M's room is getting a clean-out! She's a little hoarder, and we need her room Very Tidy to host a guest at Thanksgiving.
Weekly Goals
- Parent-Teacher conferences and half-days for my middle schoolers
- driving lessons for T (!)
- Thanksgiving menu prep
- Knit Nite @ LYS
- letter to penpal
New Things
- I love cozy beverages, one of my favorite things about cooler seasons. I have to watch my caffeine intake, as I get jittery and rage-y if I've had too much, which is a surprisingly little amount! But I drink herbal tea throughout the day, often using just one teabag or scoop and pouring hot water over it again and again. I picked up some Greek tea at a Greek shop in our neck of the woods, but they have an online shop, too. The linden is a new one for me!
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