November on my mind...

It is November!

Many, many of our fellow humans here in the northern hemisphere despise this late fall month.
“It is too dark.
Too grey.
Too rainy.
TOO stormy.
Too boring.
No fun.
Christmas is too far away.”
The list goes on and on…


I, for one, do not detest November.
I love all 12 months of the year. I do not mind a single one of them, not even November!
NO, heck, especially NOT November. Poor, little misunderstood November.

The pictures are all shot by me, with my Canon, in November last year. I am sure I'll shoot plenty more this November. I promise, I'll share them with you!

November is what YOU make it out to be!
Just like every month of the year.
I just see the fall months—and the winter months, too, for that matter—as a chance to reflect and re-group.  This is the time for you, your spouse, your children, your home, friends and family.
I do not see the darkest time of the year as “a threat”. The darkness does NOT depress me, it comforts me.  
I see the darkness as a chance to make my home extra cozy, cook good meals, light tons of candles, plan for Christmas, and beyond.
I really do think THIS is the coziest time of the year. Yes, in November you have everything ahead of you, glittery beauty queen December just waits for all of us around the corner.
November is the poor little peasant as far as  months go. But peeps, please do not underestimate this month!

You can start planning for Christmas now, maybe you’ll even start decorating a bit? I will, but I will wait for the weekend after Thanksgiving for the big stuff, like the tree etc, etc.
However, I’ll be putting up Christmas curtains, putting out Christmas rugs, and I will even begin to rig my garden, and deck, with Christmas lights. I am planning on doing ALL this before Thanksgiving. I think I’ll start mid November. However, I will not light the lights. But it will all be set up and ready to go!
I do not want to stress too much in December. I want to ENJOY the fruits of my labor then.
SO, November is a good month for planning, and even doing.

The view from my bedroom.  I love it!

One of my neighbors told me Saturday night,
-Annika, you have taught me how to appreciate the fall, and especially November. You have taught me how to make it cozy in small ways.   That means a lot for my well-being.
THAT felt good to hear! Said neighbor hails from Wisconsin so she is used to fairly dark falls/winters  and with very cold temperatures at that.

My kitchen in November last year, it looks pretty much the same this year.

I just think us Swedes, and Scandinavians as a whole, are good at making the best out of what nature gives us.
WE cannot DO a thing about the darkness, therefore it is our choice to embrace it instead. Make it work for us, in our favor.
Do the best of it. Make it cozy. NOW you have all the chances in the world to do so.
All it takes is some candles, some good music, some blankets and a good attitude. If you have this you are golden, so to speak.
Be golden!

I am making a Royal Straight Flush out of my fall, and of my November in particular, and so should you!!


Have a good Tuesday!!

Snow on 26 November last year. I was early with the Christmas lights then as well. However, I did not light them until after Thanksgiving.