The red cups are back at Starbucks, the Salvation Army bell-ringers are jingling their cheer on the streets, and my inbox and mailbox are full of holiday gift guides. And November hasn’t hit the double digits yet.
I love the red cups (see above). I love the whole Christmas season – from decorations at home and around town to buying and making gifts, to the books, movies and music I revisit every year. I love the glittery-warm-fuzzy anticipation and the quiet reverence of Advent. And when November fades to grey, and the days are even shorter than they are now, you can bet I’ll be welcoming the holiday season with a cozy scarf around my neck and a cup of mint hot cocoa.
But meanwhile, this year, I’m determined to savor November – this month caught between the full glory of fall and the austere, stark, chilly beauty of winter. The leaves that haven’t fallen yet have finally reached their full brilliance, and my morning walks across the Common are a blaze of red, gold and orange:
In my kitchen, the flavors of apple crisp and pumpkin bread and butternut squash soup are still in their first flush. I’m making cranberry-orange bread too, and pulling out my cache of soup recipes (and adding a few new ones). The weekends are still warm enough to beckon me out for local adventures, and I’m storing up sunshine on every lunch break I can.
We tend, as a culture, to rush past the now in favor of anticipating the future, and we miss the moment – so many times. I’m definitely guilty of this, and while I’m looking forward to Christmas (and girding myself for the winter ahead), it isn’t here yet. And meanwhile there’s a whole month left to savor everything I love about fall.
Besides, in a couple weeks, J and I will celebrate our second Thanksgiving with dear Boston friends. I’ll make Mom’s sweet potato casserole topped with pecans and brown sugar, and bring it to our little church, where we’ll gather around folding tables in the basement and talk and eat and laugh and give thanks. I don’t want to gloss over Thanksgiving – either the day or the practice – this month. I want to enjoy all of November to its fullest before it’s gone.
Who’s with me? (And if you’re with me, how are you taking back November?)
cakes, tea and dreams 
I just had a red cup on Monday myself. As I walked out the door, I looked down and noticed it. It did make me smile. I agree about November, it seems to slip by if you don’t make an effort to enjoy it. In California we have beautiful warm days and cool nights. This month is special because it is Nutcracker month! My eleven year old daughter will perform the weekend of Thanksgiving. The closer we get the more excited she gets. I can’t wait to see her in it this year, the longest performance time so far! We have a big Family Feast in my classroom with all the children and their families. November is just lovely.
i’m with you! And as i mentioned on a like-minded bloggers post, my most recent facebook status was “i pray that Jesus will send down an angel tonight in order to smite all the Christmas lights that are already strung and lit.”
I, too, am in agreement! November is such a wonderful time, and I try to fully notice and enjoy it to avoid its being lost in the Christmas anticipation and preparation. Our tradition is to put up our tree and decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, and I don’t give much thought to gift-buying or Christmas baking plans until after Thanksgiving weekend. November is just too beautiful to allow it to go unnoticed by only looking ahead.
Your photos of the leaves are gorgeous!
Totally with you. I’ve been journaling more than ever, so that’s part of it. I’ve been walking, making sure to swish through the fallen leaves like I MEAN it. And I’m still zen, zen, zening the house – very slowly but surely – and hoping less clutter inside will make us more aware of what’s outside.
Good for you! I really enjoy planning and fussing over my Thanksgiving meal, even though it will just be the three of us for dinner this year. I spend my November searching for recipes (and trying them out) before the main event. Yes, I have candles in the windows, but I still have pumpkins on the front porch. You are right, November is too beautiful to rush through.
I love this time of the year! A time for me to check my heart and attitude and make sure there is plenty of room for gratitude and then prepare to enter into CHRISTmas season.. (:
I so agree with you! I love November and I’m trying to savor it. Although it’s hard because I love the red Starbucks cups, holiday music and all the decor. I refuse to decorate though until after Thanksgiving.
You know, sometime this past week I saw an advertisement for a department store–maybe Nordstrom?–that promised not to jump into Christmas until Black Friday. I LOVE that. Gotta leave some room for the sweet potato casserole.
Thank you for your post, I love this time of year. Everyone is getting together to spend time catching up after the long year apart. This year is even more exciting then the years prior because my husband and I have our first child to celebrate with. I want to set up for Chirstmas now… but I have to wait till after Thanksgiving 🙂
[…] more than I need. And I’m grateful. 9. Morning walks across the Common, currently filled with colored leaves, church bells and ever-changing skies. 10. Tea – how I love the warming ritual of a good […]
[…] this year, as last year, I am choosing to be present in November, to savor the trees still aflame with orange leaves and the crunch of their dried counterparts […]