“No synonym for God is so perfect as Beauty. Whether as seen carving the lines of the mountains with glaciers, or gathering matter into stars, or planning the movements of water, or gardening ~ still all is Beauty!” ~ John Muir
Good Sunday morning, dear friends. I don’t know about you, but today finds me desperately trying to hold onto these last beautiful days of autumn. November, like October, is moving way too fast for my liking. While autumn has been glorious in the ‘Mountain State,’ we are beginning to see signs of ‘Old Man Winter’ with the arrival of his good friend, ‘Mr. Jack Frost.’ 
“Of yellow leaves and gossamer In autumns that there were With morning mist and silver sun And wind upon my hair.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien
A storm blew through our area this past week and most of our lovely yellow leaves are gone. But I treasure the few which remain. I thought I would share a few golden beauties, just in case yours may be gone as well.
“Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue.” ~ John Muir
With November in such a rush, I must also rush to attend to a few remaining things in the garden before I can say, “She is tucked in for her long winter’s sleep.” You probably wonder, “Doesn’t she know November arrives at the same time each year?” Oh, but let me tell you what I have been doing. Our sunroom looks like a drying shed. I decided to dry our limelight hydrangeas and they have behaved beautifully, along with a few roses. My plan is to make an arrangement for our Thanksgiving table. I want to make the table extra special this year, as I feel the fact that we are well is so very much to celebrate. If the arrangement manages to resemble the picture in my head, I will ask Mike to take photos. He is quite good with a camera and you know, I am not.
Also, Mike found the candied fruit at the grocery store yesterday, last year it was not to be found in any of our markets. So, the good news is, I will be making our fruit cakes the day after Thanksgiving. A long-standing tradition for me.
Dear friends, I hope you have enjoyed your visit and hearing about what I have been up to. I should add to my list that much of our Christmas decorating is in the works. However, we never have our ‘Grand Illumination’ until after Thanksgiving. To us, Thanksgiving is far too special to be rushed through, and especially this year.
Know I wish you and yours a lovely day.
And…
May you see the light in all the little things along your path. Stay Well!
“Novembers are for softest sleep when skies are dark and grey. They do not mind the time you keep when night looks much like day. They do not mind the rain that falls so warmly down your cheek. ‘Rest easy now’ is what they’d say if months knew how to speak.” ~ Ellis Nightingale
Amour,
Sandra
Images: via tumblr
Good morning Sandra. November is passing too quickly. This past week our autumn color was at full peak. Your images and quotes are perfect for this time of year. I will begin baking fruitcakes right after Thanksgiving, my Daddy and I love them. There has been a little start to Christmas decorating in the Sunshine Cottage. EM couldn’t be more excited, she has all kinds of ideas, more than I can possibly do. Have a lovely Sunday!
Good morning, Pam. Oh, I just imagine little Ella’s head is spinning with ideas, for HER cottage. How much fun. Christmas at your house will be so special.
November is moving way too fast, with the virus upon us it would seem that the season should be slower. I hope November won’t spin away.
Have a beautiful day, my friend.
Thanks, Sandra for the beautiful November images and quotes. Our leaves have fallen quickly and are short-lived but I have enjoyed them.
I like to enjoy and savor Thanksgiving also. I’m not sure why so many rushes each season.
I look forward to seeing your dried limelights for your Thanksgiving table.
Good morning, Bonnie. I certainly agree with you about November. It is such a special holiday.
Bonnie, what is in my head, regarding my arrangement, and how it turns out may well be two different things. However, they have dried beautifully. I also dried some of the Nikko Blue’s and a few other things. We will see.
Have a lovely day and week ahead.
Since moving to Naples, Florida at the end of September, the days have flown by. It is a little funny not to have “fall” and cold weather for the first time in years. I loved your post today.
Thanks, Penny. I know it would be quite an adjustment for me not to have four seasons, as I have always lived where that was the case. Although, Va. Beach really has two. Winter and summer, as spring and fall are short-lived.
Have a great day and week ahead.
It is hard to believe it is already the middle of Thanksgiving. It has been a gorgeous autumn and I am trying to savor every moment. Love your lovely and soothing images.
Thank you, Laura. Like you, I am holding onto the last leaf. Wishing you beautiful days during the remainder of this special month.
Such a beautiful tribute to November and all her beauty. You are correct, the past couple of months have moved quickly. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. I look forward to seeing the table arrangements.
Dear Lu, thank you. I hope you know that what is in my head, with regard to the arrangement, may not be what actually happens. We will see. But, if it doesn’t turn out as I have envisioned, it won’t be the hydrangeas fault. They have dried beautifully.
Wishing you a beautiful day and week ahead, my friend.
Good morning Sandra, you are so right. When flowers fade outdoors we crave their beauty indoors and you’ve made a perfect choice with Hydrangeas. “The Amen! of Nature is always a flower”, said Oliver Wendell Holmes. What wonderful plans you’ve made and fruitcakes are such a nice traditional choice. Have fun and enjoy the your days in peace filled with joy, you deserve it. I always look forward to your writings and appreciate them tremendously. ???
Oh, Louise, thank you for your most kind words.
I hope what is in my head will come to fruition, with regard to the arrangement. I plan to use a lovely bowl. We will see how it turns out. I love the Oliver Wendell Holmes quote, it is beautiful. About the fruitcakes, I enjoy making them more than eating them. Mike is the one who adores fruitcake.
Wishing that these remaining days of November will be joy-filled and lovely for you. And that the upcoming holiday season will be the same and that the days will go slow so that they can be fully enjoyed. Many blessings, dear friend.❤
I try to hold onto it too since November is my favorite month of all. I’m sure your Thanksgiving centerpiece will be lovely! I always make my fruitcakes on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, which often falls on Stir-up Sunday but not this year. I’m afraid that the day after Thanksgiving always leaves me too exhausted to do anything other than put the house back in order and eat leftovers!
Good morning, Dewena. I like what you do the day after Thanksgiving. I think I began making them on that day because I worked outside the home for years. I was always off the Friday after Thanksgiving. But, sweet friend, you have made me realize I no longer have to do them that day. However, I have made them on that day for so long they might not turn out if I change the day. I am holding onto the last leaf this year. Perhaps, it is my age. I just enjoy slow, now more than ever.
Have a beautiful day and week ahead.
Oh, I so agree to not rushing the holidays, for the days seem to go quickly now that I am 70, and I wish to savor every minute. Looking forward to your Thanksgiving arrangement, Sandra, which I know will be lovely. Thank you for the beautiful last vestiges of autumn photos. Hugs!
Dear Bobbie, you and are the same lovely age. I have great hopes for my Thanksgiving arrangement, that is will be somewhat like I envision. I am happy you enjoyed the photos. I am hanging on to the very last leaf. Have a beautiful day and week ahead, my friend.❤
Sandra, looking forward to seeing your arrangement. How special that will be, and then you can save the dried flowers and reuse! I still have some hydrangeas (and, of course, lots of lavender) that I dried from ours. November is coasting right by, but the wonderful news is it has been beautiful!
Rita, November has been glorious. Now, about my arrangement – we will just have to see how it goes. The vision in my head may be completely different from what actually happens. Enjoy these remaining November days.
Sandra, this has touched my heart and soul. I am so thankful for safety and health this season of thankfulness. Like you, we have put the garden to bed (mostly), and though we will be alone this Thanksgiving, I will set a beautiful table, and we will be with family in spirit.
Thank you for another reminder of what is good.
Linda
Dear Linda, thank you for your beautiful words. They inspire me to keep moving along with my blog. Enjoy these remaining November days and stay well.
My dear friend, I see your photos and I am in love with such beautiful places. They are very beautiful images… I have copied some of them to put them on my computer. Autumn is very beautiful, its colors are wonderful … I love them. Your messages are always interesting and beautiful.
I send you a big hug only virtual because even if you were here with me it would also be virtual since one arm is disabled …
with love, Dolores
Dearest Dolores, thank you so much for your kind words. I am happy you enjoyed the autumn photos.
I am so sad about your arm. Things do seem to take their time to heal, and never as quickly as we would like. I am happy you are with your daughter during this time so that she can look after you. Do take care of yourself, you are loved by so many. Blessings, dear one.❤
I love your update, Sandra. I’d love to see photos of your dried blooms. They sound wonderful. You remind me I need to cut a good bunch of thyme before the snow comes and new fresh oregano that popped up recently. I long to see your table display and know it will turn out beautifully. I’m feeling much the same, so grateful to still be alive here. I will decorate big time beginning the day after Christmas but before then may gently slip a few of the autumn things into storage (not all — don’t want a bare house on TG, though to be fair, I will NEVER have a bare house!). But some so I can be ready to haul out the holly on the day after! What a beautiful post as always. Thanks for checking in with your life these days!
Jeanie, I know your home will be wonderful for the holidays. Now, more than ever, doesn’t the word ‘home’ sound beautiful? I will be looking forward to your photos when you are all decorated. I love your many treasures of the past that I have seen. I am happy you enjoyed hearing about what I have been doing – we will see how my arrangement turns out.
Jeanie, our covid numbers are terrible here. As I know they are everywhere. Do be safe and stay well.❤
Good morning, Sandra. It’s a soft grey morning here on our Island in the Pacific, with rain drizzling down and birds flitting about the feeder outside my window. A few leaves remain on some trees, while others are bare. I like the John Muir quote about God and beauty. Truly, He created a beautiful world. I usually don’t do much decorating until the first of December, but this year I’m feeling in need of a bit more cheer and will likely begin this week with the china cabinet. We always have a real tree so that doesn’t happen until well into December. Twinkle lights are just so cheery, though. Your Thanksgiving table sounds like it will be beautiful!
Good morning, Lorrie. Early this morning, we had a similar start to the day. It is now quite windy and the sun is out with a blue sky. Today, I am working on my grocery list for Thanksgiving as I imagine our stores will be crowded later in the week. Enjoy these remaining days of November, they pass too quickly.
Another glorious post to savour. Thank you, Sandra. Your dried hydrangea bouquet for your Thanksgiving table was stunning. I noted it in your other post. Thank you for all the beauty of photos and quotations you share in your posts so faithfully. Best blessings, Brenda xo
Thank you, Brenda. Your kind comments are so appreciated. I enjoyed making the hydrangea arrangement. From cutting the huge blooms to the arranging. But my goodness did I ever make a mess. It was a good mess though. Thanks for your visit.❤