Dear Reader:

I came across the term “Novemberish” (which I don’t ever recall seeing before) so I looked it up in the dictionary. It means “dismal, bleak, dark” as attributed to the month of November.

Really? I thought to myself….I don’t think about any of those characteristics when I think of November. Especially in the lowcountry I like to consider the first two weeks of November as simply an extension of October….October Part Two.

*This idea works when we are having summer temperatures and the mums are as beautiful as ever, with summer sunflowers and Christmas poinsettias all blooming at the same time….this can only happen in the lowcountry.

The dark “Novemberish” term stems from our depressed little Scots in Scotland (I can talk since my father’s lineage is Scottish) where it can get pretty bleak and dark by November. In fact one old Anglo-Saxon root word traces the term back to blood-letting because it was when the animals were slaughtered for food with the fast approaching winter on its way.

For turkeys…I assume this (sadly for them) still runs true.

The first time the term was seen… was in a piece of prose by that melancholy little poetic Scot by the name of Robert Burns….he wrote:

” Here I sit, altogether Novemberish, a damned melange of fretfulness and melancholy.” 

(Now old Robert must have been a real “party pooper” to have around in November….cheer up Robert!)

Early November makes me smile….the leaves are still turning….most of the plants are ‘closing up shop’ which means less time spent tending to the garden. Instead late fall and early winter give gardeners a rare opportunity to see their garden through different eyes.

Perspective changes this time of year. Winter tunes the eye to every fine detail: the silhouettes of trees, the tangle of vines on the fence. These are lost in the time of riotous roses and 7-foot sunflowers. Winter lets you see the trees for the forest.

Late fall and winter give us the chance to dream about the changes we want to make in our yards and gardens for the next year. I am looking forward to the extra time to imagine new additions to the garden.

I am also looking forward to having my pre-Thanksgiving dinner with nephews, nieces, and whoever else pops up. It is a win-win situation….a time to catch up with the younger family members and then stay in pj’s Thanksgiving day…. watching the parade and ball games while continuing to stuff my face. Can hardly wait!!!

Right now I am going through (what I call) the Post Halloween-Pre-Thanksgiving transition….it is time to get rid of witches, jack o-lanterns (the pumpkins can stay, thank goodness) and other spooky paraphernalia…even my Boo’s…they are the hardest to let go of each year. Maybe tomorrow?

The only “Novemberish” feeling I got (yesterday) was when John sent me some pictures taken of Eva Cate’s last College of Charleston (ECDC) Halloween Parade to the Cistern.

It was just a blink ago that she was the shaggy dog there in the two-year-old class. Next year she will be in first grade at James Edwards….too fast…too fast.

So until tomorrow….Let’s be so happy we still have a beautiful month to enjoy (In the lowcountry this week that means living with raised windows, cool breezes, gentle rains…thus  saving electricity) Win-Win!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*My impatiens are no longer impatient…they love this November weather…not too hot…not too cold…just right!