November Colors

Let me give a huge round of applause to another blogger and photographer who has encouraged me to see the Beauty of November!

Generally, November has been the boring month, the brown month. The month of adjusting to light/time change and early darkness...as well as temperature changes. I've always turned a bit inward and ignored the overcast skies and the leafless trees. Nothing seemed to appeal to me outside.

But if you look for it, sometimes you can find some amazing things. 

Points down

Tamarack Trees in full color
with afternoon sunlight 
highlighting part of them!

A stump in the woods. 

The moss picked up some yellow highlights of the subdued sunlight that tried so hard to come through the dull grey overcast.

Charlie and I headed down the ridge trail that our neighbor made years ago with his bulldozer. I sat on the trail to look at some lichen on a rock. I turned to look up the trail and squished my eyes half closed. I wanted to see the forest for the colors and not for the trees. 

Muted greens

yellow

reds

burnished oranges

leaf litter

sticks...

and

bark

make me Happy!

Maybe...
just maybe...

I can start to look with different eyes.

Wild

Strawberries 

make me smile!

Barberries

Pointy 

Sharp

Red,

No
smiles.

Pretty reds

and greens

decorating

creek rocks.

Imagination

drifts while

admiring the trout

in the creek.

Abstract reflections

of 

the grasses above

the water.

At the end of the day, I can honestly conclude that I found this particular November day full of vibrant colors.

Maybe I can change my attitude about November and look for its beauty. After all, I find winter to be fascinating and beautiful.

November

November and I have always had an agreement.  I have a hard time enjoying November and she has a hard time pleasing me.

There is that time change and then there is that adjustment to the temperatures becoming cold. I have to hook up the stock tank heater. 

I have to prepare for the dreaded 9 day deer gun season. I don't dislike deer hunters, don't get me wrong. I dislike having to stay in close to the house and dislike the fact that I can't wander about like I normally do.

Those 9 days are spent washing walls, ceilings, collecting cobwebs, organizing the storage down in the little basement and thinking about decorating cheerfully for December.

If we don't get snow, the grass turns brown. The woods turn brown. Everything seems barren. 

I have to try to enjoy November, she and I have to come to agreement. I give her the nod as I put on my insulated coveralls and find reasons to like this part of the year.

Hiking is incredible because I can see through the woods and appreciate the unique land formations. No bugs. No bugs. 

I have to think about Thanksgiving. It used to be a reason for families to get together and enjoy each other's company and conversation.

That changed when my MIL could no longer travel. When I became the soul driver for two folks with severe medical conditions I asked other family members to visit us instead of us making the long day trip.

So now hubby and I have a lasagna dinner on Turkey Day. It passes with just barely a blip. This was how it was pre pandemic. Nothing much has changed.

This November won't be the same. I have decided that I will get along with Miss November... and we will make the most of it.

After all, after November, comes December and we all know what that brings! Short days and colder temperatures. But that is fine. Once the hunters leave the public lands I can go hunt for ice formations. I can proudly wear my Skunk Hat. 

And there ARE no Bugs.

Plus there are those very fond memories of A Hateful Woman or a Stupid Man invented Tree Stands. 

I go back and laugh and laugh at that incident. Hard to believe it was 11 short years ago. I miss those stupid and fun incidents. I really do.

Welcome November!

The Brown Season is Here!

Even though the brown season is here, there are some things that are still colorful.

Sunrises and sunsets seem to be somewhat spectacular this time of year.

The October sunsets are visible without moving from my porch so this time of year all I have to do is step outside for a moment to enjoy the spectacular show that mother nature puts on for us.

Most of the fall leaves have come down except in areas that are protected from the wind or the oak trees.

Yesterday, the skies were spectacular for accenting the colors left before winter. The greens were brilliant. The colors alive!

A front moved in as we walked to the 'bus stop' to get the kids.

On our way back from the bus stop it began to drizzle. So we cut through the fields.

Of course I'd brought a plastic bag to wrap the camera up in.

Our adventure was fun, we were damp when we all got home and the rain stopped. OF course!

Today the temperatures aren't going to get above 40 something and the winds are going to howl.
Looks like a good day to do indoor things.