November!

I feel glad that November is here. My phrase for this month is “November invites.” I like the soft “v” sounds in both words.

I stayed home today instead of going out and being political with Sam. I’m feeling overwhelmed with lots of end-of-growing-year tasks and a disorganized house. I didn’t get far with things but it did feel good to do as much as I did.

A sampling:

• Canned three quarts of applesauce for my neighbor, a barter for her apples
• Listened to several episodes of a podcast about the Tang dynasty. I’m getting interested in the poet Tu Fu and want to learn more about his world.
• Harvested the last of the beets.
• Cut down some of a small maple forest that’s sprung up where it is not wanted.
• Raked hay mulch off the garlic bed in prep for weeding, then planting.
• Looked at this raggedy quilt/couch cover again. I have a new approach. I’ll cut out whole rows across the center and insert new patchwork. I have been thinking too small with it.

• Transplanted this beautiful plant (“eastern bluestar,“ if my records are correct). It was crowded up against some iris. Neither one could shine. I wanted this one in a place where I could see it often.

• Moved thyme inside. Uprooted dahlia tubers and brought them inside.
• Planted some milkweed seeds that I pilfered from the Farnsworth complex in Rockland this summer. I put the milkweed pod in my bag and forgot it. Weeks later I was surprised by fluff. My next step here was to weigh them down with a layer of sand to keep them in place.

I didn’t do much in the garden. Some other day. I just admired these wind chimes hanging from an A-frame. It’s windy and they’re very alive. Catching the afternoon sun as well. Tomorrow, the time changes. It will be shocking.