On This Very Last Day of November…

Hello! It’s been several days since I last posted… Hopefully, you all had a great Thanksgiving. Ours was nice. I celebrated with my mom and one of my sisters and her husband. Plus, Mom’s two love birds, who feasted on millet. ; )

We mixed the traditional with new recipes this year. So, besides our family’s good ol’ standbys of turkey, stuffing, cranberry relish, green beans, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese (my “turkey”), and cornbread — and, of course, dessert, which was pumpkin cheesecake this year — my sister made a roasted carrot dish with oranges and roasted Brussels sprouts. And now I finally like those little round things. ; ) Brussels sprouts used to be on the same list as black-eyed peas to me. I’m a vegetarian, but never liked those two… But roasting made all the difference. I’ll have to get the recipe and share it, but I know it had cranberries and nuts. Great-tasting combination. (Oh! And I found out how to make black-eyed peas more palatable — but will share that around New Year’s. ; ) So I guess second chances, in some cases, are worth it after all. Ha!

On this very last day of November, during these days of giving thanks, I’m grateful for everything God’s blessed me with, and everything He’s allowed. That last part is not easy to write. But I know that somehow He is working everything out for good, just like He promises. I think we’ll all be able to look back and see how certain events that were out of our control were used to guide us to where we needed to be, on the inside and outside…

Well, it’s late, and I’m tired again, and don’t want to be too philosophical this evening. If I weren’t so sleepy, I’d watch a comedy. I’m drained after watching the “Lord of the Rings” marathon on Encore over the weekend. Not drained in a bad way; I absolutely love those films… But drained as they really brought the tears this time in several places and because I feel each one of us is a little “Frodo” … on a journey of epic proportions… I think I might write a blog entry about that at some point… But for now, I need sleep and a comedy. Or a comedy in my sleep. What a fun dream that would be!

Good night, you all… Sweet dreams… And see you in December… ; )

11.11.11

The sun woke me up this morning. I like when that happens. It was before time to “rise and shine,” but that was okay. Turns out, I had computer problems to deal with. Once those were finished, my day was back on track. But I made myself take a break and go outside and look around — on this 11th day of November, this Friday that also happens to be Veterans Day…

This attached picture is of an old birdhouse in the pear tree. I’m not sure any bird ever took up residence there, but it’s nice to think so. It’s nice to think many things, not knowing if they’ll ever come to be, but hopeful wishing, hopeful prayers are good medicine for the soul…

It’s after midnight now, so technically it’s November 12, a brand-new day… They all roll into each other so effortlessly, don’t they? It’s not effortless for us going through time, but time itself just rolls on… It’s like we have to catch it somehow, and dig our heels in…

Part of me wants to finish whatever it is I’m supposed to do while I’m on this planet, and another part of me is ready to leave… Maybe it’s just part of feeling the seasons change… I’m already looking forward to spring though… Two more months ’til another new year begins…

Another new year… I’d been hoping for many new things by now … a new story ready to send out; the feeling of a “new me” in different ways; and a new love, my soul mate, the one who recognizes my soul as “home,” designed by God… Well, anything’s possible, and in the remaining two months, I suppose my story could blossom more; a “new me” is certainly possible by then; and when God’s timing for my soul mate to appear happens, it could be “suddenly,” like He’s known to do…

I’m just wondering… But staying in the present, I got to see 11.11.11 roll around — and, yes, those numbers still are so neat to me (search for my blog entry titled “Numbers With Feathers”); I gave thanks for all the vets, including my dad and nephew Lucas; and I saw the beauty of nature and captured it in pictures, including a little rundown birdhouse nestled in the middle of the pear tree… You know, I think that’s a good image of how I feel at times… And that’s okay. Because I also remember Jesus’ words: “Behold I make all things new!” — and I believe that includes me also… One day at a time… And each new day has its own set of blessings, doesn’t it?

No more words for tonight… I’m sleepy… This is a very sketchy draft of a blog entry, but I will let it go for now… Good night, and sweet dreams, fellow travelers…

November Tomato Blossoms

Even if you’re not in the right season for a good harvest, just keep being you. You may only sprout blossoms that won’t come to fruition, but at least you’re trying, like this hardy tomato plant. As long as you don’t give up, your season will be here before you know it…

11.1.11

I’m not asleep yet, so this is still the first day of November… ; )

Had to get outside today and look around… The air was cool, but that sun was nice… In the middle of the blooming burgundy mums and fading oregano was this one lovely rose… I wish roses could grow year round, along with the tomatoes and cucumbers and azaleas… But each plant has its own season… I brought the basil and rosemary indoors today, so we’ll see how they do… This one rose may be one of the last roses ’til spring (sometimes we get December roses), but they’ll be back next year…

Have a great month of November, everyone! November 2011… We’re in a perpetual 11.11 all month long… : )