| Mrs. 'Boro: Beautiful November weather sends special message |
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By: JEANNE BRAGG, Post Columnist
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Posted: Sunday, November 22, 2009 7:09 am
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Hasn’t the weather been beautiful this November? I can’t believe it has been 68 degrees in the daytime … giving us free reign to walk around and enjoy this colorful fall.
I’ve had a terrible time adjusting to the time change this year. In previous years I have been able to get my sleep habits straightened out within a week or so, but this year it’s thrown me for a loop. I came out of the grocery store yesterday at 4:30 and it was dark. I want to go to bed every night by 8 o’clock. It’s been a struggle to force myself to stay up later.
On Sunday night I made it until 10:28 p.m. and felt like I’d really accomplished something. Last night I was ready by 7:39 again.
After having driven through the Northeast the third week in October I thought we had experienced the height of the fall season, but Mother Nature didn’t let down until the rain knocked the leaves off the trees this week. It’s as if she (Mother Nature) is telling us to slow down and enjoy it; there is more for us to see.
The tall maple tree that usually turns a magnificent red in our front yard didn’t change until last week and reached its peak almost overnight. It was beautiful with the sun shining on it. Now we’re enjoying the color in piles on the ground.
I also still have some vibrant zinnias (red and pink) in the herb garden that I’m saving to cut until the next prediction of heavy frost. I saw a hollowed out pumpkin with zinnias in it in a magazine article and I have saved my Halloween pumpkins to use as vases for my Thanksgiving table. I hope I can remember to pick the zinnias before it’s too late.
They will look wonderful with nandina berries and some leaves from the sweet gum tree (if any have survived).
Several years ago I read a letter to a decorating magazine editor that said: “I enjoy seeing your arrangements with beautiful cut flowers, but I live out in the country and don’t have access to those flowers.” The reply was: “Use what you have.”
It struck such a positive chord with me. I had often relied on cut flowers from the markets, but that comment opened my eyes. I now try to only use purchased flowers as a supplement.
It’s hardest to do this in early June before seeds and perennials are blooming, but works quite well on most occasions.
As I write, on my dining table now are red/green clippings from a Japanese andromeda interspersed with yellow leaves from a maple tree. I added a bunch of sunflowers from the marked down pile at Krogers. And it is beautiful.
When I look out my back yard I am taken by the beauty of the almost bare trees, the river … even the weeds. The winterberry is lush with red berries and in a few weeks the leaves will fall off completely, leaving a beautiful focal point from the back porch.
We have so many things for which to be grateful every day. But we are more mindful now that Thanksgiving is here.
I am thankful that Thanksgiving always comes on a Thursday so we can enjoy the whole weekend with family. Unlike Christmas, there are no gifts to fret over and minimal decorations. Just family time with perhaps a few happy rituals that are repeated from year to year.
Happy Thanksgiving and warms wishes to everyone. I hope this Thanksgiving season produces only happy memories.
‘Til next week. |
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