The American beech trees wait to turn golden until most of the other leaves in the forest have dropped and the result is a beautiful warm glow, making November my favorite month this year. I don’t think I’ve ever thought that about November before. Maybe I wasn’t paying attention. We’ve had some cold days, but I can still enjoy a walk in the woods. The beech leaves will keep their gold hue for maybe a couple more weeks before hanging on to dead, brown leaves for much of winter. There’s a term for that, the hanging on of dead leaves. I learned it in forestry school: marcescence. Think of all the metaphors you could pull from that. I’m afraid I am a bit marcescent myself, but I’m learning to let go.
Larkspur bought that November Hereabout book for the title and cover alone at a used bookshop in Warrenton a couple of weeks ago and gave it to Beatrix for her birthday. We were there for Keats’ concert and it was a fun day for just the two of us. I declared that I am moving there, I loved it so much. Maybe someday? Do any of you live in Warrenton, VA? It’s so lovely!
Beatrix turned 11 last weekend. Some of you have been reading here since she was a baby. Can you believe how the time has flown by? Of all my babies, she might stand out most in my mind. That’s the way it goes with the fussy ones, isn’t it? Seth was a hard one too, nineteen years ago, but I still remember. Keats was baby perfection, I adored him so. Larkspur was so good natured, I don’t remember her ever crying, though I know she must have. She was my only baby that preferred to sleep in a little basket next to the bed rather than with me. Silas, Job, and Mabel, all average tempered as infants though I loved each fiercely and uniquely. And Gabriel, I try not to think of him as a baby because it breaks my heart that I didn’t know him then. I will never even know what he looked like as a baby. He’s the best natured person in my family, or maybe in all the world as far as I’m concerned. He must have been baby perfection. Why do birthdays prompt these thoughts and reminiscences? Beatrix lobbied hard to get her ears pierced this year, but she has to wait until she’s twelve. “Why?” She asks. “Because I had to wait until I was twelve.” I tell her. She doesn’t think that’s a good reason, but I do. I take some strange delight in declaring that something is so for the sake of a tradition.
Thank you so much for all your encouragement and kindness on my last post. I tend to write about hard times when they peak, and I’m starting to feel better. I’m learning that I am very sensitive and have to be more strict with diet and self care. So I’ve been walking in the woods and taking time to sit and stretch and take deep breaths. I like walking in the woods, but it’s hard to have the patience to sit around and breathe deeply. My goodness. But I know I have to do these things, so I am. With the exception of a couple of cups of “emergency” green tea I eliminated caffeine (again) over the last week. I can’t say I really miss the caffeine. I don’t think it was doing much for me. Coffee does, but it also upsets my stomach and gives me headaches, so it’s not worth the energy. I’ve been drinking Teecino dandelion brew and I am quite happy with it, though I do miss my morning cup of Earl Grey.
Last weekend Jonny and I deep cleaned our bedroom and he remarked to me that it isn’t time for spring cleaning. I reminded him that I do this every year. It’s part of how I prepare for Advent: clearing clutter in my environment to make room for all that Advent and Christmas bring. I call this time of year “The Clearing.” I wrote about it here, many years ago, and just reread it. You might want to as well. In November I make space in my home so that I can better spend December making space in my heart for the Christ Child.
p.s. At my lowest energy, I can still manage to dye playsilks because I love them so much. I finished one last batch for the year and I’ll update my shop with them and my second group of scarves on Monday at 4 pm ET. I’ve also got a good bit of soap ready!
p.p.s. Job’s hat is called the Beeswax hat. I highly recommend the pattern! And one last thing: I have moved my email subscriber list to a new platform so if you are subscribed you will notice a difference, though not a huge one. Hopefully you will all continue to receive my posts in your email without a glitch! The emails will look a bit different and I will be sending them out myself rather than it being an automatic thing. Of course, I just messed up and sent my first one out with a link to my last post rather than this one, so you will get two emails today. Sorry!!! There will be a photo from the new post and a little note from me. The only thing I noticed when I sent a test to myself is that I had to click to display the images, and you need to display the images to be able to click over to the post. Let me know if you have any issues!
Tiane says
What a beautiful post !!! Beautiful photos! Beautiful family! I’m loving your blog!
Lou Anne Sorensen says
As I looked through your pictures, I stopped to count the candles on the cake. I thought to myself, can Beatrix possible be 11? I remember when she was a baby. Then laughed when I read your post. I have been with you a long time. I remember when Gabe arrived. There is so much joy in your family. I love checking in on you each morning.
Blessings, Lou Anne
Laurie Burton says
Earl Grey tea is my favorite, because of my Hashimoto’s I am unable to have the caffeinated version. Mountain Rose herbs sells rooibos Earl Grey, and it is delicious.
Ginny says
Dear Laurie,
Thank you so much for mentioning the Early Grey rooibos from Mountain Rose! I ordered some right away and I LOVE it. I’m not supposed to have caffeine either because of my Hashimoto’s and I think I am finally really committed enough not to relapse. This tea certainly helps!
Love,
Ginny
Morgan says
Hi Ginny, I am from Warrenton! My husband and I and our six children now live just about 20 minutes away in beautiful Rappahannock, but all my family is still there. My grandmother even had a darling little shop on Main Street when I was growing up. How neat it would be to run into you one day, perhaps!
Laura says
Ginny, Thank you for sharing your many gifts with us! I have a love/ hate relationship with your posts as I miss Virginia and my family so much when I see your pictures and read about your travels around the state. For many years my Aunt owned a party store in Warrenton. My family is spread out between Manassas and Fredericksburg.
Dawn says
My parents owned about 10 acres in Warrenton when I was really small (so about 35-40 years ago!) It was very rural at that time, all gravel and dirt roads and the Metro certainly didn’t go out there! The property my parents bought was part of a large farm called Bellevue which had just been broken up into lots. I remember going to the big old house there which was serving as an office for the real estate company. They had a huge topographical model of the land set up in the former dining room. I also remember swimming in the pool with its crystal blue water and flagstone surround. I have seen photos of me at that pol and playing in the woods of the property my parents fully expected to retire on. That didn’t come to pass but I am sure the memories of those woods and streams affected me deeply as I have always lived in rural areas since I left home. My side of the mountain here in Western NC has lots of elements that remind me of that first place, actually. Thank you for inspiring me to remember as all of your posts tend to do! Peace!
karen says
Both of my children where colicky and difficult, maybe that is why I had two? However they were overall easy raising them including the challenging teen years. I remember Bea the most because I believe that is when I started reading your blog religiously when she was under one years old.
I drink 2 1/2 cups of half decaf coffee in the morning and that is it for the day. I drink decaf green tea at night. I am sensitive to caffeine and it keeps me up all night long and I already battle a light sleeping habit.
Kate McAuliffe says
I like that title “The Clearing”. I tend to evaluate in November too. For me it is probably due to my birthday falling in this month. I am glad that you are doing better. I love walks in the woods, especially in the fall. I take deep breaths of the smell of wet leaves on the ground. Happy Thanksgiving!
Susan says
I don’t live right in Warrenton, but on the D.C. side of Fauquier County. I, too, love the town of Warrenton. My kids grew up going to see Santa come to town on the first Friday of December and then participated in all sorts of parades as boy scouts, girl scouts and in Marching Band. Love this town. Have had thoughts of buying a small house in walking distance of town when we get ready to down-size and fully retire.
colleen says
Hi Ginny. If you haven’t already, you might like to order some Lourdes water. http://www.lourdescenter.org or The Lourdes Center P.O. Box 155575, Boston, MA 02215-2594.
Marilyn says
Glad Beatrix had a nice birthday. Wishing Beatrix a year of happiness and blessings. God Bless.Hope you are feeling better.
HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY BEATRIX
Marilyn
Marion says
Hard to believe Beatrix is 11 years old. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEATRIX Wishing you happiness and blessings through out the year.
Marion
Maria says
Dear Ginny, thank you for your lovely posts! You might try and find some Rooibos Earl Grey for a caffeine free version of your favourite.
Joan says
Good Luck with your new e-mail system. Beatrix is so lovely.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEATRIX
Joan
Melissa says
Lovely post. I don’t live in Warrenton but just down the road from there just outside the tiny, little town of Remington. We are recent transplants from Southern California and love living here in Virginia.
Theresa Boedeker says
I can be so marcescent myself. There is this tug to let go and yet hang on. Especially to the comfortable and good. Thanks for this new word.
Judith Hogan says
Your new email came through fine for me. I love getting them and would not want to miss anything. Yes, it is time to start clearing out for Christmas and that is on my list for the rest of this week. Hope to have everything in place for December 1st and then I can start decorating. Not to much, but a few homemade cross stitch santas and lots of mini lights.
Hannah Barrs says
Dear Ginny,
I don’t have thyroid issues so this may not be relevant to you in your own personal situation, but I wanted to share with you that I am the same age as you and has a miscarriage in March which totally messed up my hormones. I have 5 children and have had 3 other miscarriages, and this hormone chaos has never happened to me before. And months down the line it still wasn’t sorting – in August, still all over the place. I read something online about a fertility expert who uses a lot of chinese medicine based approaches in working with clienst – Emma Cannon. I bought her book, ‘Fertile’ from Amazon and followed her menstrual cleanse for two months and made changes to my diet based on the suggestions in her book that are relevant to me, and it has honestly transformed my life. I have more energy than for years, I think more than 10 years ago. Skin and hair problems have gone, and most significant of all my hormones have balanced out again. Maybe it would have happened on its own but to me that seems unlikely. Anyway, might be worth investigating her. For me her advice has made a massive difference. xxx Hannah
Susan Kuhlman says
My daughter has developed characteristics like you have shared over the years. Can you suggest any books? She lives in Maryland. Do you know of any doctors? She has been to several doctors who are not able to pinpoint exactly what is wrong.
Susan Kuhlman says
PS I have planted a copper beech everywhere I have lived and left instructions to not remove the lower branches since it become a perfect climbing tree later.
Aria Hauser says
The laves of the trees in November are truly a beautiful thing. With all the yellow and orange right before they fall and the winter comes. I love November. That is an interesting tradition of clearing things out in November in preparation for advent. I really like it. I would, but all my things currently fit in quite a small space thanks to how much I had to get rid of before moving to the Netherlands. Maybe I will remember it and try clearing out next year.
Lorrie Fulton says
And the sweetest part of this ‘tradition’ is that if Beatrix has daughters, she will likely make them wait until they are twelve, telling them the same thing.
Kelli Ramey says
If you are out in the beech woods, look for witch hazel. The only native tree that blooms in the winter. It has tiny yellow ribbon petals. A joy to see in the Winter.
PS: I was a forestry/wildlife management major in the ’80’s at ABAC headed to UGA until I was to start junior year and discovered I am too small to be a game warden (5’2″). All for the best. I feel a kindred spirit in you more than ever:)
Gervaise Randall says
Back in the good old days tradition kept a new mom home with her baby for the first six weeks. Remembering the special day when my mom showed up early in the morning, took over the care of my first sweet son and shooed me out the door, but not before giving me $25 (a huge amount in those days) a big hug and wished me a “wonderful day” ! Needless to say I did! Took that $25 dollars, bought a pair of gold studs and got my ears pierced??!
Thanks for stirring up a precious memory of my dear mom?
Happy belated Birthday to your precious girl??.
Melanie King says
I have been here since before B was born. I was trying to think with your last post how long that was. I was guessing 8 years! My whole life I have moved and changed until I got married and now I have been here 16.5 years. Doing something for 10+years just blows my mind. I am glad for your beautiful pictures, knitting, silks, and soap to be part of my traditions.
Thank you for the reminder to clear out. I think we will do that this weekend to prepare for all of the Christmas stuff!
Sarah Fearn Johnson says
Nothing wrong with 2 emails from you.
Chris Neef says
Ginny, when I am stressed, I read your posts and look at your photos and I am immediately calm and happy again. You are truly gifted! Thank you for sharing!
Kelda says
Something really interesting happened when reading this post. The photo journey you took me on felt like someone had turned off the sound. I think because it started with the calm, still, quiet forest pictures and then moved to some motion shots with your darling kids, that I realized this post (maybe all -) actually need a soundtrack. I got me thinking of what that soundtrack would be like. You took me on a journey of sights and sounds. What a fun snapshot of your remarkable life.