November ....ing

November is not on the whole a month I enjoy. The bright colours of early autumn are slowly turning into various shades of mud and the lighting is often dull. It sure is today. It is raining, too. With the temperatures dropping, my Raynaud's syndrome becomes problematic once more. My workload peaks towards the end of the month and into December and I often think that I surely cannot get out of bed for another day of this relentless routine. But of course I do get out of bed every morning and I somehow manage to do what needs done and eke out out some time to relax. On the plus side, I sleep like a log. Sometimes I wake briefly when the milkman clatters with the empty milk bottles but usually, I sleep right up to the moment the alarm goes.

Most of the following ...ings happen on the weekend

Finishing Sam's leaving quilt. The binding is attached and just needs stitching down. This is still one of the best parts of making quilts, stitching the binding down - one stitch at the time.

Knitting a second Polaris jumper. I have successfully gathered the front neckline and completed the short row section after procrastinating over this for at least two weeks.

Baking a Christmas cake. I love Christmas cake and I look forward to cutting it and eating a slice or two or three.

Cooking - uninspired

Watching the flock of sparrows in my back garden. Our neighbours have a very tall grass that hangs over the fence. The sparrows sit on the tall stems, picking out tiny seeds. They are a noisy bunch and I often wander what the say to one another.

Admiring the last of the flowering plants for their final display of colour. The Rudbeckia are particularly stunning and the Erigeron is doing well, too. There are also snap dragons, a pale pink anemone and a bright pink lily that are still going strong.

Listening to "10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World" by Elif Shafak and "Sweet Sorrow" by David Nicholls. I am taking turns, depending on my mood. Audiobooks and radio are great to entertain when I am walking somewhere, or do some chores and I can't imagine not having this listening experience.

Reading "Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men"by Caroline Criado-Pérez. How very interesting! I am making slow progress, a page or two a day but I'll get there in the end.

Picking scabs behind my left year. Another perennial winter problem of mine, seborrheic dermatitis behind the ears, particularly the left one. I try not to pick but I find myself doing it without intending to.

Snuggling up with a sickly child. It is Alistair at the moment but at this time of year, they take turns feeling poorly. Even Sam came home the other weekend for a bit of pampering. It was like having a man sized toddler and I mopped up sick all night....

Wondering when Richard's beer will be ready. It has been brewing away in the utility room, producing bubbling sounds. He has been busy collecting bottles for the bottling stage.

Planning the making of an advent calendar. We have two quilted ones that my mum made for Sam and Annie when they were little but I've been meaning to make at least one more so that the little pockets are not so full.

How is your November going?

Thanks for visiting. Christina xx