November

First, before posting, I want to apologise to blog reader 'Rowantree' because she wrote a comment which I accidentally deleted and I cannot retrieve. I was on my phone and my fat finger caught the delete button instead of the publish button. I shall never again try to publish comments using my phone. I am VERY sorry, Rowantree.

Now, to blog. 

I find November a difficult month. In the first week we have to adjust to the changing of the clocks.  Added to this, the days are becoming noticeably shorter and now begin earlier, so it's light at 7 a.m. (again) but too dark to paint by 4. For me, a person whose two favourite pastimes require daylight - painting, and being outside in nature, either walking or cycling - this is frustrating. 

Then there is the landscape. There are more leaves on the ground than on the trees, and although on sunny days that doesn't matter, 

Our patio

on no-sun days I find I am fighting the melancholy of the dying year. 

The Monsal Trail

Behind all of this there is the news. It gets worse and worse. You know what I mean, and if you don't, then read Dave's Grand Remonstrance.

I have made some resolutions to cope:

Be up and dressed and breakfasted by 8 a.m. to make sure I don't waste any precious daylight. 

Actually, I don't have any other resolutions...that's it! But it's a fine resolution.

Jenetta commented on the last post that  "I confess to deep gloom when contemplating the future of the planet, climate change, politics etc. It is so good when there are those, such as your remonstrator who can express it so well. Living with the duality of deep concern and living in the moment is so very difficult."

That last sentence expresses how I feel. But painting and being submerged in nature help me to be in the moment. And children do too. Which is why I am so happy that we're expecting a new baby grandchild who will live just half an hour away, and that this time next week, my Colorado family are coming to stay. 

We can be mindful of others' suffering and do what we can do to help, while also being thankful for our blessings.