"Tis the Season

NO-NO-NO!!!!  Not November!!!!  I'm not ready to leave summer!!!  In October I can fool myself a little.  November is inescapably NOT SUMMER ANYMORE!

The fact that I'm having this seasonal dilemma isn't new.  That's why I have seasonal plans and objectives that start in November already in place!  Silly me!  Just do it!

Source:  Needpix.com

Retirement Season:  November 1 is the anniversary of my retirement.  I don't celebrate per se, but I like to give it a nod and remain SO GRATEFUL for being able to live in continual delight.

Swimming/Hiking Season:  In the original form of my seasonal plan, I stopped hiking and replaced it with swimming, as hiking became subject to cold and snow, and swimming is indoors.  Last year, friend Sue talked me in to staying open to hiking occasionally, and we ended up doing some shorter, chilly-but-enjoyable hikes in Flagstaff and several GLORIOUS hikes in Sedona.  That will remain this year's version. 

Tai Chi Season?  A few years ago  I gave up Tai Chi in the interest of too many interests.  Last winter Sue invited me to join her and Donna at Donna's house for an hour of practice every week,  and did I ever love it!  Looks like Donna is going to take her Tai Chi in a different direction this year, but Sue and I are still interested in getting together.  It's not yet in place-we're both working through injuries that need to be respected.  We found a great website with the full Tai Chi set shown both by move and in its entirety, but I'm thinking about rejoining the local club and going through the ~12 week Beginner Class again to refresh myself and pick up some changes that have happened since I stopped going.  There's a Tuesday evening class starting soon that I have my eye on.  That along with 15-20 minutes of daily practice sould get me up to speed.  Hmmm.  Note to self:  this would be IN ADDITION TO not INSTEAD OF anything on my schedule.   BE CAREFUL HERE!

Clothing Season:  No one would ever accuse me of being a style maven, but they might accuse me of being over-organized.  I've been working on my un-stylish but comfortable wardrobe since I retired, and use the need to bring out winter clothes as a seasonal marker.  Necessarily, I have clothing for all the seasons; not so necessarily I keep a complete inventory in my computer files that includes the clothing I wear each season.  Gosh, I love a list!  And I'll note here that despite a stated lack of interest in things clothing and my seasonal parings,  I STILL HAVE WAY TOO MANY CLOTHES! 

Agility Season:  Jasmine and I are both enjoying the work we're doing with Agility.  As long as we can, we'll work outdoors.  Neither of us minds cold, but snow will shut us down.  This year I have a plan to incorporate indoor work.  The www has lots of ideas for training in small areas, and there are many activities that Jasmine can work on that will continue to build a foundation in different ways.  For instance, like most dogs we've rescued, both Jasmine and Gypsy are super-leery/fearful of noises.  Anything dropped on the floor (other than treats!) will cause them to clear a room in the blink of an eye.  There are videos on YouTube that show you how to treat-train the dog to make the noises themselves (e.g. pushing things like books or buckets over) and that helps desensitize them.  Both dogs could use this kind of work, and Gypsy will be happy to join in if there are treats involved! 

Travel Season:  We didn't choose to do a trip this fall, but we're looking at a Death Valley NP foray pretty soon.  I've only been through on the way to somewhere else, and Ron's not been at all.  The website says the best time to visit crowd-wise is between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Coming right up!

 

Holiday Season:  Though commercial-Christmas never appears to find a lower limit, because Thanksgiving is so late this year, the "short" shopping season has us in "crisis" mode.  Parade Magazine in today's paper was strictly Christmas.  People, it's November 3!  Ron and I will continue to be reasonable.  Most likely we'll celebrate Thanksgiving at home, go on our Death Valley NP trip, and spend Christmas at home.  There will be Ron's annual Christmas Card, the usual few hands-on gifts, our charitable gifts, and good food. No frenzy here.  Guess I just did my holiday planning!

 November Night

Listen..

With faint dry sound,

Like steps of passing ghosts 

The leaves, frost crisp'd, break from the trees

And fall.

                       ----- Adelaide Crapsey