in late november…

…I wanted to leave a note here, and you must forgive me if it is mostly cut & pasted from the newsletter I sent out a few days ago. This is always a pressing time for me, when the orders for Christmas and planners and calendars for next year flow in and my energy wanes with Autumn’s own waning, and Winter’s nearness.

This post, I won’t promise to be here more regularly. I’ve done that so often over the past year or two, but I am acknowledging now that my rosehip journey seems to be deeply about simplicity…about finding more of the ever elusive balance between work and all of the lovely and meaningful ingredients of the rest of life which keep getting pushed until “later” in my days. And tho’ it still feels rather curious to me…I feel quieter and quieter in the public sphere and feel most at home at Wisteria & Sunshine, so that is where I share myself the most.

And yet, this is a dear place, too…so please accept this gift of photographs and late November news and thoughts and I hope to be here again sometime soon…

Hello, hello… It’s been another two months since I last wrote, so I’ve tried to share some of the season’s changes with you in photos, tho’ none yet of the almost bare trees. We are truly (and finally!) stepping into wintertime. The furnace hums, we are sprucing up the woodstove to begin our firelit days, and when we gather the last green tomatoes and peppers from the garden today, our season of more rest and quiet will begin. Rest is always on my mind these days…we need it so deeply after the year we’ve all been through. It brought to mind some lines from a Longfellow poem I’ve known for many, many years…

Stay, stay at home my heart, and rest, Home-keeping hearts are happiest

But I had the thought to look up the rest of the poem and discovered this…

For those that wander, they know not where,

Are full of trouble and full of care;

To stay at home is best.

Weary and homesick and distressed,

They wander east, they wander west,

And are baffled and beaten and blown about

By the winds of the wilderness of doubt;

To stay at home is best.

Then stay at home, my heart, and rest;

The bird is safest in its nest;

O’er all that flutter their wings and fly

A hawk is hovering in the sky;

To stay at home is best.

This really struck me, I think especially so because I read it the day after I attended an outdoor gig of Doug’s and found it very uncomfortable, confusing and exhausting. It was the first time I’d gone out for anything other than grocery shopping, the library and checking in our folks since July. And it will be the last. I am always a home-keeping bird, but so much seems to be conspiring to give us all the message…for the winter, at least.

Tho’ even as I write this, and hear the news in the background, I know that staying home and resting isn’t possible for all. But for all who can, winter and wisdom are encouraging us…and knowing that by doing so we are helping those who can’t, goes a long way to making it more bearable. My heart goes out to all of those caring for the sick and frail, in homes and hospitals and elsewhere. I sometimes picture how much more difficult these times would be if I was still caring for my mom.

Of course, I have hopes for making staying-at-home much more than “bearable.” I spent found hours in October simplifying all that I could, and will spend those I can find in the rest of November doing the same. I’ve been slowly stocking up over the Autumn so trips to town will be less necessary over the Winter. And my December plans include spending as much time as I can on the sofa, candles lit, working on small projects, gift-making, mending and reading and watching sweet things.

Rest.

Part of my plan for restfulness is to close my shop earlier rather than later. It is filled to the brim at the moment, and letting you know is one of the reasons I am putting fingers to keyboard. The 2021 (with December starts!) Daybook line is there, many lovely printables and calendars, this year’s Christmas cards…and more. Plenty for gift-giving. I welcome you to take a wander through. And if you’d like to order, please do so before November’s end. I’ll fill all of the orders that come in by Nov. 30th, but not after…unless I reopen for a bit after Christmas, for any last-minute New Year calendar and planner needs. But wouldn’t it be restful to make life much less last-minute?

If, like me, you would like to look forward to a more peaceful December, I have some happy news. I am going to be offering my Lantern on the Path email Advent calendar this year! Daily emails, small and not-so-small, rich with warm photos and cosy illustrations, December writings from me and favorite women from the past, gentle encouragement to keep our days quieter…more earth-thoughtful…glowing missives to shine a light that I hope will help keep us on a path of comfort and simplicity. Delivered to your inbox.

To keep it simple, I am not creating a separate offering this year. You need only become a member of Wisteria & Sunshine (for as long as you like, cancel at any time) to receive the Advent emails. Our Advent journey begins on the first.

Stay warm & safe,