The swooning season….

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Hello November,
you great big beautiful blustery season
of harvest and homefires and holiday.
I love your generous,  engaging way
and your early lamplit evenings,
the deeper sleeps beneath the blankets
and your uncanny gift for drawing chairs up closer around the table.

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I love what you do to my heart,
stoking gratitude burning bright and sending me tumbling again
head over heels in love with the ones I love already
but focused in rich and stronger somehow.
You churn up celebration
in the hard business of living
and I appreciate the way you set me to swooning
over the stuff I sometimes forget to see and count and savor.

Here you come again,
the gathering season.
Welcome,  you,  with all my heart:)

(yeah,  I’m an appreciator,  so this month is strength and sweetness to my soul;
 I’d love to give away two copies of my November zine….the gratitude issue…..to the someone
whose name I draw next week.  Leave a comment and I’ll send you one to keep and one to give away.
With much,  much love)

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“I want my everyday to make God belly laugh,  glad that He gave life to someone who loves the gift.”
-Shauna Neiquist

 

32 Comments

  1. Elephant's Child on November 1, 2014 at 1:41 pm

    Vibrant and beautiful. And you are an appreciative creator – for which I am so very grateful.

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 6, 2014 at 7:46 am

      Thanks for your kindness, friend; I appreciate you!
      -Jennifer

  2. Julia on November 1, 2014 at 6:33 pm

    Dear Jennifer, your climate must be warmer than mine. October is a bit warmer than November for us. It’s raining at the moment and we are supposed to have snow. I’m not ready for the snow yet.

    I love how you express your love for November. I hope your November weather is to your liking all the way through. We are changing our clock one hour backward tonight.
    Happy Month of November.
    Hugs,
    JB

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 6, 2014 at 7:49 am

      Our climate is warmer longer and the cold comes in blasts so the season is extended,
      I think. Our mountains got a crazy early snow but here it’s still balmy for November.
      I picked my last tomato yesterday. The basil is brown and crunchy now, as are the rest
      of the herbs. But still, peppers are thriving. The colors are exquisite.

      Thanks for coming by…..I so love sharing our journeys, friend:)
      -Jennifer

  3. Lady Fi on November 2, 2014 at 1:32 am

    How beautiful to think of autumn as the swooning season! We swoon in October over here and then again when the snow comes. Gorgeous shots and thoughts.

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 6, 2014 at 7:50 am

      Thanks for coming by:)
      I think our November must be very much like your October.
      Southern seasons seem extended somehow.
      Big joy to you,
      Jennifer

  4. Lindsay on November 2, 2014 at 1:36 am

    Dear Jen,

    After a long long break, I’m finally back in Bloggerland. I’ll take some time to catch up with your posts, oh how I missed the poetic words which make a heart wonder. Sighhh 🙂 It’s so good to be back.

    It’s 20°C over here, never had such a warm autumn, but ohhh how I love it! Carving pumpkins and making allergy free cupcakes. Snuggling with my pets and bf.I hope this warm autumn will last a little longer.

    Lindsay

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 6, 2014 at 7:51 am

      Great to see you back!
      I hope the warmth wraps you long after the cold sets in:)
      Love and welcome always,
      Jennifer

  5. S. Etole on November 2, 2014 at 6:30 am

    Such vibrant energy in those colors. Enjoyed the quote at the end, too.

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 6, 2014 at 7:52 am

      Thanks for coming by and sharing your presence here, Susan; it’s such a treasure
      sharing the journey with you:)
      -Jennifer

  6. Wanda on November 3, 2014 at 7:24 am

    One of the most beautiful times of year. The photos are lovely Jennifer as are your friends. Happy November!

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 6, 2014 at 7:53 am

      My friends are lovely, aren’t they…..thank you for drawing my attention again
      to that:) You stir such gratitude….I love that about you:)
      -Jennifer

  7. CherryPie on November 3, 2014 at 12:59 pm

    Wonderful, you post speaks to me. November and the autumnal colours always give me a warm feeling 🙂

  8. gotham girl on November 3, 2014 at 1:28 pm

    Oh this posting so made my heart sing! It’s my all time FAVORITE season and you just nailed it with your amazing writing!

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 6, 2014 at 7:54 am

      Hope your heart sings as loud as it wants
      all season long:)
      Thanks for coming by,
      Jennifer

  9. Kathryn on November 3, 2014 at 5:20 pm

    I really, really loved this poem…but I kept coming back to this…You churn up celebration
    in the hard business of living…so beautiful!!! 🙂

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 6, 2014 at 7:55 am

      I’m glad for all the churning, aren’t you:)
      Thanks for your kind words and always for your visits,
      Jennifer

  10. Barbara on November 5, 2014 at 9:58 pm

    You describe November perfectly! I love it, too. Wishing you a glorious week, Jennifer!

  11. jeanie on November 6, 2014 at 8:29 am

    Indeed, that gift of drawing us around the table is perhaps the greatest gift of November. With its fallen leaves and bleak landscape, it doesn’t seem like the warmest and coziest of months — yet when there is turkey in the oven, family and friends gathered close at had, we marvel at what November brings to us. Happy November!

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 8, 2014 at 8:47 am

      I love the way you see things, Jeanie…..thanks for coming
      by and sharing in your wonderful way:)
      -Jennifer

  12. leslie on November 6, 2014 at 9:30 am

    always glad to witness the beauty you find and share ❤

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 8, 2014 at 8:48 am

      so grateful to get to share the road with you:)
      thank you,
      Jennifer

  13. Suzanne on November 6, 2014 at 9:56 am

    I love fall. Jennifer you are such an amazing writer and photographer. Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents with us. xo

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 8, 2014 at 8:48 am

      I appreciate your warm encouragement.
      Just so much:)
      thank you,
      Jennifer

  14. Donna on November 7, 2014 at 3:57 pm

    I love the idea of the gathering month and drawing chairs closer. Much gratitude for reminding me my friend.

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 8, 2014 at 8:49 am

      Thanks for coming by and sharing your wonderfulness, Donna:)
      I appreciate you,
      Jennifer

  15. Relyn on November 7, 2014 at 7:53 pm

    Oh, friend. I would know your art anywhere. Your beautiful heart shines out of your photographs, your words, your handwriting, your cards. I just love you.

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 8, 2014 at 8:50 am

      Relyn:) what you do to my heart…..no words.
      THANK you so much, you beautiful, deeply lovely soul:)
      I’m so glad for you,
      Jennifer

  16. Connie Smiley on November 8, 2014 at 7:02 am

    Hiya Jennifer, you are generous, engaging, and grateful, like the season. No wonder you love it!
    Love this post, another of yours that cries to be read aloud.

    • Jennifer Richardson on November 8, 2014 at 8:51 am

      Thank you for hearing that cry, Connie…it’s on the way,
      that slice of wonder I’ve been longing to serve up.
      My busy season is ending and I’m diving into just that
      thing as soon as the beds are tucked in tight:)
      Thank you for saying. Just so much.
      -Jennifer

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