November 2020 Highlights

I attempt to pull together a summary of my life at the end of each month. This practice is helpful when you feel like your little habits aren’t adding up to much. It’s an opportunity to gather up all of your goals and revel in how much you’ve accomplished by simply doing a little at a time. My monthly highlights almost always include a small roundup of books that I loved, a check-in on my planner spreads, a look at the stitching projects I’ve been working on, a video of my journaling pages, and a smattering of my favorite pictures from the month.

I’m sharing this post with Ginny at Small Things for her Yarn Along link up. It’s a monthly gathering of readers and knitters who share their current projects. On the 15th, Anne Bogel at The Modern Mrs. Darcy will host a QuickLit link up. You can find hundreds of devoted readers sharing their new and notable books for the month. Please visit both of them to fill your TBRs and knitting bags!

Favorite Books This Month

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November was a strange month for reading. I finished 5 books and consider that quite an accomplishment given how distracted I was. This might be my most random list of favorites this year and that’s okay!

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn had been on my TBR for several decades and I’m glad that I waited until now to listen to it. It’s set in Brooklyn in the early 1900s and follows Francie throughout her childhood. It emphasizes how far the love of books and reading can take a person when things align. It’s also a love letter to parents who prioritize reading aloud to their children!

The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic was an enjoyable collection of fairy tales. I love fairy tales – I love the magic, the dreaminess, and the slight edge of creepiness – and Leigh Bardugo married all of those elements so perfectly.

I listened to Little House in the Big Woods on audio and was delighted by it. It was the perfect companion while doing laundry and cleaning, especially knowing that my job is much easier than Ma’s was in the pioneer days. I have started Little House on the Prairie on audio as well – I plan to keep going as long as they hold my interest.

And as always, you can see my complete 2020 reading list here.

Travelers Notebook Spreads

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I’ve continued using my Travelers Notebook weekly insert (linked just above) and am still enjoying it. It’s been fun to study how I use my time and how that aligns with my goals and values. Every Monday I share the previous week’s spread and write a bit about how all of my (informal) goals are progressing. I take the time to think a little more deeply about what’s important to me and how I want to live my life. It’s been a life-giving and grounding practice.

Stitching

I started a second sock in November and am working on it during found moments of time. It’s growing slowly and that’s okay with me! I spent a bit of time trying to get the stripes to line up with the first sock in the pair – it won’t be perfect around the toe, but I think I got them pretty close as they travel up the foot.

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In November I finished this Scrappy Crossroads quilt top. I’ve decided on the binding and now need to make it. I expect to be finished with this by the end of the year. Stay tuned!

I’m still working on this Scrumptious hand pieced quilt, but have slowed down. I’m now handsewing one last ring of background fabric that will be trimmed to give the edges even sides. That means I have to baste about 200 more white hexies. Dun-dun-dun!

And I’m slowly working my way through a cross-stitch pattern, which is currently taking up most of my attention! This has been a wonderful project to wind down with each evening. I’m hoping to finish it by Christmas but think that’s super optimistic given my progress.

Morning Pages

I had another perfect month of morning pages and wrote all 30 days in November. I continue to believe that this practice sets my day up for success, no matter what’s on the agenda. Waking up early, claiming some time of my own, and putting things down on paper gives me perspective and patience. I’m thankful that I’ve cultivated this habit.

Pictures from November

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I’m not sure how I fell out of practice last month, but I’m going to focus on taking more pictures in December. The month was full of good food, lots of handwork, reading aloud with the kiddos, and sitting at the dining room table with textbooks, notebooks, and pencils. I’m looking forward to the next few weeks. Gifts for the kids and Matthew should start arriving this weekend, so I’m planning to spend chunks of time in the basement with holiday music and wrapping paper, hot tea and homemade cookies, and wrapped in all of the woolens that I’ve managed to knit this year. Here’s to December 2020!