November 23, 2012

Flickr Favourites: November 23, 2012



{November Cat ~ Arkadious}



{November Mix ~ matthew stephen edwards}



{Dvine Dahlia in Sephia ~ Deborah S-C}



{November 2, 2011 ~ Flood}



{November 1939 Fashion ~ christine592}



{Pheasant ~ Bird Photographer}



{November Rose ~ donsutherland1}



{Sepia squirrel ~ Grandma Tina}



{reflecting ~ Flood}



{Vintage Bike ~ canadianandrew}


{All images above are from Flickr. To learn more about a specific image, please click on its title to be taken to its respective Flickr page.}


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Depending on whereabouts you live in the Western hemisphere, this point in the month might mean that you're still enjoying the last few enchantingly beautiful days of amber hued light and freshly picked autumn fruits and vegetables, or that you're already knee deep in a mini mountain of snow.

For many reality lies somewhere between the two. The days are neither sun-kissed now snow-covered, instead they're soft grey, mousy brown and nippy, as the sense that winter is fast approaching grows stronger which each pale sunset and frosty morning.

As a child I recall November often feeling like a long month. My beloved Halloween had come and gone and I knew it would be another twelve month stretch until it returned. At the same time, I was eager for Christmas, which seemed eons away when viewed through the eyes of youth. November meant heavy coats, snow boots, the sombreness of Remembrance Day, turning on the indoor heating again, and secretly starting to compose my little Christmas wish list in my head.

All of those points still ring true today, though I now view the countdown to Christmas as being far too short for everything I need to get done in time (no matter how early in the year I start). I've never disliked November the way some people (understandably) do, and in fact, the older I get, the more I've come to appreciate and enjoy it.

November is the last full month of autumn; its day may be short on sunlight, but they often still include signs of the vitality and beauty of the earlier months of the year. A few verdant blades of grass poking out between the faded yellow ones, a violet hued wildflower clinging for dear life to the side of the road, or an apple still swaying on the branch remind one that November is like the great divided between the sizzling and freezing halves of the year (well, at least here in Canada).

It's a serene month (if we brush aside thoughts of holiday prep work), and one that I've always adored taking lengthy walks in. I know that very soon the mercury will plummet far below freezing for the next few months and thus long walks (on slippery snow encrusted paths and sidewalks) will become a rarity until the first days of spring immerge once more.

November is quiet and strong, unassuming yet far from passive. It brings with it a certain nobility and elegance, and its palette - though less jaunty than that of September and October - is soulfully beautiful, endearing itself to my heart year after icy wind kissed year.

15 comments:

  1. Beautiful collection of images, Jessica. I tried on a hat similar to that red one recently. Alas, I looked a disaster in it. I think I had too much hair sticking out, it did not look chic at all!

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Tracey. To date - and I've tried scads over the years - I've yet to find a cloche or cloche-like hat, be it vintage or modern, that worked on me, so please don't feel bad that the red one your tried on didn't work on you. I don't think that cloches work for everyone, but promise you that there are hat styles out that that will look amazing on you. Keep hunting and when you find one/some that do, stick with it/them fiercely, as they'll likely never steer you wrong.

      ♥ Jessica

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  2. What beautiful pictures, dear Jessica!
    I would say that I am always reading your blog.
    I love your style, your clothes are beautiful
    and the images that you put on the blog always fascinate me.
    I keep posting recipes on my cooking blog.
    I have left comments for lack of time,
    I've been very busy since I moved to my
    new apartment.
    kisses for you

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  3. Even though I never learned how to ride a bike {yeah, I know how silly that sounds} I so want that vintage bike!

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    1. That doesn't sound weird, dear Sean, don't worry. I've met lots of people who never learned to ride a bike, it's not a big deal at all. Not quite the same thing, but Tony grew up in Italy and never learned to ice skate, which is one of those fairly common skills acquired in youth that most of us (at least here in North America) have. You could always buy a bike like this as use it a beautiful piece of home or yard decor.

      ♥ Jessica

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  4. As always, you've chosen some beautiful images to make up this post. I think the first is my favorite of all of them. Autumn kitty! :) I also adore Reflection. And you're right, November is a quiet, peaceful month, i think. There are the joyous holidays, but the lengthy darkness also means a time to slow down and relax a little with family and friends!

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  5. You have a good eye -- these images are beautiful. And your writing is so lucid and entertaining. Your blog is like a cup of warm tea. :)

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  6. What beautiful images....we are in the throws of Demi-summer here, but I do know what you mean about the end of Autumn dragging its way into Winter. Hopefully Christmas will hurry up and bring you snow and Cher. xx Shauna

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  7. Oh the glories of tea and honey. I just finished a cup myself. I'm so excited to have found your blog! I'm a fellow lover of all things vintage and your newest follower. ;-)
    Jamie
    http://chatterblossom.blogspot.com/

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  8. I love you written visualization of the last weeks of fall.

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  9. Some beautiful and amazing photography!

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  10. Beautiful photographs and beautiful description of the month of November.

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  11. Oh aren't pheasants just beautiful birds.

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  12. You always pick out beautiful photos. I wish I had a tea set like the one here. I made the mistake of thinking it was going to be cool in Southern California and packed nothing but pants. Yeah well it was in the 80's so I paid for it. Now back home I'm donning my wool sweaters and warm socks again. Weather is never constant enough

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    1. Thank you very much. I'd love a tea set like this one, too, it's so timelessly pretty. So very true, it would be nice if the weather could be a bit more consistent and predictable. Up here in Canada we like to joke that there's only three seasons: winter, summer, and hockey, and while there's a grain of true to that, in most places we experience all four seasons (with spring typically be the shortest) and all manner of weather. When I used to live in Calgary, on more than one occasion, I saw the temps jump from -20C to +20C (or vice versa) in all of about 48 hours! Weather like that makes many layers a definite must!

      ♥ Jessica

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