Friday, November 6, 2009

November Goals and Rhythm

November, the month of reprieve (?) between Halloween and Christmas, though look around you, Christmas is here - too early! I can't bear the malls yet! I try in the first half of the month to stick to fall. Remembrance Day, peace!

If you have not followed this blog before these monthly planning pages lay out a general structure for the month, including a theme and seasonal table, a way to wake, a table candle blessing, a couple of projects and a verse for going to sleep. These are goals the follow up varies from great to imperfect but having the plan helps it to happen and helps bring rhythm to our days!

So here is our November layout


Festival or Theme is Remembrance Day / Peace
A focus on peace, honour, courage, remembering those who have passed on. We are using a red cloth on our theme table, photos of relatives who went to war, a red candle, red or pink roses I usually receive as a birthday gift (being a Remembrance Day baby), lapel poppies collected over the year and Grandad's medal of honour from the war and his pocket watch.

Waking Song (for November)
chosen by my daughter from our collection

"Come little leaves said the wind one day, come over the meadows with me and play
Put on your dresses of red and gold, summer is gone and the days grow cold!"
~by George Cooper~


Breakfast Verse (first half of November)
(sung while lighting a candle at the breakfast table)

"Light a candle for peace, whisper the word,
Please let it come soon, whisper a prayer for the world,
Blessings on our meal today."

Breakfast Verse (second half of November)
chosen by my son from our collection

"Earth we thank you for this food, for rest and home and all things good,
For wind and rain and sun above, but most of all for those we love.
Blessings on our meal today."

Bedtime Song
From camp

"From out of the battered elm tree the owl cries out - I'm here
And from the distant forest the cuckoo answers clear
cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo da roo da roo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo da roo da roo.
Mr. moon, Mr. moon you're out to soon, the sun is still in the sky
Go back to your bed and cover up your head and wait 'till the day goes by
cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo da roo da roo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo da roo da roo.

November Project 1 Clay Nativity
We have bought some air dry clay from Staples. Every year we have talked of making a Nativity for Christmas, but we have always left it too late. This year we will each make small figures every few days when we are able or choose to - all through the month of November. We will start with the important ones, Mary, Joseph, the Baby and see how many we end up with by the end of the month. Whatever we have is what we will go with. No pressure, no stress, just a relaxing, ongoing project. This clay air dries and then can be painted.

November Project 2 Children's Charity Raffle
Each year my children make a "prize" for their charity raffle. 2 children, 2 prizes. This years prizes are a book by T and a candle by C (past years have been small paintings or drawings mostly). Tickets are $1 monies go to the charity of their choice.

Autumn Stories
Family tradition. Short stories (fall theme) read occasionally by the fire. One day I will post a list of good seasonal stories - there are many wonderful books - check your library, bookstore!

Bread, Soup and Scones
OK the bread making and soup making fell apart mid October, but today is friday and I baked bread. My son's friend was over and he loved it, he had never had home baked bread. Makes it all worth while! Actually the realistic bread making goal was once a month so I am ahead of target there. At any rate the rhythm falls apart, we just pick it up as we can! Every day is a new day! Monday I make scones or muffins for lunches through the week (or until they run out - which is usually pretty quickly!)

One more week until our Felting Workshop (see previous post Oct 22) - I am excited! If you are interested we have 3 spaces left - for details and registration contact Lenora@Moore.nu

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