November has brought the end of Daylight Savings Time so darkness closes in an hour earlier in the evenings and we settle in at home, gathering near the stove in the living room to watch the TV news and catch up on our reading.
I’ve been busy writing thank yous to friends and family after Mama’s funeral - for lovely flowers, for helpful memorials, for all those good cooks at the Methodist Church who provided our dinner before the funeral. The outpouring of sympathy, support and love has been very touching and helped uphold us as we struggle with our loss. Cards and phone calls are still coming in and we are thankful for that.
We’ve had a few nights below freezing so I’ve brought some plants into the living room and dining room and other flowers are tucked safely away in the cellar. They dry out more quickly in the indoor heat and I have to remember to water them more frequently. A large white mum and two smaller cheery yellow ones still adorn the front porch. The small table beside the front door is accented by colorful gourds and rustic pieces of rough bark. A pair of farm folk with straw hair are dressed for the harvest festival in plaid outfits featuring colorful buttons and pumpkin appliqués.
The farm couple was one of my finds at a yard sale last month. I’ve enjoyed shopping recently at a sale on Stagecoach Road and at a couple more here intown. I have discovered some real treasures. A brand new broiler pan has replaced the old one I had to scrub diligently after each use and I found a nice small quilt for my nephew’s new baby. I was delighted to find goats’ milk soap, a hand towel and cloth napkins to tuck in gift baskets, and a metal rooster sculpture to decorate my kitchen. An old fruit jar painted with a rooster motif is perfect to hold a set of wooden spoons.
A former neighbor recently moved back to town from Texas and called to inform us of her return. I visited her in her lovely home a few blocks west of us and she gave me a tour of the house. She called again a week or so later and urged me to come pick from her abundance of wall decor. She had a larger home in Texas and couldn’t find room to hang it all here. I made a few selections from the array on her closet floor, including a wooden heart proclaiming “Home is Where You Hang Your Heart” and a wooden plaque shaped like the state of Texas which was decorated with a handcarved owl. I also found a cast iron trivet to add to my collection over the kitchen sink. I will enjoy these new home accents and think of our friend when I see them.
My sister Nancy’s grandson Austin played pee wee football this year and I went to watch his home games. His team had a very successful year, going undefeated during the regular season, then winning the Super Bowl at Afton, Okla., a week ago Saturday. We’re proud of these youngsters and of our GHS Lions who were victorious in Pocahontas last week and are headed to their second playoff game in Warren this Friday. Go Lions!
There’s always a variety of opportunities to sample good food in November. Last week was an excellent example. Jim and I enjoyed catfish dinners in Grove Tuesday afternoon. Thursday I worked at our library commission fundraiser and brought home generous cups of chili. They made a tasty supper topped with chopped onions and grated cheese and accompanied by moist chocolatey brownies. Friday we were treated to a delicious buffet meal provided for veterans and their spouses. I dropped in at the 85th birthday celebration for Lowess Jasper Saturday afternoon and shared in the birthday cake and refreshing punch.
Two or three holiday meals are planned in the next few days. As the colorful autumn leaves drift to the ground and the Thanksgiving season arrives, we will gather at the table and share our blessings with family and friends. This traditional American holiday is not only for feasting but for giving thanks for our shared traditions. Many things may go wrong and be wrong in our country but all across the land we are free to get together and squawk about these wrongs and to give thanks for all that is right.
Susan Holland is longtime resident of Benton County and a staff member of the Westside Eagle Observer. She may be contacted by email at sholland@ nwaonline.com.
Opinion, Pages 6 on 11/16/2011