Sweetest November

I thought about calling this post 'how to catch a Shetland pony', but then figured I can't use that title because I'm still trying to work out how to catch the damn Shetland pony. Little beast won't let us near her, but happily scoffs down the bucket of food we give her every day. Breaks out of her paddock as she pleases to wander through the house yard and has taken to eating our pretty roses. My husband refers to Shetlands as the 'devil's horse' and I start to think he may be right. Do you know how to catch a Shetland?

Busted.

November is truly one of my favourite months. I know lately I've been less keen for the summer heat to arrive than usual, but I start to remember how much I love November. The trees are covered in the bright green leaves of late spring, flowers are blooming, the weather is warm but not excessively hot. The best days are the cloudy ones - for some reason I just love the sight of all the new spring growth against a grey sky. We've been treated to a few grey days so far this November, and even a little rain, so lovely to watch. Good for the senses, good for the soul, good for the garden and the land. The chooks have gone broody and are tucked up in their nesting box together, sharing the eggs to be kept warm. There are some fertilised ones in there, so we're hoping for some chicks in a few weeks...

Big shifts are taking place in our little home. My little one, 19 months old, has elected to sleep in his own bed, quite suddenly, after having co-slept with us since he was born. I must say, as happy as I am for him to be growing up and going happily into his own room and bed, I was not quite ready for the change. It still feels strange crawling into a cold bed without him tucked up asleep already. I had no idea it would happen this easily or this fast - I tended to think he might be a bit clingy and not want to leave our bed. I was wrong. I start to have more faith than ever that an attachment-style of parenting will produce a confident and independent little person. Certainly in our case it seems to be so. But goodness, the sight of my little boy tucked up in his own lovely warm and cozy bed is just the sweetest thing.

My efforts in the garden of late have been mixed. There is a multitude of earwig bugs ready to eat the leaves of any new growth, and so far I have lost broccoli and eggplant seedlings, a few potatoes and of course my favourite, silverbeet and rainbow chard. I'm not very happy about the situation. I've also lost some pumpkin seedlings to a late cold night, and I've got some tomatoes ready to plant out but I'm hesitant; when I check the weather forecast the next week still see's us having lows around 5 degrees. The likelihood of getting any cold-protection measures in place right now is low. But I have been building a nice rock wall, adding to some existing rock wall around the 'orchard' where the apple trees grow. That is a success, as is my parsley, my oregano and so far, some red onions.

And I'm still struggling with energy levels and tiredness at the moment. Sometimes the energy comes and sometimes I feel drained and flat. We're settling into some new routines for our days too, some things I've wanted to bed down for a long time but haven't managed to do. Grocery shopping on a Monday. Often times the library on a Thursday. A morning at the playground on Friday's. This is my favourite, I find it is such a lovely way to end the week, now that William is old enough to really enjoy playing at the playground. We pedal up on the bike and stay for a while. We pedal most places around town here, I much prefer getting the bike out for a trip up the street than the car. It's so easy here, I never even feel the need to chain the bike up. Small town life, it's good.

So anyway the post title comes from a line in a song by Sarah Blasko from a long time ago. Another favourite.