This Time of Year

A Fabulous Lentil Soup Recipe

I know of two Octobers. The first is the stuff of glossy magazines, movie scenes, and Norman Rockwell. This latter half, though, is less cheery and not as colorful. Daylight wanes; the forests become bare, filled with silver and gray ghosts; it can be downright mournful when these raw, rainy days return.

This all leads to November, which used to be my least favorite month. Mostly because it felt lonely to me.

But that was before I grew into my own sense of calm and quiet.

These are the the weeks of shrinking light and expansive darkness. A soul needs to know how to nurture itself. Sweaters help. So do gloves and mittens, knit hats, warm socks, and rain coats. Soups and porridge, hot tea and cocoa, good books, soulful music, mood lighting that makes a house feel like a home—all of these help.

Today, we settled for one long morning walk, instead of a second on this gloomy afternoon. Some days you give yourself permission to do less and be more.

Earlier, in the rain, we drove into North Con…