Winter is Nigh

Winter is Nigh

Chill pervades the November air,
Oak leaves scattering everywhere.
Migrant geese issue battle cry,
Signs that winter is drawing nigh.

Autumn dissolves to bitter cold,
As sleepy sun fades into gold.
Red-tailed hawk peeks from nest up high,
Signs that winter is drawing nigh.

Inside a cottage, warm fire glows;
Love prevails and harmony flows.
Snug in blankets, we smile and sigh,
Signs that winter is drawing nigh.

Chill pervades the November air,
Signs that winter is drawing nigh.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2025
November 22, 2025

Happy Saturday! It’s kind of sad how quickly autumn has faded to bare branches and stark white skies. At least that’s what it looked like this morning. It was cloudy, with a hint of rain that never came. It feels like I didn’t get to fully enjoy the beauty of autumn this year. I only got to snap photos on a visit to Doukenie Winery and a walk around the lake a few weeks ago. Life has just been so busy, and I’ve been juggling many things. But I have decided to take each day and embrace its beauty and live my life, no matter how imperfect it may seem.

We are still on grandbaby watch. There was a false labor scare earlier this week (was it this week or last, haha), but Mama and baby are back home plugging along! My daughter has the best attitude, she’s not stressed. She is calm, living her life, and focused on enjoying her two little ones to the fullest before the arrival of the new little boy. I took the day off yesterday, and Dan and I went shopping at the outlet mall (SHOCKER). Old Navy was having an amazing sale, and I stocked up on Christmas PJs and socks for the little ones! I packed them up and shipped them off today, as an early Christmas gift from Gramps and Nanny Bee. They practically live in their PJS, and will wear Christmas PJs all year long, so it’s a good investment. Plus, each set of PJs was so cheap – I got 10 sets of PJs plus socks and baby shoes for $100! Woo hoo!

Today I spent the ENTIRE day cleaning the double oven. I thought the upper and lower ovens would clean simultaneously, so I set them both at a 5 hour clean cycle. Well…. the first one finished finally, and then I noticed the second one started up its clean cycle. OMG, now my lower oven will be in clean mode until 11 pm tonight!! Oh well, I’m a night owl anyway. It’s a good thing I pre-cleaned them with some Easy Off spray – you would not have believed the gross grime I wiped off! I don’t mind that extra step because it alleviates the burning smell that makes you think your house is on fire. Needless to say, I was stuck at home all day so in between scrubbing the oven racks, I’ve been slowly putting strings of lights on my tree. 3 strings down, 15 more to go LOL!

Well, gotta get back to stringing lights! (I was taking a break to rest the old back haha). I hope everyone has a great weekend and a Happy Thanksgiving!

Xoxo,
Colleen

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 21.17 – WRITER’S CHOICE!! – Winter is Nigh
Hard Bonus: WRITER’S CHOICE!! Describe a sunset
Easy Bonus: WRITER’S CHOICE!! Incorporate a type of hawk (Red-tailed hawk)