#30BrighterDays

Hi. It’s November. The days are getting darker and colder and grayer and damper. Sun will hold limited office hours, so I decided to plug in my blog and use it for a Lite Brite this month. Every day I plan to challenge myself to find my own brightness– to share something that will brighten my day and inspire you to find brightness, too.

This picture was taken last weekend in Sturgeon Bay. The forecast predicted rain and more rain. While rain would not interfere with our overeating and laying on the couch Door County traditions, I did dread the cabin (okay condo) fever. We strike a fragile balance between our natural family gluttony and our forced family outdoorsy. The former is a given and the latter is our only hope for an antidote.

One good thing about low expectations; even moderate outcomes can feel like pleasant surprises. It rained, but it didn’t pour. We got our outside time, and the cold damp made our retreat to the heated wifi-riffic condo even cozier.

Though the fall colors had peaked the week prior, the gold and orange leaves dazzled against the dreary background. This made me think of midlife; past our peak, dazzling anyway (especially in low light).

Some of our favorite sweet shops and ice cream stores had already closed for the season, but we filled up on Swedish pancakes piled with strawberries and whipped cream, and snagged one of the very last apple pies from the seasonal farm stand.

The sun shone brightly the last day. By then we had found our own brightness.