I find this time of year challenging.  November. The weeks between Halloween and holidays.   Especially outdoors.   The fun and festive – and sometimes spooky – Halloween decorations have come down.  The freshly carved pumpkins are now squirrel food.  And those colorful and wonderful mums have shriveled up and died  … well, at least mine have  … leaving our porch steps and stoops bare and sad and bland … [Read more...]