November's Grey Beauty
November on Prince Edward Island arrives with a shift in mood. The air turns damp, the skies grey, and there’s a kind of “meh” that settles in. It’s not the vibrant colour of October or the sparkle of December yet. November has its own quiet rhythm.
For families here, November brings a short six-day break, that blend of professional development days and Remembrance Day that offers a welcome mid-season breather. Over the past few years, it’s become a little tradition for us to sneak away somewhere during that stretch, a quick change of scenery before winter fully settles in. This year, Porter and I are off to the Big Apple for a mother-son adventure. He’s got a jam-packed itinerary (naturally), and I’ve tucked in a bit of R&D - that’s “research and dessert,” of course.
(Photo: The Gardens Of Hope at the end of fall.)
Turning the Page
It’s the time of year when we lean into hibernation mode. After the time changes, darkness settles in early, and mornings feel slower to wake. I don’t know about you, but I’m often in my jammeez before I even start dinner. The fireplace flicks on more often now, the air feels softer and gray, and there’s a collective exhale across the Island.
As the season shifts, Island artisans are busy preparing for holiday markets and craft fairs; a sure sign that winter isn’t far off. At the Preserve Company, we just served our final meal of the season in the dining room. The last cruise ship has come and gone, and with it, another chapter quietly closes. There’s always a mix of gratitude and relief in that moment, a deep exhale after the fullness of summer.
Now we slip into holiday mode. From festive market pop-ups to our new store opening in the Charlottetown Mall mid-November, there’s a different kind of energy in the air. In a couple of weeks, our flagship location begins its magical transformation with twinkle lights, evergreen garlands, and that unmistakable Hallmark-movie feeling you can sense the moment you walk through the door. It’s a gentler pace now, where the locals start to return, lingering a little longer, when it finally feels “safe” again to settle in and savour the space that summer visitors leave behind.
(Photo: Our Holiday location at the Royalty Crossing Mall in 2024 - we can't wait to be back here!)
Nature’s Call
When the calendar feels heavy, nature pulls me back into balance. As a child, I didn’t always appreciate those walks along Bubbling Springs Trail in the PEI National Park that felt more like chores than joy. Now, they fuel my soul. I crave those quiet walks just as much as moments on the beach with our dog, watching waves crash against the shore. It’s therapy in its truest form.
The Gardens of Hope mirror that same lesson. As the plants slip into rest mode, I’m reminded of the beauty in slowing down, in preparing for a season of restoration.
Rooted in the Harvest
This is also the month when the potato harvest winds down, and here on PEI, that means something. The humble spud isn’t just a crop; it’s part of who we are. I still remember going out to “glean” the fields with my family after the harvest, filling grocery bags with what was left behind. Truthfully, I dreaded it back then, as it was cold, the ground was damp, and it felt an awful lot like child labour. But the reward was always worth it. Mom would hand the supper duty over to Dad, and before long, the kitchen would fill with the smell of home-cut fries sizzling in the deep fryer. Whether it’s home-cut fries, a baked potato loaded with all the fixin’s, or a slice of our famous PEI Potato Pie, there’s just something about potatoes that hits different here on the Island, pure comfort that feels a bit like a hug from home.
(Photo: Our mouth watering Potato Pie - we'll be dreaming of this all winter!)
The Beauty in the Grey
For me, November is a reminder that even in the grayest of months, there’s quiet beauty to be found, in the slower rhythm, the shift of seasons, and the warmth of community. It’s a time to gather ourselves before the lights of December take over, to rest, to prepare, and to savour the in-between.
Here on PEI, even November reminds us that beauty lives in every season — especially the ones that slow us down.
Lots of Love,
Marsha
