November’s Delight: Garden Upgrades, Cozy Home Finds, and Essential Entertainment

A monthly list of good things to see, buy, read and watch, curated to inspire and enhance your home and lifestyle.

Some links in this article are affiliate links, meaning if you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Welcome to November! As the crisp air settles in and the days grow shorter, there’s a unique charm to this transitional month. Here in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon, we’ve finally welcomed the much-needed measurable rain, painting the landscape with a renewed sense of autumnal vibrancy. The 10-day forecast promises more of this refreshing drizzle, truly ushering in the fall season with its characteristic dampness and rich, earthy scents.

It feels like just yesterday we were enjoying the last vestiges of warm sunshine, and now, almost overnight, our thoughts turn towards the impending holiday season and the cozy comforts of winter. Despite the shift, November holds a special place in our hearts. We deeply appreciate the seasonal focus on gratitude, beautifully highlighted by the Thanksgiving holiday, a perfect opportunity to reflect on our blessings. The transformation of the trees around us, as their leaves blaze in fiery oranges, deep reds, and golden yellows before gracefully descending, serves as a poignant reminder of nature’s cyclical beauty and constant renewal.

The cooler weather also brings a delightful culinary shift. It’s the perfect time to create hearty menus featuring warming soups and freshly baked homemade bread. While salads are a staple during the warmer months, I find immense joy in simmering savory soups, robust stews, and zesty chilis throughout the colder seasons. These comforting dishes not only warm the body but also nourish the soul, making our home feel even more inviting.

As we embrace the evolving landscape and the promise of colder days, let’s dive into this month’s collection of “Good Things”—a curated list of discoveries, projects, and entertainment that have brought joy and inspiration to our lives. From significant garden transformations to cherished literary journeys and engaging cinematic experiences, we’re excited to share what’s making November brighter for us.

Good Things

Gravel in the Garden: A Transformative Outdoor Project

Our ongoing garden renovation has reached a significant milestone this past month with the installation of gravel pathways and a new patio area. Following the completion of the cement walkways, retaining wall, and stairs, the next logical step was to meticulously lay gravel in the sunken area adjacent to the house. This extensive project included defining paths within the deer-resistant flower garden and creating a spacious new patio designed to accommodate a cozy fire pit area, perfect for cooler evenings.

The entire month was dedicated to this ambitious undertaking. Our hands-on work involved constructing new rock walls, shaping garden beds, carefully relocating and planting various herbs and shrubs, and diligently scraping up the old, less durable wood chip path. A critical part of the process was laying heavy-duty plastic sheeting across the entire area. This was a race against the elements, specifically the incessant rain, which threatened to turn our diligently prepared space into a challenging mud pit. Thankfully, we managed to complete the essential groundwork just in time, narrowly beating the downpour!

The view captured above, taken from the farmhouse’s back door, showcases the dramatic transformation. What was once a somewhat chaotic space, littered with rocks and boards that posed tripping hazards, is now incredibly neat, tidy, and thoughtfully organized. The smooth, even gravel paths and designated areas make navigation a breeze, a stark contrast to the slick plastic or uneven ground we once contended with. It’s a joy to finally see this area come together so cohesively.

The image above offers another perspective, looking towards the back door from the walkway leading to the front. Now, this entire sunken garden area is beautifully framed and defined by the new cement walkways that seamlessly connect the front and back of the house. This integration creates a much more logical and aesthetically pleasing flow throughout the property, enhancing both its functionality and curb appeal. It truly makes so much more sense now that it’s completed.

One might assume such a harmonious design was meticulously planned from the outset, but surprisingly, that wasn’t entirely the case. This garden transformation unfolded in stages, each decision building upon the last. Seeing the finished result, I’m incredibly pleased with how organically it all worked out, exceeding our initial expectations.

For those who recall my previous discussions about our persistent mole problem and my initial reluctance to use gravel (due to the difficulty of repairing paths once moles burst through with their tell-tale dirt mounds), we devised a strategic solution. We decided to invest in the thickest landscape plastic we could find and were equally generous with the gravel. We laid a substantial 2-3 inches of gravel everywhere, paying particular attention to the bed edges where moles are most prone to surfacing. Our hope is that the sheer weight and density of the gravel, combined with the robust plastic barrier, will discourage moles from entering these paved areas, confining them to the garden beds and encouraging them to move on. Only time will tell if our preventative measures prove effective, but we are optimistic!

Next month, I’m eagerly looking forward to sharing the completed fire pit area, featuring comfortable chairs and our brand new, carefully selected fire pit/stove. It will be the perfect spot for enjoying chilly evenings under the stars.

A New, Larger Living Room Rug: Finding the Perfect Foundation for Comfort

Oh, the saga of finding the perfect living room rug! You wouldn’t believe the extensive amount of time and mental energy I dedicated to searching for a better, larger rug for our living space. It’s been more than a year, a truly exhaustive quest. My journey involved countless hours of browsing various styles, scrutinizing colors, and researching different materials. My preference consistently leaned towards natural fibers like wool and jute, but often, I found myself frustrated by the limited choices available that met both my aesthetic and practical requirements, not to mention the prohibitive prices. This cycle of searching, frustration, and then temporarily abandoning the task would repeat for months on end.

Here’s a breakdown of the specific criteria I desperately needed to fulfill:

• Optimal Size: 9×12 feet. Our previous 8×10-foot rug was functional; it allowed the front legs of all furniture to sit on it, preventing that awkward “floating in the middle” look. However, it simply didn’t fill the room to its full potential. It made the living room section feel disproportionately smaller within the larger main living area, failing to create the expansive and grounded feel I desired.
• Practical Color Palette: I needed a rug with a rich, varied color scheme that would effectively camouflage the inevitable dirt and daily wear and tear that comes with an active household. Crucially, I wanted to avoid blues, grays, or reds, which seem to dominate most rug selections and didn’t align with our existing decor. My past experiences with lighter-colored rugs taught me a harsh lesson: they showed every speck of dirt almost immediately and proved incredibly difficult to keep clean, quickly losing their pristine appearance.
• Effortless Care: Low maintenance was a non-negotiable factor. The jute rugs I’ve owned in the past, while beautiful, were notoriously challenging to clean and took an eternity to dry after any spill or damp cleaning. I even had a jute-wool combination that, despite its natural appeal, seemed to highlight every piece of debris and was equally difficult to maintain. I needed something that could withstand real-life use.
• Affordable Investment: The rug absolutely could not cost an arm and a leg. Traditional natural fiber oriental rugs, which often feature the multi-color patterns I was drawn to, typically retail for thousands of dollars. Such an expense was simply not feasible for a rug that would see heavy traffic and potential messes.

Throughout my extensive search, I continually found myself drawn back to the captivating colors of this particular rug, an Instagram darling that seemed to be everywhere. Its appealing palette of olive, tan, black, and rust resonated deeply with my vision. Having been a popular choice for some time, it also boasted a wealth of positive reviews, particularly regarding its color retention and impressive durability over time, which was a huge selling point.

While it isn’t made of natural fiber—a slight deviation from my initial preference—it arrived completely free of any off-gassing odors, which was a pleasant surprise and a testament to its quality. I knew it was a thinner rug, as noted in many reviews, so to enhance its comfort and plushness, I proactively purchased a high-quality 1/4-inch, 100% felt rug pad, proudly made in the USA without any glues, PVC, or latex. This combination creates a surprisingly soft and luxurious feel underfoot.

I genuinely adore this rug. The larger 9×12-foot size is absolute perfection; it grounds the entire living room, making the space feel more cohesive and expansive than ever before. The rich, multi-colored palette, featuring a slightly distressed oriental look, is not only beautiful but also incredibly practical. This aesthetic will go a long way in cleverly hiding the inevitable signs of wear and tear that accumulate over the years, ensuring it looks fresh and appealing for a long time.

The price for this specific rug can fluctuate quite dramatically, ranging anywhere from over $600 to sometimes less than $300. I was diligent in my search and managed to purchase it at one of the lowest prices available, which places it at the more affordable end for polyester rugs of this generous size. Considering its impact on the room and its practical benefits, it feels like an incredible value.

I truly believe this rug completely transforms and elevates the room’s aesthetic, serving as the perfect foundation for our cozy living space!

Here is the link to where I purchased mine – it shipped quickly and efficiently, making the entire experience seamless:

Loloi II Layla Printed Oriental Distressed Olive / Charcoal Area Rug

Now, with the rug in place, my next major decision revolves around selecting the ideal couch. This is another item I’ve been deliberating on for over a year, and unlike the rug, couches certainly do not ship quickly. The search for the perfect blend of comfort, style, and durability continues!

October Reads: A Diverse Collection of Literary Journeys

This past October was a fantastic month for reading, offering a diverse array of genres that provided both entertainment and profound insights. Here’s a quick rundown of the six captivating books I delved into:

Is This Anything, Jerry Seinfeld. Brian and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook during car rides. Jerry Seinfeld’s unique brand of observational humor is always a hit with us, and this collection was no exception. It comprises jokes he’s meticulously organized and saved throughout his illustrious career, structured decade by decade, offering a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of his comedic genius. While the audio version includes an English-accented woman introducing each joke theme—a completely unnecessary addition that occasionally distracted from the otherwise seamless experience—it did little to diminish the sheer humor and brilliance of Seinfeld’s writing. We both cherished having something so genuinely fun and lighthearted to brighten our commutes, a true testament to his enduring comedic appeal.

All Fired Up, Dylan Newton. This novel served as a follow-up to the delightful romance I read last month, How Sweet It Is. This time, the narrative centers on the best friend from the first book, who becomes romantically involved with her friend’s sister’s brother, effectively bringing back familiar faces. While it offered a pleasant enough reading experience and, predictably, a happy ending—the title, incidentally, refers to the male lead’s occupation as a ceramics studio owner—I found myself less connected to the heroine’s journey in this installment. There weren’t as many laugh-out-loud moments as in the first book, which was a slight disappointment. However, it was nice to extend our time with the main characters from the first book, especially as they welcome a new baby. Despite this, I probably won’t seek out further works by this particular author.

Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier and the Romance of the Century, Stephen Galloway. This biography proved to be utterly fascinating, delving into the complex lives of two legendary figures. I’ve always felt a deep sadness about the ultimate failure of the Olivier’s marriage and the tragic struggles Vivien Leigh faced with mental illness during an era when understanding and effective treatments—beyond rudimentary shock therapy—were severely lacking. Reading this account, enriched by insights from personal letters and recollections from friends (or their descendants, as many contemporaries are no longer with us), provided a far more comprehensive and heartbreaking picture. It became clear that Vivien’s mental health issues were far more debilitating and deeply rooted than the public was ever allowed to perceive, largely to protect her career in film and theatre. The story is tragic in so many aspects. Beyond the personal drama, it was incredibly interesting to learn about the vast array of movies and plays they were involved in from the 1930s through the 1960s. I had never fully grasped the immense cultural and industrial influence they wielded as a power couple within Hollywood and society at large.

Henry VIII: King & Court, Alison Weir. I acquired this audiobook edition during a sale, primarily because I am a huge admirer of almost anything penned by the esteemed historian Alison Weir. Having previously read and watched numerous accounts of Henry VIII’s reign, including Weir’s earlier work, *The Six Wives Of Henry VIII*, there wasn’t a great deal of entirely new information presented here. However, the depth of historical background is always compelling, and Weir’s particular emphasis on the daily life of the court, especially the staggering monetary expenses involved in simply feeding such a vast number of people, was eye-opening. All the historical figures for expenditures were thoughtfully translated into modern-day equivalents, which really drove home the immense scale—wow! The book also served to debunk a few popular myths or misinterpretations from previous biographies, such as correctly identifying figures in certain historical paintings. Despite its considerable length, it was an incredibly easy and engaging listen, perfect for accompanying my baking and gardening sessions.

Lucky Man, Michael J. Fox. I was genuinely surprised that I had never read this 2002 memoir before, as it had always been on my mental “to-read” list. The book proved to be every bit as good as I had anticipated, offering intimate details about his formative years that shed light on his later successes, along with candid accounts of his television and movie career. Central to the narrative, of course, is his Parkinson’s diagnosis at the young age of 29. Several revelations from the book particularly stuck with me: his middle name doesn’t actually start with a “J”—he simply thought it sounded better; he worked tirelessly during his first three years in Hollywood but often went hungry due to financial struggles; and he famously juggled filming *Family Ties* concurrently with *Back to The Future*, leading to months of sleeping only 2-3 hours a night. Consequently, he remembers very little of the *Back to The Future* filming, which primarily took place at night. What truly resonated with me was his consistently positive outlook on life, his courageous journey with his diagnosis, and the incredible accomplishments he has achieved. This memoir is highly recommended if you’re like me and haven’t had the chance to read it yet. (I’ve already placed his most current book from 2020 on hold, eager to delve into more of his inspiring story).

The View Was Exhausting, Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta. The premise of this novel initially sounded like the type of lighthearted romance I typically enjoy: a fake relationship that gradually transforms into something very real after years of friendship. While it was an okay read, I found myself wishing for more scenes depicting the evolving dynamic between the two main characters; there simply weren’t enough intimate moments for me to truly invest in their relationship one way or another. The struggles faced by the main character as a British-Indian actress provided an interesting layer to the narrative, exploring themes of identity and public perception. However, the heroine’s journey to self-awareness and acceptance of her own rather selfish tendencies felt incredibly drawn out, to the point where I was tempted to skip ahead to the ending around the three-quarters mark. (It also included a couple of “open door” scenes that I chose to fast-forward through, as they weren’t essential to the plot for me).

Watching: Engaging Entertainment for Fall Evenings

Abbott Elementary Season 2, ABC/Hulu. I am absolutely thrilled that *Abbott Elementary* has returned for its second season, and I’m delighted to report that it’s as hilariously sharp and genuinely heartwarming as ever. This mockumentary-style sitcom continues to brilliantly capture the chaotic yet deeply dedicated world of an underfunded Philadelphia public school. The ensemble cast delivers consistently stellar performances, and the writing is a perfect blend of witty humor, poignant social commentary, and authentic character development. It’s truly a breath of fresh air in television, offering much-needed laughs and reminding us of the tireless efforts of educators. If you’re looking for a show that will make you smile, think, and laugh out loud, this is an absolute must-watch.

News of The World, Amazon. The book by Paulette Giles was a standout, earning a spot on our “best books of the year” list when Brian and I listened to it as an audiobook. Naturally, we had been eagerly awaiting the film adaptation starring Tom Hanks for what felt like an eternity. It was finally available for rent (previously, it had only a purchase option, a practice I truly don’t understand and find frustrating!). I’m pleased to say the movie was really good. While some elements were changed, particularly the beginning and the circumstances that lead the main characters to travel together, the overall spirit and setting of the book were brought vividly to life. Tom Hanks delivers a compelling performance, and the sweeping Western landscape felt authentic and immersive. It was a deeply satisfying experience to see a beloved story translated so effectively to the screen, capturing the essence of the original narrative while offering a fresh visual interpretation.

That’s it for another addition of the Good Things List!

If you’d like to see more of what I’m enjoying, you can check out all the Good Things Lists here. I’d love to know what you think – if you’ve tried any of these recommendations or what you’d suggest I explore next. Please leave a comment below with your thoughts and personal favorites!

Disclosure: Affiliate links in this article will earn commission based on sales, but it doesn’t change your price. Click here to read my full disclaimer and advertising disclosure.