Clear Skies and Cold Shoulders: The November Chill

November is that strange, liminal space where we are caught between the last of the autumn glory and the looming shadow of the winter holidays. It is the time of year when the light leans long and thin across the kitchen floor, and the radiator starts to sing its rhythmic, metallic song. In my family, this was always the month where the language shifted. We stopped talking about gardening and started talking about hunkering down. Our lexicon became less about expansion and more about containment, preservation, and the subtle art of enduring the cooling earth. Whether you are prepping the yard for the first hard frost or just trying to keep your spirits high as the sun dips below the horizon at four in the afternoon, there is a saying for it. Let us look at the phrases that define the cooling season. ### The First Frosts of Autumn We often greet the first truly cold morning with a bit of irony. When someone asks how you are holding up against the plummeting mercury, you might say, 'I am fine, just a little cold around the gills.' This refers to that feeling of being slightly under-prepared for the shock of the temperature drop, much like a fish exposed to thin air. It is a humble admission that we are soft, vulnerable creatures who had grown quite accustomed to the mild October breeze. If you find yourself complaining too much, someone might tell you to 'put a sweater on and quit your bellyaching.' This is the ultimate mid-western remedy for both cold temperatures and cold attitudes. It suggests that the solution to your problem is not a grand gesture, but a practical one. The bellyaching, of course, is the noise we make when we are uncomfortable, a word that perfectly captures the sound of a minor, persistent complaint that rattles in the chest. ### The Preparation Mindset As November rolls on, the impulse to hoard sets in. We check our stores, we organize the pantry, and we start looking at our neighbors with a keen eye. When the wind picks up, we might say, 'It is time to batten down the hatches.' While this has nautical roots, it is widely used in the Midwest to mean securing the house against an impending winter storm. It implies that the storm is a certainty and that your only duty is to minimize the damage. If you happen to be preparing for a large Thanksgiving gathering, you might warn your family that 'you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.' This is usually deployed when someone suggests a shortcut for a complicated family recipe. It means you cannot expect a high-quality outcome if you start with poor materials. It is a sharp, honest reminder that some things require the proper effort and the right ingredients. ### The Social Chill As the light fades, we see the inevitable tension of close quarters. People get restless. When someone is being particularly difficult or distant at the dinner table, we say they are 'as cold as a well digger’s knees.' This is a classic piece of regional imagery, suggesting a profound, bone-deep chill that is impossible to shake. It is a funny, evocative way to describe someone who is simply not in the mood for conversation. Finally, when the day is done and we retreat into our blankets, we often reflect on how quickly the year has evaporated. We might say, 'It is all downhill from here.' While that sounds pessimistic, in the context of the calendar, it simply means the momentum of the year is carrying us toward the finish line. We are rolling toward the end, and there is nothing left to do but enjoy the ride. The seasons turn, the language evolves, and the hearth remains the center of it all. Take care of yourselves as the shadows lengthen. If you need more ways to describe the weather or your relatives, I encourage you to dive into our growing collection in the archive.