ghost season & ghost stories

+ hikes, books, & things I'm struggling with

In my late 20s November has become one of my favorite months. I like the last leaves all yellow clinging on to trees. I like the way the bare branches look like skeletons in the fog. I like the way they sound like ghosts in the wind.

November is cozy and the beginning of short days and long nights and reminding myself to practice finding things that are beautiful because it doesn’t come as easily to me when it’s dark and cold.

reasons to go hiking this November…

hiking in late autumn

for me, november is one of the hardest months to get out the door and go hiking. the fall colors are mostly gone, it’s so dark, it just feels very not worth the effort. I’m constantly looking for reasons and ways to remind myself that it is still worth it.

I think part of that is learning to be okay with the the change of the seasons and how I change through them— I don’t need to be as active as I was in August. I think the other part is setting realistic goals and being intentional about enjoying outdoor time. Right now, my goal is once a week, one true hike a week.

a few beautiful places to hike even when it’s not so pretty outside…

• the north shore of minnesota is gorgeous in every season

• i’m hoping to take some time to head back to the porcupine mountains this november, or maybe explore more around Ironwood, Michigan

• explore the Great River Road along the Mississippi between Wisconsin and Minnesota

my to read/watch list this ghost season…

‘tis the season of curling up on the couch and knitting, of of binge watching something spooky, of lighting a candle and grabbing a cup of tea and reading a book when it’s dark at six pm. Here’s some reading + watch recs:

• Burial Rites by Hannah Kent is next on my list. Great reviews and follows the story of the last woman to be executed in Iceland.

• The Quickening by Elizabeth Rush is also on my list, but I likely won’t get to it in the super near future.

• Earlier this month I shared I was reading Iron Flame, a fun fantasy book but I’m just stuck in the middle of it now. Rapidly lost momentum there.

• What We Do In The Shadows has a new season out (vampire comedy), and I’ve been slowly working my way through season 2 of Rings of Power, but I am not nearly as into it as the first season.

things i’ve been working on lately…

• I (temporarily) made a print shop. I’ve had a few requests for prints of my photos recently, and while I had a full-time print shop in the past, realistically it was just a lot of work and almost always cost more to run than I was ever making. Fine art prints just… aren’t that high in demand. Still, I’m really honored that anyone would want to buy a photo of mine and put it on their wall, so I’ll leave this link active now through the new year.

• I’m working on a 2024 gift guide for Midwest Adventures! I’m hoping to share both outdoor gear that works specifically well for adventures in the Midwest, and plug local midwest gear brands, businesses, and artists. If you know someone who should be featured, feel free to shoot me an email at hello@madelinemarquardt.com

little bits of intentionality from my life (aka things i’ve been struggling with)…

I’m trying to make sure I get out on a real hike or paddle once a week. I’m trying to take the time to cook dinner instead of eating something premade— I’m even trying to meal prep. I’m trying to use all of the lettuce in the container before it goes bad. I’m trying to read more books and light candles and enjoy the act of just being.

Sometimes I think I’m trying to do too many things all at once because I can’t possibly do all if it all the time and be perfect. Sometimes it’s okay if the lettuce goes bad.

I’m trying to be okay with imperfection but somehow it feels like that too, is an impossible standard. I’m sharing in case you’ve been feeling that way lately too. We’re both normal; we’re both going to be okay.

some things to look forward to :)

By the time you read this, I’ll be down in the Twin Cities for a little while! Andy and I are dog sitting for a little while, and it’s always a really fun change of pace to be in the “big city”.

I’m looking forward to some time over that way, and to first snow, and cross country skiing again. In the meantime though, I really am looking forward to November. It’s beautiful in it’s own way.

-Maddy