The Story Behind November 2025

This Month’s Design: A Vintage Turkey Print

This month’s calendar design features one of the vintage prints my mother, Primm, created back in 1993. Primm had a remarkable gift for capturing animals in her artwork. With masterful use of shading, color separation, and even the paper’s natural tone, she brought each creature to life. Designing for our calendars is never simple — limited to just two ink colors and the paper itself as the third — yet she always found ways to make her images shine.

Take this magnificent turkey, for example. Its feathers immediately draw the eye, bursting with detail and dimension. Primm’s skill and talent made the bird seem as though it could leap right off the page.

Turkeys in the Berkshires

Here in the United States, turkeys are most often associated with Thanksgiving dinner. But beyond the holiday table, they’re fascinating creatures in the wild. Growing up in the Berkshires during the 70s, 80s, and 90s, wild turkeys were a rare sight. Spotting one was enough to make us stop the car and marvel.

Today, things are very different. Wild turkeys are everywhere in this region — so common that people hardly mention them anymore. However, just the other day, my daughter Lily and I were on our daily walk when a flock of turkeys flew overhead and landed in nearby trees. Watching such large birds take flight was an unforgettable sight! This is something that most folks don’t see on a daily basis!

Are wild turkeys part of the landscape where you live?

Fun Facts About Turkeys 🦃

• Their head color changes depending on mood

• They have a 270° field of vision and can see in color

• Excellent hearing, despite lacking external ears

• Can run up to 25 miles per hour

• Can fly short distances at speeds up to 55 miles per hour