October magic...

The weather is crisp and the colors glorious...it's a fine time for a fall picnic and a hike in the woods. It's October! And my affection for this month goes beyond simple preference. 

I love the russet, gold, and crimson leaves and the sight of tangled bittersweet.
I love the scent of woodsmoke from the season's first fire.
I love hayrides, barn dances, and carving a plump pumpkin.

The shortened days seem to quickly drift into evening shadows filled with an autumn chill. We find it's time to slip on a cozy sweater, prepare a pot of simmering stew, and lay an extra quilt at the foot of each bed.

Not long ago, the early summer days melted into even hotter ones, so I welcome fall...soon we'll be in the icy grip of winter, but I'm shrugging that thought off!

Ahh...days aglow with brilliant hues and nights illuminated by the harvest moon. Let's slow down and take time to savor the sights, sounds, and aromas that mark the changing of seasons.

photo source

October ushers in the harvest...

October has come to the country and I am filled with autumn busyness! Ahhh, the days are finally cooler.  The passing summer has been extremely hot & humid in our part of the Midwest, and I admit, I'm not sorry to see it pass.  

Chores that were hard to accomplish in the muggy days of summer seem easier to tackle now. I'm washing quilts, sweeping porches, and shaking rugs.  On the to-do list is making grape jam, salsa, and pasta sauce, along with harvesting sweet potatoes. We'll clean out the chicken coop and compost bin, toss the contents into the garden, and put it to bed until spring.

Farmers' markets are still busy and filled with pumpkins, acorn and butternut squash, okra, cabbage, and gourds. And since Halloween isn't far away, it's time to bring home several plump pumpkins!

October is my favorite month...a time of full moons and richly colored mums, of cider and woodsmoke, glorious trees, and of crisp days and cool nights. I love the brisk weather, and the daytime light feels somehow different...it is clear and bright, signaling an end to summer.
To me, it's a month like no other!

It's said, "life is a series of memories"...with that in mind, let's take the time to recall happy ones shared, and make new ones along the way.