Color me cozy by Magdalena Scott

 

Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

Well, gang, we made it to autumn, the season I love best. Here in southern Indiana, we've even had a few days of seasonal temperatures. Nice! Of course, as I write this we're back to the 80s. Fingers crossed that it doesn't last long.

I love pretty much everything about fall. Crickets singing, the sun's altered slant during the day. The fact that it's still dark outside when I get up in the morning, and dark by the time I go to bed. The list is long...

It's time to prepare for cooler days and nights, and I'm jazzed about it.

I'm re-watching one of my favorite series, Northern Exposure. In a recent episode, the inhabitants of Cicely, Alaska were getting ready for winter by overeating. Like a bear preparing to hibernate, I guess. 

Much as I adore my buddies in Cicely, adding to my waistline isn't on the agenda. And as an apartment dweller, I don't need to stock up on firewood or check the exterior of the house to be sure it'll withstand the cold north wind.

So what are my preparations?

I have bought some books. Hardbacks and paperbacks. I love reading ebooks, but at this time of year, it's especially nice to curl up with a hefty read. (Happy endings only!)

And speaking of curling up, that's much cozier under the alpaca blanket a friend gave me, or for super cold times, the Indiana University stadium blanket. 

I bought some cornmeal from a local historic mill. I'm not a cookie or cake baker, but on cold days I enjoy homemade soup with a cornstick or two on the side. (You're right to think I'll need to watch the waist if this happens too often.)

Photo by Yoksel 🌿 Zok on Unsplash

A few weeks ago, I bought three beautiful chrysanthemums from local growers: yellow, dark-red, and white.

I'm playing my mountain dulcimer more these days too. It's a peaceful endeavor year-round but seems even more enjoyable right now.

Okay, it's your turn. How are you preparing for the fall and winter seasons?

Magdalena Scott

Website: https://magdalenascott.com/

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It's Fall Sports, er, Autumn Time!

How well I remember the days when we had five kids playing fall soccer games on three different fields! With the help of useful grandparents, we managed. Now I'm the not-so-useful grandparent who shows up to cheer on the valiant efforts of four kids playing on four different fields at overlapping times. (Note #5 below, poised to take the ball.)

Some of our grandchildren play too far away for us to see them in action. One grandson is on his high school's freshman football team in Oregon. He plays offense, defense, and special teams (the point-after kicker). I wonder if that's related to the fact that his dad is coaching? Hmmm...

In southern Utah, two grandsons are playing on both sides of the ball--the football, that is. So far, they've both been involved in valiant losing efforts. We're scheduled to go see them play in a couple of weeks. Perhaps our being there will do the trick? We hope so.

We recently had the opportunity to watch a couple of our boys on the soccer field. One blondie turned ten the week before. We were there to see him blow out his birthday candles on Friday, and there to watch him dominate the field on Saturday, playing against most of the boys who attended his party. 

Though he was all over that field on both offense (first half) and defense (second), the team didn't do as well overall. Some valuable lessons can be learned from losing, too. 

There's so much to be said for kids' sports. Some advantages include healthful activity, fresh air, sportsmanship (depending, of course, on how the parents behave), the joy of winning, and learning to accept defeat. I support the concept even in my fiction, which is why Rainbow Rock, Arizona gets its own youth soccer league in my Rainbow Rock Romance series. The children of my imaginary friends need comaraderie, fresh air, and an active lifestyle too.

I expect many more proud grandma moments, and some triumphs and defeats for the fictional children as well. After all, it's autumn and time for kids' fall sports. 

Susan Aylworth is the author of more than 20 novels. Her newest book is Kisses and Kittens in Christmas Town, Book 3 in the Christmas Town series. Over the Rainbow, a prequel to the Rainbow Rock Romances, is available free to everyone who subscribes to her newsletter on her website: susanaylworthauthor.com. Contact her on her Facebook author page or via susan.aylworth.author@gmail.com or join her on Twitter @Susan Aylworth. 

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Joan McAllister never imagined a world without her larger-than-life father. After his sudden death, she is overwhelmed with sorrow, harrowed up by guilt over dreams she never shared, and burdened with helping her mother run the family farm and care for three younger brothers. How can she reject her father’s dying wish, even when it means giving up her dreams? To complicate matters, Joan is attracted to a man she met at her father’s funeral. How can she be musing about romance when her life is in turmoil?

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Take a look at this short story by Pat Simmons:

After splurging on a one-of-a-kind evening dress, Pepper Trudeau hopes to dazzle the crowd at a St. Louis soiree. With her hair in place and makeup polished, Pepper stands confident, at least steady, in her ridiculous stilettos as she heads out the door--dateless.

Drake Logan almost didn't come to the gala, but when he catches a glimpse of an exotic beauty in a dress that seemed made for her figure, he almost lost his mind. Sometimes a man only gets one shot to impress a woman, and taking advantage of the moment, Drake will do whatever it takes to capture Pepper's heart on the spot.

Her Dress is a romantic novella about a woman who soon learns there is no price tag on love.

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Learn more about the author at her website.

Not All Heroes Wear Capes by Janice Lynn

 

Not All Heroes Wear Capes...I saw that written a lot during 2020 when nurses and the healthcare field was overwhelmed (we still are in many areas, btw) and when I think of my next Hallmark Publishing release, it really fits the story. My heroine and a widowed mom, Morgan, is a nurse who lost her job due to budget cuts (this actually happened to people I knew last summer). She moved to where her grandparents lived to get on her feet and to make sure that her young son has the best Chistmas ever in Pine Hill, because his last two haven't been good, much less magical. When there, Morgan goes to work at a nursing home/assisted living facility. Y'all, the men and women working in these areas truly are heroes and heroines! I've always thought it, but even more so since Covid-19 forever changed life as we know it.

My hero, Andrew, is a firefighter who longs to be a smokejumper. Firefighting in general is heroic. I mean, these men and women run into fires when everyone else is running out. But to be a smokejumper takes it to another whole level of danger. I'll admit, I cried quite a bit when doing the research on Smoke Jumpers and Hot Shots due to the loss of lives over the years, and the absolute bravery and resiliency these men and women exude with their every breath. 

Writing their story, one of a heroine who had already lost the love of her life to his dangerous lifestyle and a hero whose very core is dedicated to protect others even at the ultimate sacrifice to himself, well, it often had been thinking how blessed I am by the real life heroes and heroines in my life. As a nurse myself, I'm surrounded by healthcare workers and know many more. Y'all, they are all heroes and heroines in ways someone outside the healthcare field may not be able to truly understand because it's on the drives home and at night that our tears flow the hardest and our hearts just ache at the things we've seen. I'm also blessed with a nephew who is a state trooper, a nephew who is a firefighter, a nephew who served in the Army, and a son who is currently serving in the Army National Guard. They, and all those serving with them, are heroes and heroines in my eyes.

I want to expound on all the other heroes and heroines out there. Those that serve in ways that may often go unrecognized--such as the lady at church who always mails get well cards and sympathy cards to members. Such as those who check on shut-ins, bring them food, to doctor appointments, etc. Such as the family member who brings in a parent or grandparent to provide 24/7care for them. Such as electric line workers who go out during and after storms to help restore power. Such as the seamstress who sewed masks and gave them out by the stacks. Such as the quilters who make quilts to wrap veterans and service members in to welcome them home. I could go on and on, because our world is filled with heroes. The writer in me wants to recognize them all, to give each one a story and a voice. I'll never live long enough to succeed, so y'all help me. :) 

Who are some of the heroes and heroines in your life? You can share why if you'd like, but if you just want to acknowledge them, that's great, too. 

Wrapped Up in Christmas Hope coming October 26, 2021 from Hallmark Publishing

Buy Your Copy HERE

USA Today, Wall Street Journal, & Publishers Weekly Bestselling author JANICE LYNN lives in Tennessee with her Prince Charming and their princes and princesses, her vivid imagination, an adorable Maltese named Halo who's the true royalty of the house, and bunches of unnamed dust bunnies that moved in after Janice started her writing career. In addition to writing romance, Janice is a nurse practitioner, a quilter, an exercise queen, a military mama, and an avid supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Just kidding on the exercise queen. www.janicelynn.com   WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS & WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS JOY are available at AMAZON Barnes & Noble WALMART

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