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/

What do you really know about #Halloween by Kristin Wallace

So we’re in to October now, which means full on Halloween prep is underway. All the fall customs…going to a farm to choose your pumpkin, not to mention the hayrides, hot apple cider, face painting, and caramel apples. Carving a jack-o-lantern, choosing a costume. My mom made several of mine growing up, including a witch and princess. There’s trick o’ treating and Halloween parties.

Those are all big Halloween traditions in the US. But do you know the true history behind the holiday? Where did it come from and why was it celebrated?

In the Beginning

The origin of Halloween is believed to date back over 2,000 years ago and has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in) in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France. The Celts celebrated their new year on November 1^st, which marked the end of summer, and the harvest, and the beginning of winter. The night before, on October 31^st, Samhain was celebrated. On that night it was believed that the ghosts of the dead were actually able to walk the earth. To commemorate the event, the Celts dressed up in costumes and built huge bonfires to burn crops and make animal sacrifices. When Samhain was over, they re-lit their hearth fires from the sacred bon fire in order to protect their families during the winter.

The Holiday Evolves

By the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1^st All Saints’ Day, or All Hallows Eve, a time to honor all saints and martyrs. The holiday incorporated many of the Samhain traditions, including bonfires, parades and dressing up in costumes. Eventually, All Hallows Eve became known as Halloween.

In the US, the more popular traditions we see (such as dressing up & trick or treating) didn’t begin to take shape until the second half the nineteenth century, mostly due to the large influx of Irish immigrants who began arriving in the 1840s. It wasn’t until the 1950s that Halloween evolved into a secular holiday mainly aimed at children.

Checkout this webpage for more in-depth history.

Halloween Holiday Trivia:

Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday. 

It takes an average of 252 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.

According to the National Confectioner’s Association, more than 35 million pounds of candy corn will be produced this year.

Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.

Halloween candy sales in the US average about $2 billion dollars annually.

Chocolate candy bars top the list as the most popular candy for trick-or-treaters with Snickers #1.

Bobbing for apples is thought to have originated from the Roman harvest festival that honors Pamona, the goddess of fruit trees.

Black cats were once believed to be witch's familiars who protected their powers.

Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of inspirational and contemporary romance, and women’s fiction filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith”. Her latest release is part of the Sweet Christmas Kisses 4, 14 holiday novellas on sale now for only 99 cents. Her contribution to the set is Loving You At Christmas, part of her Shellwater Key Tales series. 

In case you haven't bought your Sweet Christmas Kisses, here are the links:

AMAZON  /  BARNES & NOBLE  /  ITUNES  /  KOBO   /  GOOGLE PLAY

5 Things to Love about Fall

* Candles

Whether it's pumpkin spice or cinnamon, I love fall candles. They instantly make a home feel warm and cozy.

* Food

For me, fall is the season for comfort food. As soon as the weather cools off, I start craving stews, pumpkin bread, and anything that makes it feel like fall. But I have to be careful not to buy the Halloween candy too early or I'll eat it before the trick-or-treaters arrive. 

* Fall Clothes

After wearing sundresses and sandals in the hot Oklahoma summers, I'm always ready to pull out my fall clothes. Warm sweaters and comfy jeans are my favorites. At work, I like to wear dresses with tights and boots. 

* Reading by the Fire

Last year, my family and I moved into a new home with a gas fireplace. All I have to do is flip a switch. It's heaven. This time of year, I love to turn it on and curl up with a good book

* Fall themed books

Speaking of reading, I love books with an autumn setting--football games, festivals, Halloween, pumpkins. It's all very cozy and romantic.

New Release! 
Cowgirl in the Kitchen

Just as she's about to make her dream come true, disaster strikes. The only way she can get back in the saddle is to strike a bargain—with a man her family despises. 

Jentry Lawson's dream of becoming a world-class barrel racer is about to happen—until she and her horse are injured in a terrible accident. Forced to move back home to Texas to recuperate, her Dallas-based brother makes her an offer she can't refuse. He needs someone he can trust to oversee the renovation and grand opening of his new restaurant. If she'll take that on, he'll finance her return to the arena. It doesn't take Jentry long to discover she bit off more than she can chew. Swallowing her pride, she asks for help from Gavin Easton—a man her brother despises. But he's the one person who can make the restaurant succeed. 

People in Glover never thought Gavin Easton would amount to anything. Ever since his own restaurant in town burned down, he's taken odd jobs to provide for his niece, whom he is raising alone. When beautiful and stubborn Jentry offers him the perfect job, his first reaction is to turn her down flat. No way he's going to do anything to help her brother! But there's more at stake than his pride. Can he trust his future to the woman whose brother tried to ruin his reputation—and his life? 

Besides, how can he manage a restaurant, when he can't manage his heart?

http://amzn.to/2eby0L6

USA Today Best Selling author Julie Jarnagin writes sweet and inspirational romance. She grew up in a small Oklahoma town where her family farmed and ranched. These days she lives in a not-so-big city with her amazing husband and two young sons who tolerate all her nerdy quirks. Julie earned a B.A. in Journalism / Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. www.JulieJarnagin.com. Sign up for her newsletter for a FREE Christmas novella: http://eepurl.com/5y5k

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