It's about this time of year I start anticipating the holidays. Turkey and stuffing. Warm sweaters and hot cocoa. Christmas carols and Hallmark movies. Candy canes and snowmen. You know how it is.
But Thanksgiving and Christmas are still weeks away, and October is in all its vibrant glory here in northern Ohio. Rather than breaking out my Christmas music or planning the side dishes I'm making for Thanksgiving, I take the time to embrace October.
The summer grass and flowers are dying. Leaves tumble to the ground--slowly on a mild day, quickly on a rainy one. Every car ride reveals orange, maize, and rust-colored trees intermingled with the evergreens. The colors typically last about two weeks--give or take--around here, and it's oh-too-easy to miss them.
I usually listen to classic jazz in the fall. Nina Simone, Miles Davis and Bill Evans get me into a mellow frame of mind. I need the downtime, the lull before the end of the year hustle bustle.
As much as I want to watch all my favorite Christmas movies, I refrain. Click through television channels and you'll see football, new episodes of favorite shows, more football, scary movies, and, yep, more football. I watch it all! Except for the scary movies. I get scared easily!
October always passes quickly. Before I know it, I'm moaning about all the Halloween candy I ate and turning a new page on my calendar. November arrives. And I'm ready to break out those Christmas CDs, search for side dish recipes to serve on Thanksgiving, and to watch movie after movie on the Hallmark channel.
By pacing myself and embracing October, experiencing all the joys of the holidays is that much sweeter.
What do you love about October?
Are you on Facebook? Join the Love Inspired Authors and Readers group. I'm "taking over" the group Monday through Wednesday this week and would love to have you join us. I'll be giving away books, too! Mary Alford will be the hostess from Wednesday at noon until Friday!
I have a new book out! Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets is in stores now! Here's a little about the book.
A nanny at
Christmastime…
Will
she find love in this Wyoming Cowboys novel?
Six weeks on a ranch
caring for quadruplets—aspiring nurse Ainsley Draper’s prepared for a busy
Christmas. When the children’s handsome uncle opens the door, her task gets
extra complicated. Marshall Graham is upholding his promise to look after his
twin sister, the babies’ mom. But as family loyalty clashes with new love, will
the perfect present include a future with Ainsley?
Purchase Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets HERE!
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Jill Kemerer is a multi-published author of Christian romance novels. Her essentials include coffee, fluffy animals, a stack of books and taking long nature walks. Jill resides in Ohio with her husband and two almost-grown children. She loves connecting with readers, so please visit her website, jillkemerer.com, and sign up for her newsletter.
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Jill, I love this time of the year. Although the fall colors are still about another month away, October normally means a change in the weather and we have cooler days. There's that crispness in the air that speaks of the coming winter. Its just a wonderful time of the year.
ReplyDeleteI do, too, Mary! It's supposed to cool down here later this week, and then we'll see the colors really start to pop!
DeleteI love autumn. October was the month I became a wife, and a year later, I became a mom, so it always holds a special place in my heart. ♥️
ReplyDeleteAww, happy anniversary, Lisa! I love October, too!
DeleteI think my favorite thing about October is the nip in the air in the mornings and crunching through the leaves on walks in the park.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes! I think the nip in the air will arrive later this week. It's been unseasonably warm!!
DeleteLove your stories, Jill! I enjoy autumn weather. Cool temperatures crisp air and the changing colors of the leaves. Here in coastal SC, we have palm trees, so we don't see a lot of colorful leaves. Temps are supposed to be cooler next week. I am looking forward to wearing sweaters. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Melissa! We've had warm weather for far longer than usual! We're supposed to cool down later this week, and I'm ready!
DeleteI am so ready for cooler temps. GA has been very hot/humid the past few months!
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying visiting with you today, Jill, on the LI Authors/Readers Group on FB.
I can only imagine how hot and humid Georgia can be! Thanks for playing along over at the Facebook group!!
DeleteI enjoy fall and love baking for football games and the holiday. If Florida ever gets past hurricane season, I'm ready to join in. Love this cover, Jill!
ReplyDeleteI do, too, Lenora! Fall football, fall food, and then comes Christmas! Yay! Stay safe down there!!
DeleteWell, I've been enjoying all the Hallmark autumn movies. *grin* There really is a Hallmark movie marathon for every season.
ReplyDeleteFor me, October is the month of apple everything. I know for the rest of the world it seems to be pumpkin spice time, but I love apple spice!
I also picked up your book last week, Jill!