Endings and Beginnings

This title could apply to so many things, but in this case, I'm thinking of the end of October and the beginning of November and all that is symbolized within.

To quote Anne from Anne of Green Gables
"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it?"

I love Anne just for that quote.
There's so much to appreciate in October. The month (at least here in the northeast) just sort of reaches out and grabs you with all its colorful splendor.

I was thinking today about how much joy I feel just looking at the brilliant foliage in my neighborhood.

But October also brings color of a different sort. It's still October as I type this, so Halloween is still the holiday of the month. In my neighborhood, Halloween is a huge thing. My husband used to say that Halloween was celebrated more enthusiastically than Christmas. That's certainly true of the decorations.

This is just a sampling of what you'd see if you'd wandered through my neighborhood any time in the last month (because YES, it's a monthlong celebration).

There are lots of houses that celebrate with autumn-themed colors and decorations.

Some houses go for color.

Miles and miles of this stuff.

Some are just all about the lights. Since when did Halloween become a light show?

I happen to love the creativity of this one.

I stumbled across this front yard a few weeks ago before my mind was into thinking of Halloween. My writer's imagination was the first thing that kicked in.

Just a random couple hanging on the stoop.

A graveyard or two.

I was walking past this one when I heard a little girl whisper to her mother than someone was buried there!

A lonely ghost.

And another.

Or a lively trio.

A plethora of pumpkins.

Some decorations don't seem sure what season they belong to.

The night ends with a huge parade. We loved to do this when the kids were little. Everyone dresses up and parades down the main avenues for a couple of miles. Tonight my favorites were a father who was the snowman to his daughter's Elsa and a family from the sea: mom was a jellyfish, dad was a shark, and the little girl was a lobster/mermaid.

Such fun times!

And some political pumpkins.

By the time you read this, October 2018 will be a thing of the past, and we'll be on to November.

What does November say to you?

Darkness falling earlier?

End to Daylight Savings time?

Marathons?

A time to be grateful?

NaNoWriMo?


What does your November look like?


Do you bring your imagination to lighting up the darker days?

Do you NaNoWriMo?

I'd really like to hear from people who do it. I've never participated. I was tempted this year, but I have no business starting a new book when I have one I need to finish first. I think I'll follow along informally, using the motivation to keep me going.

If October is known for color and Halloween, then November is the month of giving thanks. It would probably be a good month for starting a gratitude journal like the one Dana wrote about last week.

As we begin the month of November today, tell me something you are grateful for. I'll start off by saying that I'm grateful to have this place to visit with all of you. I'm extremely grateful for all the wonderful friends that writing has brought into my life.

How about you? Any fun Halloween stories to share or something for which you are grateful?

Why Embracing October Makes the Holidays Sweeter

by @jillkemerer

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.

Interesting Things about October 8 by Merrillee Whren

Did you know there will be a lunar eclipse tonight? (An editorial note: The eclipse was actually early this morning.) Do you plan to watch the eclipse? I hope to watch it if we have clear skies. In the desert where I live, we have a lot of evenings with clear skies, but this week we are expecting some clouds. Here is a photo that I took of a full moon some months ago.

If you look very, very closely you can see the outline of the mountains just below the moon. The little red dots are traffic lights in the distance.

In addition to the eclipse, October 8th is National Fluffernutter Day. That's the celebration of the sandwich made with peanut butter and marshmallow creme or fluff. That brings me to another point. One Christmas our family got in a discussion about marshmallow creme, which I use when I make fudge at Christmas. Both of my sons-in-law call it marshmallow fluff. I had never heard of Fluff until we moved to Massachusetts in the 1990's. I had always called it marshmallow creme. Which came first? Supposedly, marshmallow creme was actually invented in Massachusetts in 1917, but when the recipe was sold to Durkee-Mower, Inc., they renamed it Marshmallow Fluff. Check out the commercial for Fluffernutter at the bottom of the page.

October 8th is also National Pierogi Day. I have seen the pierogi race at the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game. Have you? Check out this link. 

This is also National Emergency Room Nurses Day. Here's a shout out to my friend Nancy who worked for many years as an emergency room nurse. Do you know an emergency room nurse?

October Reader Thursdays: It's Raining Apples...and Books!

Happy Reader Thursday! If you stopped by last Thursday, you know that in October the Craftie Ladies are giving away a bushel of books. Here's how it works. Every Thursday in October, visit the Craftie Ladies and make a comment. With five Thursdays this month, you have five chances to win some of those books! The following Thursday, we will announce the winner from the previous week's comments. More on that a little later...  

Now what's this about it raining apples? Well, I have two apple trees, and just like the bounty of books this month, my trees have produced more than any other year. Take a look.

That's just one tree and only the apples that fell to the ground during last weekend's storms. I have bags and bags of apples in the refrigerator. Last year there were very few apples thanks to a late spring frost. It reminds me a little of the years of feast and famine in the Old Testament. This year's crop is a real blessing! I'll can a bunch of applesauce and make apple crisp and eat lots of them right off the tree, but I'd love some other ideas. What are your favorite apple recipes? How do you prefer to eat apples or don't you like them at all? Let me know, and you'll be entered in this Thursday's contest.

Now, the moment you've been waiting for...drum roll please. The winner from last Thursday is Julie Hilton Steele. Congratulations, Julie!



Christine Johnson
The Marriage Barter - May 2013
Next book coming July 2014
http://christineelizabethjohnson.com
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