Showing posts with label Autumn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Autumn. Show all posts

Friday, October 7, 2022

Autumnal Thoughts by Eileen O'Finlan

 

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There's something about autumn. It's gorgeous, mysterious, spooky, and magical all at once. It conjures up thoughts of trees ablaze in red, gold, yellow, and orange, of Halloween ghosts and goblins, harvests of apples, pumpkins, and winter squash, of simmering soups and hearty stews, the swish of leaves underfoot, and crisp, tangy air. Yet it has a tinge of sadness as well. The year is dying. That lovely, slightly fruity scent in the air is created by the decay of leaves and vegetation.  For many of us in New England, autumn is bittersweet. It is stunningly beautiful, but also the harbinger of the long, cold winter that's surely on its way.

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Autumn is a special time of year for me. Each of its months brings a different emotion. In September, I mourn the loss of summer's warmth and freedom. By October, I've usually made my peace with summer's departure, and I'm ready to embrace autumn in all its beauty and bounty. And in November, I'm consumed with the coming holidays.

The high point in my current work-in-progress takes place in a Vermont October. Working all of that month's enchantments into the story is both challenging and rewarding. Since I am close to that point in the writing now, at least I won't have far to look for inspiration. A glimpse outside my window will do.

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Thursday, October 8, 2020

Book Cover release during My Favourite Season by J. S. Marlo

 




A few days ago, I received my new book cover for my upcoming November book release: Mishandled Conviction.  I'd like to thank our fabulous book cover artist Michelle. If I can say so myself, my new book cover is gorgeous!  Michelle, you're awesome!
I will tell you more about Mishandled Conviction next month, so stay tune. Now back to My Favourite Season.

Last week, my little granddaughter asked me what was my favourite season. Without hesitation, I said Autumn. So she asked if it was because it was my birthday. That was a fair question coming from the mouth of a six-year-old girl who'd just opened two birthday cards that I'd received  in the mail that day. As I replied it wasn't because of my birthday, I knew her next question would be Why then? And I was right, except I wasn't sure how to explain why.


For as long as I remember, Autumn has always been my favourite season. I grew up in Eastern Canada where autumn means vivid fall colours. My grandparents had a cottage by a lake and we were there all the time. My most memorable memories are walking in the surrounding forest by myself. I could be gone all day, only coming back when my stomach growled in hunger. The cottages were far and few between, so in retrospect, I don't know how my mother didn't worry about me. I never encountered any strange characters or big animals like bears, moose, or wolves, but I saw wild cats, raccoons, otters, and other smaller animals.
 
 
Nature is full of sounds, and in their midst,  there was a peace and tranquility that I couldn't find anywhere else. It was particularly true in the fall. The temperatures were cooler, the air was crisper, and the sounds and the colours were sharper. Walking in a tapestry of red, orange, and yellow with leaves twirling all around me was magical. In these precious moments, I felt free and carefree, almost invincible. Time stood still and nothing could touch me or hurt me. Maybe it was the innocence of youth...or maybe it was something more...something greater than me.

 
 Decades ago, I moved from the eastern part of Canada to the western and northern part of the country. There are no maple trees here, and to this day, I miss the autumn colours, but to my amazement, the magic didn't die. I still experience that peaceful feeling when I gaze in awe at the northern lights dancing in the night sky. 


Northern lights are more frequent toward the end of September, and though they are mostly green, I've also seen them in their glorious purple, pink, and red colours.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to my fellow Canadians! Many hugs!
JS


 

Monday, October 5, 2015

This Day in History ~ October 5 ~ by Jamie Hill

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It's October, and everyone's thoughts immediately go to Halloween, especially if you're a kid of 'trick or treating' age. For the rest of us, October means different things. Fall weather, the World Series in baseball, football season, pumpkins, sweatshirts, and the holidays just around the corner.  


But what does October 5 mean? What happened this day in history? If you were born today, then that's obviously the highlight. Here are a few other tidbits.

1877 Chief Joseph surrendered to the U.S. Army.

1910 King Manuel II was overthrown in a revolution and Portugal became a republic.

1921 The World Series was broadcast on the radio for the first time.

1930 Great Britons largest dirigible the R-101 Airship crashes in Beauvais, France, killing all on board. 
 
1933 Machine Gun Kelly has pleaded not guilty to charges of a being a co conspirator in the Urschel kidnapping. 

1947 In the first televised White House address, President Truman urged Americans to refrain from eating meat on Tuesdays and poultry on Sundays to help starving people in other countries.

1953 Earl Warren was sworn in as the 14th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

1962 The Beatles released their first hit, "Love Me Do," in Britain.

1969  Monty Python's Flying Circus makes its debut on BBC Television, there were only 45 episodes aired over four seasons featuring the zany comedy sketches with John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Eric Idle.

1990 Cincinnati's Contemporary Arts Center and its director were acquitted of obscenity charges resulting from an exhibit of Robert Mapplethorpe's photographs.

2001 Barry Bonds broke Mark McGwire's record of 71 home runs in one season when he hit his 71st and 72nd homers.  

2011 Visionary co-founder of Apple Computers, Steve Jobs, died after battling pancreatic cancer for several years. The 56-year-old former CEO had resigned prior to his death leading to speculation that his health had made a turn for the worse. Fans of him and his company immediately set up memorials and tributes at Apple stores and on the internet upon hearing the news.  

And just because they're interesting, here are two Oct. 2 facts: Elvis Presley performed only once on Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry stage, on Oct. 2, 1954.

The first “Peanuts” comic strip written by Charles Schulz was published on Oct. 2, 1950.

Some general trivia:  University of Chicago researchers have found that people born in the fall have the highest chance of living to be 100 years old.

And finally, according to a national survey done by the US Social Security Administration of 12,000 Americans the most common date of birth was Oct. 5.

There, now doesn't that make today feel so much more special?

Indulge in a fall splurge- all four of my Blame Game books in one boxed set for a low price. Find them at your favorite online retailer or our Books We Love store where you can use Paypal and purchase in your choice of formats:  


Until next time, have a great October!


 

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