Thoughts on a Nice Autumn Day

by Janis Susan May/Janis Patterson

Okay, it’s November already, so where is Fall? Admittedly the temperatures have fallen to bearable levels (meaning the sky has gone off of ‘broil’) but where are those lovely all-too-brief Autumn days? Not here… The sky is bright blue and that treacherous, nasty sun is glaring right where you need to see, no matter where you stand. It’s November, for Heaven’s sake! Why don’t we have the lovely grey and cloud-hung skies that are so emblematic of November?

Anyway, since it’s now fairly nice outside I decided to run away from the computer and its unceasing demands for words and do some yard work. Odd – when I was young and limber I lived in a condo and the only yard work I did was watering the potted plants on my balcony. Now that I am not so young and not so limber I have a house and a large yard. Sigh. And in the final irony, I have decided I like yard work. As long as the weather isn’t too hot. Or cold.

Today’s chore was one I should have done years ago. We have a lovely A-frame swing of teak or redwood (I think) which sits on our deck. Years of hot sun and cold winters have not been kind to the wood, so today – armed with teak oil, paintbrush and a plastic cup – I went out and started applying. I should have done it much sooner. The wood was so dry it just absorbed the oil – inhaled it might be a better term.

The swing is not large; neither is the frame. I worked for over two hours, but got less than half the frame done in spite of using the entire tin of oil, and even so part of what I did hardly shows any oil at all. Obviously it’s going to take several coats to get the wood back in shape, which indicates a quick trip to the hardware store for more tins of oil. Then it’s going to take a coat of something waterproof (I need a consultation with the expert at the store regarding this) to really protect the wood.

Then I weeded, and swept leaves, and did a lot of the other things a yard continually requires. (Except mow – we hire someone to mow.) It seems the yard, like the house and the word-hungry computer, is never-ending in its demands for attention. At last I was tired enough to go back to the computer and its continual demand for words. That’s my job, that’s what I do – put words in order, in books and articles and emails… all of which need to be written. It is my career, has been for many years, and I love it. But it is nice to get out every so often. When the weather is nice.

It's Pumpkin Season!

by Victoria M. Johnson

At last my favorite time of the year has arrived.  I always wait patiently though summer for fall to arrive.  Sure summer has its benefits, but I prefer walking on the beach, hiking on trails in nature, and entertaining family and friends in the fall. 

In California, summer weather is pretty much the same day in and day out.  I find it boring.  Here's what I most look forward to on those monotonously sunshiny summer days.

Fall is here.

1. Wearing sweaters, hats, scarves, and boots.

2. Rain.  Running in it, walking in it, and observing it through a window from inside.

3. Sitting by a cozy fire.  Appreciating it while reading, or sipping a glass of wine, or contemplating life.

4. Bringing out thick socks and tights.  It's time for crazy combinations to warm the legs while being fashionably unfashionable.

5. Stepping on dry leaves.  A walk on brisk autumn mornings become more pleasant when dry leaves of gold, orange, red and brown are scattered on the sidewalk just waiting to be crunched.

6. Enjoying the fun holidays.  Halloween, Day of the Dead, and Thanksgiving are special and amazing around the Johnson household.  Costumes, decorations, lots of food and lots of beverages... What's not to like about that?

Victoria's famous pumpkin quiche.

7. Pumpkins!  My list would not be complete without praising my all-time favorite vegetable, the pumpkin.  I love to bake with them and I love sampling new ways of eating them.  I'm known for my mini pumpkin pies, quiche, empanadas, and soup.  And who doesn't like pumpkin spiced coffee and tea; or pumpkin bagels, ice cream, seeds, and cheesecake?  But have you tried pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin spaghetti, or pumpkin wine? 

Victoria's tasty pumpkin soup. Yummy.

As you may have guessed, I love pumpkins and I love pumpkin season.  I think I need to grow my own.  In the meantime, fall means I'm out and about, dressed warmly if not crazily, in search of pumpkin festivals and pumpkin patches. 

Wishing you a pleasant fall.  May you encounter plenty of pumpkins!

Victoria M. Johnson knew by the time she was ten that she wanted to be a writer.  She loves telling stories and she's happiest when creating new characters and new plots.  Avalon Books and Montlake Romance published Victoria's fiction debut, The Doctor’s Dilemma, (A 2012 Bookseller’s Best double finalist).  Her other fiction book is a collection of romance short stories titled, The Substitute Bride and a novella, Hot Hawaiian Christmas. She is also the writer and director of four short films and two micro documentaries.   Visit Victoria's website at http://VictoriaMJohnson.com for inspiration and tips and find her Amazon author page or connect with her on Pinterest and Twitter.

It's Fall!

by Jean C. Gordon

Do you what September is? September is National Chicken Month. Thank you Little Gray, Yellow, Brown, and Yellow Spot for posing.

It's also the beginning of Fall, my favorite season. My birthday is in September. Our wedding anniversary is in September. It’s still warm in the Northeast, but not sweltering hot as August often is. We have the beautiful fall foliage. And school starts. I was enough of a geek that I always looked forward to going back to school.

Which brings me to a question: Does the season a book is set in influence your book choices? Aside from holiday-month books — I love holiday books — I never gave much thought to the season in which a book was set, either in my reading or my writing, until ninth book, Small-Town Mom. And the season only came to my attention when we were at the cover stage. The story takes place in the dead of a frigid Adirondack Mountains winter. But the book came out in June, and initially, the cover had no snow and looked like spring, not winter. The dusting of snow was added to bring it into season.

With the books I've written since then, I've thought about when it will be published and tried to mesh the story's season with the publication season (or close). And, just for fun, I checked the seasons my books are set in. Four are set in the fall, one in the winter, and the rest in the summer.