A SALUTE TO NOVEMBER

November in Pennsylvania is the month of dry leaves swirling in a brisk wind. The green landscape of summer has turned to a dull brown except for the pines and hemlock dotting the hillsides. The oaks struggle to hang onto their leaves as they await the first snowfall while the bare arms of the maples shiver under cold gray skies.

This is a time of smoke curling from chimneys, wild geese winging southward, and once fertile fields stretching out barren and vacant. The last roses still cling to their stems along with the red berries of the mountain ash. Marigolds and geraniums defy the first light frosts of the season and stand proud in the chilly wind. Along sidewalks and on porches, golden pumpkins are piled in clusters or are marching in a line, showing off their many shades, shapes, and sizes. Dried corn stalks surround the lamp posts on our main street through town, and winter wood is stacked in perfect rows along buildings, awaiting fireplaces and wood burners. Deer enter the backyards now and scour the fruit trees for the last apples and pears.

November is a time for apple and pumpkin pie, nuts, hot  chocolate, a book and a cozy chair. It’s a time for reflecting on the past year and being thankful for the beauty of our world that will slowly fall to sleep under a blanket of white, yet awake again when spring’s warm breath blows across the land. 

 

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                           NEW RELEASE - Finding Love in Pine Valley  

  

 

FINDING LOVE IN PINE VALLEY  

 

New Release:  

eBook/Digital - Now Only $2.99

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BRING IT ON, OCTOBER!

There’s something magical about October besides pumpkins, spiced lattes, and stands of maples dressed in a kaleidoscope of color. In Pennsylvania, it’s the month of our first frost and a reminder wintertime is sneaking up.

Many people think northern folks hibernate under the first snowflakes of winter, when the wind rattles the windows, when temperatures plummet. For me, it’s actually a cozy spell and a time for reflection. All indoor, unfinished activities, like cleaning closets, cupboards, or basements—even writing—take front stage.    

There's a saying if you put all your eggs in one basket, be sure to keep your eye on the basket. I prefer to put all my chores on one list and then silently hope it disappears. To date, no one has ever stolen my list!

But seriously, autumn morphing into winter is a perfect time to reassess my writing goals. My main objective this year was to get the third novel of my “Ashmore Brothers” series finished and published. Courting Betsy came out September 1^st.  I would now like to spend more time creating another collection of short stories. And that’s the fun part. That’s when daydreaming comes into play.

Daydreaming is referred to as mind wandering. It’s the stream of consciousness that detaches from current, external tasks. A person’s attention drifts to more internal directions. There are four types of daydreaming: visualization, fantasy, escapism, and rumination. Planning is a popular method of daydreaming as well. As writers, we love to let our minds drift and enter our make-believe worlds. It’s a time to craft new characters and settings, conjure up a story line and plot, do research, and scribble down ideas and notes.

So, bring it on, October. Bring it on!  Blustery winds. Geese in flight. Acorns and tumbling leaves. Vegetable soup simmering on the back of the stove. Hot chocolate and cider. Wood smoke scenting the air. All this and more.

We’re ready for you!

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FROSTY OCTOBER

October is here with its frosty mornings, the scent of wood smoke, and its rainbow-colored leaves. The land is preparing for a long rest after seasons of birth, growth, and harvest.

Mahatma Gandhi once said there is more to life than increasing its speed. We live in a world where communication, travel, and manufacturing has helped us to do things faster, whether it’s a K-cup coffee machine, a new direct flight from one state to another, or the ability to self-checkout at a store to avoid long lines.

October lets us reflect upon our lives and realize life isn’t a race. We can slow down and stop living in the fast lane. We can enjoy the moment, take the longer scenic route, and enjoy the view.

As we prepare for winter, we’re able to readjust our end-of-the-year goals. We have the opportunity to enjoy the seasonal perks of hot chocolate, cider, and pumpkin pie. We get to relish the delicious smell of apples--with cinnamon and sugar--cooking on the stove. We can recall the familiar seasonal sounds of dried leaves crunching underfoot or the honking of geese overhead, heading south.

And, last but not least, we welcome Jack Frost. 

 Now on pre-order for Christmas, my novella:

A Maple Cookie Homecoming