Today is the last day of October, can you believe it?  It is a dreary, cold, wet day...somehow appropriate for the day.  I live where there are no trick-or-treaters so there's no need to purchase candy that only I would apply to my derriere.  I did, however, donate to a local dance school who was having a bake sale at the grocery store...I scored a pecan pie!

A new month with a lot of new things begins at midnight. Are you ready? It's a month filled with preparation...food for Thanksgiving, locating decorations for the holidays, Christmas gifts...and the list goes on.

What is your favorite part of November?  Mine is definitely waking up to the smell of turkey and dressing that has baked in a slow oven over night. I love the how the aromas of cranberry and cinnamon mingle with the fragrance of fresh brewed coffee.  

Be watching in the newsletter for some exciting new things. If you haven't signed up, please take a moment to do so. All you have to do is complete the form on the homepage of my website. This will automatically enter you in the monthly giveaway and keep you up to date with what is happening in my literary world.

I wish you all good things on this All Souls' Eve and All Saints' Day.

      As I sit in my sunny warm living room, sipping my 2nd cup of coffee, it dawns on me...it's mid-October!!! I swear the older I get the more time speeds up!  Do you find that to be true?
      The trees on the hillsides in Iowa are dressed with autumnal glory. The rich golds, bright reds and oranges are a delight to the senses. Then of course there is caramel apples, fresh apple cider...and pumpkin everything!
      The cooler temperatures, and living next to an open field, is bringing all sorts of critters out...boxelder bugs, Asian bean beetles, and mice...sigh.
     At 4:30 am a few days ago I was awakened to noise by the head of my bed. My loving little Boo-kitty had caught a mouse and was presenting it to me. Thankfully she didn't bring it up on the bed with her! I watched for a while as she played with it, thinking it was some wind-up toy. After the second gentle thwap on the side of the poor mousie's head, it sat there dazed and shaking.  It was time for "mom" to take charge and put it out of it's misery.
   Much to Boo's dismay, I picked up the little creature by the tail, blessed it, and flushed it to it's new home, or so I thought.  Boo has another one cornered today and it looks just like the last one. Could it be? 
     To the store for steel wool...the checker looked at me like I was from another planet when I placed several boxes on the conveyor belt. Now to go on a find-the-hole-and-plug-it-up mission. I'm leaving this job to my son! 
     Because of Boo, using d-Con isn't an option. If at all possible I try to catch and release the critters that are in my house...spiders, flies, mice...all of them.  I'm not always successful..so there are live traps set as well.
       I am wishing a beautiful autumn. Enjoy the sights and the smells and the tastes of this season.