All that is left after the maples, birch and beech trees have lost their leaves to Autumn's masterpiece, is the beautiful oak leaves that have transformed their colors from a deep green of summer to deep reds and browns.

Today it is raining and the look of November is warm and comforting as each breeze sends more leaves floating to the ground.  It's indian summer with temps in the lower 60s.  Soon, the temps will tumble into the 50s and even 40s as with each passing day, winter will get closer and closer.

Thanksgiving is just three weeks away today.  I wish I could say I am looking forward to the holiday, but it's just not the same.  My children are all grown and living their own lives and it's just Steve and I.  This year we will spend the day back at the farm in Hampstead with Ken and Pat.  That is an emotional mixed bag.

I always loved the farm in Hampstead, and before moving here to our cottage, I had never lived as long anywhere longer than I had at the Patey farm.  I will enjoy spending the day again there, but the memories of past Thanksgivings with my Mom and Dad, Eric and his family, Beth and my kids right there will leave a bittersweet note on my heart.

So, back to today.  I have grocery shopping to do and housework that needs my attention.  But for just a short period, I will forget everything else around me as I stand outside and enjoy the autumn  rain and falling oak leaves.

I can see why the end of October is perfect for Halloween.  It rained yesterday as a cold front began working it's way through.  Last night was windy as is today and the temps have dipped into the 40s.  Many of the trees are now bare and the sky is grey and daunting.  You can almost feel winter's icy fingers approaching.  The day light hours are getting short and Saturday night we go back to standard time.

Despite the fact that I have no energy today and my whole body hurts, I want to bake some bread and make a hearty soup for dinner tonight.  I'm sure that will make me feel much better.

So, off I go before I lose this day all together.

It's no secret that my favorite season is Autumn.  I love the falling leaves and cooler weather.  But, last night reminded me why this season is so special.  I took Fred out on his leash and while waiting for him to do his business, it came to me....it's the scent of Autumn that is so intoxicating!!  The smell of the leaves on the ground mingling with the smell of wood smoke in the air was very comforting to me.  This feeling continued as I opened the door to go back in the house.  I was greeted with the warm smell of the chicken stew I had simmering on the stove, fresh cornbread baking in the oven and my pumpkin candle burning on the counter.

Today will be just about the same, except it is raining which brings out the scent of the fallen leaves even more.  I will be baking an oven roast of beef, acorn squash, boiled potoatoes and warm wheat bread.  Gosh, if it wasnt for the dog, who will have to go outside later, I would go put on my flannel nightgown and curl up with the dog lying by my feet, the ferret sleeping closeby in his cage, with the glow of the electric woodstove, my bear blanket wrapped around me as I sit back reading a good book and drinking hot chocolate!!!

For the rest of the week, it will be sweater weather with cool days and cold nights.  It would be sooooo easy to hibernate, but, then I would miss all the beauty around me.

Gorgeous October!  The leaves are changing quickly, the daylight hours are shorter and the wind picks up the fallen leaves just to see them float back to earth again.  For the first time this season, I had to turn the furnace on this morning to take the chill out of the house.

I figure it's high time I learn how to make bread from scratch......so tonight, I hope to have nice, warm bread to serve with our American chop, or what our family calls goulash.  I'll let you all know how it turns out.

Tomorrow starts Steve's vacation.  This is our yearly anniversary time when we take day trips.  We are hoping to go down to Plimouth Plantation this year.  It's hard to believe that fourteen years have passed since our wedding day!  Anyway, after next week, it's hibernation for us for the rest of fall and winter.  We spent a lot of money on the house renevations and the new shed this year, so it's time to snuggle in and put some of that money back into our savings.

So, off I go to make some bread.......