October and its colours are my very favourite of all seasons - so here are three pictures that you can choose from for your phone background this month.
Notice: not-so-subtle changes
In October, so much changes here in Nova Scotia. At the beginning of the month, trees still have all of their green leaves, and by the end of the month many are bare. Usually the peak for colour is the second week of the month or so, and in the blink of an eye the colours are fading. At our house, we made it through the entire month of September this year without needing to light a fire in the furnace. Pay attention for the smell of woodsmoke on the air when the mornings become cooler - it’s one of my favourite scents. And when the first frost is imminent, you can smell that, too. That’s usually around the middle of the month, too. October always feels like the year is just hustling to sum up the warm months with a spectacular show before the long dark and quiet of late fall and winter.
Make
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies - a perennial favourite since I was a kid. These are cakey and soft and it is very easy to eat waaaay too many.
1 cup white sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
½ cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
In a large bowl or stand mixer bowl, combine sugar, pumpkin, oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet and stir to combine. Add chocolate chips and vanilla and stir gently until combined. You can add as many chocolate chips as you’d like.
Place on cookie sheets by spoonfuls, and bake at 350 for about 13 minutes. I find the first tray takes up to 15 minutes, and about 12-13 minutes for the ones after that. These freeze very well, and are actually kind of delicious when partly frozen.
Enjoy!
If you’re Canadian, Thanksgiving is next weekend. I always make a turkey dinner, and Aimee’s turkey technique has been my go-to for Thanksgiving and Christmas since she first published it many years ago. It has my stamp of approval, 10 years running! For some reason, my link button isn’t working, so here you go: https://simplebites.net/how-to-roast-a-turkey/
Do
I feel like I’ve written this every month this year, but take a moment whenever you can to appreciate nature and what is changing and happening this month - there is so much in such a short time! The obvious beauty of the leaves, the scent of the woods when plant matter is rotting and it smells sweet and clean, gathering the last goods from the garden, and the morning chill in the air. There is so much to appreciate and pay attention to this month. Happy October!