With wind and rain, and lightning…
Magical October flew right in.
The very longing of the heart’s delight, all you could ever hope for…
Swirled in on that last September night.
With soft pink cardigan and piles of blankets, we ventured in by candlelight.
Pumpkins and petals from the garden.
We huddled up, me and Teddy.
With Matty on his little bed right next to us (not a cuddler).
We watched mysteries and listened to the raindrops.
Cloud filtered light is still upon us.
The ancient mariner has shown up again…
As I’ve collected stacks of all the books I want to read in a ridiculous tower on my bedside table.
Jack-be-littles collected straight from our garden are placed here and there.
A white pumpkin keeps us company in our coziest state.
As I marvel at the green hydrangea.
Green, pink and orange, so beautiful all together.
October’s favorite reads are beckoning me.
And I swear I heard my China doll whisper something.
With candles dancing and flickering in delight.
I sit at my tattered desk and…
Open my old leather journal, wrapped tightly in a cord, and write.
My last entry was April of 2020.
October air is exactly what I’d hoped it would be.
Teddy is finally feeling better.
I took a few days off to refuel a little.
Get him well, wrap up a laundry list of things I had to do.
And now I can finally say, hello October.
How I love this month.
It feels like it’s the month to finally breathe.
After a busy spring and harrowingly hot summer, you can bliss sigh.
Fall into October’s familiar arms, the longing squelched.
Another October to love, to be alive, to enjoy.
October has its own personality, more than a season, it’s like a place.
When I look back at memories in my life, so many of the ones that stand out are in October.
Last night I watched a lightning storm at the country house, and I felt a sense of déjà vu.
Standing on my long dirt driveway, watching October whip around.
Big fluffy clouds, stars peeking through, huge lightning bolts.
Dogs running around, owls loudly hooting at each other way up in my trees.
So much that I love, on a beautiful October evening.
I hope that you are well, wherever you may be.
That you have ventured into your own October happily.
Light a candle in your neck of the woods, that the flicker may be seen.
Possibly through dreamscapes.
The boys are snoring at my feet.
The mountains are cloudy with sun rays bursting forth.
I am off to check on the last of the pumpkins.
So overjoyed to share another October here with you.
Our 16th October?
I was looking at my post archives list the other day (which you can see in my navigation bar below my banner or in my right-hand sidebar) and I could not believe how long the list was.
That I have been here so long.
Imagine writing a public journal for 16 years.
I know several of you have as well.
But personally, I can not fathom that that much time has gone by.
Can you?
Alas, it has, and here we are.
Whispering, happy October through the delicious breeze…
And I shall see you again soon.
Love, Vanessa
ps: I watched The Empress on Netflix and loved it. I also watched Hocus Pocus 2, it’s not really what I was expecting, but it was okay I suppose.
pps: Here is what I was listening to whilst typing…
<3 <3 <3
Love the blue and pink. Gorgeous! What are your favorite reads in October? I tried to enlarge it, but couldn’t make any of the books out to see titles. Thanks for sharing your beautiful things. You are an inspiration.
Oh beautiful October! There is always so much loveliness to behold in your images Vanessa and words that speak to something deep within my heart. 💗 I’m so glad to hear that your sweet Teddy is feeling better, but very sad that I missed the post of what happened…I did see a glimps and prayed for him, but must go back to read. Our babies mean so much to us in so many ways.
Love and virtual hugs being sent your way.
Cori
happy of happiest octobers! i love october as, even here in the south, the weather takes a turn to cooler temps and the leaves change to such beautiful colors. i haven’t watch hp2 yet. i was both thrilled and torn when i heard they were making a sequel. but i know i’ll watch it.
love & magicks
~*~
ps…hugs & kisses to Matty & Teddy!
pps…glad Teddy is better… xoxo
Happy October! Lovely, as usual.
Magical as always! Glad your being blessed with real October weather, can you send some up to Northern California?! Still working on my decorations here your inspire me.
Lovely vignettes, and thanks for the update on Teddy. Does your TBR pile bring you joy or stress you out? Mine is stressing me out, which is completely silly and irrational. I love this time of year, too, and I’m looking forward to doing all the fall things.
October is my favorite month, too. There’s a shade of blue that the sky turns, and a certain crystaline quality of the air, and the way the sun falls through it….it’s just not like any other place, is it? When I grew up in the Deep South the sky in October was such a glorious, magnificent thrill, and I still feel that way. It’s a relief from the heat and the constant pressure to work in the yard and keep everything watered, it’s the chance to make cozy foods like stews and soups, it’s being able to walk the dogs in the middle of the day without us all dying of heat stroke. It’s the wheel turning as much on a dime as it ever does, as everything changes and enters its new phase. I just love it.
Also, I am so glad to hear Teddy is better, and please give big hugs to Matty as well. (OK, tell him respectfully that I send my regards). Also, I never saw HP1 so while I have noted that large numbers of people are SO excited for HP2, I myself have not felt much chuffedness over it. Maybe I’ll try to watch the first one and see what I think.
Thank you Mary Jo <3 Of course I love any of the Practical Magic books, but I also love classic ghost stories. I have two books I really enjoy, I will share them later in the week and photograph the covers to share.
Thank you dear Cori, I am so happy my big little Teddy is doing so well now <3 <3 <3
Miss Laura, you will have to let me know if you watch and what you think. Oh, the cooler weather is positively sublime! Makes me cackle under the full moon for certain 🙂 <3
Happy October to you Lisa, Thank you so much <3
Thank you Tina, I hope October has found its way to Northern Cali? Anything yet? <3
The part that could stress me out is not having enough time to do all the things I want to do. My life just flies by these days as I am so busy. Sometimes if my pile is too tall, I put them all back away on the shelves and then pull out only 2 or 3 to bring back with me again. 🙂 <3 <3
I agree with every single little word you share Sarah. Also, Hocus Pocus is quite silly, but fun if you are in that sort of Halloween mood. The second one didn’t do the grand justice I think they could have done, but it’s very kid friendly and super Disney, more than the last one. I will definitly tell Matty you send him regards, but he’s mad at me right now for bathing him today, haha <3 <3