I’m writing this from DC, and across the street, leaves are
beginning to turn. Gosh, do I ever love this time of year. The colors outside
are jewel-toned. The days are less humid, and the nights are a cool
temperature.
WIN A GOURMET AUTUMN CANDY BAR
Americans call this season “Fall” which is short for the
“fall of leaves,” but Brits call it “Autumn.” Pumpkin-flavored everything is on
the shelves, but only for a short while, as we enjoy the bounty of our harvest.
A couple of weeks ago, in the Seattle airport, I sampled fabulous chocolate
bars made by the Seattle Chocolate Company. My favorite was the Choc-o-Lantern,
which had a subtle cinnamon and spice flavor. Yum! In fact, I’m going to send
one of these to a lucky commenter, so don’t forget to leave a comment below.
(I’ll pick someone on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at ten p.m. EST, and announce the winners in the comments under this blog post on Wednesday, Sept. 27.)
SHARING PLANT 'STARTS'
Yesterday, I made vegetable soup in the slow cooker. Getting
out the slow cooker is always a sign of cool weather. Another sign is
the changing of floral displays. Mums are in season, and I really miss the mums I
grew back at our house in St. Louis. If you pinch mums back all summer, they spread out into
huge pillows of riotous color, pink, yellow, orange, magenta, and gold. I
remember how my mother and her friends used to share plant stems, roots, and
seeds with each other. Everybody's garden was a gift from a friend or a neighbor. Does anybody still do that today?
HEALTH BENEFITS OF THIS SEASON
Fall is terrific for cuddling up with a loved one. The
journal Perception reported that men find women more attractive during the
cooler months. Personally, I think it’s the pumpkin I dab behind my ears. LOL Babies born during the fall months are more likely to live to be 100, according
to the Journal of Aging. That means that my husband will live to be a centenarian.
THE JOY OF FARMERS' MARKETS
Did you know that apples in the grocery store can be as old as 12 months? HGTV Magazine says so. If
you get the chance to buy apples from a farmer’s market, you’re in for a treat.
The flavor is entirely different with all sorts of subtle hints. My husband and
I love to go to the Vienna, Virginia, farmer’s market on Saturdays. Each visit
I buy a bouquet of flowers: zinnia, cockscomb, marigolds, and asters. They
last for at least a week, looking perky in their Mason jar. The apples I get there are fabulous.
HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE FALL?
How do you celebrate Fall? Remember, I’ll choose one lucky person on Monday, Sept. 25, and send that person a Seattle Chocolate Company candy bar!
GRAB THESE KIKI BOOKS AT A DISCOUNT
I’m feeling particularly thankful this fall. I just
re-released Make, Take, Murder: Book #5 , the 6th book in my Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series, and
Amazon responded by creating a series page. That means it’s now easier than
ever for people to read my books in order. Hurrah! I’m reaping the
harvest for my efforts. This Wednesday and Thursday only, Ready, Snap, Shoot: Book #6 will be available for only 99 cents. So, mark your calendars and check Amazon.com on Wed. and Thurs. (27 and 28 of September).
GET MAKE, TAKE, MURDER FOR LESS THAN A BUCK
Make, Take, Murder is 99 cents today (Sunday) because I'm running behind putting in the price change and it usually takes 24 hours for Amazon to make an adjustment. So if you don't have it, grab your copy now!
LOAD YOUR E-READER WITH THESE GREAT FREE READS
I'm one of 33 authors who are giving away books in a special Mystery Giveaway Promotion that started yesterday and runs through September 30. All you have to do is go to the link and load up on the books you want to read. How cool is that?
COMMENTS?
Will you take advantage of this offer to find a new favorite author? Are you celebrating the season? Have you ever traded "starts" of plants with friends? Have you read Make, Take, Murder? Are leaves changing where you live? Let's get this party started!
