(Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection - Kiki's Corner)

As I was reading a book, I realized the fall (autumn) starts Sept. 22 and ends Dec. 21.

In the fall, the temperature drops and the days get shorter. Leaves change color from green to red, yellow or brown before falling. It’s also time for harvesting crops and preparing for the winter months.

Animals like squirrels and bears gather food for the winter. Some animals grow thicker fur to stay warm. Many birds fly to different places to avoid the cold weather.

Fall is for sure a time for pumpkin picking and driving around the country roads to enjoy the scenery. Make sure you pick the right time to see the beauty of the changing leaves and take time for cider tasting, bonfires and autumn festivals.

The stores offer all sizes of pumpkins that are ready to be carved with different designs depending on the child or adult and how creative they can get. Hayrides are another fun activity. And Halloween has become a very popular holiday to celebrate.

During the autumn/fall season, we have a variety of delectable fruits reach their peak of ripeness, such as apples, pears, plums, pomegranates, etc. The full moon closest to the equinox, known as the harvest moon, is said to have helped farmers with evening light for harvesting.

Autumn can be both cool and warm, and we do experience that now – cold and frosted mornings with beautiful days and, again, cool evenings, like we had earlier in the week. But now it rains, keeping me from going to my storage buildings to gather my Christmas decorations for my four trees that I need to decorate next week.

It’s early and Thanksgiving’s not here yet, but I do say every year it seems like time flies and the Christmas season arrives has already arrived over a month-and-a-half ago. Christmas trees and decorations are everywhere.

It’s so funny that last week I was shopping one of the local stores for fall decorations for the luncheon I chaired for the bishop’s visit to our church. I was at the same store three different times in one day, to the point the manager that knows me asked me if I stayed there the whole day. I said no, but I’m buying for fall and Christmas decorations (if my husband only knew). But those colorful Christmas decorations called my name. I thought for sure I had picked the themes for my trees but before I knew it I had four extra themes. Help, lol. Do I stick with my first ones or decorate with the new themes? For sure, that is a decision that I have to make and has to be done fast.

Tree decorating is one of my favorite hobbies for sure! Sorry, but it’s not Halloween. I love pumpkins, but not scary witches, and when I compare fall colors and Christmas colors, I always pick red, white and green.

I have to say that I do love fall colors for ladies’ clothing. Especially this year, all the stores carry maroon and browns. Gorgeous. Sorry, guys, I don’t follow your colors. Pretty much they’re the same every year. Boring, lol.

The luncheon we prepared for the visitation of his Grace Bishop Antony was a huge success with the participation of all the parishioners and guests. It was an inspiring service in the beginning, with the luncheon to follow. It was my pleasure to serve as a chairman, and he was so pleased he recommended that I should print my own cookbook. He is not the first one to tell me that, but one cookbook is not going to be enough for all the hundreds and hundreds of recipes that I have.

Just wait till you read the recipes and desserts from the annual Parkersburg news and Sentinel cookbook that I judged last week. Delicious dessert recipes for your Thanksgiving table.

I’m very excited about Thanksgiving dinner this year. So many of my commitments are done for the year, and I will concentrate on events with my family, and one thing for sure, not chairing anything around Christmas season.

I did enough this year, and especially the last one, the fashion show was a huge responsibility. We cleared after expenses over $20,000. I know it’s unbelievable but it’s true. We doubled what we made two years ago. It took me close to three months away from my family, so that is enough. But thanks to the help that I got from my committee and the community, it was very successful.

Oh well, enough of that. I forgot I have a new invitation to do a cooking demonstration in November. How much fun that will be? I can’t wait.

Before we know it, the new year 2026 will arrive and that will be a mile long with more commitments. Till next week.