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Catherine Broughton

The Colors of My Imagination

"a wind has blown the rain away and blown / the sky away and all the leaves away, / and the trees stand. I think I too have known / autumn too long" -E.E. Cummings, "A Wind Has Blown the Rain Away and Blown"

hand holding coffee mug against rainy window, leaves adhered to window appear to be coming out of the mug
PHOTO COURTESY OF NAV RASHMI KALSI

There's something about autumn that never fails to inspire within me a spark of newfound creative energy. Maybe I'm swayed by the can-do scurrying of squirrels, each furry critter hurriedly gathering nuts for the long winter ahead. Or perhaps the fact that everything is dying compels me to create something that is beautifully and painfully alive, to leave some trace of myself on this Earth. Whatever the reason for my bouts of artistic vigor. I always seem to get craftier during the autumn months, pulling out dusty notebooks from faraway shelves and rifling through bins of yarn and paint. Creating something out of nothing—whether it's building a new bookshelf or writing a short story—never fails to lift my spirits. I am endlessly in awe of and inspired by autumn's soft beauty, and I am forever grateful to her for allowing me to see the world each year as if for the very first time.


‧͙⁺˚*・༓☾ 🍂 ☽༓・*˚⁺‧͙


The past few days here in Fayetteville have been far too hot for what is typical of November weather, and it's put a bit of a damper on my mood. To combat my blues, I decided to make some pumpkin chili last night, which did wonders for my aching autumn soul. I've also been working on a fall-themed chandelier necklace, which I'm quite proud of. I guess I'm thinking that if I create enough autumn-inspired gadgets and gizmos, then the weather might decide to catch up to the month. I'm trying to remind myself that even when life doesn't work out the way I want it to, there is still beauty to be found in every nook and cranny of the universe. It just takes a bit of looking sometimes.

a big pot of pumpkin chili
PUMPKIN CHILI

‧͙⁺˚*・༓☾ 🍂 ☽༓・*˚⁺‧͙


My parents are coming to visit me this weekend, and although they're staying in a two star Motel Six, I couldn't be more excited. We're going to browse the local Farmers Market, attend a holiday crafts fair, watch football at a sports bar (go team!), peruse shops on the Square, and go on a hike. I think I'm most excited for our hike because the leaves are at their peak right now, oranges and yellows and reds proudly on display for all of Northwest Arkansas to enjoy. In the past, I've gone either too early or too late in the season, so the leaves have either been too green or dead. I'm crossing my fingers that I've hit the sweet spot this year.


‧͙⁺˚*・༓☾ 🍂 ☽༓・*˚⁺‧͙


an array of autumn leaves on the ground with my shoes peeking out from the bottom
LOTS OF LEAVES ON MY WALK

With Thanksgiving just two weeks away, I've begun to think about recipes. As the only vegan in the family, I make most of the food I eat myself, so it can sometimes feel daunting. This year, however, I'm determined to plan ahead to make the task feel more manageable. These next couple of weeks, I aim to test out new recipes to ensure I have the perfect feast on Thanksgiving Day. I think I've decided on 'chicken' pot pie, mashed potatoes, mac and 'cheese,' and pumpkin pie. I'll post recipes next week when I know for sure which ones I'll be using.


My family just recently started a new Thanksgiving Day tradition, and I quite like it so I thought I'd share with all of you, my sweet little fall fairies. Each year, we have a new signature beverage that we drink throughout the day. Last year it was riesling, which I carried over to Friendsgiving, and this year we've decided on sangria. If it tickles your fancy, you and yours should also come up with a signature drink for the holiday. Or you can buy some sangria and I'll cheers you in spirit. 🥂



Until next week, stay cozy.

With warmth and whimsy,

Cat

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