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I wandered with dear Autumn as far as I could go, and in the end, I didn't leave. I kept her in my soul. -Angie Weiland-Crosby Hello, my sweet autumn friends, and happy Thanksgiving! Welcome to the very last autumn blog post of 2022. Today's post is short and sweet, but I wanted to wish you all well and thank you for supporting this little autumn endeavor of mine. It means the absolute world to me. I share this poem every year because I think it's beautiful (thank you Shel Silverstein). Give it a read; it might just change your perspective. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Finally, don't forget to check out this week's playlist, 'Themes of Thanksgiving.' It's full of old songs, and perfect to play on Thanksgiving Day. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ It's been a splendid season, and although it's not quite over, it is time to say goodbye. May we meet again when the leaves are at their prime. Until next year, stay cozy. With warmth and whimsy, Cat

“Autumn was ripening, and the forest grew crisp. So deep my soul ventured, I returned with her scent.” -Angie Weiland-Crosby Toward the end of November, I always start to feel like a little hedgehog, digging out my den and preparing it for hibernation. I cook large pots of warm food, collect sweet trinkets from the outside world, and strive to make my pocket of the planet feel as warm and safe as possible. Whenever I start to feel a bit blue about the state of the world, I try and remember that most human beings are actually quite lovely. We all have our silly little rituals that put us in our silly little moods. Today, that's enough to make me feel happy to be alive. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Happy Thursday, scarecrows! Last week, I mentioned that I hadn't been in the highest of spirits, as the weather here in Fayetteville had been much too hot for my liking. Well, the autumn elves must have listened to my pleas for colder weather, because the temperature dropped nearly twenty degrees overnight. We even got some snow over the weekend, which thrilled me to my core. After the snow, we had a few days of overcast skies, filled with peaceful bouts of autumnal rain. All in all, I've been feeling especially snug over here in my little corner of the world. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Because this week started off in a flurry of snow and gloom, I thought it only fitting that I create a playlist dedicated to stormy weather. In it, you'll find a somber selection of snowy-weather songs, fit for anyone who loves singing voices that sound like soft storms. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ If you've been keeping up with the site all season, you might remember that I recently read a book that turned my literary world upside-down. The book is called The Hazel Wood, and it quickly became one of my favorite reads. So, you can imagine my absolute delight when I finished the novel and discovered that there's already a second book out. I immediately ordered it, but it didn't come in until just yesterday. Although I'm only a few chapters in, the same creepy and otherworldly spirit of the first book is also woven throughout the pages of the second. Bonus points: the cover is just as beautiful as the cover of The Hazel Wood. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ If you like feeling cozy just as much as I do, then you might consider turning on one of the videos linked below while cooking dinner or chatting with friends. They're similar to the autumn ambience videos that I recommended weeks ago, but these are geared more toward snow and Thanksgiving, rather than pumpkin patches and Halloween. Enjoy! First Snow Falling Thanksgiving Dinner Cozy Autumn Kitchen As promised last week, I've included the recipes I've decided to make for Thanksgiving dinner below, just in case you're tempted to leave animals off your plate this year. (I've been told that the rolls and mashed potatoes will be made vegan, so that's two dishes I don't have to worry about.) If you try out the recipes, I do hope you enjoy them. Happy cooking! I'll talk to you on Thanksgiving Day, for the very last Aki No Koe blog post of 2022. Pot Pie Mac and 'Cheese' Pumpkin Pie Until next week, stay cozy. With warmth and whimsy, Cat

"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" 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. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ 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. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ 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

It was November—the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines. Anne roamed through the Vineland alleys in the park and, as she said, let the great sweeping wind blow the fogs out of her soul. -L.M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island If October is an extrovert—with its wild winds and haunted houses—then November is an introvert, safe inside at last after a seemingly never ending party. With November also comes Thanksgiving, yes, but politics-at-the-dinner-table aside, there's a newfound stillness and serenity that arrives on the first of November, only after the last of the Jack-o'-lantern candles have been blown out. November is the quiet after the spooky storm, the hush before sleigh bells ring. November is citrine against a gray sky, the nip on your nose after a stroll at sundown. It's handmade fingerless gloves, crawling underneath an electric blanket, hugging with a jacket barrier between bodies. November is my favorite of the autumn months because it shows instead of tells, because it doesn't need to be loud for people to understand its beauty. It just dances, and you can't help but watch in awe. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Happy Scorpio season, friends! These next few weeks will be perfect for quiet contemplation. Don't be afraid to get deep—both with those you care about and yourself. And while we're on the subject, I have just the playlist to get you in the Scorpio state of mind. Like Scorpio, the playlist is both peaceful and profound. Be sure to listen to it at night, anytime this month. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween! I sure did. Saturday was my dress up day. I shimmied into my bunny costume, plastered on some makeup that I still have yet to fully remove, and hit the town with friends. Halloween night was a completely different story, though. Matthew and I stayed inside, drank hot cocoa, and watched Cabinet of Curiosities. I also spent a lot of time crocheting warm accessories in preparation for the colder weeks ahead. It was just what we needed after a long and eventful weekend. Because we were so busy with Halloween shenanigans this past weekend, we didn't end up having an autumnal picnic like I said we were going to in last week's blog post. We rescheduled it for tomorrow, which just so happens to be my birthday. I can hardly wait to sprawl out on a blanket, drink apple cider, and have some good ol' fashioned autumn fun. I know that after Halloween, many of you skip over the rest of fall and begin decorating your homes with twinkling lights and garland—and I can't blame you; I mean, I spend pretty much the entire year in anticipation of autumn, so who am I to judge a Christmas Connoisseur? I will, however, continue to post on the site once a week until Thanksgiving, and although I'd love for you to stick around, I completely understand if you're just too excited for Santa and snow. I'll catch you next year. :) ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Autumn must have tempted my parents to take a stroll down memory lane, because last Thursday my dad sent me a plethora of fall photos from my childhood. Attached is my favorite, a little snapshot of my mom holding me, both of us sporting seasonal sweaters. Funnily enough, one of my earliest memories of autumn is of my mom wearing that exact cardigan. Some things you just can't shake. If you'd like, you can take a look at more childhood photos on covenstead. Until next week, stay cozy. With warmth and whimsy, Cat

When witches go riding and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers ''Tis near Halloween.' -Unknown In my opinion, what is most magical about Halloween is not the excuse to eat an absurd amount of candy or dress up as your favorite mythical creature. Though I love doing both of those things just as much as the next gal, my favorite aspect of the holiday is its ability to fill grown adults with a sense of absurdity and childlike wonder. Sure, we might trade in trick-or-treating for partying and replace candy with booze, but no matter how old I get and no matter how much seems to change around me, there is one constant that never seems to falter: the hilarity that permeates the air on the eve of October 31st. Each Halloween, I look to my peers and see the same giddy excitement and anticipation that I see plastered on the faces of children. I laugh at my friends' ridiculous costumes, I skip along sidewalks lined with scarecrows, and I marvel at the guileless beauty that each October brings. I think we need this—this one night to be outrageous again, to let go of all inhibitions and just be. We need this reminder that, no matter how serious we pretend to be, inside all of us lives a wacky, wild child just waiting to be released. This year, let her run free. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Hello my precious little pumpkins! I hope you're all doing grand. With less than a week until Halloween (!!!!!), my costume is finally finished. I've received (almost) everything I ordered in the mail and I've completed every DIY project I set out to make. Since I haven't told most of you yet, I'm being a cute and creepy lil' snow bunny this year. I've got floppy ears, a fluffy tail, a velvet dress, and some trusty white Camel-311s. I'll upload pictures to Covenstead just as soon as I take some. If you're dressing up this year, I implore you, too, to add photos to our little shared gallery. There are few things I love more than a good costume! And speaking of Covenstead, I'd like to give a shoutout to both my sister and mom for contributing photos to the gallery, even if they didn't always make sense contextually. In preparation for the greatest holiday of all time, Matthew and I have been watching each Halloween episode of New Girl. Watching New Girl never fails to put me in a silly mood, so each time we finish a Halloween episode I feel both silly and spooky—the perfect autumnal combination. Since Halloween falls on a Monday this year, today will be the last time we speak to one another before the big day. Although there isn't supposed to be another one until next week, I've made a Halloween-themed playlist so that you can listen to some fun music throughout the weekend. It's both creepy and ridiculous, and I do hope you enjoy it just as much as I do. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Though it's sunny outside as I write to you, this week started off beautifully blustery here in Fayetteville. For two days straight, I was in the Pluviophile's Perfect Paradise: leaves swirled about me as I took my circadian strolls, I lit apple and amber candles throughout the apartment, and I cozied up with my cat as the rain lulled me to sleep each night. Did somebody say 'hygge'? ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ This weekend will perhaps be my most festive weekend of the season. I'm going to a local pumpkin patch, where I plan to hop on a hay ride, walk through a corn maze, and pick out the perfect carving pumpkin. I'm also having an autumn-themed picnic. We're going to snack on French baguettes, drink apple cider mimosas, and revel in the beauty of late October. Finally, I'm going to a Halloween party, where I'll be able to break out my costume for the very first time. I'm absolutely dizzy with excitement! I can't wait to tell you all about it next week. I hope you have an amazing Halloween weekend, filled with good food and great fun. Happy Halloween! Until next week, stay cozy. With warmth and whimsy, Cat

The trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let the dead things go. -Unknown As I've talked about in the past, autumn is the perfect time for quiet solitude and reflection. When everything surrounding you is either dead or dying, you can't help but look inward and think about your own mortality. How can I make the most of the time I have left? How can I suck the marrow out of life? If I'm lucky, I might stumble around this earth for another fifty or sixty years. But I might just have months, or days, or minutes. Either way, I feel happy to have existed in a world where people pick pumpkins for pleasure, where leaves give one last brilliant 'Hoorah!" before swirling into a quiet death. And even if only for a short while, I feel happy to exist in a world where there is an autumn. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Welcome back to the Grimoire, my dear fall friends. As the temperatures begin to drop, I trust you've all been bundling up beneath blankets and cooking up cozy concoctions. As I mentioned last week, I took a roadtrip with some friends this past weekend, where we camped at Kyle's Landing on the Buffalo. There, we roasted hot dogs over the bonfire, told ghost stories in our tents, swayed in hammocks, and basked in the brisk autumn sun. We witnessed some of the first signs of colder weather on the horizon, leaves surrounding us at every turn in their just-changed shades of oranges and browns. And even though rain seeped into my tent Saturday night, periodically wetting my eyelids with cool droplets, I couldn't have asked for a better way to say goodbye to warm weather. Because I was in charge of bringing some of the snacks for the trip, when we got back home I had a plethora of uneaten apples at my disposal. And what do you do when you have an excess of pithy gala apples? Why, you bake apple cobbler, of course. It was my first time making a cobbler, and I was very pleasantly surprised with the results. I served it fresh out of the oven with vanilla ice cream, and it was the perfect bedtime treat. Matthew and I enjoyed our desserts all cozied up underneath the electric blanket, while watching Red Riding Hood (with Amanda Seyfried). I remember watching the movie as a kid in theaters and being awed by its unconventional and twisted spin on the childhood fairytale. It was just as spooky and spectacular as I remember, and perfect for an autumn night spent indoors. I also just recently finished The Midnight Club on Netflix, which I'm sure you've heard of or seen for yourself; if you haven't, however, I can't recommend it enough. Though the series certainly has supernatural elements woven throughout its episodes, I would argue that The Midnight Club focuses more on what it means to be human, how hard it can be to let go even though letting go is sometimes the only option. In the last episode (no spoilers, I promise), Ilonka reads a beautiful poem that left me in absolute shambles. I thought I'd share below, just in case you've never read it. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ With Halloween quickly creeping closer and closer, it's time to start putting final touches on your costumes. If you haven't yet decided who or what you want to dress up as this year, I recommend looking to thrift stores for inspiration. Oftentimes, they have costumes in perfect condition, and they also have cheap clothes and accessories that can easily be turned into costumes with just a little innovation. Bonus: your costume will be one-of-a-kind. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ This week, I have for you a new collection of songs, a little indie playlist titled "Maple Mornings." It's a fitting name, because much like an autumn morning, it's somber and soothing, and listening to it has helped me ease gently into each new fall day. Finally, I'd like to give a shoutout to my dear sister, Elizabeth, for uploading her first contribution to Covenstead yesterday (not counting the inappropriate photo I had to delete weeks ago). She titled her photo, "put my bones on the wrong feet today." To see what she's referring to, enter Covenstead . . . Until next week, stay cozy. With warmth and whimsy, Cat

The fairies glimmer in autumn's deep woods; tucked in magical nooks of an enchanted childhood. -Angie Weiland-Crosby Anybody who knows me knows that, ever since I was a little girl, I've been mesmerized with magic. I'm not talking about hocus pocus or pull-a-rabbit-out-of-the-hat magic. No—I'm talking real magic, the everyday magic that makes life less lousy, that makes the mundane feel marvelous. I'm talking watercolor skies and lilac lullabies; the busker outside the supermarket with a voice like hot honey; that slap happy splendor you feel in the center of your soul while spending time with old friends. And, yes, I'm talking about autumn, in all her harmonious hues, all her shades of cessation. My affinity for life's small charms and my adoration for autumn are two sides of the same coin, for this sweet little season can be described as nothing else but pure, unadulterated magic. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Hi there, my little fall fairies! I hope you've all been well since last we spoke. I've been feeling particularly pleasant, thanks to good food and great autumnal entertainment. Last weekend, I made chocolate chip, pumpkin spice pancakes (I'd share the recipe, but it was complete improvisation), cooked a giant pot of minestrone soup (pictured in Covenstead), and watched my favorite movie of all time, Dead Poets Society. Though I'm a bonafide fool for Mr. Keating anytime of the year, his sentiments are especially soul-stirring throughout the autumn months. Not to mention, it's a back-to-school movie set at a Vermont boarding school that tackles largely the concept of death, so if you're only going to watch it once a year, you kind of have to watch it during fall. I don't make the rules. While last weekend was spent mostly inside, all cozied up with soup and solitude, I'm spending this weekend doing the exact opposite: camping with friends in the Great Outdoors. Tomorrow, we're headed to the Buffalo, where we plan to roast marshmallows by the bonfire, drink wine with abandon, and probably partake in yet another blood sacrifice. It doesn't get much more autumnal than that. I hope that you, too, have a weekend filled with hilarity and shenanigans—all in the name of the season, of course. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Though I just began reading it three days ago, I simply cannot stop myself from recommending my new favorite book, The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert. It's overflowing with magic and mayhem, and I just can't seem to put it down. Think Lewis Carroll meets Edgar Allan Poe. It also doesn't hurt that the narrator's name is Alice. What initially drew me in was its captivating cover (yes, I most certainly do judge books by their covers), but its contents are somehow even more beautiful. These past couple of nights, I've found myself obsessively reading it under lamplight, long after I should be asleep, like I used to do when I was a kid and the thrill of getting caught reading after bedtime was like a lit fire creeping up my throat. It's a dreamy read in its language and storybook premise, but it's also frightening and even, at times, grotesque. The characters are eccentric and raw, and I know they'll stick with me long after I bid them farewell, when I exit The Hazel Wood. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ On Monday evening, I was swept away by a gust of autumnal inspiration. First, I happened upon today's thumbnail, a hypnotizing photo of the most whimsical and enchanting fall forest I've ever seen. Second, I was sent an audio clip of my brother's band's most recent song—a haunting, spellbinding piece titled, 'Magic Marshes.' (I'll share the full version on the site when it's complete.) Third, I stumbled across today's introduction quote, which got me thinking about folklore, childhood, and the like. And finally, I began reading The Hazel Wood, which stirred inside me something that hasn't been awoken since I first read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as a small child. All of these serendipitous happenstances combined no doubt inspired the poem below, which came to me quickly, in a spell of intense yet peaceful concentration. I don't often write rhyming poems, so I do hope you enjoy "The Wood." Happy reading! Until next week, stay cozy. With warmth and whimsy, Cat

For some, autumn comes early, stays late through life . . . For these beings, fall is the ever normal season, the only weather, there be no choice beyond. Where do they come from? The dust. Where do they go? The grave. Does blood stir their veins? No: the night wind. What ticks in their head? The worm. What speaks from their mouth? The toad. What sees from their eye? The snake. What hears with their ear? The abyss between the stars. They sift the human storm for souls, eat flesh of reason, fill tombs with sinners . . . The spider-web hears them, trembles—breaks. Such are the autumn people. Beware of them. -Ray Bradbury, Something Wicked This Way Comes As I write to you, dear reader, on this just-crisp third week of fall, I can't help but reflect on all the autumns that have come before this one, and all that are sure to follow it. Which is to say: I can't help but think about all of my past selves—all the skins that I've shed in my twenty-three years on this earth, all the people that I've been and want to be. I think that if we listen to what autumn has to say, to what she's really trying to tell us, we will hear her whisper, "It is okay to die a thousand deaths, to rise from the ashes of who you used to be and begin again. It is okay to unbecome yourself and start anew." I think I'll listen to her. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Hello my little pumpkins, and welcome to another page out of the ol' Grimoire. First and foremost, I want to apologize for some technical difficulties I encountered last week. Some people told me that upon clicking on the second Grimoire post, they were instead taken to the first. My apologies! Everything is sorted out now, so if you didn't get a chance to read last week's post, I recommend doing so before you read this one. I hope everyone's enjoying the spooky new Halloween-inspired homepage! With Halloween less than one month away (precisely 24 days, 11 hours, and 45 minutes, but who's counting?), it's time for all you procrastinators to start thinking about costumes. Do you want to be witchy or wolfish this year? Sweet or scary? I, for, one, am going for a combination of cute and creepy with a costume that I'm in the process of putting together. As always, pictures of the final product will be added to Covenstead shortly after Halloween. Mornings here in Fayetteville have been delightfully chilly, and while the afternoons are typically a tad too hot for my taste, I know that the perfect fall weather is just around the corner. This past Sunday, I was absolutely giddy with autumnal excitement. Loosely following this recipe, I baked a delectable loaf of pumpkin bread (pictured to the right), which Matthew and I enjoyed while watching Practical Magic. It was a wonderful first weekend in October. Wherever you are in the world, I hope that the glorious autumnal nip has found you. If it hasn't yet come your way, however, don't be discouraged. It'll be here before you know it. You might be sitting on your front porch or taking an evening stroll when suddenly you feel autumn's unmistakable chill creeping down your spine. You'll shiver, and all will be right with the world. If you live someplace where it just never seems to get chilly, try to remember that autumn is a state of mind, a feeling of the soul. If you can dance with the wind and howl with the moon, then congratulations—autumn is with you. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Keep in mind that this upcoming Sunday, we will be met with a full moon in Aries. As Aries is ruled by fire, Sunday will be a great time to (metaphorically) set fire to anything standing in the way of your dreams. If, like me, you're into dramatics, you can also write down all insecurities or fears that you wish to squander, and literally set fire to that piece of paper. If you don't already have a full moon practice, I highly recommend cultivating one. It can be as simple as lighting a candle, taking a cleansing bath, journaling, and turning on a playlist to match the mood. Speaking of playlists, I've added a new one—"Witchy Woman"—to the site. Whether you're a witch yourself or are simply a fan of the White Witch herself, it's the perfect playlist to conjure up potions and dance to at a girls' night (which is exactly what I plan on doing this evening). I'd like to give a shoutout to my little witch friend, Faith, for introducing me to "Same Old Energy." It's quickly become one of my favorite songs on the playlist. I encourage each of you to give it a listen and read the hauntingly beautiful lyrics while you're at it. You won't regret it. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ As promised last week, I have a Halloween-themed book recommendation for you. If you're both a reader and an autumn enthusiast, you've surely heard of this recommendation, written by the King of Autumn himself: Ray Bradbury. The eerie book, Something Wicked This Way Comes, follows the lives of two thirteen-year-old best friends, Jim Nightshade and William Halloway. When a traveling carnival comes to their small town, it ushers Halloween in with it, and the young boys' lives are forever changed. The book is beautifully written and splendidly spooky, and it explores childhood nostalgia in a way that is both beguiling and harrowing. Perhaps what is most frightening about Bradbury's book, however, are the very real, very human fears that he touches on throughout its pages. Not only is Something Wicked This Way Comes my favorite book to read throughout fall, but it is also one of my favorite books to read anywhere, any time. Enter its pages if you dare. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Coming Next Week More Book Recommendations October Poetry Cat Pictures & more Until next week, stay cozy. With warmth and whimsy, Cat

Every leaf speaks bliss to me / Fluttering from the autumn tree. -Emily Brontë, "Fall, leaves, fall" My earliest memories of fall are of my family. In my mind, my mother—all bundled up in her seemingly endless array of seasonal sweaters—is still perpetually watching my cousins play football in the front yard. My father is tending to his autumn garden—turnips and violas and pansies just beginning to sprout up all around him, washing him in a panorama of colorful joy. My siblings—piles of Halloween candy sprawled on the den floor—are cozied up by the fireplace, trading their treats with careful deliberation ("three Laffy Taffy's for a Hershey's snack bar"; "a packet of Skittles for a Twix"). I remember hugging my uncle on Thanksgiving morning, traipsing through the haunted corn maize with my childhood best friends, never winning the annual Pumpkin Carving Contest . . . Most of all, I remember the bliss that I felt watching this all unfold, these moments of togetherness—of life in its purest form—that seemed to happen most when everything around us was dying. So, it's no surprise why this season has seeped into my skin, has become a fibre of my very being. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ I hope you all had a splendid first week of fall, filled with quiet reflection and all of your favorite seasonal rituals. I, for one, have been quite the autumn fairy, reading slasher books and drinking festive beverages whenever the opportunity arises. Just yesterday morning, I followed a pumpkin chai latte recipe, which certainly put Starbucks to shame. I highly recommend replicating it. There's just something about making and enjoying a cup of warm nourishment—every ingredient mixed with care, every drop savored with gratitude—that, for me, is sweeter than the store-bought version. Anywho, that's one celebratory checkmark on the bucket list for me! Speaking of the bucket list, if you'd like to participate in it, I highly recommend printing it out and hanging it someplace you're sure to see it. That way, you'll be more inclined to complete the activities, and therefore more likely to win the seasonal surprise! Remember, you're only eligible to win if you post picture receipts of your autumnal escapades on Covenstead. All games aside, though, the true goal of the bucket list is to ensure that we all make the most of these few fleeting fall months. So, have fun with it! ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ This past weekend, I went on a road-trip to Kansas City for a birthday celebration. Immediately upon entering the city, our crew was enveloped in a sixty degree hug—the most magical autumnal welcome. We ventured to the farmers market on Saturday morning, where we were met with a parade of Jack Skellington painted pumpkins, a truckload of festive fruit, and bountiful bouquets of Black-eyed Susans. I can't imagine a more perfect start to the season. I uploaded a farmers market photo to Covenstead (along with a couple other new photos) if you want to give the page a peek. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ This week, I have for you some Youtube video suggestions that I hope you'll find just as enchanting as I do. Designed to simulate various autumnal scenarios, these videos are perfect to put on in the background while decorating your living room or reading a spooky book. Whether you prefer listening to jazz in a quiet cafe or lying in a forest filled with birdsong, I've found footage for just about every fall disposition. Listed below are five of my favorites, but keep in mind there's tons more on Youtube. And while we're talking about background music, don't forget to check out last week's playlist, "Vintage Vibrations." Autumn Day at Cozy Outdoor Coffee Shop Relax Under the Autumn Trees in the Forest Cozy Window Reading Nook on A Rainy Autumn Night Cozy Pumpkin Patch Witch's House in the Autumn Forest I also recommend checking out our Pinterest account if you haven't already. It's filled with heaps of fall inspiration, so if you haven't yet gotten into the autumn spirit, it just might be the push you need! ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Coming Next Week Don't forget, we update this website regularly, and upload new additions—especially on Thursdays. Next week, get excited for . . . "Witchy Woman" Playlist Book Recommendations Recipe Inspiration & more Until next week, stay cozy. With warmth and whimsy, Cat

If a year was tucked inside a clock, then autumn would be the magic hour. -Victoria Erickson Each year I wait patiently—warm mug in eager hand—for the arrival of the next coming autumn. And each year, when the last of the white-hot curtain that is September begins drawing to a close, I am welcomed again by her familiar embrace. You see, I am a person who loves all of the seasons . . . just not equally. So, when my favorite of the four quietly slips out of hibernation—all witchy and wonderful—I, too, am at last awakened. The death that inevitably comes with each autumn somehow stirs my own sleeping soul. Now you might be able to understand why I've created an entire website dedicated to the season. I want this to be a place where, yes, we can share in all of the little delights that the sweet season brings—from the shedding of leaves to the chill in the air. But even more than that, I want this to be a place where both you and I are free to dance with death, to whisper sweet nothings to the wind. Above all, I want this to be a space of surrender. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ If you're new here, welcome! We are oh so happy to have you. If you've 'subscribed' to previous years' newsletters, welcome home. I've missed you. Things are a bit different this year. For one, I'm no longer going to be scribbling down strangers' email addresses in local bars or persuading friends to come along for the annual autumn excursion. We have an actual subscribe button now at the bottom of each page, so if you wish to join the mailing list, you can easily do so of your own accord. Furthermore, I'll still be sharing my usual autumnal thoughts and recommendations, but I also have a couple fun new additions this year. Perhaps my favorite 2022 addition is the 'Covenstead' page. There, each and every one of you can share any fall-themed treasure your heart desires, and you can also like and comment on one another's posts. If I especially love your post, it just might be featured on the homepage under 'New This Week.' The shared gallery that is Covenstead allows the opportunity of community in a way that I've never before been able to offer, which was always one of my goals in creating this little cyber space: to bring people together over a shared love of (or at least growing like for) autumn. Below, you'll find a quick run-down of each of the main pages you can access on this site. Do let me know if you have any questions. Grimoire: As both a writer and an autumn enthusiast, you can imagine that I have a lot to say about the season. From book recommendations to general commentary, new posts are added to this little spell-book-of-sorts every Thursday until Thanksgiving. Music: Fall just wouldn't be the same without some background music to match the mood. Whether it be spooky or snug, here you'll find a variety of playlists tailored to suit each autumnal aura. Covenstead: Maybe you recently wrote a poem about a pumpkin or visited a haunted house. Whatever the autumn activity, this is where coven members can meet to share slices of the season from each of our own delicious points of view. In addition to the three main pages, there's also a chat button at the bottom left hand corner of each page. There, you can ask me questions or send me suggestions and I'll respond as soon as I can. After creating an account, you can also chat with other members of the coven if you're both online. To create an account, just click on the witch hat at the top right hand corner of any page. I've never before created a website, so I'm sure I'll have some kinks to work out along the way. If you see something that doesn't seem right, let me know and I'll do my best to fix it. If you'd like to know more about how this little autumn oasis came to be, I encourage you to explore its virtual walls. The 'About' page is a splendid place to start. *Disclaimer: While I've edited this site to make it accessible and user friendly on any device, it was in fact designed on a laptop. The user experience will therefore be the most intuitive and satisfying when accessed via laptop or desktop computer. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Now that you know what you're in for, I thought I'd kick off the season with a fall bucket list. Be the first to complete each item on the printable list below and you just might win a bundle of autumnal joy—courtesy of yours truly. Keep in mind, pictures of each completed activity must be added to Covenstead to receive credit. I tried to include something for everyone here; that being said, the list is, in part, designed to push participants out of their comfort zones. Even if something doesn't seem like your cup of tea, I encourage you to try it anyway! Who knows—you just might find a new favorite hobby. I can't wait to see photos of all of your autumnal adventures. ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Before we part ways for the week (that is, unless we cross paths in Covenstead), I have one final activity suggestion. In preparation for her arrival, I've been following several different autumn-themed meditations. I know not everyone is the meditative type, but it's no secret that meditation does wonders for both the mind and body, so it can't hurt to give the videos I've listed below a listen. A Time for Balance ~ Autumn Equinox Meditation (This one's great in the morning.) Guided Meditation for Deep Sleep - Autumn Walk (Try this one if you're having trouble sleeping.) ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　🍂　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ Credits I'd like to give a huge shoutout to Faith, my sweet friend and soon-to-be sister-in-law, for designing this site's logo. I love you, bitch; you're a star. If you've ever taken a poetry class with me, you probably know that my titles tend to be terrible. Thank you to my uncle, Matt, who came up with the title of this week's grimoire post. I still think it's kind of redundant, but I guess poetry trumps redundancy. Finally, thank you to all the wonderful artists (who will likely never see this website), without whom the bucket list wouldn't have been nearly as aesthetically pleasing. Links to their works are listed below. Bouquet of Pumpkins Girl Reading Sweater Envelope Picnic Basket Bonfire Pumpkin Drink Fall Tree Pumpkin Pie Hay Bale Falling Leaves Soup Bowl Socks Jack-o'-lantern Candle Football Tree House Until next week, stay cozy. With warmth and whimsy, Cat