The Last Day Of Autumn 2025

Happy Thanksgiving 2025!

Once again, we find ourselves approaching a holiday season with darkness and destruction in the fabric of our nation. Such challenges make us look to what we have in our own lives, close to us, and cherish those people, things, and places even more. On this holiday of gratitude, let's give thanks for the things that make us good, strong, honorable, and loving human beings. Let's give thanks to the people who bring light and calm and love to our lives and to the world. Let's give thanks for the generous actions and goodwill in our lives--whether done by others or ourselves--that strengthen the fabric of humanism and the choices to unite, protect, and find value in this existence, and which can combat the turbulence, pain, uncertainty, and darkness. Hold dear these things and live up to these ideals for which we are grateful. Let's find value in ourselves and others, and express this gratitude in our intentions, deeds, and words. Let's be grateful for the value of the human experience, love, and life itself.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

BEAUTY: Painting for Autumn--Lee Munn

Autumn is here in the northern hemisphere and the painterly work of Ontario-based artist and painting teacher Lee Munn captures scenes of brilliant gold and red trees, often in dappled sunlight...

https://www.leemunn.com/

BEAUTY: Photography for Autumn--Xavier Portela

For autumn, here is a gorgeous set of the changing leaves in Japan captured by a fantastic photographer, Xavier Portela. He describes the inspiration on his site:

"Kōyō (紅葉) refers to the Japanese tradition of admiring autumn foliage, when trees, leaves, and entire forests turn glowing in red, orange, and gold. This new series explores that fleeting moment."

Gorgeous.

https://xavierportela.com/

Happy Autumnal Equinox 2025!

Today is the official start of autumn, when our planet begins to tilt the other direction, tipping the northern hemisphere away from the sun. The days grow shorter and the nights grow longer as we move indoors and into ourselves for hibernation and introspection. Autumn is a time of harvest as the earth moves into hibernation as well. It is a beautiful time, a spiritual transition, a doorway between summer and winter.

HAPPY AUTUMNAL EQUINOX 2024!

(And for our friends Down Under, Happy Spring!)

Last Day Of Autumn 2024

Say goodbye to autumn. Soon, the sun begins its long struggle back to us...

Happy Thanksgiving 2024!

Once again, we find ourselves approaching a holiday season with uncertainty in our nation and indeed, the world. Such challenges make us look to what we have in our own lives, close to us, and cherish those people, things, and places even more. On this holiday of gratitude, let's give thanks for the things that make us good, strong, honorable, and loving human beings. Let's give thanks to the people who bring light and calm and love to our lives and to the world. Let's give thanks for the generous actions and goodwill in our lives--whether done by others or ourselves--that strengthen the fabric of humanism and the choices to unite, protect, and find value in this existence, and which can combat the turbulence, pain, uncertainty, and darkness. Hold dear these things and live up to these ideals for which we are grateful. Let's find value in ourselves and others, and express this gratitude in our intentions, deeds, and words. Let's be grateful for the value of the human experience, love, and life itself.

Floral arrangement and table setting by Holly Chapple

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Autumnal Equinox 2024!

Today is the official start of autumn, when our planet begins to tilt the other direction, tipping the northern hemisphere away from the sun. The days grow shorter and the nights grow longer as we move indoors and into ourselves for hibernation and introspection. Autumn is a time of harvest as the earth moves into hibernation as well. It is a beautiful time, a spiritual transition, a doorway between summer and winter.

HAPPY AUTUMNAL EQUINOX 2024!

(And for our friends Down Under, Happy Spring!)

Last Day of Autumn 2023

Say goodbye to autumn. Soon, the sun begins its long struggle back to us...

Happy Thanksgiving 2023!

Once again, we find ourselves approaching a holiday season with a world full of turbulence, pain, uncertainty, and violence. Such dark challenges make us look to what we have in our own lives, close to us, and cherish those people, things, and places even more. On this holiday of gratitude, let's give thanks for the things that make us good, strong, honorable, and loving human beings. Let's give thanks to the people who bring light and calm and love to our lives and to the world. Let's give thanks for the generous actions and goodwill in our lives--whether done by others or ourselves--that strengthen the fabric of humanism and the choices to unite, protect, and find value in this existence, and which can combat the turbulence, pain, uncertainty, and darkness. Hold dear these things and live up to these ideals for which we are grateful. Let's find value in ourselves and others, and express this gratitude in our intentions, deeds, and words. Let's be grateful for the value of the human experience, love, and life itself.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Autumnal Equinox 2023!

Today is the official start of autumn, when our planet begins to tilt the other direction, tipping the northern hemisphere away from the sun. The days grow shorter, nights grow longer, as we move indoors and into ourselves for hibernation and introspection. Autumn is a time of harvest as the earth moves into hibernation as well. It is a beautiful time, a spiritual transition, a doorway between summer and winter.

HAPPY AUTUMNAL EQUINOX 2023!

(And for our friends Down Under, Happy Spring!)

The Last Day Of Autumn 2022

Say goodbye to autumn. Soon, the sun begins its long struggle back to us...

Happy Thanksgiving 2022!

Despite the many challenges still facing us a nation and in the world, it feels like progress and justice is afoot here in the United States with the pleasantly surprising and relieving midterm outcomes, and it is with optimism that I address all my followers and regular readers of "Oh, By The Way:"

On this holiday of gratitude, let's give thanks for the recent resurgence of hope, and the return of the things that make us good, strong, honorable, and loving human beings. Let's give thanks to the people who bring light and calm and love to our lives and to the world. Let's give thanks for the generous actions and goodwill in our lives--whether done by others or ourselves--that strengthen the fabric of humanism and the choices to unite, protect, and find value in this existence. Hold dear these things and live up to these ideals for which we are grateful. Let's find value in ourselves and others, and express this gratitude in our intentions, deeds, and words. Let's be grateful for the value of human experience, love, and life itself.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Autumn Leaves 2022

Happy Autumnal Equinox 2022!

Today is the official start of autumn, when our planet begins to tilt the other direction, tipping the northern hemisphere away from the sun. The days grow shorter, nights grow longer, as we move indoors and into ourselves for hibernation and introspection. Autumn is a time of harvest as the earth moves into hibernation as well. It is a beautiful time, a spiritual transition, a doorway between summer and winter.

HAPPY AUTUMNAL EQUINOX 2022!

(And for our friends Down Under, Happy Spring!)

The Last Day of Autumn 2021

Say goodbye to autumn. Soon, the sun begins its long struggle back to us...

Late Autumn Cocktail: Cinnamon Pear Sangria

This delicious cocktail sounds like a crisp autumn day in a glass. The recipe for Cinnamon Pear Sangria includes not only white wine but also vodka...however, I got into a very unpleasant altercation with vodka years ago and ever since then, we have not been on speaking terms. So I am sure something else could be substituted if need be. Or maybe try it with just a Chardonnay? The great thing about sangria recipes is that they can be adjusted to include whatever flavors one like best.

CINNAMON PEAR SANGRIA INGREDIENTS
*White wine
*Vodka
*Cinnamon pear syrup (recipe below)
*Fresh pears
*Cinnamon sticks
*Soda water

PEAR SIMPLE SYRUP INGREDIENTS
*Fresh pears
*Granulated sugar
*Water
*Cinnamon stick
*Vanilla extract

To make the simple syrup, put granulated sugar, chopped pears, vanilla, cinnamon stick, and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower to a simmer and let cook for about 15 minutes. Pour syrup over a fine mesh sieve to strain out the pears and cinnamon stick and let syrup cool completely before using.

To make the sangria, pour the entire bottle of white wine into a large pitcher. Add vodka, simple syrup, sliced pears, and cinnamon sticks and place the pitcher in the fridge for about 2 hours to let the flavors meld together. Right before you're ready to serve, stir in soda water.

Original article and recipe from We Are Not Martha, here:
https://wearenotmartha.com/cinnamon-pear-sangria/

Happy Thanksgiving 2021!

Despite the many challenges still facing us a nation and in the world, it feels like progress and justice is afoot here in the United States, and it is with optimism that I address all my followers and regular readers of "Oh, By The Way:"

On this holiday of gratitude, let's give thanks for the recent resurgence of hope, and the return of the things that make us good, strong, honorable, and loving human beings. Let's give thanks to the people who bring light and calm and love to our lives and to the world. Let's give thanks for the generous actions and goodwill in our lives--whether done by others or ourselves--that strengthen the fabric of humanism and the choices to unite, protect, and find value in this existence. Hold dear these things and live up to these ideals for which we are grateful. Let's find value in ourselves and others, and express this gratitude in our intentions, deeds, and words. Let's be grateful for the value of human experience, love, and life itself.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Autumn Cemetery

Happy Cherokee New Year 2021!

Happy Cherokee New Year!

The Cherokee people ended their year and started the new year in autumn. It’s interesting—and makes sense—that they chose the harvest to mark the end of the year. The earth had gone through a cycle: the food had grown from spring, through summer, and then was harvested in the fall. The cycle was finished; time to start anew. The New Year was celebrated with a festival that featured purifications, dancing, prayers and offerings, and food such as corn, beans, squash, and meat.

Since the Cherokee calendar was and still is extremely tied to the phases of the moon, the timing of the New Year observation is somewhat up for debate. Some sources say that it was observed on the first full moon after the start of autumn, which is today, October 20th, 2021. Other sources report that the New Year was observed ten days after the first full moon, the ten days probably being a period of fasting and preparation for the festival. Still other sources cite the first full moon in the Cherokee month of Nvdadequa or Nvwatitequa—which happens during our month of November—as the true Cherokee New Year.

Whenever it was celebrated, it was surely around this time... when the earth turns, the days grow shorter, the nights grow longer, and the weather turns cold. We prepare for the introspection that comes with winter, when the ground sleeps under the snow. That is the beginning of the year, the beginning of time: from darkness and cold springs life, new growth.

I wish you all "alihelisdi itse udetiyvsadisvi" or Happy New Year!


http://www.cherokee.org/