An autumn day.

The frigid morning chills my sock-less toes as I hop out of bed at 7:30am to close the windows. The 37 degree air has done its job:

Autumn is here.

Winter is peeking over the horizon, waiting its turn.

With the first crisp breath on my porch comes a wave of anticipation. This multi-month drop in temperature brings the demand for thick socks, hot drinks, gloves, crackling fireplaces, and a dusting of white.


Most of all, it flares up my heart and soul in demand for good reading. My mental list of autumn books reels through my head--yes, there are certain books for certain times of year. It all depends on one's memories and childhood.


Wrapped in my fuzzy robe, I skip downstairs and pull open all the blinds as if I'll be able to see the temperature particles in the clear morning sky. I rummage in the cupboard above the stove and pull out what's left of my oatmeal. I read the directions for the first time, abandoning my habit of eating it cold with Ovaltine powder on top. A cold morning demands warm things--drinks, breakfast, hearts...
The crystallized brown sugar and hot oats tastes like Mommy and Christmas all rolled into one (yes, I discover that "Mom" is a flavor. She tastes pretty good).

I ride my bike to church. I shiver. It's glorious. I wear gloves and my fingers smile.
In church, I stand behind a lady who smells like a very strong flower with a pungent undertone.
It reminds me of pine.

The voice of autumn whispers me home with a light breeze and the brush of golden leaves on the ground. Once home, the scratchy voice of a pen tip calls me to the smooth surface of creamy paper.

Somehow, homework doesn't sound so bad today.

In fact, it almost feels...enjoyable.



Welcome to fall.

I pick up a good book in the early evening to end a glorious day. A really good book. I can't let a perfect reading setting go to waste.

And so I ask you, what does an inspiring day feel like to you? What sort of book would you pick up on the first day of Autumn? Tell me.


Nadine Brandes is an adventurer, fusing authentic faith with bold imagination. She writes stories about brave living, finding purpose, and other worlds soaked in imagination. Her debut dystopian novel, A Time to Die, releases 2014 from Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction. When Nadine's not taste-testing a new chai or editing fantasy novels, she is out pursuing adventures. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband. You can find out more about Nadine and her books at http://nadinebrandes.com.


Top autumn picture retrieved from http://calangel58.blogspot.com/ on 10/03/10
Leaf picture taken by me! on 10/03/10