Dateline: Spokane, WA. It’s cold and overcast today–in other words, we have perfect for weather making–and eating–bean soup. I have a batch simmering on the stove as I write this, and the beauty of it is, everything in that brew is a power food. Yeehaw, Zero Points!
Moving on from there, this week’s winners are: Bonnie Cupples and Darlene. Congratulations, both of you. A new contest begins now, and all you need to do to enter is comment. Two winners will be chosen at random, notified, and announced on the blog next Monday. Each winner receives an autographed copy of one of my books.
The weekend was nice and restful; Jeremy, Wendy and their dogs, Margie and Lilly, came over for the day, and we had a great time just hanging out together. Nothing beats family. We talked, ate, shared favorite funny animal videos from Youtube–pretty typical stuff, I think.
Since we haven’t had the first frost yet, there are still tomatoes, and most of the dahlias seem to think it’s June instead of October. They are positively glorious. The last roses are holding their own, too.
I’ve always loved fall better than any other season; the changing leaves absolutely take my breath away sometimes. The horses are snugging up in their stalls at night again and, best of all, the danger of wild fires has gone way down. It was pretty scary at times, all that smoke in the air. Several times, it settled like fog among the pine trees.
I’m listening to the late Wayne Dyer’s autobiography, “I Can See Clearly Now”. Like all his books, it’s powerful stuff. I listened to a suspense novel called “The Black-Eyed Susans” by Julia Heaberlin over the weekend–scary story, well-written. Maybe I’m getting in the Halloween mood a little early?
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Its never to early for a Halloween mood in October!!!!! Peaceful, restful weekends are the best!!! Have a wonderful week. God bless you!
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I Wish it would get cold here in Florida so I could enjoy some good bean soup with lots of ham Yum
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Sounds like a relaxing weekend. Fall is nice but winter follows & I am not crazy about snow & ice. Halloween is fun watching all the kiddies dressed up.
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LOL It is sunny & cool in AR, perfect fall weather, but it was 34* at 6:00 am …. so glad you are not having any fires, we are in a burning ban in Ar, actually, our Weather warning system on phone, think NOAA, keep giving us “fire alerts” all weekend…
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It has been cold so far. Woke up to 38 degrees. My cousin upstate NY had some snow. Just saw them last week and saw the trees with the fall colors. Brought apples back and today made a pie with them. Glad the fire threat has eased up. Have a great week.
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Hi to all: I am reading, I don’t know, either very early or very late, Merry Christmas, Cowboy by LLM. Loving it. We had frost here in Rockledge, PA last night. It is too soon as far as I am concerned. Have a great week.
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Grew up on bean soup. Love it!
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We had our first frost last night in LymanSC. I love Fall most of all. I plan to spend the Winter making a quilt for my Granddaughter and reading lots of good books. I plan to reread some of my favorites….lots of them yours!!
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In Florida we are not sure if Christmas will be sweater or bathing suit weather. It doesn’t matter soup is always good!
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Linda, I’ve missed you and the blogs. We had to make an emergency trip to Vegas to support and love our dear friend during the first couple of weeks after of the passing of his wife and best friend of 42 1/2 years. So happy to try to catch up again. Congrats to last weeks winners. I know they are thrilled to get your book. have a great week.
dixie
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Good Day Dear Linda,
Well, it is Election Day here in Canada! Hopefully choose a new leader and Prime Minister!
Your bean soup sounds wonderful as the days are closing in quickly. Hope you enjoy your meal and snuggle for the day.
Cheers,
Sharon
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I would love the recipe for the bean soup.
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Hi Linda, I don’t know if you’ve read ‘The Boys in the Boat’ by Daniel James Brown yet but a lot of the story takes place in and around Spokane. It’s very good. Historic book about the Washington team who went to the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
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We have had heavy frost/freeze the last three mornings so I pulled my hanging orange geraniums in to save them. Good luck on the tomatoes and flowers
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Congrats to this week’s winners! Do you know when the paperbacks for the 4th in the seriers of Brides of Bliss County will be available? I went online to pre-order and only the hardcover is available from Amazon at this time.
Have a great week.
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Congrat Bonnie and Darlene! We had our first heavy frost the last two days so everything is pretty much gone here. Husband get his other eye catorak done this Thursday and he will be seeing a lot better. I have collected a kitten in the house now.
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I will let you have the scary stories Linda, and speaking of frost, We had our first frost here in SC last night where I live and more tonight. Then on Thursday and Friday 80%. only in SC.
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Congrats to the Winners!!
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No scary stories for me, Halloween or not. Congrats to this weeks winners.
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So good to hear from you, Linda. I have missed you.
There is nothing like the last tomatoes before frost. Beats the supermarket any day!
Good wishes,
Billiesue
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I’m looking forward to soup weather. I love to use my slow cooker. We probably won’t get that for a couple more months in Texas, our high was 86 today, but it was in the 50s this morning.
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Its aw little chilly here a beautiful weekend for my son’s wedding and had a great time with friends and family! Glad that you had a nice weekend, the soup sounds so yummy! I’m in the mood for soup, too! Have a nice rest of the week!
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It’s cold here in NJ – there was actually snow showers yesterday! Fortunately not as much as a few years ago that took trees down because there were still leaves on the branches.
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We had are first freeze this weekend ! By Wednesday were back to 70 degrees. Wish it would make up its mind. I love fall to Linda ! Love the variety of colors the trees turn,the nice crisp air. Hope you have a wonderful week !7
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I wish the weather would get cooler here in Texas. It was in the 90s last week and it doesn’t cool off until around November. I hope you have a fantastic week, enjoy the cool weather and thanks for a great blog!
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I have been on vacation the last few days and didn’t spend much time on the computer. I have just read all of your post and loved the one about Gettysburg. I have been there twice in the last several years but would love to go back just to have several days to spend visiting all the places there are to visit. I am waiting breathlessly for the new series. I am a gigantic War Between the States buff. Would love to join you on one of your Gettysburg trips just to have someone else who I could talk with who enjoys it as much as I do.
Have fun on your cruise!!!!
Niki
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I love fall, too. The colors gradually becoming more vivid and the little nip in the air make it my favorite season. Southern KY had a good frost Sunday morning! Perfect weather for bean soup, a bon fire, throwing on a blanket.
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I’m with you on the bean soup and Fall. My favorite time of year. Best time of year for cleaning and clearing the woods.
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Love bean soup, make a mix of it in pint canning jars so when I want it, most of the work is done for me. Just made a batch last week and the family loved it.
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Great on the points. Family is great, the good & bad of it!! Going to try to get some pumpkins for decorating. Just by painting or carving or adding metal pieces I bought. Maybe going to see Goosebumps the movie would help. I’m going to try and see it later this week. A matinee without people to kick the back of my wheelchair.
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We had a cool weekend, there was some frost on the roofs Sunday morning. Today, Tuesday and Wednesday are going to be in the Seventies great for baseball weather in Chicago. I like fall to because of the cool night air and having the windows open when you go to bed.
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Enjoying the rain and cooler weather.
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Is that the 13 or 15 bean recipe? I love those simmered with a
meaty ham hock. Yumm! I love fall, too. Even mowing the fallen leaves from my huge maple tree is fun. I could kick
myself for forgetting to mail in my dahlia order this spring!
I kept waiting and they never came. Then I found the catalog
buried under other magazines and knew the fate of my not-to
be flowers this year. And what a year for those beautiful plants. So many years they freeze too soon. Ah well, next
year. Enjoy your soup.
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Your weather sounds perfect…I also love fall weather..thank you for your wornderful letters..I look forward to reading them..
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Enjoy the weather and your soup!!
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It has been a beautiful 6 weeks of mid 70’s and mostly sunny skies here in NE Kansas….fresh fall air and lovely trees turning colors. Getting ready for fall activities leave less time to read, but I just stay up later and enjoy them anyway. Hope your fall is all you could wish for….keep writing so we can keep reading your outstanding stories.
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Soup sounds yummy! I’ve got some Booyah in the crock pot now. Just read your last book, it’s wonderful as usual.
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I love fall for baking and making soups and stews. So yummy and with the first snow fall of the season this past weekend here in Vermont, we sure needed the soup. Snow is gone here in the valley but it still remains in the mountains and Killington Ski Resort opened for the season yesterday. For me, I say “yucky”. Was hoping for a longer fall. Enjoy your day everyone.
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How about OPRAH buying into Weight Watchers?
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seems like you had the same idea, I made a big pot of chili! Thank for the chance!!
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nice cool weather here in Virginia. I’m looking forward to winter, it’s my favorite time of year
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Bean soup sounds great!
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Must be contagious, big pot of chili has been made!!!
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Oh!!! Bean soup. One of my favorites–with cornbread, please.
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Congratulations to the winners this week. I’m in a soup kind of mood now too. Something about the fall weather and the rain we had yesterday! Blessings.
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Congrats winners!!
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Ahhhh, homemade bean soup on a cold day – nothing beats that!! What all do you put into yours, Linda? We like cornbread with it & for dessert, warm gingerbread w/lemon sauce!
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We had our frost over the weekend and the garden has been cleared and we have 6 tomatoes and some peppers to consume…Not a tough job…It has warmed up today and tomorrow will be the same in Ohio then back to the cooler weather again…Time for rotisserie chicken and noodles….Have a good week…
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HELLO LINDA,
I LOVE ALL YOUR BOOKS, AND I KEEP UP
I REALLY, REALLY LOVE THE WESTERNS THE BEST.
WILL YOU BE DOING ANOTHER ONE IN THE FUTURE?
ANNIE
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I made chicken soup. So good for this cold weather here in the northeast.
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Our latest fave soup is a lentil bean soup with pasta. Not the same, but at least I don’t have to soak the beans! It also takes about an hour to cook, giving me time to absorb my latest book.
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Fall is a favorite season at our house, too. We love to curl up with good books on either end of the couch and read. I so enjoyed your new Christmas book.
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Bean soup and cornbread! Yummy!!!
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Dwayne Dwyer was recommended to me years ago finally God to have a title to start with. thanks Brooks
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How lucky you are to have your daugfhter close to spend the day with: a
Mothers Universe is not right until she has all her children about her, I Learned this when my olde daughter went away to school & that meant the younger daugghter coldn’t go goosinator until her sister graduated & moved back home! and then horrors she geets engaged & is gone for forever! Ah those simple days, to be surrounded by my children !