The Chinese have an old saying: “May you live in interesting times.” Well, we’re certainly living through interesting times right now, don’t you think? Of course, whether those times are good or bad is up for discussion. Life can be a challenge. There are small challenges: How to get one kid to dance class and the other to swim class at the same time. What to make for dinner when it’s 6 o’clock and you’ve just come through the door. How to do three things at once before you leave your desk for the day. And there are big challenges: Losing a job. Serious illness. Relationships gone bad. Whatever happens to us, we can all use a bit of escape at the end of a long day. A book is perfect. And, unlike chocolate, It’s calorie-free! Hooked? Read the rest of Sandra’s blog Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.

Well, not gears, exactly. What I’m talking about is a shift in seasons. I live in New England. That’s in the northeastern part of the United States, for those of you who might not know. ‘New England’ is the name we gave the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, in honor of the English who settled this area in the seventeenth century. My state, Connecticut, is more ‘New England’ in feel than the others, especially our part of it. Whenever I’m in England, especially heading north, I see the strong resemblance. Our roads are narrow and twisting; we have lots of beautiful stone walls; many towns, counties and rivers bear English place-names. We’re also famous for our weather. Coldly beautiful winters. Blossom-infused springs. Hot, colorful summers. Absolutely gorgeous autumns. That’s our most famous season and deservedly so. We have lots of forests and woods in New England. During the autumn, our maples, oaks and hickories, all our hardwood trees, put on the most glorious display imaginable. It’s happening right now. As I write this. I look out the door of my office and see the colors of fall. Flaming reds, brilliant golds, deep purples, hot orange, rich…