'the blood of october lay leaved on the ground'

except for sac, because the trees really don't lose their leaves until november/december. what matter! i love october. it is our favorite month. anna and i will celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary this month. we met in early october and that anniversary stands strong at 19 years. the weather can't be any more gorgeous. we drove up into the hills, apple hill, a collection of farms and apple growers located above placerville, today. it is an annual fall rite around these parts. we had a blast and i am still full from that huge hunk of sour cream apple pie. there were horse rides and hay bale mazes and pumpkins bought and roasted pumpkin seeds consumed. nicholas found a new friend too, a little plush toy hamster with a halloween witch's hat that he named cuddles and took with him to see every farm we visited. halloween is just up around the bend. houses and stores are appropriately decorated too. i look around and take a deep breath and i am damn glad for these gifts.