Today’s guest post was written by Don Casada.
Photo by Don Casada
Peaceful October wanders down from the hills
Winding and weaving through hollows and rills.
Brushing sweet asters with purples and blues
Amidst settings of scarlet and golden-leafed hues.
Filigree berry dogwoods in diamonds of dew –
Red bedecked royalty (from white blossoms grew).
Manna from heaven: walnuts thumping down.
Globes chockful of goodness cover the ground.
I’ll hull ‘em and crack ‘em and then by and by
Pumpkin bread by Susan – oh my, oh my!
Scuppernongs are ripe and sweet on the vine
Persimmons are pretty, but it’s not yet their time.
For if you try eatin’ ‘em before frost is here
You’ll find that the pucker will be so severe
Astringent will take on a meaning that’s new.
Once’ll be enough; you’ll never try two!
Down by the river where sycamores grow,
Their leaves rust from envy – at least it seems so.
For up in the holler the buckeye’s gold-yellow.
And, oh by the way, it’s good for a fellow
To carry in his pocket eyes from those bucks
To ward off the miseries, arthritis, and flux.
Fog low, still, and heavy in cool morning lies,
Betokens the coming of bluebird day skies.
Katydids have quit heralding daylight’s retreat.
But crickets play fiddles; their tunes shrill and sweet.
Jar flies no longer offer raspy repines –
They’re burrowed and nestled safe in their mines.
The creek’s running low, for most days are dry.
But way down south there’s a threatening sky.
A murder of crows shout, squawk and complain,
A gaggle of geese honks boisterous refrain.
Summer’s garden’s finished; its yield laid away
Will bring a body comfort come a cold winter day.
Sweet smell of cider flowing fresh from the press:
Light, set, have a glass, be still and destress.
It’s a time to slow down, consider, contemplate
Both time here on earth and eternal fate.
Old grows the body, furrows line the face.
Unhandsome, plumb homely, needful of grace.
The Giver of grace is Lord of the fall,
Spring, summer and winter – Creator of all!
He gives help to the weary; to the tired, rest,
Our peaceful October, our home, safe and blest.
—Don Casada, October 2026
I hope you enjoyed Don’s thoughts about October as much as I do!
He shared the following information about the stunning fall photo he took:
“The photo is looking up Cataloochee valley from the overlook on the way in. To the right of the tree the peak which has a more gentle incline on the left and steeper on the right is Spruce Mountain. To the left of it are what look like three similar height peaks. The one in the middle is Chiltoes Mountain. The others are unnamed slight knobs on either side of it. That’s the county line between Haywood and Swain Counties. At the far right is the westernmost part of Big Cataloochee.
That picture was taken on October 26, 2009; Susan and I walked up Caldwell Fork then took the Boogerman Trail and back down Caldwell Fork. Spectacular day.”
Last night’s video: Feeding Our Family With Meat From The Woods || Pickled Corn Like Granny’s Kraut.
Tipper
p.s. On Friday October 16, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Paul and his band Hickory Stand will be playing at the Historic Courthouse in Blairsville, GA.
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