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Sunday, 1 October 2023

It's October 2023

Time to say goodbye to September as we welcome October.


October glows on every cheek,
October shines in every eye,
While up the hill and down the dale
Her crimson banners fly.
~ Elaine Goodale Eastman (1863–1953) ~

The Leaves They Are a-Changin’
With the autumnal equinox in late September, many leaves begin to change, but have you ever wondered why do leaves change colours? Did you know that Autumn/Fall’s vivid colours are actually hidden underneath summer’s green? The main reason for the colour change is not autumn’s chilly weather, but light—or rather, the lack of it. The green colour of leaves disappears when photosynthesis (from sunlight) slows down and the chlorophyll breaks down. Trees with a lot of direct sunlight will produce red leaves, while other trees may turn yellow, orange, or brown.

About October
Sitting square in between September and November, October is the tenth month of the Gregorian calendar.

October is seen by many to be a time of real seasonal change, both in the northern and southern hemispheres. For those in the north, autumn is really kicking into gear and the nights are getting cooler. The harvest festivals are almost over, and the nights are getting longer and longer by the day.

October is unsurprisingly quite different for those who live in the southern hemisphere. Spring has already bloomed in all its glory, and life is becoming more and more pleasant by the day.

The Anglo-Saxons’ name for October was Winterfylleth, with its name containing the words for winter and full moon respectively. It was named this because winter was said to begin from the first full moon of the month.

The Saxons had a name for October, too. Theirs was Wyn Monath, which translated into “wine month” because it was the time of the year for making wine.


October’s birthstone is the Opal. The opal comes in a myriad of striking colours that often seem to swirl together and is a symbol of both faithfulness, purity, and hope.

October has two strikingly different birth flowers, the pastel-hued cosmos, and the radiant marigold flowers. The cosmos flower is representative of the joy one finds in peace and love, as well as representing peace. The marigold, otherwise known as the calendula, is said to be a symbol of tranquillity, grace, and grief.

Octobers star signs - those born in October can be born under one of two very different star signs. If you’re born before October 23rd, then you have the sign of Libra. Those born on October 23rd or later have the sign of Scorpio. Libras are said to value harmony and diplomacy and are said to be both intelligent and kind. Scorpios are quite different, valuing trust and honesty above other things, as well as being quite intense yet imaginative people.

... and sharing a lovely October recipe
Pork and Squash Casserole
low carb and so easy - see more details here


~ Wishing you a happy October 2023 ~

We bring a variety of articles and recipe ideas to this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan

33 comments:

aussie aNNie said...

October already and here in Australia we have gone back to daylight saving which I love... summer already and the heat today is fire hazzadours have a great weekend

Christine said...

The casserole looks delicious, perfect for October.

Tom said...

...it's hard to believe that October is here!

Elephant's Child said...

Thank you. My father was a Scorpio. An alternative take on the sign noted that they are the most likely murder victims. Father was certainly intense... And yes, he did prize honesty and was certainly creative.

J.P. Alexander said...

Genial fin de seman y genial mes de octubre. Les mando un beso.

roentare said...

You made October sound so special

Margaret D said...

Interesting Jan.. Happy October and soon be Christmas.

Rustic Pumpkin said...

My favourite month! Maybe that's because I am a Libran on the cusp? I do enjoy your regular account of each new month. Thank you.

Lee said...

The year is flying by so rapidly. It's hard to believe it's October already.

chica said...

Lindoi poest!

Feliz OUTUBRO! beijos praianos, chica

Valerie-Jael said...

I'm sure I can smell that wonderful casserole! Have a great October, hugs, Valerie

eileeninmd said...

Happy October to you!
The meal looks yummy.
Take care, have a wonderful week!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

We have several squash recipes planned for this month. ‘Tis the season.,

Breathtaking said...

Hello :=)
Your casserole looks so good. It's still 30 degrees here and not a sign of Autumn anywhere, but given another couple of weeks I expect the leaves will begin to fall. The grape harvest was over in September on the farm and I am now enjoying our own wine.

♥ Łucja-Maria ♥ said...

I wish you a wonderful, sunny October.
The pork and pumpkin dish looks delicious.
Have a nice week.

Debbie said...

i love these!! wishing you a wonderful october as well. it is my favorite time of the year!!

Jeanie said...

I always look forward to your first of the month posts -- I always learn something new and fun!

Bill said...

The casserole looks good.

CJ Kennedy said...

Such fun facts

Anne (cornucopia) said...

October, or the month of Halloween, as I like to call it! :-)

And your comments are getting through. (I have to moderate my comments, due to spam, etc.)

DeniseinVA said...

Fun information Jan. Thank you! Happy October!

Mrs.B said...

That casserole looks delicious - Happy October.
Avril xx

John's Island said...

Jan, Thank you for the overview of October. As I often do, when reading The Low Carb Diabetic, I learned something new … “The green colour of leaves disappears when photosynthesis (from sunlight) slows down and the chlorophyll breaks down. Trees with a lot of direct sunlight will produce red leaves, while other trees may turn yellow, orange, or brown.” I surely did not know that and it fascinates me. Thank you! 😊 Lastly, Pork and Squash Casserole … oh my goodness! … a long time favorite of mine and a great suggestion for one of next week’s dinners! Thanks for a great post. Happy week ahead to you and Eddie! John

DVArtist said...

Happy October. The soup looks amazing. Have a great day.

HappyK said...

Happy October - it sure came around fast!!

Mary Kirkland said...

Happy October.

Creations By Cindy said...

Happy October! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Jeff said...

Here in Appalachia, October is the most beautiful month. We can see splotches of color, but in two weeks, it'll be beautiful.

baili said...

wow loved learning about beautiful month October . i miss experiencing change of weather and leaves during this month back in my native town .thanks to my little garden that keeps me in touch with nature's different colors and moods :)
blessings

Snowbird said...

What a lovely read, I did enjoy it.xxx

Conniecrafter said...

my favorite month, we are starting to have cool evenings and by the weekend the day time temps will even be nice too, so looking forward to that for sure, I have had a few caramel apples too, my favorite fall snack!

Teresa said...

Octubre es mi mes favorito, nací en el. Besos.

William Kendall said...

Time does fly.