This post is part of a series called Thankful Thursday, where I list some things to feel thankful for. To some extent, focusing on what is wrong appears to come naturally to most people, who often complain, complain, complain when they get together with family and friends. (I’m no exception, that’s for sure.) So focusing on things to feel thankful for seems like good spiritual practice, a way to counterbalance the tendency toward negative thinking.
My Fall Gardens
There are are no two ways about it—my gardens are definitely past their best. There are very few blooms, and many of the hostas, the backbone of the gardens in my front yard, have turned brown and yellow,
But there are still some things that catch my attention.
The red leaves of the evening primroses in combination with the pink sedum,
the spiky red flowers of persicaria against the Tesla’s charger,
a lone yellow daylily, somehow in bloom in October,
and last, but certainly not least, the Japanese grass that my blogging friend Judy, of NewEnglandGardenAndThread, gave me. Fingers and toes and everything else crossed that it comes up next spring.
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Backlisted Podcast
Along with being keen on movies, I am also keen on books, particularly novels written by women in the mid-twentieth century when their roles were undergoing a major change.
A while back, I came across the literary podcast Backlisted, hosted by John Mitchinson and Andy Miller. Backlisted, as the tagline suggests, focuses on older books, often from the 1950s and before. However sometimes they venture into the 1970s and 1980s. (It’s a little sobering to think that a book published in the 1980s might qualify as an old book, but there you are.)
Backlisted started in 2015, and the current episode, which features Her First American by Lore Segal is Episode 222.
Readers, this podcast is like catnip to me, and I listen to it whenever I have a chance. Mitchinson and Miller laugh as much as the Car Talk guys did, and this adds a general note of hilarity to this literary podcast. However, despite the abundant good cheer, Mitchinson and Miller have a flinty side that reflects their many years in publishing. They know what good writing is, and they are confident in their opinions.
What’s astonishing about this podcast is the range of books read and discussed. While there is certainly an emphasis on literary fiction, Backlisted also features mysteries, fantasy, science fiction, children’s books, and even the occasional romance.,
Long live Backlisted!
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Soup by the Fire
One of the pleasures of autumn is sitting around a fire as night comes and the crickets sing and a frog croaks nearby. Add soup, tea, and a couple of rolls, and you have a winning combination.
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Thankful Posts and Simple Pleasures from Other Blogging Friends
Quercus from Quercuscommunity marks the retirement of his wife, Julia. This makes them a retired couple. While this might involve more decluttering, I hope it also involves more trips to tearooms.
Alys from Gardening Nirvana celebrates her 29th anniversary with her husband, Mike. Congrats, congrats!
Tootlepedal from Tootlepedal’s Blog not only shares a photo of his sister’s beautiful nerines but also a photo of his wife’s lovely crochet blanket that just happened to win first prize at a local agricultural fair. Congrats, Mrs. Tootlepedal!
Barbara from Thistles and Kiwis describes the World of Wearable Art show, which features “wearable art, dance, live music, aerialists and great staging.” Sounds like quite a show.
Anne from Something Over Tea notes the many simple pleasures that make her happy. Being a huge fan of simple pleasures, I smiled all the way through this past.
Cimple from A Curious Introvert revels in the glories of October, one of the most beautiful months if you live in a northern state. Plus, she included a picture of her adorable dog.
Notes From the Hinterland 
I was most taken with your red Persicaria. Our native plants are mostly pink and white; I’ve never seen the red. It really is striking — I’d be thankful for that one, too.
A very vibrant and unusual plant.
In some ways, I think the autumn garden is among the prettiest, the colors are so vibrant and the color contrasts add extra appeal. I love the idea of autumn evenings enjoyed by a fire!
My shady gardens aren’t quite that vibrant yet there is something moving about their faded beauty.
Much of Vermont is in color now, but along the Champlain Valley, it’s always much slower. So I get to enjoy everyone else’s, and then my own. But it’s happening fast now.
It comes in a rush after the build up. Such a glorious time of year.
Soup, tea and rolls are a wonderful meal. You’ve made me hungry!
So lovely to have them by the fire.
You’re right, Laurie, October may be one of the most beautiful months of the year. Embrace your October garden along with the spectacular trees!!
Many thanks! Peak foliage is coming right up.
Soup by the fire pit? Yes, please!
A lovely way to end the day.
Hi, Laurie – Your garden still looks beautiful and that soup by the outside fire looks absolutely delicious. Thank you for sharing Backlisted with us. ❤
So nice to have soup by the fire. As someone who is as keen on reading as I am, I think you will really like Backlisted.
How lovely to still be able to sit outside and enjoy dinner. I must check out Backlisted – and thanks for the mention too.
Yes, a perfect time of year for a fire. As you are quite the reader, I think you will like Backlisted.
I like the idea of sitting round the fire in the evening. Do you get pestered by insects? Mrs T thanks you for your kind words.
Lovely to sit around the fire. This time of year, the cold has nipped all the biting insects. Yay!
That is good.
Very good indeed!
I love soup season and what a perfect dining spot!! I’m very thankful for all your wonderful music, book, movie and podcast reviews and I’ve added Backlisted to my library.🙂
Soup season is wonderful! I always enjoy your recommendations, too.
A hearty soup and some tea…sitting fireside…full of sensory associations.
Yes, yes!
I am a lover of soups too… comfort food..😁😊
Thanks for the recommendation for the podcast, Backlist, sound very interesting..
We eat a lot of soup in autumn. Backlisted is one of my favorite podcasts. Hope you enjoy it.
Thank you for the mention, Laurie. Your fireside soup meal looks delicious!
My pleasure! The soup wasn’t too bad if I do say so myself. 😉
The plants you still have are very well photographed
Thanks, Derrick! There are a few bright spots in my fading garden.
Your fire looks so cosy, and the soup’s sure to be warming and tasty. Such a good way to unwind at the end of the day.
Yes, a lovely way to unwind at the end of the day.
Fingers crossed your grasses come up in the spring. Dinner by the fire sounds like a really good thing. Happy Friday.
I have been checking it daily to make sure it has enough moisture. Dinner by the fire is lovely.
I love pink sedum this time of year!
So pretty in the autumn garden.
I always love your nature photos! That fuzzy thing — Japanese Grass, is it? — is delightful.
Thanks so much! Love taking pictures of nature.
Mother Nature is entering her more dormant season there already. I love your cheery daylily, and I agree that hot soup, rolls, and tea around a fire as the temperatures drop sounds most pleasant. I think I’d have made s’mores, too!!
We generally save s’mores for the weekend. 😉
I love how leaf colour can keep a garden going into Autumn / Fall when the flowers have mostly gone. And it is certainly soup weather now!
Yes, a lovely gift for a fall garden. And bring on the soup!
I love Backlisted! Their discussions are always so insightful, erudite and entertaining, regardless of whether the listener is familiar with the book (or not).
You have captured your autumn beautifully, Laurie! We don’t get New England colors here, mainly gold, which has become tired shades of yellow and brown this year with the prolonged drought. Our blueberry bushes are a bright scarlet every year though.
I think your garden has a beautiful autumn glow to it 🙂 I imagine sitting by the fire to enjoy a meal would be wonderful!
Thanks so much! Lovely to sit by the fire with a bowl of soup.
I would too!
My gardens are just done too. It was a long hot, difficult summer for them I think. I will be doing fall cleanup soon, with the help of a young man I pay. I will probably leave the sedum and the monks head up, as it’s still beautiful. But most of the rest are way beyond beautiful.
LOVE your firepit!
Thank you, thank you! So much fun to sit by the fire.
Perfect food for autumn days.
Laurie you are full of optimism and good cheer. I thoroughly enjoy these posts. Reading this encourages me to get on the podcast wagon. I simply forget about podcasts in general. Funny that.
Soup and rolls were often served by our mom on cold, Ontario days. I can almost hear the frogs.
I listen to podcasts as I do chores. Makes the time zip by. So many good podcasts to choose from.