Fall, Home, Television

Scenes from Mid-October and a Review of the Television Series From

64 Comments

In Maine in mid-October there is a certain chill in the air, letting us know that we are edging into a time of colder weather and long nights. In mid-October, we can no longer be sure that it will be warm enough to eat outside even when the sun is shining. In mid-October, we start bringing in some of the patio furniture. (The big table stays outside under cover.) In mid-October, the leaves are falling, falling, falling. Hence, the use of fall as another word for autumn.

For those who live in a warmer climate, October in northern New England might sound like a time for alarm—this is just the beginning of the cold and the dark? But we Mainers mostly take it in stride. We have known snow and cold weather from the time we were born, and to us it seems like the natural order of things.

However, I do want to add that when cold weather comes, a fair number of folks hightail it to warmer states. Snowbirds, they are called, and I will never be one of them. To me, winter means snow.

But before the snow comes October.

Here are some photos of what it looks like in our yard at the edge of the woods.

This weekend, Clif and Dee took down the screen house and tucked it down cellar until next spring. The round table and umbrella were also stored down cellar. After which, Clif moved our fire pit onto the patio, which stops the backyard from looking so lonely. But still. I miss the screen house.

In the woods, there is a flash of red, a blaze of glory, red against green.

In our new driveway, leaves aren’t the only things that fall.

And sometimes the leaves fall in a very fetching way.

All those falling leaves mean that the great leaf clean-up will soon begin. In the meantime, we will enjoy nature’s art.

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Watching: Television

From
Seasons 1 through 3
Available on MGM+

First, a disclaimer. Even though I come from the land of Stephen King (his Maine home is about an hour and half from where I live), I am not a fan of horror. The answer for this is simple: I get too scared. I have what might be called an overactive imagination, and horror taps right into it.

However, from the jump, I was hooked on From, which is billed as a horror/mystery show. Yes, there are strong elements of horror in From as well as some gore. However, the emphasis is on the characters and how they react to the terrible situation they are in.

And what is that situation? There is a town in the middle of the woods somewhere—it could even be Maine—that traps folks. While the exact method is a mystery, it involves a back road with a fallen tree and circling crows. That fallen tree spells trouble. When the series opens, a vacationing family encounters this tree and quite naturally tries to find another route. After Dad (Elon Bailey) turns the vehicle around, the family arrives in a shabby town with a smattering of inhabitants. Dad drives through the town but somehow finds himself circling around to that very same town. Again and again. The family is trapped.

As if that weren’t bad enough, the family is stuck in a town where monsters emerge at night and devour people if they are out and about. Steps have been taken to protect the houses, but I can tell you right now that accidents, bloody ones, still happen. Regularly.

Presiding over the town is Sheriff Boyd Stevens (played by the excellent Harold Perrineau). His job is to protect the town, to provide hope, and to figure out how they all might escape. Let’s just say that uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

There is a wonderful cast of supporting characters, all flawed but all very human in their frailties. Bit by bit, the episodes provide clues as to what this mysterious place is and how folks might escape.

In season 3, the cherry on the sundae is a reference to Camden, Maine. Clif, Dee, and I have found that in most of the horror or supernatural series we watch, there is some reference to Maine. It always takes us by surprise although by now we should be used to it.

No doubt in honor of Stephen King, that master of horror.

Even if you think you don’t like horror, From is a show to watch.

64 thoughts on “Scenes from Mid-October and a Review of the Television Series From”

  1. Great October pics, Laurie. As you know, I’m 100% with you wrt the changing seasons. I came north (returned to my roots, as it turns out) for a reason! As for horror shows, I’ll have to think about it!!

  5. I’m another with an overactive imagination; the one Stephen King story I read (The Langoliers) still haunts me. Artfully falling leaves is more my style☺️

  6. I love your mid-October Maine expressions, Laurie. Like you, I could never be a snowbird. I love the fact that there are seasons, and winter would not be complete without snow.

  7. Those beautiful leaves make me miss northern fall! It’s 97F here right now, and not a falling leaf in sight (that happens some time between Thanksgiving and Christmas). Thanks for the TV show tip, but that would give me nightmares, so I’ll skip it.

  9. We are heading down the wintery road, which presents a whole different aspect to life. Winters aren’t as cold or snowy as they once were and are much shorter between first and last frost. May feels far off from this point in time, but I know it will zip right by.
    I love the shot of the red maple in the woods, so beautiful!

  10. It’s such a pleasure to see your colorful leaves, whether still on the trees or fallen. I’ll pass on the film, but I’d be more than willing to sit on your patio and watch leaves fall for hours!

  11. I never noticed the Maine/horror connection before, but now that you mention it!
    They filmed part of the upcoming movie based on Salem’s Lot by Stephen King in a vacant field in my neighborhood. They built a whole drive-in movie/carnival setting on it.

    1. It tickles us to hear how often Maine is mentioned in horror/supernatural shows. I do think it is a homage to Stephen King.

      Cool to read about how part of Salem’s Lot was filmed in your neighborhood. Was it all disruptive?

      1. No. It was a field that ran alongside our local rail trail (bike path) which I walk daily, so we had a great view. The production assistants kept people off the set, otherwise you could have walked right into a scene. Reminds me, I think it’s out now on Max. I need to watch it.

  15. Love the flash of red in the woods.

    I can’t watch horror or thrillers – in fact any kind of jeopardy and I have to have a break and maybe go back later and watch in 10 minute clips, with the sound turned down!

    1. That flash is only there for a short time, and I look forward to it every year.

      Thrillers can make for tense watching, that’s for sure. We seem to be drawn to them, with my favorite being spy stories.

  16. Your woodland garden looks wonderful. Apart from the fear of something lurking in the trees that wants to eat me, bears, hyenas, wolves, moose etc I’f feel quite at home providing I was sitting there with a gun on my lap.

    Just teasing. 🙂

    Seriously, I love it. I could imagine sitting there with you roasting chestnuts and mallows etc while we chatted about life.

    1. No hyenas or wolves in our woods.;) Mostly the wild animals are very shy and stick to the deep woods. We seldom see them.

      Would be fun to chat around the fire with you.

      1. I was just talking to my co author on WhatsAp (video call) and she lives in the woods (North Idahao) she turned the camera around so I could look out of the widow to her view. Like yours it is so amazing and restful. She has lots of critters near her. And some of them are not shy.

  17. Weather wise we are neighbours 😀. A lovely post Laurie and I must admit your post inspires me to write a post on autumn colours here in Norway.

  20. I read your post sitting in front of the window looking out at my garden Laurie and like you was revelling in the colours and the way they highlight each other.

    1. Fall those leaves do. Clif uses the lawnmower to crunch and pick up leaves. No frost yet. Will be interested in seeing when it comes. Seems late this year.

  22. Laurie, I admire your Maine spunk!! Having winter’s cold for nine months out of the year feels a bit like overkill to me. And yet, I don’t wish for nine months of summer’s heat and humidity either!

    Your description of mid-October makes me smile. Yes, it’s a time of change. Settling in, so to speak. Preparing for long winter nights around the fireplace, cup of cocoa in hand.

    As for the TV show, nope, sorry. I, too, have an overactive imagination (it’s a writer’s thing, don’t you know?), and I don’t need any help feeling scared!

  23. It has been cool here as well, a bit of normalcy amongst the chaos. There is some color but lots if one goes inland a mile or two. And yes, eating outdoors is definitely challenging. Time for picnics in the van!

  25. The leaves are falling here too, ablaze with colour. So beautiful, so transitory. Enjoy it while you can (hopefully Snow-gauge Clif is already in training! 🙂)

  26. Stephen King?! My goodness! In addition to your many other sterling qualities, you are also brave. I take the advice the writer gave a woman who said a book of his scared her: “Then don’t read it.”

  27. I love the changing colours in your yard Laurie and the way the leaves fall 🧡🍁

  28. Love the fall photos and like you we have been getting the yard ready for winter. The weather was so warm this fall that it’s been a shock to have the cold weather and trees change over the last week. My niece and I are both fans of From and always love all the horror references to Maine!!🙂

  29. That leaf … the very essence of change. I miss the cold in the air in sunny Singapore, although today is a chilly 29 deg C (it’s been raining!!!)

  30. I loved those photos! October, and November, are my favorite seasons here, too.

    That is a good trailer for that movie. All that was missing was Rod Serling. after they encounter the downed tree and crows, and turn around. Looks like it could be right out of The Outer Limits or Twilight Zone.

  31. Great post! I wish more people would talk about FROM. It’s such compelling storytelling and character work done with some fantastic actors. You are so spot on with the Stephen King reference and inspo. And I agree, its definitely a must watch even if you’re not a fan of horror necessarily. Cheers! 🤙🏿

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