1. It’s officially fall y’all…in the northern hemisphere anyway. What are three of your favorite things about this particular season of the year? 

Hmm, I love fall but three faves are the smell of fires burning, the aesthetic of fall leaves and apple cider, and the fact that it feels different – it heads us towards all the best holidays too.

2. Your favorite fall fabric-denim, flannel, tweed, corduroy, tartan, polar fleece, leather? Do you own something made with your favorite fall fabric? 

I basically just wear these rip-stop type shorts and jeans. I am not much of a style-type person. There’s always a point at which I start wearing flannel pants in the house though.

3. According to Everyday Health here are ten healthy fall foods- apples (flavonoids may improve brain health), pears (for heart friendly fiber), cranberries (helps your body fight oxidative stress) winter squash (for eye health), pumpkin (another great source of Vitamin A), leeks (an anti-inflammatory food), brussel sprouts (full of fiber and anti-oxidants), sweet potatoes (loaded with Vit A and C), parsnips (keep your bones healthy with Vit K), and broccoli (may help prevent cancer). 

How many on the list do you eat on a regular basis? Which one is your favorite? Which one gets a big no thanks from you? 

I like apples and pears but rarely eat them. Same for all those except brussels and sweet potatoes, which are common. I love all those but just don’t make them part of my life. I eat brussel sprouts more than all those!

4. Tell us about the last time (or a recent time) you experienced a wave of nostalgia? 

I was coming home from taking my daughter to cross country and thought about all the times I took my boys to the school at the butt crack of dawn for practice and it made me sad how quickly everyone is growing up! But I really felt the nostalgia for driving in my neighborhood, which I love.

5. Sept. 22nd was National Daughter’s Day. Like mother, like daughter…does this idiom ring true for you? You may answer in terms of your own role as a daughter or, if you have daughters, then your role as a mother of daughters. 

I think for me, I do have a lot more in common with my mom than I ever thought. My daughter is not a lot like me yet but I will give it time – she’s only 11!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

WELL, soon-to-be hurricane Helene is barreling straight for us. My mom said it shifted east again, which might put landfall near Perry. This thing is huge so even so, we’ll get blasted. They had one last year hit there as, I think, a cat one and we didn’t get much besides rain. But this is a large storm an they’re thinking Cat 3 by the time it gets here tomorrow. I have planned my meals for the next five days, we’re putting the pool cover on, taking all the stuff off the deck, and we started up the generator last night. So, we’ve basically done what we can. I know so many people who are planning to evac and I just can’t imagine. If something happens to my house and I’m not here to take care of it? No thanks. As a native Floridian, I have lived through many a storm; we’ll weather it out.

Despite the impending storm and uncertainty of the next few days, I find myself in a really good mood. I’m about to go around the house and make sure all small things are put up, even though it is not even supposed to be here until late tomorrow. I do wish it would speed up a bit; night storms are the worst. Wish us luck!