heart of southern life, the

Dear Friend,

For all of us, home is a very special place. Our homes showcase our personal tastes and anchor all our family activities; they also serve as relaxing retreats. If your family is anything like mine, you revel in outdoor living come October. We enjoy our porch, harvesting from our garden, and grilling out several nights a week. We also make a point to buy pumpkins to decorate our porch and hearth. Now, if you think all pumpkins are orange, take a look at page 108. Associate Garden Editor Rebecca Reed and Senior Photographer Joe De Sciose visited Paulette and Richard Manning, who grow and sell pumpkins in an assortment of colors and shapes that make the typical orange ones look downright dull. If you want to find one of their heirloom selections, though, you'll probably have to explore your region and go to local farmers markets. But this month's great weather makes it the perfect time for a pumpkin road trip.

As the chilly, longer nights cool my garden soil, I always start thinking about planting bulbs. Check out our list of the great daffodils that you should plant now; the story begins on page 64.1 must admit, when the first bloom appears every February in my garden, I'm always glad I took the time to plant in October.

Of course, to me, fall also means special foods and enjoying time at home with Pam. She always cooks the best tastes of the season. We plan to try the appetizers on page 158. They're the perfect finger foods for football watching or just relaxing after a day at work. I look forward to the first cold night that I see Pam pulling a family-style casserole out of the oven as I walk in the door. We've got a tasty array of them starting on page 159. Their flavors, combined with quick prep times of less than 30 minutes, make them just right for weeknight suppers.

In October, whether we stay at home or travel the highways and byways of the South, the weather best describes the season: comfortable. Enjoy the month.

Best regards,

John Alex Floyd, Jr., Editor

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Oct 2006
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