All thru October and November I have been drinking fall themed coffee and tea. I purchased the Harvest flavored coffee pods from Aldi.

I have never been a fan of Hazelnut flavor but I suffered thru it. LOL. Wasn’t that thrilled with the chocolate fudge flavored but enjoyed most of them. Just a hint of flavor that helped bring in Autumn.

I toyed with getting some other flavors from Amazon but convinced myself that I met my goal.

I did buy the Christmas advent coffee calendar for December so I will be happy with that providing there are no weird flavors.

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I decided to try to make pumpkin donuts for the season which is on my Autumn bucket list. Since I was running out of time I decided to make them while visiting my sister in Arizona for Thanksgiving.

I saw this Youtube video and the lady made the donuts look so easy. Using a spice cake mix and some pumpkin purée to make the donuts. What could be easier.

It was easy, but the hardest part was the squeezing the mix out of the ziplock bag into the donut pans.

I was joking with my sister that the donuts looked a little like dog doo doo. Yuck!

I wanted the maple frosting on the donut. Using a cream cheese frosting add some maple syrup to give it a nice maple flavor but boy it was rich.

I could not dip the donuts because I was afraid they would crumble so I slattered it on top and threw on some nuts. Overall they were good but very sweet and rich.

Getting to the end of my bucket list. 😀

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I am a big fan of KDramas and surprised that I don’t know more of the Korean language at this point. Every day I watch an episode of whatever drama I am currently watching. I am not surprised of the explosion of KDramas on all the streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. I understand it has become big business and I am loving it. I have watched some mediocre shows and some really good shows. I thought that perhaps they had some scary/spooky ones for the season. I was not disappointed.

I have narrowed down my watch list down to three shows.

Synopsis from Asian Wiki: When the door to another world opens, demons exists there. Gu San-Yeong (Kim Tae-Ri), is possessed by one of those demon. Yeom Hae-Sang (Oh Jung-Se) can see the demon which has possessed Gu San-Yeong. They try to figure out the truth behind the mysterious deaths related to the five sacred objects.

Gu San-Yeong is busy working part-time during the day and studying to become a low ranking public officer at night. One day, she receives some articles left behind by her late father. Since then, mysterious deaths take place around her. She also finds herself slowly changing.

Yeom Hae-Sang comes from a rich background. He teaches Korean folklore at a university. Since he was a child, he has had the special ability to see demons in this world. He even saw his mother killed by a demon in front of him when he was young. Yeom Hae-Sang meets Gu San-Yeong and he faces the demon which killed his mother.

Lee Hong-Sae (Hong Kyung) is a lieutenant in the violent crimes investigation team. He only cares about advancing his career in the police department. Due to Gu San-Yeong and Yeom Hae-Sang, he gets involved in mysterious cases.

I would rate it a 🎃🎃🎃🎃 out of 5

The second one I watched was a Korean movie called The 8th Night

With prayer beads in one hand and an ax in the other, a monk hunts down a millennia-old spirit that’s possessing humans and unleashing hell on Earth.

It moved fast and did not have the depth that 16 episodes KDramas normally have since it was a movie. I was confused on some parts and they did not explore the characters in much detail. This would probably been better served as a series so they could deepen up the plot

I would rate this a 🎃🎃 out of 5 pumpkins

The current one that I am watching is called The Guest. It is a very dark series with demons and possession. Not a light subject matter at all.

Yoon Hwa Pyung, a young psychic born into a shaman family, learns about the powerful demon called “Son” (Guest). The demon has the power to control other demons and allows them to possess weak people. The possessed people then go mad, kill their families, and stab themselves in the eye. Fatefully, Hwa Pyung, Choi Yoon; a young boy born in a religious Catholic family, and Kang Kil Yeong; the daughter of a detective, meet when their families are killed by a demon. Twenty years later, the demon killings started again. Hwa Pyung is now a taxi driver who uses his power to seek out possessed people in order to help them, while Yoon is a Catholic priest who is talented in exorcism, and Kil Yeong is a detective who doesn’t believe in ghosts. The trio meets again and tries to work together to defeat “Son”.

In some of the episodes this just dragged on and on, and others it held my interest. It wasn’t bad, but would go have been better at 12 episodes instead of 16.

I would rate this a 🎃🎃🎃 out of five pumpkins.

At a last minute addition, I added the movie Train to Busan. It had that adorable Dong Yoo which I could watch forever. I am not into zombies but this was a good fast paced film. I was sitting on the edge of my seat.

A divorced father decides to take his daughter on the train to Busan to see her mother for her birthday. In the meantime zombies have taken over the city and one gets on the train. Before you know it, more train riders are attacked and it becomes life or death trying to outwit the zombies. The little girl who plays the daughter does an awesome job. Also in the film was Ma Dong-seok who is the strong tough guy who does whatever it takes to protect his wife from the zombies

I would give 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 out of five pumpkins as I would definitely watch again.

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It is usually hard for me to find a book that has an Autumn theme. I want the feel of crisp leaves, pumpkins, chilled autumn mornings when I read the story. Sadly most books tend to be set in Autumn but rarely mention it except maybe a Halloween party or wearing a wool sweater

This book followed the norm. It was a cute little romance book, the beautiful girl crushed by a prior love, a small town, hot, sexy man who usually had a few brothers that just as tall and strong as the man character. Thrown together they fell in love. You could have slapped a Hallmark seal of approval on it.

A coffee shop owner, a professor and the upcoming Boo Bash event are the formula for this book. Cute, predictable but a nice quick read.

🎃🎃🎃 three out of five pumpkins rating for this little book.

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I have been watching several movies to enjoy the Halloween season. Some I have seen before, others are new to me.

I am rating these films with the 1-5 Jack O’lantern scoring system

🎃 just awful

🎃🎃 not the best, may never watch again but with some redeeming qualities

🎃🎃🎃 good and may be worth a watch every few years

🎃🎃🎃🎃 very good movie or series, really enjoyed

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 excellent, worth to watch every year. One of my favorites

Practical Magic 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

One of my favorites to watch every year. Love the scenery, the spells and the family love. I just got the book so I hope it is a good read.

The Popes Exorcist 🎃🎃 (new)

I was hesitant to watch this as this sort of thing does not set well with me. But actually I was kinda bored with the movie.

The Mummy (1959) 🎃🎃🎃

A classic oldie but goodie. I used to watch all these old movies growing up. Well technically they were new movies when I was young. It probably is really a two pumpkin film, but the nostalgia bumps it up one pumpkin. Kinda goofy but you gotta love it.

Dracula Great Love (1971) 🎃 (new)

This movie was part of an Elvira movie series. I thought it might be good, but oh my gosh, this was soooo bad. Unless you like women’s breasts, bad acting, and stupid plots. Lol

Signs 🎃🎃🎃🎃

I like this film and watch it at least once a year. One of my favorite scenes is where they are are sitting with tin foil hats on their heads. You know, you don’t want them to read your thoughts. Lol

Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

I love this film. Of all of the Hitchcock films this is my favorite. Tippi Hendren is so glamorous and the dialog and cinematography is awesome. One year for Halloween I dressed up as Tippi Hendren, had a blue suit with birds 🦅 tied to it. When I flailed my arms the bird flew around. We won 1st place at the Halloween costume contest at work that year. My secretary Connie came as Reagan from the Exorcist with split pea soup down the front of her nightgown. My boss came as Carrie – prom dress, tiara and blood everywhere. We were the damsels in distress Halloween version. I don’t remember what we won but it was more the prestige of it all.

Stephen King’s Rose Red 🎃 (new)

This was sooooo bad. The movie and I assume the book is a mix of Hill House and Winchester Mystery House. The acting was bad. The effects were bad. Everything was predicable and boring. If I could give zero pumpkins I would.

Halloweentown 🎃🎃🎃 (new)

This was a cute little Halloween film and worthy to watch on Halloween. I understand this has a cult following. Good clean fun. The kids were irritating but I expected they would be.

Arsenic and Old Lace 🎃🎃🎃🎃

A classic oldie but goodie. This is a Frank Capra film (you know, It’s a wonderful Life Frank Capra). A bit silly but I love the characters, the old maid aunts, the graveyard by the house, the casual attitude to poisoning gentlemen visitors. LOL. Not to mention Cary Grant. He is so yummy.

Mad Monster Party 🎃🎃🎃🎃

I love this little movie using the same stop motion technology as Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. I use to watch this as a child and loved Phyllis Diller character. This is good for the kiddos to watch

Winchester 🎃🎃

I love going to the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. This house is very interesting with all its beautiful architecture. Helen Mirren did a good job but otherwise this was a weird movie. I did not like the male lead. Although scary with special effects, I think this would have been better served exploring Sara Winchester instead of trying to scare us.

American Horror Story – Cult 🎃 (new)

I have always enjoyed the American Horror Stories series but this one was so bad. I almost had flashbacks to the Clinton/Trump election.

Trilogy of Terror 🎃🎃🎃

This one is a throw back to my youth. 2 of the stories are ok, but the one with Karen Black and that dang voodoo doll. Dolls freaks me out a bit so I was not keen on the little guy in the first place.

Bell, Book and Candle 🎃🎃🎃🎃

Who could not love a Jimmy Stewart movie. A classic from the past of a beautiful witch falling in love with a mortal. This was before Bewitched.

Beetlejuice 🎃🎃🎃🎃

Michael Keaton at his best. Fun to watch and enjoy the handbook for the recently deceased. Not to mention the Calypso dance.

And finally

Hocus Pocus

🎃🎃🎃🎃

I love the witches. Bette Midler is a hoot. I like the story line. Good acting and great effects. No wonder people love it

Thanks for hanging out with me on the Halloween season.

For Halloween I have read a couple of scary books. The first was The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I was not sure what I was going to experience when I read this book; horror, suspense, mystery etc. but it was not what I thought. It had a sense of scariness but it was also alluring. Almost like the siren song of a mermaid. You have no idea it is dangerous until it was too late. Although there was scary parts it was not like a terrorizing, relentless haunting. It would come and go. Seemed it was more interested in mind games. I am familiar with Shirley Jackson story The Lottery which I watched the short film in school and was impacted by the story line. I often think of that short film and how Shirley depicted human behavior.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it as a good read in October.

The next group of stories I read was from Amazon Original Stories collection called Creature Feature.

I mentioned The Pram in a previous post. The rest of the collection is as follows.

Ankle Snatcher

Marcus grew up believing his father killed his mother—then blamed it on the boogeyman under the bed. Always leave the lights on, his father warned, or the boogeyman will get you. Marcus still heeds the superstition, especially when he invites his new girlfriend over. Is Marcus haunted by a creature or has he just inherited his father’s murderous delusions? The night will tell.

This story was a good tale, sorry it ended the way it did. I rate it a 3 out of 5

It Waits in the Woods

The dense Michigan forest. Haunting wails. The clip-clop of demon hooves on a bridge to nowhere. It’s more than a tall tale to Brenda Jennings, whose sister disappeared in those woods one fateful night. Three years later, on a solo stakeout in the dark, Brenda goes in after her. She’s desperate for answers, and terrified to find what lies waiting on the other side of that bridge.

I really enjoyed the story and it kept me interested. I just wish they wrapped up the ending better. I rate this a 5 out of 5

In Bloom

Journalist Heidi Cohen is in Cape Cod investigating the sources of recurring toxic algae blooms along the coast. A local named Jimmy has his own theory for her. Every year the fetid growth gets worse—but it’s been going on longer than anyone knows. Decades ago, something happened to Jimmy that he’s never forgotten. Is Heidi ready for the real story?

I was following along with the story and was really engrossed, but then it changed dramatically. Not my favorite from the series. I give it 3 out of 5

Best of Luck

For best friends with vastly different fortunes, what’s left to hash out other than a forced confession at gunpoint? All that the destitute, sickly, and grieving Will demands is that monstrously successful Barry admit to draining all the luck right out of him. Like blood. As the standoff escalates, the truth is not the only thing ready to come out.

This was a good read and I was sucked into the story. Not the ending I anticipated. I give it 4 out of 5.

Big Bad

The Strauss family is on knife’s edge. Sam is a resentful stay-at-home dad. Rachel feels the restlessness in her blood returning. Their children are getting out of hand. And a recent mudslide has forced the wolves out of the woods to look for food. As dusk falls and tensions rise, the family must come together to survive the night—from the threats outside and those within.

This was a good finish to the series. I figured out the family issue about half way in but not the ending. I give it a 4.5 out of 5.

Amazon Original Stories have a ton of series if you want a quick read. Most stories are 25-60 minutes long. If you have an audible account, they also give you the audio version. You borrow the books and return when you are done. It sure helps a lot with those darn reading challenges or waiting at appointments. It always helps to have a book on your phone when you are in those type of situations. On to my Autumn book. 🍁🍂

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Target carry’s really cute family pajamas. Even for your pet. Last year I got the Skelton pajamas. This year I went with the fun print pajamas with a black Tshirt with Trick or Treat words. Of course this is not me, as you would never get a photo of me wearing pajamas. But I wanted you to see the set.

Here is the pet bandana. I had it on Eli for a while and eventually found it on the bed. Darn him. Wish I could recall where I put it. But here is what it looks like.

I had to get the matching pumpkin slippers. Last year was the white slippers that said BOO on each foot. Almost missed out in getting the slippers. I dragged my feet (no pun intended) and they ran out. Luckily they came back in stock.

I wonder what next years design will look like.

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For part of my Autumn/Halloween Bucket List I wanted to show my front porch decorated for Halloween. I am not that good at making movies and should have turned my camera landscape, but whatever. Maybe next time. Lol

Nothing like a little scary ambience to set the scene.

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I really like Starbucks Hot Caramel Apple Spiced Drink. Most years I cannot get it because they run out of cider. But today I got lucky at my local Starbucks.

After running to Aldi’s and picking up a few things I am going to sit and enjoy sipping my drink while watching Bell, Book and Candle. Nothing like a few witches creating trouble with Jimmy Stewart and a hot cider to make the evening.

To top off the evening I made the Aldi pumpkin shaped pizza for dinner. Going to enjoy my last flex Friday from work by getting in the Halloween mood.

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This year I chose the poem Fall, Leaves, Fall by Emily Brontë.

A lovely poem to read. Enjoy.