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October Newsletter

Photos taken by Ashlee Paige Matthews-McDonald

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." — Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

What comes to mind when we think of October? I’m sure kids would say, “Halloween! Trick or Treat! Candy!” And they’d say it loudly. When October rolls around, my grandkids start getting serious about what costume they are going to wear.

“Whatcha gonna be for Halloween?” is a common mantra.

Over the years, with kids of my own and now six grandkids and two great-grandkids, I’ve seen all manner of different costumes.

There have been princesses, pirates, bumble bees, sloths, dinosaurs, Minnie Mouse, pumpkins, tramps, Mario Bros., rabbits, Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, Princess Paradise Night Owl, a corn stalk, and even a frappachino 😊

It’s a fun time. I love hearing my doorbell ring and then opening it to see what costumes the Halloween night will bring.

I’ve written about how Halloween began and the traditions that have developed over the years. There are some surprising facts about Halloween. Like what candy corn was called before it was called candy corn. Or the tradition and meaning of soul cakes in medieval England. And what about Turnips? How did they fit into Halloween? Can you believe trick-or-treating was temporarily halted at one time? What about full moons?



All good questions. One of the most popular things about Halloween is scary movies!

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So I checked the Rotten Tomatoes list of the top ten scariest horror/scary movies ever. Check it out. I was surprised.

#1. The Exorcist (1973)

#2. Hereditary (2018)

#3. The Conjuring (2013)

#4. The Shining (1980)

#5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

#6. The Ring (2002)

#7. Halloween (1978)

#8. Sinister (2012)

#9. Insidious (2010)

#10. It (2017)

Well, not impressed with this list. I decided to go way back in time. I checked out the top ten scariest movies in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Check it out.

The Wolf Man (1941), Cat People (1942), I Walked with a Zombie (1943), Isle of the Dead (1945), The Spiral Staircase (1946), Dead of Night (1945), The Beast with Five Fingers (1946), The Uninvited (1944), Ghost Catchers (1944), House of Frankenstein (1944).

The Thing from Another World (1951), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), The Blob (1958), The Bad Seed (1956), Diabolique (1955), Night of the Demon (1957), House on Haunted Hill (1959), The Fly (1958), Horror of Dracula (1958).

Psycho (1960), Peeping Tom (1960), The Innocents (1961), Carnival of Souls (1962), The Birds (1963), The Haunting (1963), Blood Feast (1963), Night of the Living Dead (1968), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), Eyes Without a Face (1960).

WOW!! Hope you stuck with me on this and forgave me for my researcher obsession.

I wanted to know what the difference is between scary movies of the 2000s and scary movies in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. I discovered that in the 2000s, the movies are a lot more graphic, violent, and fast-paced. In earlier decades, they were suspense-driven and atmospheric.

When you look at scary movies back in the day, you’ll see more suspense that relied on mood, shadows, mystery, and, my favorite, the audience’s imagination.

The 40s featured the classic monsters like vampires and ghosts.

The 50s movies shifted to atomic fears, giant mutated bugs, and space invaders, which reflected on the Cold War.

The 60s movies introduced modern psychological terror and grit that carried with it paradigm-shifting like the movies Psycho and Night of the Living Dead.

Plus, there was something known as Censorship Limits. There were strict production codes that kept things like gore, explicit sexuality, and profanity from appearing on the screen.

As a young adult, I loved scary movies. Mainly because they didn’t really scare me. Having made that statement, scary movies that presented the audience with monsters or paranormal themes simply didn’t make me cringe or jump out of my seat. There were, however, movies that did scare me, and those were the movies that presented storylines that could actually happen in real life.

Now, as an old person, I find no pleasure in watching the scary/horror/thriller type of movie.



The scariest movie I watch now is

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

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I must also go back in time to when my girls were little and into Halloween and trick-or-treating. All adults now, well into their 40s and 50s, and who secretly wish they were still little kids.

And then my oldest grandkids when they were little and into Halloween and trick-or-treating. These three cuties are all grown people now.

And then my youngest grandkids who are still into Halloween and trick-or-treating. (2025)

And my great-grandson who is so happy about Halloween. (2025)

I wish you all a very Happy Halloween! May you eat all the candy you wish and not get a tummy ache!

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

The best thing you can do for yourself and others is

Photo by Adam Nemeroff on Unsplash

Some interesting trivia about October.

American Fast-Food giant McDonald's first opened its doors on English soil in October of what year?

1974

In October 1941, Mount Rushmore National Memorial was completed, but how many years had it taken to construct it?

14

The National Geographic Magazine was released in October of what year?

1888

What opened in Florida in October 1971?

Disney World

What did the Saxons call October, and why?

Wintirfyllith because it had the first full moon and the winter season.

What went on sale for the first time on October 1, 1908?

Henry Ford’s T Model motor car.

What monumental, unprecedented event took place on October 4, 1965?

Pope Paul VI became the first Pope to visit the US.

During October of what year did the first full-length movie with spoken dialogue open in New York?

1927

What’s Going on In October

October 4: National Cinnamon Roll Day (that’s for my daughter)

October 5: World Teachers’ Day

October 6: National Taco Day (why, of course!)

October 8: Dyslexia Day (that’s for my Haylie)

October 12: Columbus Day

October 13: Birthday of the United States Navy

October 31: Halloween

Looking Back

   How was your September? Mine was a bit quiet on the family front. All the birthdays are in the vault. There were a couple of things going on.

Labor Day was fun with a cookout of brisket and all the good stuff that goes with it.

I did a presentation to my writing group about self-publishing. It was loads of fun. I presented them with a folder full of info about self-publishing that’s sure to give them all a migraine.

The best part about doing presentations is that the presenter learns just as much, if not more than their audience. With all the research you do, you come away from it glad you agreed to do it.

A group of us from The North 40 Storytellers’ Guild told stories at Network of Community Ministries, Inc. It was a fun event with about 80+ people in attendance. We had a great time, and they were a terrific audience.

Storytellers: Minetta Smith, me, and Tim Couch.

Minetta and Tim did an excellent job, and the audience just loved them.

I was there to introduce them, but then at the end of their performance the audience asked me to tell a story.

YIKES!!! I’d not prepared a story, so I had to simply make one up on the spot. Talk about pressure!

There’s one thing about storytellers…we’re all full of stories!

Upcoming Projects & Events

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

The work continues!

A new non-fiction collection of short stories.



My ongoing project throughout the year of 2026.

Please keep those prayers coming that God will continue to bless my work so I can provide good Christian books for our precious kiddos and the grown-up kiddos as well.

Photo by David Beale on Unsplash

Books Make Great Gifts!

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If you’re in the market for books for those kiddos in your life or even a book for yourself, check out my website for info regarding each of my books.

Remember, if you never stop reading, you’ll never stop imagining, and you’ll never stop learning.

Featured Book Trailer

Imagine if you had a front porch. Would you turn it into something magical? Or would you simply let it sit all alone longing for a child with a big imagination? If I had a front porch, I'd fill it with all sorts of fun things. Like maybe a pirate's ship or a castle.

If you can imagine it, a front porch can make it happen. What would you do if you had a front porch?

Let’s Talk Food

Photo by Varun Tandon on Unsplash

Now it’s your turn! Tell me what you like and what you just say yuck!

Photo by Henley Design Studio on Unsplash

My Final Word on October

"October: When your weather app can go from 'Prepare for sunburn' to 'Build an igloo' in a single day."

One more thing!

Here’s another recipe from Our Class Recipes Book from 1988.

Provided by my youngest daughter’s class when she was 6 years old. This is so much fun!

Recipe #5 – Baklava

1 lb pastry dough

1 lb crushed walnuts

3 sticks of sweet butter, melted

2-3 cups of “sugar syrup”

For the Sugar Syrup: Melt 3 cups of sugar plus 1 ½ cups of water in a pan over high heat. Squeeze 1 Tbsp. of lemon over it. Let it boil for 12 minutes and then cool.



For the Baklava: Unroll pastry sheets. Grease a 9 x 12 pan. Brush each pastry sheet with butter and lay it in the pan. Lay half of the buttered sheets in the pan, then spread walnuts over them and start layering the rest. Cut into diamond shapes and place in a 350-degree oven for 25 minutes or until they turn golden brown. As soon as you remove the pan, pour the cool syrup over them. Serve cool. Eat and enjoy!

Here’s to many days of Happy Baking!

Photo by Derek Owens on Unsplash

My October 2026 Blog

Click on the photo, and it will take you to my Blog.

Looking forward to seeing you there.