October Through My Fuji Lens

The Matchbook | 11.7.25

October. My favorite month of all time, the one I wait all year for. The month of my favorite season, the best weather, the only holiday I anxiously await. October, of new found chill that still feels like relief after a Summer of swelter. October, of leaves that fall and snow that may join them, of pumpkin orange and the red in the treetops, of the bruise-hued purple pink blue sunset cloud. October. My favorite month.

Here is what my eyes saw, through the lens of my Fuji, over the course of this, my most cherished month. A random smattering of events, of visuals, of memories, to let you, all of you, inside my life. Onto the Month that was!

Click on the first and it’ll let you see them bigger and scroll through each one :)

October began as October usually does, subtly. It still felt like the heat of September was going to stick around forever, still felt like the slow-motion color change of the leaves would take months and months. We had time at home for a change at the start of October, and falling back into the routine of walks, workouts, sunset chasing and memory making felt delicious after being gone so much in September. Still though, we knew we had one final work trip before the long quiet of Winter, so even though we felt comfortable, we still knew we were only halfway settled. The further through the month we moved, the more the chill washed in, and having lived here for so long, we both knew a weather shock was probably right around the corner. We also still were on two-dog duty, as my parent’s triumphant trek across Spain to hike the entire 500+ miles of the Camino de Santiago was still in full swing, and would be until we returned from our last trip to photograph a wedding.

The October shock came after a few more amazing days of Autumnal bliss. It shouldn’t be a shock, not anymore, as it happens almost every year. On some October day, we wake to piles and piles of fresh snowfall. The deep dark of the clouds warned of it, the stones we walk over taking on deeper greys, and then, without warning, we woke to almost 23” of snow. It came, it stayed, and it turned all things to deep white. Seeing the sharp yellow orange of deciduous leaves bursting through was magnificent, seeing the tiny footprints of tiny creatures adjusting to the new blanket of cold reminded me that we’re all in this together, we’re all doing our best to survive. Warmth came as Sarah’s brother brought his new puppy, Osa, over to meet us. I cannot possibly stress how much I love a living thing.

Our final work trip came, swiftly as our flight into Boston arrived at 11pm on a Thursday, and we were back at the airport by 3am Sunday morning. In between was a drive up to Lowell, MA, then into New Hampshire, then back into MA. It was exhausting, but the wedding couple was amazing, their celebration was beautiful, and we felt so lucky to be part of it with them. Once home, we had a day to decorate my folk’s house in celebration of their impending return home. They did it. All 500+ miles, they completed something they’d wanted to for almost 2 decades, and it was emotional upon their return. What a thing, to watch someone realize a dream they’d long held. What a thing to support them on the journey there. Quickly back to baking for Sarah, and the weather once again warmed so all things once more felt like Halloween, and not Christmas. Not yet. I think I love this season because it feels so sweetly like nostalgia. Seeing those pumpkins, inflatable or otherwise, seeing people in costume, seeing the angle of the light, it just makes me fall back into what was, and if you know me at all, you know how powerful that’s always been.

The end of October came swiftly, and I was staggered by how quickly the month passed. Sarah began directly fighting back against the heartbreaking SNAP benefits not being funded, and started a giveaway with her

Riff Raff Baked Goods

micro-bakery. She’s selling sourdough loaves that will directly go to our local Food Share. She only charges enough to cover her costs and a fraction of her time to make them (each batch really does take 2.5 days of work because it’s long/cold fermented and hand-shaped) and to date she has sold over 460 “Helena Loaves” to people all over the world that just want to help contribute to a community. To help feed people. If you want to do the same, you can start an order by clicking the button below.

She also rocked an unbelievable little mini-costume as we went downtown to watch the little goblins and ghouls trick-or-treat at local businesses, one of her favorite things to do. She and Addie (accidentally matching) made home-made soft pretzels for Halloween night, and we had a fire on the deck with our dear friends Beav & Toph to say farewell to not only Halloween, but our favorite month.

October was beautiful, it was fast, it was warm and cold and dark and light and it was wonderful. Carrying this little camera everywhere I go offers me an opportunity to truly notice, truly appreciate, all the little moments that may have gone unnoticed, and I adore it.

Thank you for being here, for following my weird little simple life. It means more than I can say. And to all you paid subscribers, I really do want to say THANK YOU. Times are not the easiest right now, and with new costs coming in hot and annoying, keeping this place alive is a tough act. You make it possible.

Oh, I’m still doing 20% off annual subscriptions for anyone that wants to join us. It’s worth it. I promise.

Finally, last but most certainly not least, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my niece Banks! You are amazing, you change the world every day you’re in it, and I am so lucky to be your uncle. I hope it’s PERFECT.

I love you all.

Be good.