O. Henry is one of the most famous short story writers. His real name is William Sidney Porter. (1862-1910). He is considered a master of the surprise ending. After working as a bankteller for a time in his life, he was convicted of embezzlement and sent to prison for three years! There he wrote many short stories.
Last night I read the (short) short story After Twenty Years. Its about two friends meeting together 20 years after the night they parted to “seek their fortunes”.
Here’s a quote from the story:

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I think all thrift stores should only play old songs over their radio. I was at one today and I heard a favorite song from the ’80’s. It’s called Crazy Love by Poco. I love the harmony and the acoustic guitar.
Live Version

Original radio version

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I found an excellent website called LitQuotes.com
‘It was, as I have said, a fine autumnal day; the sky was clear and serene, and nature wore that rich and golden livery which we always associate with the idea of abundance. The forests had put on their sober brown and yellow, while some trees of the tenderer kind had been nipped by the frosts into brilliant dyes of orange, purple, and scarlet.”
~Washington Irving
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
LitQuotes is part of a greater website with tons of informational links that will help people to do better in grammar and writing. It is called WebGrammar.com

Several years ago I lived in a part of Tulsa called Brookside. I used to shop at a Homeland nearby. One night right after Halloween I drove by. There right behind the store was the dumpster filled with all their unsold pumpkins. I could see them piled high. That image will never leave my mind. Every year I say to myself when Halloween is over I want to buy some pumpkins that are greatly discounted and cook them and then freeze them. Today I found a bunch of easy recipes that you could make with pumpkin.
Pumpkin popovers
Healthy Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkin Flan
Healthy Pumpkin Cookies
Baked Miniature Pumpkins
Baked Pumpkin Puree Recipe
Cream Cheese and Pumpkin Muffins
Creamy Pumpkin Polenta
Spiced Pumpkin Butter
Pumpkin Squares Recipe
Pumpkin Sauce over Pasta
Pumpkin Pie Bars
Pumpkin Nutmeg Dinner Rolls
Pumpkin Apricot Muffins
See Below

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I thought of a poem I used to read many times over because of its convenience. My Mom had a plaque by the kitchen sink that thanked God for dirty dishes. When I was a teenager I was always the one to wash dishes. Here’s it is:
Thanks
Thank God for dirty dishes.
They have a tale to tell.
While others may go hungry,
We’re eating very well.
With health and home and happiness
We shouldn’t want to fuss.
For by the stack of evidence
God’s been very good to us.
I found it on a website, Out of the Nest and Beyond
that also offered interesting tidbits and advice on a page called In the Kitchen about cooking and around the house details.

I discovered a good way to cement into your children their spelling words on the website Homeschooling 101.

On the yourdictionary.com site there is a list of a 100 most often misspelled words. The site lists the words and then gives you clues to help you spell them correctly without a dictionary.
I also found another interesting list. It is a list of a hundred most common mispronounced words and phrases. I can take this list and help my children become aware of words and phrases that are mispronounced so much. You should read through it. It’ll make you laugh and surprise you about our English Language.

I found a healthy simple chilli seasoning recipe on CDKitchen.com I’m going to fix it for lunch today:
3 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons oregano
1 teaspoon cayenne — or to taste
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Directions:
Mix well. Place in an airtight container. Adjust red pepper to taste for a hot or mild blend.
print recipe or shopping list
Makes .33 cups

Chuck Swindoll once gave advice in how to live a life of character as a Christian. He used the act of being accountable through meeting with a trusted individual and asking 7 questions:
“Being creatures with blind spots and tendencies toward rationalization, we must also be in close touch with a few trust worthy individuals with whom we meet on a regular basis.

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There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity.
~MacArthur, Douglas
US general & war hero in World War II & Korean War; superintendent of US Military Academy 1919-1922; army chief of staff 1930-1935; commanded US occupation of Japan 1945-1951; recalled by Harry Truman 1951
Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation, for ’tis better to be alone than in bad company.
~George Washington
US general & politician; led Continental army in American Revolution 1775-1783; First president of US 1789-1797