Hello Reader,
I hope this month's newsletter finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge that this is the sixth issue of The Cozy Cottage. This humble newsletter has existed for half a year, already! π
I couldn't have made it this far without you. Thank you for reading my words every month. Thank you for supporting my dream of being a writer. It truly means the world to me. I've got a lot to share in this issue, so let's dive into this cozy correspondence!
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Stories for Long Evenings
With the nights growing longer in the Northern Hemisphere, it feels like the perfect time to curl up with a story that keeps you company. November is one of those months that touches two seasons, Autumn and Winter (or Spring and Summer, for those in the Southern Hemisphere). It sits in a liminal space, an in-between. For me that feels magical, plus I love a story that captivates my attention. Therefore, I've selected some books that contain bits of whimsy, time travel, fantasy, or magical realism!
Firstly, I recommend reading The BFG by Roald Dahl, if you're in the mood for a cute children's book. The audiobook version is very sweet, which I read in a single day and loved every minute. This book is lighthearted and charming.
Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors of all time! So, I recommend reading The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn. If you want to travel back in time with the main characters and meet the famed English author (well a fictionalized version of her), then this book is for you. I read this book several years ago, and I still think about it.
For another time travel story with romance, I recommend reading Somewhere In Time by Richard Matheson. This book is beautifully written and was also adapted to film in 1980. I genuinely enjoyed both versions of the story, which is possibly an unpopular opinion. Oops!
For a story that reads like an old fable, I recommend reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I first read this book during a 24-hour readathon, and I felt swept away by the storytelling. If you can get your hands on a physical copy, I think that's the best way to read this book, as there are some illustrations to enjoy.
The next book I'm recommending is The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I do like to let readers know that this one does cover themes of depression and suicide, but I think the author handles them with proper sensitivity. I really love the elements of hope and magical realism that are woven into this story.
Lastly, I recommend reading The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods, especially if you enjoy a story told from multiple perspectives. There are three main characters, and their lives are intertwined through a bookshop that seems to have magical properties. This one also has some content warnings, so definitely look those up beforehand.
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The Lovely & Cozy Book Club
In December, we'll be reading Snowed In at the Cat CafΓ© by Rachel Rowlands. You can read along and participate in our book club discussions by joining us on the Fable app*. Very soon, we'll be voting on the books we want to read in 2026. Come cast your reading votes and join the fun!
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November in Review
I cannot believe that I'm already reviewing this month! Time really has been flying by for me this entire season, and November has been no exception. It seems like we are swinging from one season to the next, here in Western North Carolina. The weather has given us the last bits of Autumn and the first taste of Winter. I took the two nature photos below just a few days apart.
I've been working quite a lot at my seasonal job. My legs are definitely stronger from all the walking, and I'm not complaining. Hehe! My Wife, Cynthia, has also been working long hours. Mondays are the one day each week that we have off together. We do our best to carve out timeβwhere we aren't going to appointments, running errands, doing chores, or taking care of our furbabiesβand it's just the two of us. Even if that time is simply spent wandering the library together or having a long chat over tea, it feels really special.
Earlier this month we treated ourselves to a little brunch date at one of our favorite spots in Asheville, Pulp + Sprout. We had a delicious meal. I ordered the Sweetheart Toast, and Cynthia enjoyed the Avo Toasty. This isn't sponsored in any way. I'm just genuinely a fan!
As this year is quickly nearing its end, I'm reading as much as I possibly can. I'm trying to reach my annual reading goal of 52 books, and I've still got a ways to go. Will I make it? Time will tell. π€
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Easy Dinner alla Pasta
Recently, my dinners have been about making something easy that's also tasty. Pasta is a go-to meal for me, as it cooks quickly. You can adapt this Easy Dinner based on whatever vegetables you have hanging out in your fridge or pantry that need to be eaten.
Vegan, 4 Servings
- 1 pound of pasta, any shape
- 1 small container of vegan pesto
- 1 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil, or preferred cooking oil
- Variety of vegetables that need to be eaten
- Shredded vegan cheese (optional topping)
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Directions: Cook the pasta as directed on the packaging. Meanwhile, prep all vegetables. (For this particular meal, I used mushrooms, squash, tomatoes, and frozen green peas.)
If using frozen peas, add them to the pot in the final minute of cooking the pasta. Reserve one cup of the pasta water, and strain the rest. Set the cooked pasta aside for now. Return the same pot to the stove on medium heat. Add extra virgin olive oil, followed by the vegetables. SautΓ© to your desired tenderness.
Add the cooked pasta back to the pot along with the vegan pesto. Gently mix all ingredients together, using splashes of the reserved pasta water as needed. This helps to create the perfect consistency and ensure that everything is evenly coated.
Garnish with vegan cheese or fresh cracked black pepper, if desired. Buon appetito! π
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Visual Storytelling
I have a confession to make...I've not been creating as many videos for YouTube this month. π«£ This probably sounds clichΓ©, but I honestly don't know where the time has gone! While I haven't had time to work on long-form videos, I have managed to keep up with my short-form videos. Below I've shared two series that I've slowly been adding to this year.
In case you aren't familiar, the first is a series wherein I visit my local libraries. I've been working my way around Buncombe County in an effort to visit all 12 locations that are open to the public. Click on the image or link below to watch my Let's Visit the Library playlist.
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This next series is still rather new to my channel, and I'm really loving the process of creating these videos. I've lived in North Carolina since September 2020, and in that time I've discovered so many beautiful places. Even after all this time, I'm still finding new spots that I end up loving. So I wanted to make a vlog series that captures some of these special finds. Click on the image or link below to watch my Whimsical Wanderings of North Carolina playlist.
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I was open to magic, and I found some, although not the magic I was looking for. That's what you find over and over again when you go looking: something else. β Katherine May, Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age
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Upcoming Winter Holiday Break
With the end of the year approaching, I'll be taking an extended Winter break. I'll be announcing this across my other platforms, but I wanted to give you advance notice. Rest is so incredibly important, and I find that sometimes December and January can feel a bit like a whirlwind. So I'm intentionally taking time away from content creation between mid-December to mid-January.
I've got a few things that I'm pre-filming, drafting, and scheduling for while I'm on break. So you'll still get newsletters from me. I just won't be actively online during my "wintering" (iykyk). I do plan on spending lots of quality time with my friends and family, celebrating the Winter holidays, and reading of course!
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Until Next Time...
Would you look at that...you read all the way to the end. You just made my day! Please help me grow The Cozy Cottage by sharing this newsletter with your friends, family, or neighbors. Please encourage them to subscribe too. π
As always, if you have any requests or suggestions for topics you'd like me to cover in a future blog or newsletter, simply reply to this email.
Warmly,
Erin
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