Fall Spirits with Martha Stewart Living

The November issue of Martha Stewart Living arrived in my mailbox this week, and it's one of my favorites of the year. There's a sensibility to this issue that I can never quite put my finger on. A spirit of the pending holidays and family gatherings, yes, but a moodiness as well. The images are always a little darker, the colors more saturated. It's just what I crave this time of year.  

I especially enjoyed the feature on alternative centerpieces–arrangements not just of flowers but of fruits and leaves, grasses and even feathers–that will rival the turkey for attention and will last way beyond T-Day. It's always nice to have options beyond the standard bowl of pine cones, isn't it? And of course Martha never disappoints in the photography department.

Of course, the food in this issue is the real star. There are desserts and sides galore. I had the small misfortune to be thumbing through the pages on the plane, with only an energy bar in my bag to assuage my growing hunger pangs as I read recipes like 'Sage and Honey Skillet Cornbread' and 'Spiced Custard Mini Pies'. I can't wait to try new treats on the fam this year!

To top it all off, embroidery artist and writer Lisa Borgnes-Giramonti delivers a lovely article about the psychological and emotional benefits of crafting. As she says, "Creating something–whether a sweater, a cake, or a flower garden–is a time-proven way to get the good vibrations flowing." Which is good news. Because I'm going to be making a lot of those mini pies…

Images: Martha Stewart Living, November 2012