After a week of straight rain, the late winds ushered in the first whisper of fall here in the Hill Country. Truthfully, as I’m writing this, the change of seasons hasn’t quite set in for me yet. Although our mornings are starting at a slightly milder 80 degrees, it’s hard to wrap my mind around how quickly the year has been moving, and even harder to take a beat to notice the little changes.

We spent a week on the prairie in mid-September (more on that soon!), and I made my way to Branson, Missouri, and Asheville for a few days of work, just early enough to miss the changing of the leaves but right on time for those crisp 50-degree mornings.

I’m heading back to Charleston for a wedding at Middleton Place, my first time back since we pulled the U-Haul out of the driveway earlier this year, and I can’t wait for a few days by the water. We’re planning to stay in a little cabin on the marsh. Whether it’s oysters, a Lowcountry boil or shrimp and grits, the coastal cuisine and cool nights are calling my name.

Beyond that, we decided to make one more trip to the prairie to hunt pheasant later in the month. October and pheasants remind me of my first hunting trip: trudging through cattail sloughs with flushing dogs, learning and scouting. I remember being too nervous to shoot at the beginning of the trip, since I had never given it a go before, but by the end I was convinced I would shoot my first pheasant. On our last night, we made a long walk through the grass along the edge of a pond, the sunset melting behind gray clouds ahead.

All of a sudden, I heard the undeniable cackling and the thunderous whirring of wings as the bird flushed underfoot. I can still feel my heart pounding as I raised my gun and got two shots off, missing both and watching as it flew away.

Sometimes it’s okay to let the bird win.

I’m looking forward to another few days in the field with the dogs and nights spent under the stars, but October is also marked by food and flavors for me. Oyster roasts, warm cider and biting air always bring the season into focus. It’s the feeling of gathering around a table, whether you’re coming off the water or the field, and eating off the land that makes this season come alive.

From the Table

Apple cider–inspired recipes for a warm fall menu.

The Drink
Sparkling Apple Cider

This one is as simple as it sounds: combine equal parts apple cider and sparkling water in a glass and add ice. I’ve been loving this festive drink on these warm October nights.

The Starter
Warm Whole Grain Sourdough with Herb Roasted Garlic Olive Oil Dip

Simple, shareable starters that encourage conversation and breaking bread are some of my favorites. One of the restaurants I love most back in Florida is called The Garlic, and they start every meal just like this.

The Main
Apple Cider Pot Roast with Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes

I love recipes from A Bright Moment Co., and this warm, cozy dinner will be making its way to the prairie with me, since I accidentally ordered 7 lbs. of chuck roast before I started cooking. As you can imagine, I have more than enough to share. The only swap I made was using a little less garlic in the mashed potatoes, but that’s all personal preference.

The Dessert
Apple Cider Cake

To carry the apple inspiration all the way through, I love this Apple Cider Cake. A bundt cake is a classic, less rich dessert, and it’s the perfect companion to morning coffee, too.

The Table
This meal was designed to be served from a large Dutch oven, surrounded by fresh greenery and beeswax candles. I love to serve meals like this on a wooden or picnic-style table where you can dress up its rustic charm.

Around the Fire

A Land Remembered Book Review

Hayden has been giving me his fair share of book recommendations as I get back into my love of reading. With the demands of a busy week, I had gotten away from settling in with a good book, but I’m working it back into my nightly rhythm before bed, and it has been such a nice change.

The first book I’ve finished since picking reading back up was A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith. Published in 1984, this work of historical fiction follows the MacIvey family through 100 years of cattle ranching in the 19th and 20th centuries as Florida grew into a state. It was an incredibly immersive book that transported me to unfamiliar times in familiar places.

A few lines have stuck with me. Early in the book, there’s a heartfelt conversation between a young Zech MacIvey and his father, Tobias, about the vast, uninhabited Florida wilderness where they were homesteading.

Zech’s question and Tobias’s confidence resonated with me. It’s a reminder of our own connection to the land and of God’s ultimate ownership. It’s made me think about stewardship, cultivation and hard work, about the gift of being in God’s creation, and how that kind of partnership swells and fills our souls.

If you love a compelling story of survival, endurance and determination, this book might just be for you.

The Field & Home Edit

Explore the October 2026 F&H Edit

Read

A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith

Make

Bone Broth Hot Cocoa

Use

Pendleton Yakima Camp Blanket

Visit

A local farmstead for fall provisions

Listen

Dwell Audio Bible

I just started listening to the 90-Day Bible Recap of the New Testament in the Dwell Bible app. I love listening to the audio version on my commute or in the sauna. If anyone else wants to join in, the plan just started and will wrap up at the end of the year!

Looking Ahead

As we transition from fall to winter, this is one of the most beautiful times to enjoy the land and water and to participate in the goodness of the season. Next time, I’ll have stories from the marsh and the prairie.

Today is Annie’s second birthday.

She was seven weeks old when we picked her up from the field trial grounds in Hoffman, North Carolina. I’d spent the night camping in the truck in mid-November and woke up to the sound of an old pick up rumbling down the dirt road and weaving through the pines. A few minutes later, we got to meet our girl for the first t…

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September is here. Dove opener, flood tides, nights on the prairie to name a few things sacred. Golden hues connect field to coast in a single thread that keeps me coming back for more. September has left its mark.

I caught my first redfish in September, fell in love with bird hunting, watched Ernie heal from the kind of sickness I thought he could never…

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This week I laid in my hammock and stared at the sun blazing through the oak trees. The gentle sway of the breeze, the harsh heat, and the towering limbs hanging heavy on a midsummer day made for a captivating ecosystem overhead that held my attention for the better part of a half hour. I just stayed there looking up and not thinking about much of anyt…

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Let’s talk about summer training! I remember it like yesterday walking up to Ledford’s Pest Control in Charleston and knocking on the door with nothing but a homemade pigeon trap. We had just gotten our first English Setter, Ernie, and were looking for a way to sneak in some training before his first real hunting season. One thing Hayden knew is that we…

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I’ve been wanting somewhere to keep a film journal, and I think this might be just the spot. So, here’s the firs…

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As summer travel winds down and I find myself back at home more often, I’ve been reflecting on the things we tend in our lives. The garden has become a metaphor for this. At the beginning of the season, growth felt effortless, with rain, mild temperatures, and conditions in my favor. Recently, as the season has begun to wind d…

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From the Editor

It still smells fresh when I open the back door in the blue light of dawn to let our setters burst out with the enthusiasm of racehorses at the break. Six months in the Hill Country, and the glimmers of true Texas heat are coming into focus. I’m well-conditioned to heavy, humid summer days from a childhood spent under the canopy of the Sp…

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I woke up to light leaking through the shutters, bird dogs rustling at the end of the bed and no plans for the day. The thought of an americano brewing and the warm morning air pulled me out of bed and into our morning walk. Fawns resting in our neighbors yard perked up as my dogs plowed their way down the street. For all of their charms, walking on lea…

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The route I’d recommend after driving the Oregon coast myself. Consider this less of a checklist and more of a travel journal from a good friend who jotted down some notes to share for your next trip.

When we started planning this trip, I probably had twenty tabs open. Every guide recommended something different.

Some told us to spend an afternoon in Cannon Beach before continuing south. Others skipped Portland entirely. A few packed so many stops into a single day that I knew we’d spend more time driving than actually experiencing Oregon.

After making the trip ourselves, here’s what I’d tell a friend.

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Foggy mornings. Towering waterfalls. Quiet conversations over homemade meals. Tide pools, redwoods, and evenings around the fire on the Pacific. What began with a chance meeting in a motel parking lot years ago became one of the most meaningful trips we’ve ever taken.

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The tomatoes have taken over.

I’m not sure what I was expecting when I first planted the garden this spring, but let’s just say the harvest has far exceeded both my expectations and the small woven basket I reserved for gathering produce. Every few days, another handful of tomatoes appears ready to pick, and the basil seems determined to outgrow everythi…

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We walked down the steep gravel path to the edge of the riverbank, where our guide was rigging a few rods and readying the drift boat for a full-day float. The smell of the river settles me. It was almost instant, a familiar peace washing over me as I meandered through the cypress trees and down to the water.

I’ve done a few float trips, mostly down the …

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The Pull Toward Spring

I’ve been waiting for the weather to turn and to feel settled enough in our new home to plant a small herb garden. Around this time each year, I find myself pulled back into the rhythm of seasonal cooking: slower mornings, simple meals, and ingredients that feel tied to the place we’re in.

This felt like the right moment to finally build something of our own.

Choosing the Space

Tucked just beyond the back shed, our yard has a naturally shaded corner that immediately felt like it was meant for a garden.

I had done some research ahead of time and landed on raised beds from Edge Right—corten steel that will patina over time and settle into the landscape rather than sit on top of it. Just as importantly, the beds gave me the ability to fully control the soil blend, which felt essential for setting everything up to thrive through the season.

I went with a 4’x4’ and a 2’x4’ configuration with the 14 inch depth — enough space to anchor the garden with tomatoes while still leaving room for a full mix of herbs.

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Moving to a new place is a lot like staring out over the open ocean on a warm summer night – full of possibility and quiet anticipation for what the turn of the tides might bring. The last few months have carried that same feeling. L…

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The heat of the day hangs heavy — the wafting scent of low tide, pluff mud yielding underfoot, the gentle sound of egrets wading down the creek — ground me instantly. The small creek behind our home has been a quiet haven, an instant release from the pressures of the day. A tiny postcard from our time in the Lowcountry.

These Field Guides are an invitat…

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The skiff hums low as we wind through the tidal creek, the air thick with salt and the scent of pluff mud. We cut tight around each bend, chasing last light and a rising flood tide.

When we nudge the bow into the grass, everything falls quiet – except the marsh.

Fiddler crabs cling to stalks. Snails plop into the water. Mud pops and breathes like it has a…

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