Get Sleepy: The Autumn Pie Auction

Podcast: Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
Host/Narrator: Heather (written by Alicia Stefan)
Episode Date: November 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this evocative and cozy episode, listeners are transported to a rural American town in the late 19th century to experience the warmth, anticipation, and community spirit of an autumn pie auction—an event that blends fundraising, baking, budding romance, and small-town camaraderie. The story follows Liza, a young woman with dreams both for her baking and for her heart, as she prepares to showcase her apple pie in hopes it will win both admiration and perhaps something more.

Main Themes and Purpose

• Relaxation & Sleep: The gentle pace and comforting details help listeners unwind and drift toward sleep.
• Nostalgic Community Life: Recreating the simple joys and traditions of a small 19th-century town—community gatherings, collective fundraising, and quiet connections.
• Personal Growth and Connection: Through Liza’s anxieties, excitement, and interactions, the episode explores themes of self-acceptance, hope, and the beginnings of romance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene and Preparing for Sleep

• The episode begins with a meditative invitation to relax, addressing listeners' worries as natural but surmountable obstacles to rest.

  “You have the power to soften and quell your worries and anxieties... Thank you for looking out for me, but I can handle this. And it’s not as problematic as you think.” — Thomas, Host (06:12)

Introduction to the Pie Auction

• Liza, a 16-year-old, reflects on the arrival of winter, the close of harvest, and the traditions that sustain her family and community.
• Baking an apple pie is both a mark of skill—taught by her mother—and a personal challenge for Liza.

  “At the age of 16, Liza was proud to have gained her mother’s compliments in the making of such an important dessert... one that would earn her admiration at gatherings in the years to come.” (11:41)

Rituals and Hidden Courtships

• The pie auction is more than a fundraiser; it’s an ingenious way for young people to meet and interact, with the pies auctioned anonymously, though “savvy girls found ways to pass on information” to favored bidders.
• Delicious descriptive details of different pies—apple, pumpkin, chess, shoofly, cranberry, maple syrup—convey both community diversity and personal care.
• Liza secretly hopes Charlie Johnson will bid for her pie, aided by her friend Molly’s subtle matchmaking.

The Auction Night

• The social scene of the schoolhouse is lively, with families gathering, pies displayed in baskets and boxes, and hopeful anticipation in the air.

• Mr. Shepherd, the affable auctioneer, adds warmth and humor to the proceedings.

  “He welcomed everyone and told the crowd what they already knew, that the proceeds from the pie auction this evening would benefit the schoolhouse, which was in need of some repairs.” (25:29)

• Key Auction Moments

  • Pumpkin pie by Ms. Wainwright for the older bachelors.
  • Cranberry pie by Molly’s mother (Molly’s clumsy reputation humorously noted).
  • Maple syrup pie by Genevieve, a newcomer—fostering new friendships.
  • Liza’s lattice-topped apple pie elicits admiration and competitive bidding.

• Notable Quote

  “Mr. Shepherd placed Liza’s pie in front of him and made a great show of opening the box and making an admiring face. He described the beauty of her lattice top apple pie in great detail, drawing enthusiastic words from the crowd.” (35:58)

Bidding, Pairings, and Tender Moments

• Liza is torn between pride and nerves as bidding heats up; her pie earns the second-highest price, with Charlie successfully claiming the win.
• Couples pair off to enjoy their pies, with lemonade and fiddle music creating a festive, welcoming scene.
• Liza and Charlie seek a quieter moment together outside, leading to gentle conversation, mutual admiration, and the first glimmers of romance.

  “He couldn’t have pleased her more. She felt her nervousness melting away as she let loose a torrent of conversation about the failures she had had in the past and how many tries it had taken her to get to this point.” (39:05)

Community Spirit and Lighthearted Fun

• Additional penny-vote awards are given for humorous categories, like “worst square dancer”—showcasing the friendly teasing and participatory spirit of the event.
• Children sneak pie slices, conversations drift from recipes to local gossip, and everyone enjoys the company after the solitude of farm life.

Liza’s Reflections and Closing

• As the night ends, Liza feels at peace, dreaming of future gatherings, baked creations, and the possibility of seeing Charlie again.

  “...she allowed herself to dream of that next gathering, the one where Charlie would be, and she drifted off to sleep.” (43:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Letting Go of Worries:
  “You can say to your mind, thank you for looking out for me, but I can handle this. And it’s not as problematic as you think.” — Thomas (06:12)

• On Baking and Tradition:
  “Mother had taught her that the making of a proper apple pie was an art that took years to master.” (11:00)

• On Romance:
  “A slice of pie with Charlie was Liza’s most fervent secret wish, and she hoped it might happen tonight if the stars aligned.” (13:44)

• On Connection:
  “There was a stillness that came with the seasonal shift, and it was peaceful. Sitting here with Charlie, she felt tiny butterflies, but she also sensed, strangely, that she was at home.” (41:29)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00-07:30 — Guided relaxation and context setting
• 08:19 — Story begins: Liza’s anticipation and bakery preparations
• 16:30 — Pie auction customs & secret matchmaking
• 25:29 — Arrival at the auction, community gathering scenes
• 35:58 — Liza’s apple pie up for auction, Charlie’s winning bid
• 39:05 — Liza and Charlie’s conversation on the schoolhouse steps
• 41:29 — Reflections on peace, belonging, and the night’s end
• 43:18 — Liza’s bedtime dream of future gatherings

Tone & Language

• The narration is calm, lush, and reassuring, filled with sensory detail and gentle humor.
• Conversations among characters are warm, lightly teasing, and affectionate, capturing both nervous excitement and the safety of community.

Summary

This episode of Get Sleepy delivers a heartwarming, nostalgic tale with gentle pacing and vivid imagery, skillfully designed to comfort and soothe listeners into sleep. Through Liza’s journey at the autumn pie auction—complete with secret hopes, quiet self-doubt, and cherished small-town rituals—the episode offers a story both universal and deeply personal. Each detail, from baking tips to the hopeful glances exchanged beneath the fall stars, radiates reassurance and connection. It’s a gentle reminder of the joys found in simple traditions, community support, and the subtle beginnings of new relationships.