Autumn is a magical time of year. With the leaves turning color and falling in great heaps; with the harvests being gathered in and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables available for turning into delicious dinners; with county fairs in full swing and the prospects of holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving on the horizon, Fall is perhaps one of the richest seasons. The colors, the textures, the tastes, all of them combine to make you want to just laugh out loud as your scuff through the leaf piles.
But while you may be able to smell the magic in the air; while you may be able to feel it coursing through your veins; how do you convey that magic into your daily life? How do you share what you feel and know about autumn with others, especially with your family? Below are some of the dozens of ways that you can bring a little of that autumn magic into your life, and watch as the joy of the season lights up the eyes of those you hold closest to your heart.
Go to a County Fair. County fairs, especially in more rural areas, are a true treat. From prize winning pigs and pumpkins to handmade quilts, award-winning 4H rabbits and fresh caramel apples, a county fair doesn’t just have to be about the midway; it can be a treat for the whole family, and a lesson on your community and what it takes to keep it functioning. If there are no county fairs in your area how about Fall festivals?
Get Lost in a Corn Maze. Today it is unusual for at least one farm in every community to NOT have a corn maze. Leaving one field un-cut, the farmer creates a maze through the patch, and then charges admission for families to come get lost among the stalks. Simple or complex, corn mazes are a treat for the whole family, especially since most of those who offer them also have pumpkin patches (where you can pick your own jack-o-lantern), homemade products like cornbread and apple butter or hot apple cider, and more often than not, a hayride, or even pony rides for the kids.
Wax Leaves Crafting. Dip colorful leaves in wax to preserve their color and then hang them from the ceiling or window sills to bring the color indoors.
Go Apple Picking. If you have apple orchard nearby, consider yourself especially lucky! Most apple orchards will offer to let a limited number of individuals come pick their own apples during certain times of the harvest season. Some charge by the bag, or by the basket, but it is still great fun and is a great way to get out of doors and into the true spirit of the season.
Decorate Your Yard. Whether you are decorating for the harvest and Thanksgiving season or for Halloween, turn your yard decorating into a family affair! Get crafty; use old clothes and stuff them with straw to make a scarecrow; design scary or funny jack-o-lanterns; arrange hay bales and corn stalks to make a great country appealing yard, its great fun for everyone!
Take a Drive. Let the wind tousle your hair with a drive, windows down or sun roof open. Enjoy the cool, crisp air and less traveled roads. Be sure to look for Fall color.
Date Night at a Haunted House. When you have young kids that you don’t want to scar for life, often times you skip the haunted houses. Consider though getting a sitter and going out for a bite to eat and then a trip to a local haunted house just like when you were a teenager. It will bring back memories of your youth and give you some much needed time with your spouse/partner.
Bake Night. Once a week bake something yummy together as a family. Its less daunting when you have lots of hands to help do the prep work and cleanup afterwards. Try apple dumplings, apple pie, pumpkin bread, and apple muffins. Share with elderly neighbors and make their Fall magical too.
These are just a few of the ways that you can bring the magic of autumn into your life. While it is by no means a comprehensive list, I hope that it starts you thinking on ways that you, too, can make the autumn season a magical time of the year.
