The easiest way to allow the seasons in, I find, is to capitalize on what you love about each one. Things specific to that time of year! Things that make it stand out. Things you want to do before it’s gone. Make a list. Cross things off. This is especially important for me to do for any season, besides summer. Summer’s list could be five and a half pages long. Here’s a vague idea of what’s on my mind this fall.
Get two promising books out at the library. Read them in rotation. Can I recommend two? How about Tribe (please! please! please read it!), and Bird by Bird. Both are worth a reread, that’s how good they are.
Apple picking. Duh. There’s some great farms in our neck of the woods, but three of my favorites are Cider Hill, Russell Orchards, and Applecrest Farms. Eat a cider donut (or two) while you’re there. The ones dusted with cinnamon and sugar are my favorite and how they all should be made.
Making this pumpkin bread. Recipe makes two. One for you, one for a friend.
Changing up the the essential oils you diffuse. In summer, I do a lot of citrus (rosemary and lime became a favorite), but when the weather changes (and school germs are heavy in our midst), I do a lot of thieves, sandalwood, frankincense. I just bought this for sickness too and will both diffuse it and use it topically.
A cozy outfit–capitalizing on the cozy. How about this sweater, with these jeans, and these shoes?
Going to Trader Joe’s. I’m not kidding, I actually look forward to that damn place in the fall! They do it UP. Pumpkin flavored everything, the coolest specialty pumpkins to choose from, and on. It’s like they’re pumping in fall spirit through the vents. Anders and I went yesterday, and they didn’t disappoint. When checking out, I told the jolly checkout man (they’re always jolly there; are they jolly at your TJ’s?), “You guys are really embracing the season!” He said, “Oh just you wait. There’s so much more to come!” So, I guess another trip is in order soon.
Wearing a robe and slippers in the morning. I’ll be doing this for the next many, many months.
Making a fall centerpiece. Mine’s simple. A buffalo check runner, some pumpkins and gourds, a mini mum, and a candle. One more nod to Trader Joe’s–their seasonal candles! This one is vanilla pumpkin and I love it. I’ve been known to buy their seasonal candles three at a time. I know candles are pretty looked down upon these days, but theirs are at least 100% soy and lead-free cotton wick… so pretty great as far as candles go. (And sometimes, I really just love a candle burning.) Anders sat down to dinner (dinner was… pumpkin pancakes), the lights were dim and the candle was on, and he declares, “It’s so pretty in here!” What a little gentleman.
Besides the fall centerpiece, pumpkins everywhere! The mini ones! On bookshelves, next to your alarm clock on your nightstand, on a console table, on your toilet, your washer, your dryer, going too far?
Making cozy foods. While I always mourn summer’s passing, fall and winter is where I really find my cooking jam. My Dutch oven pretty much stays out for 5 months straight. Here’s a yummy ragu that’s on the docket for dinner soon. I have this Dutch oven in gray and, while expensive, I truly use it almost daily for several months of the year. I’m going to try bread in it soon too. Another favorite: corn chowder!
Hiking! Do you have great hiking near you? Do you live in the middle of the country? On the coast? Near mountains? New England really shines this time of year… Vermont, Maine, the White Mountains! GO FOR A HIKE. Artist’s Bluff is one we enjoyed a lot last year! Stop for some delicious pancakes at Polly’s Pancake (never been, but just keep hearing good things!).
If hiking isn’t your thing, how about a walk or a drive? Just keep an eye on the foliage tracker! Sometimes you blink and you miss full color!
If you feel like I just vomited a lot of fall on my post all of a sudden, please know that I haven’t had a pumpkin spice latte, and probably won’t.
I love your posts and look forward to new ones popping up in my feed. As a young mom I feel like we are usually on the same wavelength. What can I do extra to combat “sick season”, what meals can I add to my rotation, how can I embrace the changing seasons. I think you’ve answered them all right here 🙂
I love that we’re on the same wavelength.
Making pumpkin bread, or just baking, is a must flr me in fall! Nothing like the fresh batch of baked goods straight out of the oven! 🙂 Wish I could go apple picking too – unfortunately no places for that in Hong Kong 🙁
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
I love this post! I took the kids to Russell Farms on Saturday because they decreed that it was the first day of fall and they WOULD NOT go another day without eating a cider donut 🙂 It was bananas there, like wait in line 45 minutes to get your donuts! I guess we New Englanders are a little bit crazy when it comes to enjoying our magnificent fall in all its splendor.
We are definitely a little bit crazy. I think we’ll be heading to Cider Hill soon!
Love your posts. Started reading about a year ago, and always feel we are thinking the same whether it is seasons or the love for our little ones.
Do you love EVERYTHING that Williams Sonoma sells also? I could browse their website all day.. I use my dutch oven daily also. My mom bought me one for $25 last year from Aldi, but my goal is to own a good quality one eventually.
ahhh baking, fall scents and foliage observation!!! isn’t that the best way to kick it all off!!
I love that list – especially the wearing a rope part!
When I moved to Germany autumn soon became my favourite season; walking or hiking through the forest with the trees showing off all the beautiful colours, the crisp morning air, collecting conkers and building figures with them as soon as we are back home, some nice music in the background and soup on the oven – I really love that.
Hi there, I’ve read your blog for a while now and couldn’t help but think of it (especially posts like this one and the more nostalgic/reminiscent ones) while listening to the most recent episode of The Next Right Thing podcast by Emily Freeman. I feel like she captured well something you often try to articulate here and thought you’d appreciate it:
“So what does growing up feel like?
It feels like torn lace, like smoke, like wedding mints melting on your tongue.
It feels like distraction, like worry, like chasing but not-quite-catching or trying to remember but
seeing only through foggy panes.
It feels like wider hips and thinner lips and laugh lines starting to show up around curved edges.
It feels like sorrow and joy.
It feels like courage and sometimes regret.
It feels like a lump in my throat.
It also feels like freedom.
We are still growing even though we’re grown.”
– Emily Freeman
You should give it a listen when you have 10 or so minutes to spare. Blessings to you and your family!
Here’s a link to the podcast, if you’re interested: https://emilypfreeman.com/podcast/the-next-right-thing/52/
oh this is so beautiful.
Hiking in the fall is the best!!
I just put Tribe and Bird by Bird on hold on my library’s website!
ooooh! please report back if you read them!
Reportin: Okay, I have both of them out from the library right now, and I’ve started both. Tribe is very interesting so far. As for Bird by Bird, her writing! I’ve read and stopped a bunch of books in a row recently, but this book does the opposite. It makes me want to lean in and get close while I’m reading. So even though you didn’t specifically ask, yes, I am loving them.
YES. anne lamott has the most casual, inviting writing style! so glad you are loving it.