10 favorite ways to celebrate fall
Most of my family is diehard summer fans, but having lived in Tucson for 23 years, where autumn means boiling temperatures slide to just plain hot and where, in order to see leaves changing you have to drive at least an hour, I fell in love with fall all over again when we moved to the Northwest. (I was raised in New York.)
Yes, the days grow shorter up here and we get lots of rain. But I don’t care. I can’t explain myself. All I know is that daily walks through scenes like the one at left (photo taken last year at a nearby park), makes me feel alive and part of nature.
You may not agree, but you can’t stop the season’s arrival, so why not enjoy. Here are the top five ways I do that.
1. Pick apples. Last year my husband and I brought home 100 pounds of marvelous organic, mixed varieties of apples. Spending a few hours pulling apples from branches, immersed in their sweet aroma is pure pleasure to me.
2. Make applesauce from the apples we pick. And in case you missed it here’s my ridiculously simple recipe.
3. Attend Salmon Days festival. When we moved to Western Washington, the word “salmon” took the place of “cactus,” when it comes to discussions with people you’ve just met. We may not have a lot in common otherwise, but most everyone wants to bring back the salmon to the abundant state they used to be in.
Standing on a bridge above a creek and watching silvery fish making their way upstream is an activity I never tire of. Salmon Days takes place every October in Issaquah WA. Partly I like it because a sense of humor pervades all the learning that can take place. This year, the event is on Oct. 1 and 2. If you live nearby, don’t miss it.
4. Light fires in our fire pit. We always mean to do this in the summer, but rarely get around to it. Once the evenings turn cool, it’s fun to bundle up, light the fire, eat and sing. Oh yes, and every fall my son-in-law burns the previous year’s accumulation of receipts he no longer needs. Always a festive occasion!
5. Craft! We have converted half of our garage into an art/craft studio. In the fall, it’s not too hot or too cold and the light is nice too. Once we’re through National Costume Swap Day and Green Halloween, I like to spend some time each day by myself, in the quiet, just creating.
6. Make soups, chili and stews. I’m not much of a cook, but I look forward to making huge pots of these favorites, dividing them into jars and freezing to have through the winter. This year I’m antsy to trying the Skillet Cornbread Pudding recipe we had on the blog yesterday. My mouth is watering just writing the title!
7. Get out my handwarmers. I never have trouble staying warm except for my hands. Even though I type like a maniac all day at the computer which you’d think would keep my hands toasty, but for some reason, it doesn’t. We like to keep the house on the cool side so to help my poor fingers, I wear handwarmers. My favorites are from Go Dotty Go, made from recycled sweaters, though I’ve made some myself too. I find handwarmers are like glasses. I keep leaving them everywhere so need a bunch.
8. Cuddle. I don’t know about you but summer is definitely not cuddle season and frankly, I require cuddling. This no-cost mood lightener works for me every time.
9. Take a bike ride. I love riding amid falling leaves. The crunch of the tires adds another dimension to my enjoyment.
10. Take photos. I’ve been an amateur photographer my entire life. But for me, unlike most hobbyists, it’s mostly about the process not the finished product. Photography forces me to be in the moment, to focus on what’s in front of me. I am totally engaged in the decision making process. I like to seek out interesting forms in nature and will give myself challenges—stop and take ten photos of what is at knee level—take a picture of the light at sunset, but not the sunset itself. As Corey says, I can turn anything into a game!
Share your favorite ways to celebrate fall.
Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, and founders of Green Halloween®.
