Autumn is my favorite time of year. There’s just something about the cool crispness of the air, the crunch of fallen leaves under my feet, the hillsides around my home blanketed with riotous color, that makes my heart beat faster. The smell of woodsmoke and the taste of fresh apple cider calls to me and tells me it’s that time of year, a time of warm sweaters and cool mornings and hot cups of tea in the afternoon. The beauty of fall is singular among the seasons. How can everything be so beautiful when it is in the midst of dying? Come, come with me as I celebrate fall….
I know I’m not the only one who loves fall. There are so many wonderful ways to celebrate the season of autumn. I’ll share a few of my personal favorite ways to savor and celebrate all things autumn.
1. Host a bonfire night
Woodsmoke on the cool crisp air of an autumn evening is one of the season’s most delightful pleasures. Build a fire pit in your backyard (it’s not hard) or find a state park or campground near you that has fire pits for use. Invite some friends over for the evening’s festivities. Set up some chairs and bring out your warmest blankets. Snuggle down and enjoy the company of your favorite people for an hour or two as you roast marshmallows and watch the sunset. I guarantee you’ll create some wonderful memories to treasure for many years to come.
2. Go apple picking
Do you live near a pick your own apple orchard? I’m privileged to live in a rural area with many local orchards. (I also happen to be blessed to have a little orchard in my backyard.) Search out an orchard where you can pick your own apples. It’s worth the drive if you don’t have one locally. Spend an afternoon in the fresh air, plucking some red, shiny fruit off some old apple trees. Be sure you bite into one of those lovely fresh, crisp apples and enjoy the tart juiciness.
3. Read a book under a tree
Wrap yourself in a warm sweater and relax with a good book under the canopy of a big tree. Savor the feeling of the colorful leaves falling to the ground around you.
4. Bake a pumpkin pie
With the advent of pumpkin spice everything, the simple goodness of an old fashioned pumpkin pie is sometimes lost. It’s the original pumpkin flavor that never gets old. You may not want a pumpkin spice latte or a pumpkin donut, but who doesn’t love a homemade pumpkin pie? The cozy feeling of baking in the fall,and the spicy sweet smells filling the house, are matched only by the deliciousness of eating what you baked!
5. Have a cup of fresh apple cider
In my opinion apple cider is the most delicious flavor of fall. If you can get a cup of the good stuff, the kind that hasn’t been pasteurized. It’s full of wonderful nutrients and it just tastes so yummy!
6. Take a walk in the autumn woods
Take the time for a long walk in the woods this fall. Take deep breaths and savor the scents and sounds around you. Walking through the woods in autumn can be a wonderful opportunity for reflection and relaxation. Slow down and enjoy the beauty surrounding you.
Those are just a few of my favorite ways to celebrate fall. Do you have any favorite activities you enjoy this time of year? What do you do to savor the autumn season? Please share in the comments. I’d love to hear your ideas on how to celebrate fall.
