Fall harvest activities and suggestions on how to celebrate the season. Enjoy the harvest - apples, pumpkins, Halloween, jack-o-lanterns, trick-or-treating and more.
Almost everyone has a favorite time of year and my personal favorite is autumn. There is nothing like waking up on a cool morning. The first frost on the pumpkin and the colorful and fragrant leaves are synonymous with the season. During no other time of year do the stars sparkle and dance so brightly in the sky as they do on crisp nights. And, of course, there is the harvest. An abundance of apples can be readily found for apple picking, baking warm apple pies, sipping spiced apple cider and making smooth and flavorful apple sauce. Pumpkins are now at their peak so take a trip to the pumpkin patch, bake some pumpkin pies, carve a jack-o-lantern, snack on some pumpkin muffins and cookies and savor a flavorful bowl of pumpkin soup. It is a time for Halloween, dressing up in costumes, going trick-or-treating, taking a leisurely hay ride, and enjoying the brightly colored Indian corn and corn stalks. All of these are representative of this wonderful and exciting season. In my house autumn is not just a season, it's a way of life viewed upon and treated with the excitement of a holiday and with great anticipation. Want to share the passion? Here are some ideas:
Go apple picking. Few things are as enjoyable as walking through an apple orchard, smelling the fragrant, sweet fruit on a clear, cool, bright, sunny day.
Take a ride in the country. Visit farm stands. Many local farmers offer special, seasonal attractions, many geared toward children and families including hay bailing, refreshments offering tastes of the season such as apple cider and pumpkin cookies. Some farmers even get their animals involved and offer petting zoos.
Go on a hay ride. Climb aboard, sit back and relax in the hay. Let the tractor pull you and leisurely enjoy the scenery. Slow down, relax and enjoy.
Take a trip through a pumpkin patch. While you're there be sure to pick out the perfect pumpkin, whatever suits you or your personality. Is your ideal pumpkin round and full or perhaps tall and thin? You'll be sure to find just the right one.
Make a tradition out of creating a jack-o-lantern. Use a knife to carve and add some acrylic paint for color. Create whatever suits you. Let your creative juices flow. You don't have to limit yourself to simply scary faces - make yours a work of art. Carve anything you wish, anything that reminds you of the season. And always have a cup of warm, spiced apple cider on hand while you work.
Bake! Don't throw anything away. Keep all of those apples, all of that pumpkin you carved. From pies to cookies to muffins and even to soups - enjoy the flavors of the season. They only truly happen once a year.
Are the kids going trick-or-treating? Have some fun yourself. Let your hair down. Dress up and trick-or-treat with them. You might just find that you too will have a great time.
Have fun. Above all, enjoy the fall. There is so much to do and see. It's a season of harvest, a season of preparation for winter, a season to truly enjoy!
