Lucy Maud Montgomery
Autumn is my absolute favourite time of year. Everything about it, the brisk air, the changing colours, the cozy sweaters, the flavours and scents. I feel like a small child looking out the window, wishing the colours would last forever. The trees and leaves remind me of a beautifully blended quilt… Browns, greens, reds, golds, oranges! It’s a dreamy, mysterious, romantic and nostalgic time.
“It was October again… All red and gold, with mellow mornings when the valleys were filled with delicate mists as if the spirit of autumn had poured them in for the sun to drain… Amethyst, pearl, silver, rose and smoke-blue. The dews were so heavy that the fields glistened…”
I know it might seem cliche to say that the second the weather changes, I want to eat pumpkin flavoured things, wear my boots and scarves and sweaters, and drink tea while going for crisp walks in the leaves, but I honestly cannot get enough of it. I’m an old soul, and Autumn mirrors those feelings of coziness and simplicity and tradition for me. Lucy Maud Montgomery has the most vivid depictions of fall (quote above), making everything feel like a piece of artwork. It’s a season of crisp, cool air, but also warmth and softness… A time of winding down and preparing for winter.
Below are some of the things my family has been doing this autumn, and maybe they will inspire you to get outside and enjoy the leaves, or bunker down inside with some yummy treats and good books!
Books Ideas for Your Little Ones:
- Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson
- Little Goose’s Autumn by Elli Woodlard and Briony May Smith
- One Red Apple by Harriet Ziefert
- Let it Fall by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
- In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes
- Check out the seasonal section at the library!
Book Ideas for Adults:
- The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore
- My Hygge Home: How to Make Home Your Happy Place by Meik Wiking
- Any book by Jenny Colgan
- Any of the Irish Country books by Patrick Taylor
- Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
And of course your “witchy” books:
- Harry Potter (currently reading out loud to my kids)
- The Enchanted Life by Sharon Blackie
- Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman
- The Blue Maiden by Anna Noyes
- Grimoire Girl: Creating an Inheritance of Magic and Mischief by Hilarie Burton Morgan
If I spot a book with a leaf, mushroom, tree, apple, acorn or pumpkin on it, I will pick it up! Yes, I do judge books by their covers.
Fall Crafts:
Anything with real leaves! I actually have a bucket in my house with leaves, pinecones, sticks, rocks, etc. and sometimes I put it out with a piece of paper and let my kids make whatever they want with them. Sometimes we just sort them or trace them. My mom found this adorable sunflower craft with dried pasta and sunflower seeds. And of course, my favourite fall craft that I’ve been doing since I was a little girl, leaves in wax paper! This year we tried a bit of a garland with leaves, ferns, flower petals, etc. and a piece of yarn, and it turned out beautifully. I also love to talk about the different kinds of leaves and trees with my kids. Fall is such a wonderful opportunity to talk about deciduous versus coniferous trees while you go for walks! And of course swishing and crunching through the leaves, jumping in them, throwing them, making bouquets…
I love having elements of nature in my home, so I will take any chance I can get to bring leaves and flowers and colours into my house.
Have a baking day! My mom and sisters and I had one recently and we made all sorts of yummy, fall-flavoured things.
- Maple Flavoured Leaf Cookies
- Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
- Pumpkin Loaf
- Apple Cinnamon Muffins
- Carrot Cake Muffins
- Granola
- Pumpkin Energy Balls
- Carrot Energy Balls
- Chai Scones
Soak up all of this autumn beauty while you can, because it is fleeting. Make yourself something yummy, breathe in the crisp air, enjoy being still and cozy, learn sometimes and be creative and make something beautiful to preserve the wonderful fall colours before they fade. Take the time to be a kid and run through the leaves, read some books that draw you in with their artwork. Happy fall, everyone!!
