By Liz, embracing pumpkin season
Happy fall!

Today is the first day of fall, or the autumn equinox. I think you all know me well enough by now to know that while I love summer and being warm, I love fall and pumpkin spice pretty much equally. The only downside of the fall is that winter comes after it.
So of course, I moved further north so I can be colder earlier and longer. Go figure.
In any event, I’m not thinking about the winter yet. I’m 100% focusing on fall and fact that Halloween is coming (yay!). And that it’s now chilly enough to justify the first pumpkin spice latte of the season—which I love, but I also push myself to put off as long as possible.
I’m also celebrating the fact that I’m much closer to Salem again and can celebrate Halloween “properly” for the first time in a few years. This is one of my favorite places on earth—it never gets old. My protag, Violet, would be in her element…
It made me realize I needed to start planning early for how I’m going to experience the season. I’m determined not to sit on the sidelines this fall. I’m gearing up to experience all the fun stuff that’s been on hold for the past couple of years and to really reconnect with everything I love about the season.
Here’s a few things I came up with:
- Visit a corn maze.
- Eat (and drink) pumpkin everything.
- Visit Salem during Haunted Happenings. And go to a psychic fair!
- Go on a ghost hunt.
- Find a fun apple orchard. (No, I don’t really want to pick apples, but I’ll buy some! And cider donuts).
- Buy a new cozy sweater and fuzzy socks.
- Take the dogs on the beach for our daily walk.
What am I missing, readers? And what are your favorite fall traditions? Tell me in the comments!
Liz, come up to Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury! It’s the best for picking, for fun, and for cider doughnuts.
Oooh, I’ll have to check it out!
Love your list!! My list includes lots of fall decorating, baking (I just went last week and picked Honeycrisp and Macs), and pumpkin carving.
I love Honeycrisps, Kathy!
In the south, the fall means hayrides and they often take you to the corn maze – both of which can be fun and/or scary depend on which ones you go to.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Love both of those!
I love taking walks and scuffing around in the leaves. I had my first ever cider donut last year and hope I can find some down here.
It’s a great time to walk for sure! You’ll have to come here and get a cider donut 😉
Love your list, Liz. Anything and everything pumpkin spice is definitely at the top of the list. And I love decorating my front porch with a hay bale, corn stalk, pumpkins and gourds. Everything gets recycled by goats, squirrels, or mulch, which just adds to the pleasure for me.
That’s so fun, Ginny!
Fall Festivals! Apple Festivals! Pumpkin Festivals! Halloween Parades! and People!
Yes! All the things 🙂
Love your list, Liz. Psychic Festival? I have got to find out more!
I love autumn – and I’m looking forward to some far northern Maine leaf peeping – pictures will be posted.
Awesome, Kait! You should come down to Salem to check out the psychic festival…
I love all your fall-ish ideas! Like you, I put off the pumpkin spice as long as I can, but we are in full swing now. Happy hayrides and apple picking!
Same to you, Shelley!
We always have a big family hayride and cook a pot of chili over a fire and cook hotdogs for chili dogs, roast marshmallows and make s’mores
That sounds awesome, Laurie!
For some reason the first comment didn’t post so this may be a repeat if it does later.
We always have a hayride and cook a pot of chili over the fire outside. We cook hotdogs for chili dogs, roast marshmallows and make s’mores. It’s so much fun!
Pumpkin Bread and Blueberry Muffins which I made today.
Oooh yum 🙂
Happy fall! (I can’t believe it’s fall already.) We like picking apples and baking pumpkin bread and/or pumpkin chocolate chip muffins.
Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins…yes!!
I do enjoy Fall, with its crisp, low-humidity days, and EVERYTHING PUMPKIN! Happy Fall, Liz! 🙂
Happy fall, Patti!!
The colors of the leaves that Mother Nature paints them. The smells of Fall. Needing to put a jacket on again after months of feeling like you’re going to melt. Jumping into a big pile of leaves. I love everything about Fall. I couldn’t live where the seasons don’t change. Each one is renewal in some way.
Curl up with a blanket and read a great book. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Pull up the awnings and get out the flannel sheets. (Did both this morning.)