Fall is my favorite season of all! The air turns crisp and the nights get longer, the leaves turn brilliant crimson and gold, and life starts to slow down from the busy pace of summer.
There are so many different ways to enjoy this season, without even leaving your home! You don’t have to find a fall festival or drive an hour to an orchard to incorporate a little autumn splendor into your life. Here are my top ten favorite fall activities to do at home.
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1. Bake with apples and pumpkins
I’m very thankful for preservation methods which allow you to store apples and pumpkins all year, but there’s something wonderful about using fresh produce when you’re cooking and baking. Summer may boast more varieties of fruits and vegetables, but those that ripen in autumn are worth the wait!
The smell of fresh apples is so sweet and heady, it makes me think of sunny afternoons in an orchard. And the deep orange swell of a pumpkin is just about the most homely, satisfying sight I can imagine.
As soon as the first apples are ripe, I reach for my favorite autumn recipes: Grandma’s old-fashioned apple cake, apple dumplings (Land O’ Lakes Treasury of Country Recipes), and of course, apple pie (Farm Journal’s Country Cookbook)!
When the apple harvest is in full swing, I love to make applesauce! It’s so easy, and you can freeze or can it to have on hand all year long. You can mix in other fruits or spices if you like; I just love a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg in mine. On the stove or in the slow cooker, it couldn’t be simpler!
As for pumpkin, everyone has their favorite pumpkin bread recipe! My mother’s is the best. I also make pumpkin spice snickerdoodles all season long, and this decadent pumpkin french toast bake just steals the show!
2. Make fancy coffee or cocoa drinks
I don’t care much for pumpkin spice in my coffee, but I do like cinnamon and maple! Instead of paying coffee shop prices, I love trying different recipes at home. Mixing up a fancy concoction on a slow, chilly morning is my idea of a perfect fall activity!
Here’s an easy way to make steamed milk at home without a milk frother:
- Measure 1/4 cup of milk into a pint jar
- Screw the lid on and shake vigorously for one minute
- Remove the lid and microwave on high for about 45 seconds
- Pour the frothy milk on top of your coffee! You may need a spatula to scrape the foam out of the jar.
There are also plenty of good recipes for making sweet lattes and hot chocolate in the slow cooker, if you like to prepare hot drinks ahead of time for company. A sprinkle of cinnamon or a dollop of whipped cream on top makes it extra special!
3. Go for a walk in the woods
What better way to enjoy the colors of fall than to get outside and surround yourself with them? Fall is my favorite season to walk in the woods.
The bugs are mostly gone, the air isn’t too hot for exertion, and the trees and bushes are transforming themselves into a crazy quilt of colors. Contemplating fiery orange leaves against a deep blue sky is one of my favorite ways to spend an autumn afternoon.
Add a cozy sweater to combat the chilly breezes, and some well-loved boots to keep my feet warm and dry, and I am one happy hiker!
4. Read books by lamplight
Do you read much in the summer? I never seem to have time during the warm, sunny months when there’s always something to do outside. But in the fall, especially on damp and drizzly days, my books start calling to me again.
On those long autumn evenings once the house is still, there’s nothing I like better than curling up with a warm blanket and a good book. Be it philosophy or fiction, literary classic or light reading, I love the whisper of turning leaves and the soft glow of lamplight on my page.
Autumn promises an escape: into another world, or deeper into this one. Good books can help you do both.
5. Have a tea party
Tea parties are the perfect excuse for baking all sorts of themed treats and tidbits, are they not? Spring has its strawberry tart and summer its bounty of berries, but autumn lays claim to squashes, apples, grapes, and nuts of all kinds.
Pumpkin buns and spice cake seem particularly appropriate this time of year. Even if you don’t want to bake with these, you can make cookies in the shapes of leaves, animals, or other fall-themed fancies.
And let’s not forget the most important part of any party: tea! There are many delicious teas for autumn, whether you prefer black or herbal blends.
These warm, spiced varieties are my favorites: Vermont Maple Ginger from Celestial Seasonings, Hot Cinnamon Spice by Harney & Sons, and Cinnamon Plum from The Republic of Tea. Rishi Tea also makes a Cinnamon Plum blend, if you prefer loose leaf teas.
Or make your own Spiced Cranberry Tea for a special treat! You can make it with black tea, decaf, or just water if you don’t want any caffeine.
Read more about hosting an autumn tea party here!
6. Make handmade gifts
After a long summer spent outdoors, I am ready to enjoy more time inside making things. Creating something with my hands makes me happy, especially when I’m making it for someone I love.
As the pace of life slows down a little, my thoughts turn ahead to Christmas and birthdays. I like to start projects early in the fall, so that I have a better chance of finishing them on time!
It’s a very satisfying feeling to squirrel away my finished gifts and think of the pleasure they will give!
7. Dry herbs and flowers
I’m sure some of you harvest and dry herbs all summer long, but I never seem to get around to it until fall. Then I go out to my herb garden and harvest great quantities of herbs on chilly mornings when the dew hangs heavily on the plants.
I rinse the stems, pat them dry, and tie them up in little bundles to dry completely. It’s such a cozy, homely sight to see a string of herbs drying against the wall!
Some herbs do better in the dehydrator: particularly those with large leaves, like basil and parsley. These take a long time to dry by hanging, and they tend to lose their color if dried that way.
If you don’t have fresh herbs to dry, you can press flowers to save a bit of summer color. Preserved flowers and petals can be used for stationery, potpourri, or other craft projects. Dried rose petals and lavender have many uses in the kitchen as well.
8. Dig out your flannel and woolens
I like to organize my closet in the fall. It brings me great pleasure to bring out my heavier fall and winter clothes, and move them to the front of my closet.
The lighter spring and summer pieces retire gracefully to the back of my dresser drawers to hibernate until their season blooms again.
But the feel of soft flannel and thick sweaters in my hands, the smell of leather boots and the heft of a wool coat bring back memories of other autumns, and anticipation of a new season ahead.
9. Preserve garden harvest
Whether you have a garden or not, fall is a great time to preserve fresh produce. Perhaps you have friends who will bestow some of their bounty upon you, or a local farm stand or farmer’s market.
I think of all the animals storing food away for the winter, and it makes me want to imitate their industrious habits!
Whether you prefer to can, freeze, ferment, or dry your harvest, there are plenty of options for preserving fresh fruits and vegetables. (Too many to list here!)
One of my favorite things to preserve in autumn is mincemeat. Stirring a kettle of fruits, meat, and spices makes me feel like I went back in time… to the Middle Ages!
Mincemeat can be canned, or merely kept in a crock in your refrigerator or root cellar if spirits are added. The best mincemeat is somewhat aged, so I make it in September or October so that it will be ready for Christmastime.
My favorite mincemeat recipes are from A Continual Feast and The Alaska Wild Berry Cookbook (original edition).
Send a card just because
This idea is in the same vein as making gifts. Cards or letters are little gifts that don’t need an occasion. It is a great pleasure to receive a handwritten note in the mail from a friend, particularly on an ordinary day.
I like to make cards and send them to friends and relatives all year long, but it seems to happen more frequently in the autumn! I think it’s because autumn is a time of memories and reflection. Whenever I find myself thinking of a particular friend, it’s nice to jot down a friendly greeting, even if I don’t have time to write a full letter.
Why not brighten up someone’s day with a cheery note in a pretty envelope? It only takes a few minutes, and is sure to bring the recipient a smile.
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Those are my top ten favorite fall activities to do at home. See, even homebodies can find plenty of ways to enjoy autumn!
Here are some ways to make your house cozy for autumn. What are your fall favorites?
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