Simple Ways to Romanticize Autumn
Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
It is midway through September and I am seeing the signs of Autumn everywhere. The red, orange, and yellow leaves popping up on the trees. The crisp, cool mornings and evenings and the smell and sound of crinkly leaves underfoot as I walk the trails in the woods. It truly is a wondrous time and yet a fleeting season so I think it’s only right to seize it and squeeze every drop of romance out of it. I start aching for the coziness of fall about midway through July, when the heat feels unbearable and I can only dream of the freshness and beauty that the harvest season brings. Here are some simple ways to cherish the autumnal season.
Take Autumn Hikes: In my opinion, there is no greater time to hike than in fall. It surely is an experience for all the senses. Make sure you dress warmly if the temperature gets cool and bring along a thermos of hot tea or cider to share with your hiking partner. You can even pack a little blanket and some freshly baked scones or muffins and have a forest picnic while you take in all the sights and sounds. Don’t forget to collect some pretty leaves to display at home. Which brings me to number two…
Decorate Your Home: I love using natural decor from outside so right now we have some fresh picked goldenrods on our kitchen table that my husband picked me for our anniversary. He knows I’m a “wildflower” kind of gal. I also love using small pumpkins and gourds. I have dried reeds, wheat and red eucalyptus in vases. I use pinecones and pretty leaves that I have pressed in books. I may have the kids help me make a leaf garland and to preserve the leaves you can dip them in beeswax. I must have candles as it adds such a cozy ambiance and I make my own non-toxic candles to enjoy all season. Find some free autumn vintage printable art online and display it in nice frames on shelves. Throw blankets and essential oils add that warmth in the home that we all crave. Here is a essential oil blend you can use in your diffuser:
Harvest Oil Blend:
3 drops Cedarwood essential oil
3 drops Sweet Orange essential oil
3 drops Frankincense essential oil
Apple Picking: This is a yearly family tradition of ours that we always enjoy and afterward you can make all kinds of yummy apple-filled food such as applesauce, apple donuts, and apple crumble. You can even sauté apples in a pan with some ghee or butter, maple syrup, salt and cinnamon as a side dish or even for breakfast. Or if you have a juicer, you can juice some of the apples and make your own apple cider.
Throw a Murder Mystery Party: We did this last year and I think it was one of the funnest things we have ever done. Me and my husband created an entire storyline and gave everyone descriptions of their characters and it was so fun to see everyone really get into it and dress up and speak like their characters. We planted clues throughout the house and it was just such a blast. We kept things simple and found decorations on clearance or at the thrift store to give our house a “spooky mansion” feel. In the end it was my daughter, “Miss Charlotte Coventry” the maid in our story, who committed the crime!
Autumn Bonfires: There is something about the smell of bonfires that bring me back to childhood. I spent many nights around bonfires as a kid and I want my children to have that same warm, cozy feeling when they smell the smoke wafting in the air. We found that we like smores best with gluten-free chocolate chip cookies rather than graham crackers and we have this tradition where someone starts a story and we each go around and add a few sentences to the story. It usually ends up very silly but it’s fun and a memory I hope my children will always hold dear.
Learning a Hygge Hobby: With the weather turning cooler, it is a good time to learn an “indoor” hobby you’ve always wanted to and you can use the long cold months ahead to perfect your craft. I have always wanted to learn to knit so I can make warm scarves, mittens, hats and blankets for my loved ones. Other good ones may be learning to sew your own clothes, baking, fermenting, and candlemaking.
Read Good Books, Watch Good Shows, Listen to Good Music: With the days turning darker and colder, I then also like to read and watch some “moodier” shows and books with a more gothic appeal. There is nothing like snuggling up with a blanket, a hot cup of tea or coffee and delving into another world for a little while when you know outside it is dark and chilly. Read a book like “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte or “Mansfield Park” by Jane Eyre. Agatha Christie’s movies, shows and books have all the autumn vibes. Me and my husband have also been enjoying “Magpie Murders” and “Moonflower Murders’ on PBS. My kids are total “Potter-heads” so I am sure we will be watching the “Harry Potter” series. As for music, Eric Satie and Claude Debussy’s compositions have all the deep, emotional notes I long for in this season.
Savor the Simple Things: As the leaves continue to drift lazily to the ground, I hope you can relish this season and savor every vibrant hue and find joy in the quiet subtle magic of Autumn’s embrace. It is a time of slow reflection, cozy moments and splendid gatherings. I implore you to bask in all its wonder. Listen to the rain outside. Wear all your warm, cozy sweaters. Bake muffins and cookies and pies. Drink lots of hot tea and coffee: in fact, perfect your favorite seasonal drink of choice. Get lost in a corn maze. Lie in the leaves. Cook warming stews, harvest salads and comfort meals. Buy some cozy socks. Wear a moodier shade of lipstick. Snuggle; with a pet or a human. Begin a ‘thankfulness’ journal.
And all at once summer collapsed into fall.
-Oscar Wilde
