I said it before and I will say it again, there are two types of people in this world:
- Those who get the blues when Fall begins.
- Those who do a happy dance when Fall arrives.
I’m one of those people who love Fall, like LOVE it! The crisp weather, the colored leaves, the excuse to eat comfort food and drink cozy hot drinks, I love it all!
My love for Autumn began in childhood. The magic of the leaves changing from green to beautiful shades of yellow, orange and red has always entranced me. I used to think fairies with little wands flew around zapping the trees.
But, scientifically speaking, in spring and summer the leaves on a tree manufacture food necessary for the tree’s growth. That process happens in cells that contain chlorophyll (which gives the leaves their green color). Chlorophyll absorbs energy from the sunlight and uses it to transform carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates (see, even trees love carbs!).
Most of the year the leaves’ other colors are drowned out by the chlorophyll, but in the Fall (with less sunlight) the chlorophyll starts to break down. This allows the other colors to shine through.
That’s a simplified explanation in case your kids ask about it (although I still prefer the fairy hypothesis).
If you are NOT like me and dread the coming season, here are a few simple ways to get in the mood:
Take a foraging walk and gather some of Autumn’s bounty. You’ll be surprised at how much beauty there is to find!
Make a bouquet with your finds or press leaves in an old book.
Embroider on some leaves. This is great for older kids. A cross-stitch needle doesn’t have a sharp tip and works perfectly. Use the leaves in a bouquet or press them for a picture.
Visit a pumpkin farm and bring lots of them home. Uncarved, they last a long time (through Thanksgiving usually).
Paint on Fall leaves. My grandkids had fun doing this. We just used acrylic craft paint and then attached our leaves onto a twig.
Paint the backs of leaves and press onto paper.
Bake a Fall treat. Maybe something you wouldn’t make at any other time of year: apple crisp, pear cake, etc.
Splurge on some comfort food for dinner. Think stews, soups, pasta, etc.
Get cozy with a soft blanket, a good book and a mug of cider.
God has found a way to make each season beautiful (even if it isn’t our personal favorite). What can you find to thank Him for in the Fall?
(We found this leaf just like this!)
Note: In my day, we were taught that the names of the seasons should be capitalized. Somewhere along the way, that rule has been changed. I’ve gone back to capitalizing Fall because it is my favorite!
Read more of Ann’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
