October!

I love love love October.  This month is magical with fall entering our lives in full force.  I love bringing out flannel pajamas and blankets.  I love spending as much time outside in the refreshingly cool air as possible and letting our house get as cold as we can stand.  I love all the preparation that goes into getting ready for winter and the big burst of productivity getting ready for yet another changing season. And I love hanging up my sign, “I’m so grateful I live in a world with Octobers”from Anne of Green Gables.

This year we did October 1st right! We joined our neighbors in turning 4 bushels of apples (168 pounds) into applesauce.  There were lots of kids, lots of apples and lots of helping hands, which makes for a perfect combination. It was a super fun and delicious process and we have full quart and pint jars.  I had hoped our stash would last all winter, but it turns out I can eat a quart in one sitting if I let myself – it is that good – so we’ll see just how long it lasts. Three of the five of us in the applesauce making group should be here for at least 3 more years together, so we’ve decided this should be yearly tradition.

A little earlier in the week Emily and I went outside to do some leaf collecting. She had specific colors in mind, so I now know which trees in our neighborhood have leaves that turn red, orange, yellow, and brown. I’d never paid attention to details like that before – I love learning through motherhood.  Emily had a great time putting them in her bucket and would occasionally show me one. She is developing a pose.

We brought the leaves inside, taped them to paper, and then painted over them.  It was so fun to try something new with Emily. This was our first time painting and it was a good introduction.  Once our leaf paintings dried we took the leaves off and hung our papers up on the wall. Emily talks about her artwork while we eat at the table. I’ve decided we are going to use our dining room wall to fill up with artwork for the season as a decorating method as well as motivation to do art projects with Emily. I’m not big into art projects so this will push me out of my comfort zone a bit.

I’m excited to embrace all 31 days of this wonderful month!