Song of September (and Our 2020 Fall Bucket List)

Now that September is almost over, it's about time we post our fall bucket list! ;)  Unlike our summer bucket list which spans over our long summer break and keeps us busy and creative throughout our days at home, our fall bucket list is much smaller and includes some old and new ways to set intention and take advantage of all the things we love about this season.  I love fall like the best of 'em, but it's also such a busy time of year.  The kids start school, work picks up, and our nights are filled with piano lessons, football practice, and dance rehearsals.  So every September, I set aside some time to prepare our home, our calendar, and our hearts to be wide awake to opportunities to celebrate what we love most about living in the Midwest - the changing of the seasons. I have a feeling if I didn't do that, I might miss it entirely.  And this little reminder in my kitchen keeps me awake to both the planned and spontaneous ways to revel in all the goodness of fall.

I made little paper leaves this year and stuck them on our chalkboard with washi tape.  As we take them down, it reminds me of leaves falling off a tree and scattering to the ground.   

1. Make homemade oatmeal cream pies
2. Pack a fall picnic and start a fire on the beach

3. Host a card night with appetizers

4. Try a new fall whiskey or bourbon drink

5. Hang black paper bats on the fireplace

6. Host a wine and charcuterie night

7. Grab a latte and go for a stroll

8. Try a new pumpkin recipe

9. Skip school for a day and go on a fall foilage road trip

10. Throw a Halloween party

11. Take a bubble bath

12. Neighborhood soup and kickball afternoon

13. Fall movie night all to myself

14. Brad and Kate winery date day 

15. Read Mary Oliver and write poetry in the woods

16. Milk and cookies after school

17. Decorate the porch with mums and funky pumpkins

18. Find a corner at Barnes and Noble and pick out some new fall books 

19. Go apple picking

20. Friday night homemade pizza

21. Go to the movie theater and eat a bunch of popcorn

22. Go golfing on a beautiful fall night

23. Make a fall snack mix and share with friends

24. Hike at Hartman

25. Try a pumpkin cream cold brew at Starbucks

26. Go to a haunted house

27. Make homemade pretzels and drink an Oktoberfest beer

And pictures from one of our oldest fall traditions - a trip to Wilson's to pick some apples together.  Seven years of road tripping down to Solon to get our taste of September sweet.  This place has grown like the kids have, but many things remain the same.  We still stock up on those sugary donuts, still hold sticky apple slushie hands up the big hill in search of the best row to pick, still toss a few bad apples at each other for fun, and still sneak a few bites of the best one before we pay.  And we always leave with an armful of apples and a heart full of memories of these growing kids and that apple juice running down their chins.  

Welcome, fall.  Please stay awhile.

Summer 2020 - One More Post!

 

Here we are with my last post of summer.  August was birthday month, and I celebrated my 36th year with some pretty special things and people.  It included a midnight birthday celebration/karaoke party with my book club girls, a night on the beach, Taylor Swift's new album on loop, lunch on the deck with Angie, the most gorgeous vase of flowers from Ashley, and lots of sweet messages and well wishes from dear friends and family.  

I can't get over these flowers.  We have a local flower farm and their late summer blooms were so beautiful!

Then we headed to Okoboji to spend the weekend with the Guesses!  We typically spend one of our last weekends of August camping in Decorah, but decided a weekend to visit them at their new place in Okoboji was well overdue.  

Kate is super gifted in creating simple celebrations and making the people she loves feel seen and celebrated well.  We had coconut cake and a late night dinner on the patio, driveway fires and birthday talks, and the perfect backdrop to fall in love with this place they call home.  The kids skied and tubed and swam in the pool, we sipped coffee on the dock, explored the farmers market, and spent a gorgeous evening dancing the night away to the Pork Tornados.  And a boat ride and fireworks to follow?  It was a near perfect way to end our summer break.  Other than that part where Beau tore his hamstring trying to slalom a half hour before leaving their place... 

Kate gifted me the most unique birthday gift.  My pictures, turned into watercolor prints and printed on 5x7 notecards.  And organized by seasons.  They are so special!

One last hurrah before the first day of school!  We brought a picnic out to Phil's beach, stuck our bag chairs in the water, and took advantage of the low river as an opportunity to get some sun and wade in the water.  It was a hot start to the school year!

That's a wrap, summer 2020!