Fall Season Activities - FUN Things to Do

Husband and I look forward to the change of the season because we both like being active in the fall.  When the leaves change from green to golden, orange and red and the weather gets cooler we like to spend more time outdoors because there are many fun things to do.

Fall Road Trips

Hiking on Nature Trails

Favorite Fall Season Activities

• Night hikes to look at the wildlife at Audubon Nature center in SW Missouri
• Sit by a campfire, and drink hot apple cider or pumpkin spice flavored coffee
• Attending city festivals and the church bizarre
• Day trip to  Crystal Bridges Modern Art Museum in Arkansas
• Take road trips to Arkansas to visit the Roaring River State park and Eureka Springs.
• Race through the corn maze to see if we can beat last years time. (ha ha ha)
• Pick the perfect pumpkin for carving for Halloween
• Check out the areas spook houses and other fun Halloween activities.

Relaxing by Campfire

Buying the perfect pumpkin

Know that fall is the season before winter and is our last chance to enjoy the great outdoors, before the snow and ice so we are busy every year enjoying the fall activities.

Tips

Also, it is a good idea to dress accordingly.   The fall season weather is unpredictable so everyone will layer their clothes. I find it is best to wear a t-shirt and take along a sweatshirt because morning could be sunny and warm then change to cool to cold. Always a good idea to dress accordingly during the fall season.

What are your favorite fall activities?

FUN with Family Harvesting Fresh Pears

I am not an expert in harvesting pears, however, can share only what I have learned over the years. To tell you the truth I have only been participating in this fall family activity for the past four years. 

Most of what I have learned comes from my brother, he has a D'Anjou pear tree orchard and has taught me the basics. Unlike other types of pears the D'Anjou does not change color when it ripening, instead, it stays green but does get dull color, not as shiny. He said to check the pears to see if they are ripe by pressing down by the neck of the pear, if there is a slight give, then it is ready to be harvested.

Another thing my brother taught me is when to harvest the pears. He suggested that I choose a day after a hard rain or harvest on a breezy day. His reason is that it is easier to pick the pears off the ground than it is to take them from the tree branches.

Harvesting pears is a fun activity for families. The kids love to gather the fallen pears, the parents and other adults will climb the trees or go up ladders to harvest the fruit off the tree branches. 

Products Needed

Harvesting pears aren't difficult to do as long as you wear garden gloves to protect your hands. A long sleeve shirt to protect your arms from getting scratched from the tree branches. 

I bring along a branch cutting shears/pruner to remove the pear from the tree branch. This hand tool is helpful when harvesting pears from the tree branches.    

Know that a crossover bag does come in handy. For me, it is easy to pick the pears and put them into the bag. When the bag is full I lower it down to be emptied. This eliminates going up and down ladders.

No Pear is Wasted

All of the pears are divided according to how ripe they are and put into cardboard boxes. None of the pears are left behind if they are too ripe we will take and add them to the compost