How to Enjoy the Autumn Season During a Pandemic / COVID19

Autumn is my favorite time of the year and it is safe to say that that I love all things that occur during the fall season. Normally my husband and I make plans to go to outdoor city arts and crafts festivals, and to travel to a scenic park to view the colorful leaves on the trees but this year we will only attend the festival if they are no big crowds.  

We will be going to the state parks to hike on the trails and take photographs of the autumn foliage and we also hope to tour a corn maze in Arkansas. This year we will be staying close to home and will be avoiding crowded autumn events.

Autumn activities will be different this year but if you make plans for the day trips to parks and other outdoor activities that do not attract crowds then you will be able to enjoy the season without the worry of COVID19.

Look for outdoor events where you can social distance and avoid indoor events and large crowds. You can still go to an arts and crafts festival as long as you plan to wear a mask and stay away from large gatherings. Instead of going to a big city autumn festival where there will be crowds look for a small-town event.

Another fun activity is going to a u-pick-it farm,   In my area we enjoy picking late-season apples and pears.

Take a day trip to a park that features fishing, boat rentals, hiking trails or horseback riding. All fun family activities to enjoy during the autumn season.

Plan a trip to a pumpkin patch to pick vine-ripe pumpkins for your fall decorations.

Just because your area may have COVID19 does not mean that you need to pass up the fall season. But it does mean that you should stay away from large gatherings and it is best to partake in outdoor activities.

Plan fun family activities to do at home

• Roasting marshmallows in the outdoor fire 
• Painting your kids face and dress them up in fall season costumes
• Enjoy nature by playing in the fallen leaves.
• Play autumn season games like bobbing for apples.
• Put up your camping tent in the backyard or at the park and sleep outdoors, listen for a distant owl, and watch for a shooting stars
• Decorate your home for the fall season and carve pumpkins for Halloween.
• Plan a fall foliage drive to a state park
• Make hot apple cider to enjoy while sitting by a bonfire
• Bake pumpkin cookies
• Plan a family hayride
• Bake pumpkin seeds, cookies and see other pumpkin recipes here

Whatever you do, be sure to enjoy the autumn season with your family.
*Images used in this article from pixabay.com
*View All Seasons decorating ideas and gifts at Pinterest here 

Fall Season Came Early This Year

I had a feeling that our fall season would come early this year because our August weather was 20 degrees cooler than normal. In fact, there were a few nights in August that were cold. When the temperature dipped into the low 50's in August it felt more like early fall. Then came September and the weather was cooler than usual. Fall has come very early this year and with the season change, there is more work to do and less time to enjoy my yard and garden.

Today I spent most of the day outdoors doing what I can to manicure the yard and gardens before this week's cold weather forecast. I made a point to remove the fallen leaves from my irises and to cut back annual plants that have started to die.

The four O clock flowers have gone to seed and gathered the seeds for winter storage. 

 Now that the fall season is here I am thinking more about decorating my porch and updating the planters with hardy flowers like pansies and kale. I think tomorrow I will go to the pumpkin patch and see about buying a few nicely shaped pumpkin. I will also head over to Lowes garden center and buy a few potted Chrysanthemums for lawn decorations.