10 things you must have to help it feel like autumn!

 

"Sing to me, Autumn, with the rustle of your leaves.
Breathe on me your spicy scents that flow within your breeze.
Dance with me, Autumn, your waltz that bends the boughs of trees.
Now tell me all the secrets you've whispered to the seas.
Sleep with me, Autumn, beneath your starlit skies.
Let your yellow harvest moon shimmer in our eyes.
Kiss me, Autumn, with your enchanting spellbound ways
That changes all you touch into crimson golden days.
Love me, Autumn, and behold this love so true
That I'll be waiting faithfully each year to be with you."
Source:  Patricia L Cisco  https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/sing-to-me-autumn

I love the fall.  It is my favorite season of the year.  The amazing colors of the leaves on trees, the change of weather, the cool mornings and evenings, the smells or harvest, pulling out the sweaters and boots , apple and pumpkin flavored everything, scarecrows, and Halloween, corn mazes and hay bales. Here are 10 ideas and products to get YOU in the mood for fall!!

1.  Go for a drive and see the changing leaves on the trees!!  Not sure when the best viewing is? Check out this Fall Foliage map to find out your best days to see peak colors! 

2. Go visit a corn maze!!  Believe it or not, these things arent just for kids!  We have a GIANT corn maze near us here, and the other night I went with a group.  Guess who got lost for an HOUR trying to work our way through it??  It was an adventure and actually really a lot of fun.  I went back with my husband and our 17 year old son. This time we followed the map, we stopped at the checkpoints and really made it a great night.  The corn should be tall enough to make it challenging!! Go at Dusk for an unforgettable experience!

3. Crochet or knit Pumpkins!!  These trendy items make decorating your house a snap!  You can buy them premade, or find a pattern to knit or crochet online and knock a few out! 

4.  Build a firepit and roast hotdogs and smores!  Nothing better than a cool autumn night with a firepit!  It gets dark earlier, and a bonfire or firepit is a fun way to spend time. Add some smores and hotdogs and you are good to go!!

5. Apple Cider Donuts!! Whenever we go apple picking we always get some hot and fresh at the farm. To me nothing says Fall like apple cider donuts! Find a recipe online and make a batch today!!

6. Decorate your porch, yard or Front Door!!  I love decorating for fall. Scarecrows, pumpkins, wreaths...it's all good.   Want it classy? Use pumpkins and Gourds. Add some hay bales and scarecrows for a little whimsy.  Want to get ready for Halloween?? Add those spiderwebs and black cats and ghosts to the mix!

7. Pumpkin Spice Everything.  So basic white girl, but seriously I could put pumpkin spice flavors in my hot beverages year round!!  The spicy, warm and comforting flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg and clove are my favorites!  Get syrup and add it to your beverages. Make your own Pumpkin Spice Blend from dried herbs and spices. It is easy to do and you can enjoy it year round!!

8.  Candles.  Something about candles just screams autumn to me!!  try some specialty fall scented candles to really add the atmosphere and help get you into the joy of the season!  In a jar, in pillar form, grouped together, small votives. It doesnt matter, candles really add a beautiful touch to the fall decor.

9. Scarves!!  I LOVE scarves. I have several specialty hangers full of various scarves, in all colors, patterns, materials and sizes. Light cotton scarves in fun prints to a knit infinity scarf for big bulk layering!  Scarves are a must for me for autumn.  When I went to Italy, we would go to the little markets in the various cities, and I came home with no less than 8 new scarves to wear. That is how much I adore scarves. Crochet or knit yourself one in fun colors, or buy premade. Seriously, the scarf is one of the greatest accessories you can have!

10  Eat That Candy Corn.  Love it or hate it, Candy Corn is quintessential Fall.  Harvest Corn, Candy Corn, Marshmallow Pumpkins... Nothing says "It's autumn" like the sugar rush from stuffing your face with it!! ( I for one love candy corn, but then again I also like peeps, so there's that.  )

THERE YOU HAVE IT!! My Top 10 Must have and Do to help it feel like autumn.!

Back To (Home)School

 So this is Finn senior year.  I cant even believe it. 

when I started our homeschool journey 4 years ago I never imagined it would become what it has.  He really fought it the first few months.  I was unfair. Mean. I just didnt understand. Why was i doing this to him?  He just wanted to be with his friends...

by the end of the first semester he realized just how much he liked homeschool.  I wasnt breathing down his neck 24/7. I let him go at his own pace.  I found fun videos and documentaries and movies to go along with what he was studying. He was able to concentrate and get done quickly and have the rest of the day to be a kid and play. He wasnt distracted by all the drama and gossip and shenanigans of High School. He still saw his friends after school he still went to scouts and youth group and for a time robotics.  after a year we did the end of year testing.  He scored off the charts. His brother did too, and he had some pretty serious learning issues and handicaps.   His sophomore year we asked "Would you like to go back to Public School or stay in homeschool?  He immediately answered "Homeschool".  He admitted he liked not having all the distractions, he didnt miss the bullying and garbage that tends to go on. He liked being able to pick a subject he was interested in and just really go for it.  He showed an interest in computer programming and just did a ton of self study and has really become quite skilled in various programming languages, and has even submitted a bunch of games to various platforms!  I am super proud of him.

This year, after the death of his brother, we decided to pack up and leave NC for the wonderful wilds of Boise ID.  Turns out ID is a GREAT state to homeschool.  It is very similar to NC, in that parents are fully responsible for any education and can tailor any program to their childs needs.  I am definitely an "UNSCHOOL METHOD" kind of mom.  I dont have a super strict set course. We have our core stuff we have to do, but basically I provide him with the tools and he decides his pace and he decides his curriculum.  As long as it falls in the graduation guidelines I am A-OK with it.  He has proven himself to be very  ambitious with his interests and learning.  we have done everything from guitar, to computer programming, to robotics to bible study. This  year we are learning self defense and setting up a stream on his computer so he can learn social media and networking skills.  It will also go  towards his english requirements because it involves public speaking, and coming up with ideas and scripts.  I think I may also have him do a typing tutor type thing.  He is always trying to learn and do something new, and I am always willing to let him try.  I am super proud of how well he has done.

I cant believe this is his last year.  So in our new house he has a great bedroom. Our house is WAY bigger than our old house in NC and we have so much room for him to spread out and really set up a great space for his work.  I got him a corner desk to work from.  He set up his laptops, he has a tripod for his camera and a ring light as well. He uses that for his streaming.  He has a microphone for his streaming as well.  He talked me into getting him some LED strips to go around the top of his room. They change colors and can be set up to flash to different music or sounds.  His room is really cool!  He is getting a large whiteboard for logistics and schedules etc.  He has it all set up just how he likes and it is pretty cool.   I have included links for all products we got for his homeschool set-up and streaming, feel free to click and check it out!

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