The Soft Feel of Autumn

Loving these cooler temps...they're making me want to wrap myself in big, bulky, warm sweaters and slip into well-worn boots...

 

Autumn Bucket List Progress

In September, I posted our family's Autumn Bucket List. It's been so much fun checking to-do items off this list!

So far, we have:

Gone Apple Picking at Patterson Fruit Farm and visited their Pumpkin Patch

Carved a pumpkin

Made Fall Cookies (pre-made Pillsbury count, right?)

Took a nature walk (and got to pick up one of those Horseapples)

Went trick or treating and entered a Trick or Trot race

And now, we can add having a "Photoshoot in a Leaf Pile, then jumping in" to our list!




Maybe this weekend, we'll have to tackle baking pies and s'mores and, if the weather allows, squeeze in an outdoor picnic!

Thank You, Mother Nature

Not only did I have a great 4-mile run during my lunch, but I was treated to the most beautiful colors of leaves that Mother Nature could provide. Spectacular!

Patterson Fruit Farm Afternoon

Rain, rain, go away...

In spite of the downpour, we still managed to have a fun afternoon at Patterson Fruit Farm. As with tradition, the middle of October calls for a trip for apple picking and selecting a pumpkin or two for carving. Both Bridget and Megan selected their own pumpkins - carving will take place next weekend! Apple picking was fun albeit freezing cold. The Ida Reds were especially delicious as you get to taste or sample each of the apple varieties. We came home with a wonderful haul of Ida Reds, Jonathon and Golden Delicious apples. Can't wait to start baking!


We're soaked in this picture and had to take it under a tent because the rain was falling too hard!


Thank goodness we wore our rain boots - the mud around the apple trees was thick and slippery. But just look at how delicious these apples are - well worth the rain!

Fall Bucket List

Autumn is my absolute favorite time of the year. How can it not be? Running is a pleasure, the colors of nature are at their most vibrant, and you can bring out the sweatshirts (yay!). I came across this cool little Fall Bucket List, so I thought I'd give it a go for my fam. Adapt it for you and see what you can check off as well!

Apple Picking

Make Leaf Art

Photoshoot in a Leaf Pile, then jump in!

Make Caramel Apples

Enjoy S'mores by a Fire

Go to a Pumpkin Patch

Make Fall Cookies

Take a Nature Walk (and Learn!)

Go Trick or Treating (or, for us, enter a Trick or Trot Race)

Bake Pies (suggestions?)

Carve a Pumpkin

Have an Outdoor Picnic While We Still Can!

Do you have any Autumn traditions or celebrations? What would you add to your list?

Mmmm Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

One of my favorite fall recipes - so quick, easy and lowfat.

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
2 cups canned pumpkin
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup fat-free vanilla pudding (I use those little pudding cups)
4 large egg whites
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1-1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Stuff To Do
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine first 5 ingredients, stirring with a whisk. Combine flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture, stirring just until moist. Stir in chocolate chips.

3. Spoon batter into 2 (8x4-inch) loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes, then serve.

152 calories, 5g fat, 2g protein, 20g carbs, 0 cholesterol, 137mg sodium.

Best of all, your house will smell amazing! Enjoy!

Feels Like It To Me

Finally, a little less summer...a little more Autumn. So excited since it's my absolutely favorite time of the year!

The Heat Is Getting Old

Indulge me while my thoughts drift off to autumn. You know Autumn...it's when the humidity begins making its exit. When the air just smells better...no reason or explanation. When the temps dip in the 60s and you get excited to take a run. When you can wear jeans without sweating. Love Fall. And I love these two outfits.

My Morning View

Saturday morning I had a wonderful 20-miler where the body felt just right. I had on new shoes (I don't even know how many pairs of Brooks I've bought), a fresh attitude and some good tunes on my iPhone. After my run, I was treated to coffee at Erie Island with my two daughters and even had a surprise "Karen sighting" as well. Great morning and afternoon.

Happy Autumn, everyone!

Fall in Love with Autumn

Love love love autumn. Saturday, we all worked in the yard raking leaves and cleaning up the flower beds. What a mess! Afterwards, we all loaded up in the car and went to Pettiti's to get harvest decorations and mums. They had this wonderful "front porch special" which consisted of 2 pumpkins, 2 medium size mums, 1 large mum, a bale of hay and a nice gathering of cornstalks for $30. How great to take the guesswork out of decorating. Our house now has fantastic fall curb appeal.

Today puppy and I went for a marvelous 7 mile trail run. I don't know who was happier - him or me! I'm not 100% back to my old fitness self, but I'm getting darn close. Seriously, is there any better sound to hear while running than crunching or rustling through leaves? Love this season!

Happy Autumn to all!