When temperatures hover in the low 90s in the month of October, one must sometimes use the imagination to conjure images of fall. Autumn is truly on the way, however, bringing less humidity, shorter days and sightings of crimson and gold dotting hardwood trees. Plan lots of outdoor family activities this month to enjoy the beauty of the season. Locate a pumpkin patch nearby, watch for scarecrows, create a homemade costume or two, take in a football game and try a new cider recipe. Celebrate 31 days of fun this month with the family and squeeze in the wacky holidays below for tons of family merriment.
➤ National Taco Day — Mix up this appetizer recipe to celebrate the day. Combine in a microwave-safe bowl: 2 cups of shredded, cooked chicken; one can of condensed cream of chicken soup; 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese; one 5-ounce can of evaporated milk; 1/3 cup of finely chopped onion; one 4-ounce can of chopped green chilies, and one envelope of taco seasoning. Stir well. Microwave on high for 4 minutes, one minute at a time, stirring after each minute. Microwave at 2-minute intervals until heated through, stirring after each interval. Serve with a favorite chip or cracker or raw vegetable.
➤ World Architecture Month — Look online to find various types of architectural design. Then head downtown and go for a walking tour to look for different construction examples. Look for arches, symmetric designs, over-hanging rafters, balconies, dormer windows, eaves, balusters, bay windows and a host of other creative pieces of architecture. Can you find examples of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns? Keep your eyes open throughout the month for unique and creative pieces of work around town and beyond.
➤ Dollhouse Month — Create an architectural beauty of your own with a collection of shoeboxes and other recycled boxes and materials. Pick out boxes for dollhouse rooms. Use stickers and markers, craft materials and glue to add wallpaper and windows and curtains and carpet and floor rugs. Arrange and stack the boxes to form a dollhouse and tape them together. Use other recycled items, like smaller boxes or cotton balls or cloth scraps or small toys to add furniture to the dollhouse.
➤ School Bus Safety Month and National Field Trip Month — Combine these two holidays by visiting the local library and checking out a handful of books in "The Magic School Bus" series by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. Third grade teacher, Miss Frizzle, takes her class on some intriguing and educational field trips, and the family can journey along with the class’s adventures by reading a different story every night. Then plan a family field trip of your own to a new place or revisit a familiar one.
➤ National Forest Products Week — Find several hardwood trees in the back yard and use skeins of yarn or string to create a tree fort. Wrap the yarn or string around and around the base of the trees, leaving an opening between two of the trees. Visit the fort often during the month and watch as the leaves begin to miraculously change into their autumn-colored costumes. Watch for bird sightings while in the fort and look for squirrels gathering acorns to store for another day.
Autumn offers so much beauty for the one who searches with eyes wide open. Enjoy fall with all five senses, taking in the aroma of apple and pumpkin pie or sampling apples dipped in caramel or funnel cakes sprinkled with powdered sugar. Visit the parade route, the fairgrounds and church fall festivals. Spend all of autumn making awesome family memories. You’ll be so glad you did.
Statesboro native Julie Bland Lavender is married to David Lavender and enjoys celebrating with children Jeremy, Jenifer, Jeb Daniel and Jessica.