How many signs and colors of fall have you spotted so far? Are you keeping a count of the various autumn shades in the treetops and alongside the road? Find unique ways to celebrate November.
Leaf-peep wherever you go this month. Look for the splendor of the season and count blessings every day. Be grateful for each day and thankful for the fellowship of family and friends. Make it a festive November with some of the zany holidays below and create a few unique family ones, too.
Family Stories Month – Does your family have favorite stories you tell and retell on a regular basis? Have you documented those stories? Find a way to preserve your favorite stories and memories, like a photo album that includes journaling space to record the story that goes along with the photo. And, even if you don’t have pictures to support the memory, take time to write a story about the favorite event that you’ll treasure for a long time. You could even turn it into a family journal that you update once a month as a family.
Picture Book Month – Always a favorite celebration for this author who loves picture books! Purchase or check out from the library new picture books to add to your list of read books or collection of personal books! Here’s a few new ones from friends, as well as my seasonal one, that I personally recommend for your enlightenment and enjoyment! “A Gingerbread House” by Julie Lavender, “My Thanksgiving Blessings” and “Fruit of the Spirit Bedtime Prayers” by Jill Roman Lord, “Pumpkin Day for book and Belle: A Celebration of Friendship and Thanksgiving” and “Love-a-by” by Laura Sassi, “Serah and the First Christmas” by Tama Fortner, “Love Is ….” by Michelle Medlock Adams and “C Is for Creation” by Crystal Bowman and Teri McKinley.
Sweet Potato Month – Gather in the kitchen and whip up this yummy recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole. Peel, cube and boil one and three-fourth’s pound of sweet potatoes in a large pot of salted water. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 or 20 minutes. Drain and cool, then place in a mixing bowl and blend until potatoes are pureed. Add these ingredients, one at a time, and mix well: four tablespoons of melted butter, one-half cup of milk, one-fourth cup of brown sugar, one teaspoon of vanilla extract, one-half teaspoon of salt and two large eggs. Pour the mixture in a casserole dish. Top with a layer of mini marshmallows. In another bowl, mix together one-half cup flour, one half cup brown sugar and three-fourths cup chopped pecans. Pour four tablespoons of melted butter into the bowl and stir together to form a crumble topping. Spread the topping over the marshmallows and casserole and press slightly on the topping. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25 to 30 minutes, until the topping is golden brown.
Scented Candle Day – Take a family field trip sometime this month to a store that sells scented candles. Enjoy the aroma of the candles on the shelf and then pick a favorite one to share with someone who needs a special treat this month. Maybe it’s a new mom, lonely neighbor or treasured teacher.
Look for Circles Day – Turn this into a month-long celebration with circles of all kinds. Play games of basketball, baseball, tennis, and soccer in the backyard or nearby park. Play 18 holes of disc golf. Eat several types of cookies this month and find a new recipe to bake up a batch of round goodness. Have a hula hoop contest to see who can keep the hoop turning the longest. Find an almost-round puddle of water to jump into!
Make biscuits and use the circle-top of a drinking glass to cut the biscuits if you don’t have a round biscuit cutter. Make a caterpillar craft by first cutting lots of circle shapes from colored construction paper. Glue the circles close together in caterpillar-fashion onto a long strip of freezer paper. Then add legs with a marker and give your critter facial features too. Enjoy circles all month long!
Autumn offers grand and gloriously-colorful adventures. Use every day of the month wisely to fit in lots of fun with the family. Be thankful for blessings every day and share a grateful heart with those around you. Happy Thanksgiving! Happy November.
Statesboro native Julie Lavender enjoys sharing fall with her hubby David, four kids, two sons-in-love, and three grandtreasures.