An Autumn Bucket List

Autumn is in the air, the air is losing its warmth and becoming crisp again. It’s the time of year when we all get cozy, and remember to be thankful. It’s my favorite season for many reasons, the colors of the trees, the crispness in the air, and it feeds my sweater, apple, and tea obsessions. 
    
​There are a lot of fall activities that make the season unique, but I think it can be easy to forget to do them in the business of life. So… without further ado, here’s my fall bucket list!

• Go Apple Picking

I grew up in an apple-rich area, and am an apple snob of sorts. There is something so lovely about going to a pick-your-own apple orchard in late September, tasting dozens of apples, and stuffing your basket to the very brim. 

• Bake something with apples

This time of year everyone goes gaga for pumpkin, but honestly, I don’t get the hype, for me, apples are where it’s at! One of my favorite things to bake with is of course, the noble apple, pies, turnovers, breads, muffins, and cookies, just baking the apples, whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll be delicious. (later this fall I will post about my favorite things to do with apples, so stay tuned!)

• Buy a new sweater

Sweaters are one of my many weaknesses, it’s funny because I used to hate them, but now, I can’t get enough. Fall is the season for sweaters, treat yourself by buying a new one! Personally, I love chunky button-up cardigans.

• Go to a fair

The sign that fall is beginning is the start of local fairs. Almost every town in my area seems to have a fair of sorts, pick one and spend the day. There is something so nostalgic about fairs, the food, the rides, the barns full of animals, the handmade quilts, and all the vendors. 

• Go on a leaf treasure hunt

When the leaves start turning, there is nothing like going on a long walk or taking a drive. Take an afternoon to go looking for leaves, look at them, gather them, and put them in your journal or make a project with them.

• Make an Autumn Playlist

This year I started making playlists for each season. The songs are specifically vintage (think Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra.) It’s not the only music I listen to during that season, but I love vintage music that invokes the feeling of the season. Let me know if you have any song recommendations for me to add to my playlist!

{photo credit - Chad Madden on Unsplash}

• Watch a Movie that feels like Autumn

I was having a hard time thinking of what individual movie I would recommend for fall, but here are a few that fit the bill - the entire Harry Potter series, The Stone of Destiny, (a film about Scottish college students who steal the stone from under the throne in Westminster Abbey.), Cinderella (because… pumpkins!), Little Women (specifically the 2019 one, I think this one is the most autumnal), and It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, or Happy Thanksgiving Charlie Brown.

• Read Some Autumnal Books

Of course, I was going to recommend reading, my two favorite fall reads are Anne of The Island by L.M. Montgomery and The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare.  Fall is also just a great time to read nostalgic books, I find myself gravitating towards books like Charlotte’s Web and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. 

• Make a cozy dinner

Soups, meat pies, and roasts are perfect for family dinners on chilly nights! I love British-inspired meat pies, that's something I would highly recommend you try.

• Go shopping

When I say shopping, I don’t mean grocery shopping, I mean shopping for sweaters and books with your favorite hot drink in your hand. I hope to go used book shopping soon, it’s always fun to add more to my collection!

• Go to a corn maze

Some of my favorite experiences are getting lost in corn mazes with my friends. Find one near you, gather a huge group of friends, then it’s get lost. Good luck!

• Explore a local museum

I am always hungry for history in autumn, I’m not sure why. I love looking for new museums in my area to gain a better understanding of local history, it’s something I would highly recommend doing. You may discover something amazing right in your town.

{photo credit - Johannes Plenio on unsplash}

I hope your fall is amazing! 
What are some of your plans to optimize this season? Do you have any favorite things to do?

Belle Thomas

​​Belle is the writer behind An Old Fashioned Girl. She is passionate about Jesus, good books, and living a beautiful life.