Harvest musings

As the cooler weather approaches, I always think a lot about preparing for winter. With all the economic difficulties going on, this had been an even stronger urge this year. Last week I made rose hip jelly. Yesterday I made mint jelly. I also dried a number of herbs from the garden. We've been picking tomatoes and carrots almost daily for the past few weeks. Soups are a big menu item again. I think these are all comfort types of activities.

Rose hips are beautiful remnants of the roses that once graced the plants. This was the first time I've tried making this jelly and it turned out very well. What fun to make this beautiful food.

Cider time is here again. Go to a cider mill if you have a chance and partake of freshly pressed apple cider. Take some home to make hot mulled cider. Cider always indicates autumn to me right along with the crisper air.

Halloween week activity suggestions

Besides eating a lot of candy and maybe working on costumes, it can be hard to know what kinds of activities are good this week for our kids. This is a great week to read about Ichabod Crane and the legend of sleepy hollow by Washington Irving. You can read aloud together as a family and see where some of the images we currently use for Halloween come from. You might also want to do a little research with your kids about where the customs come from-and how different they are in other countries. There are very religious origins for Halloween as well as some not so obvious. It can be a very fun research project.

Even if you already have a jack-o-lantern on the porch, you might want to visit a pumpkin patch for an additional pumpkin you don't carve. It can serve as a harvest decoration for Thanksgiving. Picking your own helps our kids connect a little better with nature.

Another connection opportunity available for those with nearby apple orchards is a visit to a cider mill. Watching them press apples is a wonderful fall experience. If that isn't possible, you can still connect to the apple harvest by making some caramel apples as a family activity. It can be fun, messy and a great treat.

Have a happy Halloween.