Simple Fall Rituals/Transitions - Page 3

[phroggies]

Originally Posted by naturemama1

I also get really inspired by my circles of mom-friends, both IRL and online, and the handful of homeschooling blogs I read every week. I'm not a MDC regular but I can see that the same sort of idea-sharing and mutual inspiration goes on here, too. We are so blessed to be surrounded by women who motivate and encourage us in our mothering! This thread title reminded me to share the "Sun and Candlelight" blog; it always fills me with that fire of, "Ooh, I want to do that too!" I'm constantly adapting Dawn's ideas for crafts and activities to do with my little ones. Check out her seasonal-celebration ideas for the fall months:
http://dawnathome.typepad.com/by_sun...-and-pl-2.html
http://dawnathome.typepad.com/by_sun...-and-plan.html
http://dawnathome.typepad.com/by_sun...-and-plan.html

Wow, what an awesome blog. I want to be her when I grow up!

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by sillymomma

What's a conker?

Looks like it's a buckeye...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conker

[sillymomma]

Hey, thanks for that link. That's fascinating. And I followed it through to a photo of the tree. Beautiful!

[unlegal]

:

[KathinJapan]

: :

will post my own ideas soon
nakking
Kathryn

[aweynsayl]

Originally Posted by phroggies

Hey, aweynsayl, where is your equinox thread? I did a search but I'm not finding it. My thing about religion was just that we have a mixed religion household and so often customs from very specific traditions wouldn't work for us. But I'm certainly willing to pilfer your thread.

The grape recipes are perfect. We're actually planning a grape-picking trip this week, and I can't wait to try these.

dont those sound lovely? i cant wait for it to be cool enough to justify leaving the oven on for 40 min.

here's my thread. :

[amydawnsmommy]

For me September is a time to get back to schedule and back to basics.

I've been able (already) to do a really nice autumn home cleaning! Woohoo!

I am on a roll and hoping to have our home cleaner, simplified with a more relaxing atmosphere in the weeks to come!

I've also made zucchini bread, made sweet potato fries, bought beets to boil, been working on the compost and bought two pots of mums.

[JenLove]

Originally Posted by amydawnsmommy

I've also made zucchini bread, made sweet potato fries, bought beets to boil, been working on the compost and bought two pots of mums.

Your cooking sounds lovely. How do you make sweet potato fries?

[JenLove]

I'm having mulled apple cider right now. This makes me believe it's fall.

[Lilcrunchie]

nak-
drinking:
pumpkin lattes
homemade chai (the recipe from allrecipes rocks)
warm unsweetened cranberry juice w/ a liitle cinammon & agave or xylitol
mulled apple cider

we pumpkin pick, do a hayride at the pumpkin patch, etc. Roast pumpkin seeds.

not sure if anyone posted this, but ds likes to do nature bracelets. Take masking tape, fit around wrist sticky side out. Collect leaves, seeds, etc by sticking them to the bracelet. Make a nature table w/ little gourds, collections of nuts, seeds, etc

Also, I got this book from the library recently-there are ideas for each season-
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...sunandcandl-20

Here in NC it has been mid 80s/low 90s, "cooling" to 80ish this weekend. I'm ready for fall!

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by JenLove

How do you make sweet potato fries?

I'm not the op, but I make mine by washing sweet potatoes and cutting them into fry shapes. Then I place them on a baking sheet and drizzle olive oil on top. Spread it around so they are coated. At this point, I usually add sea salt, but sometimes I add cinammon or other fallish spices.

Then I bake in a 400 degree oven for about 25-30 miinutes until they are soft. I usually flip them over halfway through as well.

HTH!

[sphinxie]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

I'm not the op, but I make mine by washing sweet potatoes and cutting them into fry shapes.

: thanks!

Do you peel them?

Is a baking sheet specifically flat, not like a baking pan with sides?

[aweynsayl]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

At this point, I usually add sea salt, but sometimes I add cinammon or other fallish spices.

i love mine with something spicy, too!
yum.
yum.
yum!

[aweynsayl]

Originally Posted by sphinxie

: thanks!

Do you peel them?

Is a baking sheet specifically flat, not like a baking pan with sides?

i dont peel. i use a "jelly roll" pan... baking sheet with sides.

[Vanessa]

I use a jelly roll pan, too, and I don't peel them, either. I'm sure you could use a Pyrex dish or whatever you have as long as they are able to spread out.

[JenLove]

Originally Posted by Lilcrunchie

nak-
drinking:
pumpkin lattes

Do you make your own? If so, how?

Thanks for the sweet potato fries recipe. It'll be on my next grocery list.

[nonniecita]

I lovvve sweet potato fries, I put coconut or olive oil and bake at 400 for maybe 30 minutes...mmmmmmm.....

I love fall, too!

This is such an awesome thread.
We're eating outside on a blanket tonight if dh ever gets home from his walk with dd! I made the squash pasta recipe posted on page 2 by and it is soooooooooooooo incredibly good, I don't know how much longer I can wait!

[cloudswinger]

I'm in S Florida and Vietnamese, so since there's no fall to speak of, I've decided to start taking my dd to the Mid-Autumn festival (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival) as the beginning of fall, then we'll decorate for Halloween and all that. She didn't want to eat the mooncakes, but loves carrying the lanterns.

I think reading the legends about the 10 suns, there must have been a very hot summer a long time back!

[amydawnsmommy]

Originally Posted by JenLove

Your cooking sounds lovely. How do you make sweet potato fries?

Thanks.

I peel the sweet potatoes, chop them in half and then into thick fries. Then I toss them well with olive oil and spices. I use garlic powder, rosemary, italian seasoning, greek seasoning, whatever I feel like at the moment. For four medium sweet potatoes I used 3 tbsp of olive oil. Then I spread them out on in a glass baking dish and bake them at 450F for 30-40 minutes turning them every 10 minutes. They are really yummy!

I need to pick up more sweet potatoes at the store so we can enjoy them again!

[rachelmarie]

I love all the ideas shared so far!

We go apple picking, pick out pumpkins - and this year we'll carve one, eat lots of soups and stews with warm crusty bread, collect fallen leaves, acorns, etc., spend a lot of time outside enjoying the (finally!) cooler weather, etc.

I'm thinking I will set out a big wooden bowl we have with some fall-ish fabric and anytime ds collects leaves or anything from outside we'll add it to the bowl. I can also put in some small pumpkins and maybe some of that colorful corn. I like this idea!