Autumn…an extraordinary time of year. A time for hooded sweatshirts, crisp cool air, brilliant colors, football games, tractor rides, pumpkin festivals, apple treats, hot chocolate, and bon fires. So much to do, so little time before the snow flies.

Embrace the season. Embrace the opportunities that await you. Don’t let your attitude start to take a dip just because the temperature outside is starting to dip. Below are a few ways to stay optimistic during this lovely time of year:

Hooded sweatshirts: Put on that hoodie and take a walk outside with a friend. Breathe in that fresh, crisp cool air. Ahhh…it ‘tastes’ delicious, doesn’t it?

Brilliant colors: Visit a place where the fall colors shine. The North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota is a perfect place to see some brilliant hues. Make sure to google when the color peak hits at the place you want to visit. You certainly don’t want to arrive there and find all the trees bare. That would be a bummer.

Football games: Who is your favorite football team? Is it a college team or a professional team? Whichever one you choose, try to attend a game. Try a little tailgating if you haven’t before. The excitement of the atmosphere is invigorating. Or…watching it on the big screen is okay too. Go Minnesota Vikings!

Tractor rides: You can take the boy off of the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the boy. (Likewise for the girls!) Our ‘boys’ sure love to help family with farming. Pause for a few hours and go for a ride in the tractor with your significant other for a few rounds during harvest. Watch the sunset as you do…it’s kind of romantic. 🙂

Pumpkin festivals: Horse rides, corn boxes instead of sandboxes, pumpkin carving competitions, and pumpkin launching are all entertaining activities happening at the local pumpkin fest. Children of all ages (yes that includes us) enjoy participating in the pumpkin festivities.

Apple treats: Honey Crisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn, Jazz…which kind is most “a-peeling” to you? Visit an apple orchard or attend an apple tasting event to find out. Then make some of your favorite apple treats—Caramel apples on a stick, apple pie, apple crisp, or applesauce—and savor your choice morsels. Pinterest has so many apple recipes. Have a fun time exploring!

Hot chocolate: A cup of hot chocolate on a cool crisp fall evening while sitting by a bon fire is so tranquil. Put together a hot chocolate bar, invite friends over and enjoy an evening of peaceful conversation. Top off the hot chocolate with some cinnamon whipped cream, and top off the bon fire with a little singing and guitar playing.

We have been blessed with a wonderful fall so far. We hope you have been blessed as well. Happy fall, everyone!

Stay Calm & Lead On!
Profs Dr. C. & Dr. V.