Things I Love: September 2016
The mornings start cool and the first few leaves crunch on the sidewalk as the kids walk to school. Fall is in the air and after such a humid summer, we all seem to gravitate towards pumpkins, apple picking, cider and donuts, and football. I love where we live with the change of seasons so visible and predictable every year. Some of my favorite thing for the is season are from where we live.
Soon my family and I will be picking our own apples as we do every year here in Michigan. Our favorite mill is Schwallier's Country Basket. We have been going to this orchard since our kids were little and it is always a great fall tradition. Grandpa is always at the door to greet us and give us apples to taste and baskets to fill. We always find our pumpkins here too and finish the day with homemade cider and warm donuts. They just don’t get any better!
We make sure to bring extra cider and donuts home and I’ve found these mulling spices from Chicago are great to simmer with cider and take to football or soccer games. I’ll enjoy some at home in my newly designed mugs and take a thermos full to a game in my vintage Aladdin Stanley Vacuum Bottle that was made in Tennessee.
I’ve learned from my mom and from her dad to always keep a wool blanket (a car robe) in our vehicle for our Midwest winters and it has come in handy for more than one game! I love these Pak-A-Robes from the Fairbault Mill in Minnesota. Such great plaids and colors! I have ones that I’ve picked up antiquing, but they are still made today.
I have been using my beach tote to cart all these things this fall and the waterproof lining is so handy for more than just wet bathing suits! It’s been fun to launch these totes with new bucket list designs this fall for Wisconsin, Chicago, Buffalo, and Pennsylvania!
What are some of your favorite fall traditions where you live?