Today, I’m going to share the best fall bucket list with you. Others may call it their autumn bucket list. Here’s the deal: I’m looking outside my front window, and I can see the tree leaves start to turn from green to yellow or gold. For me, this means making soup, hot bread, and cinnamon rolls.
Sometimes, with all the “stuff” we hear or see on TV or online, we may forget how wonderful this season really is for us. Let’s step outside and look closely at the leaves. You may even see some fall flowers sprouting up. When I lived in northern Utah a few years ago, I had Chrysanthemums (Mums) that would bloom in the fall in my front and backyards.
UPDATE: Harry sent me this AWESOME LINK TO FREE PDF Books you can print: Survivor Library Books
Now that I have moved up north, I’ll plant some fun and colorful flowers. Let me know if you have some special fall flowers you love to grow or purchase. This is also when I change out my front door wreath. It may be corny, but a different wreath every so often brings me joy.
My life is simple, which is why I make my wreaths from wood. They don’t break or fall apart. I wash them each year and change them out when the time is right.
Mark is a sports nut who tells me fall is one of his favorite times of the year. Once he feels those crisp fall mornings, he’ll come inside and tell me football season is right around the corner. The great thing about living in Southern Utah was that he could play golf with his buddies all year long. It’s nice that fall brings a respite from the hot days of summer, yet it’s warm enough that he could still wear his shorts and short-sleeved golf shirts. Life is good when fall comes around.
I’ll bet you have some favorite fall activities, too. Not that you can’t do most of them at other times, but fall is a prime time to be active, creative, and prone to doing those things you love. I’ve compiled a list below of great fall activities I’ve brainstormed. Read through my list, and then send me what you’d like to add so you can have the best fall season ever.
The Best Fall Bucket List
“Prepare Your Family For Survival” by Linda Loosli
“Bugging In” by Raymond Dean White
In case you missed this post, 35 OTC Medications You Should Store
The Best Fall Bucket List
Let’s start a list of fun fall activities that never end, shall we? I’ll start with a few ideas, okay, many ideas! Some will be simple, and some may be dreams or take more effort, but let’s start NOW!
- You can find a pumpkin at your local grocery store, and you can start planning what it will look like on your porch or in the window after you or the kids carve it into a jack-o’-lantern. When our kids were young, we’d have a party and invite the neighbor kids over to make their own lanterns. Great memories!
- Go for a brisk walk and take in all the beautiful fall colors you don’t see any other time of year. Living near the mountains allows us to drive up the canyons to see the fall foliage. It’s as if the mountainsides are ablaze with vibrant red and yellow hues.
- Read a book outdoors. We’ve all been cooped up for months due to the sweltering heat, so get outside, relax in the cool afternoons and evenings, and cozy up with a great book and read something inspirational.
- Grab your slow cooker and make your favorite soup. As mentioned, I love soups in the fall, and they can come in all sorts of flavors and textures. Enjoy!
- Make some hot chocolate. Yes, we love the crisp air in the fall, but it’s also lovely to sit on your porch or back patio and sip on delicious hot chocolate. Many enjoy their pumpkin spice lattes this time of year, especially at a fun tailgate party.
- Go camping. Be careful with the deer hunters this time of year, but there’s nothing like actually sleeping, cooking, eating, walking/hiking in the fall. Most state and national parks are less crowded now that kids are back in school. Take advantage of fewer people while you enjoy the fall colors and cooler days.
- Plan a family bike ride. Your bike may have sat unused during those hot summer days. Get out, find a nice trail, and put the rubber on the road! We live a block from an access point to the Jordan River Trail here in South Jordan. I haven’t ridden a bike for years, but Mark and other family members have enjoyed having a well-maintained trail system available. He has friends who often use their e-bikes on the trail, riding for miles both north and south of us.
- Donate items you no longer use or need. We often hear about “spring cleaning,” but fall can be an ideal time to tackle those closets and garages when the cooler weather makes it more manageable. Help bless others’ lives with your donations to Savers, Goodwill, and Deseret Industries.
- Plan a picnic in the park. Most parks have trees that are turning color this time of year. Visit, sit under the most colorful one you can find, and daydream. Meals at home are great, but getting together at a park with a frisbee, ball, and mitt, or playing football toss and using children’s play equipment makes it even more meaningful.
- Make cinnamon rolls. You know how much I like to bake, particularly bread products. If you haven’t already, consider making some cinnamon rolls and sharing them with friends and neighbors.
- Teach someone to make biscuits. Fall is a great time to heat the oven because the temperature is more comfortable. Biscuits can be enjoyed with a wide variety of meals.
- Watch the sunset. Of course, the sun is going down earlier now. You can enjoy that hot chocolate on your patio or in your backyard while watching the sun disappear. We’ve had some large and bright full moons in the past couple of months. Maybe we’ll be able to enjoy them even more as nights get darker earlier.
- Invite neighbors for a potluck dinner. I love potluck meals. You can enjoy some unique entrees prepared by neighbors from all over the world.
- Take a road trip. The blessing of fall is that kids are back in school, and the tourists have gone home, for the most part. Take a trip when you have things all to yourself or with a significant other.
- Make a homemade pie. With the various holidays this time of year, we are often asked to bring a treat to a church or neighborhood function. Get busy and surprise yourself and others with a delicious pie or two. There is no need for just pumpkin; apples, pecans, and others are favorites for every occasion.
- Experiment with a new pumpkin recipe. Mark’s mom introduced me to pumpkin cookies, and we also liked her pumpkin cupcakes. Please give them a whirl. We enjoy ours with chocolate chips, so Mark picked up some large packages of our favorite semi-sweet chips today.
- Have friends over for a game night. There is nothing as fun as a group playing board games, solving puzzles, or playing Charades.
- Roast marshmallows. I recently wrote a post about starting and using a fire pit. I still remember our kids wanting to have a fire when we camped, and we definitely made roasting marshmallows part of the evening.
- Try a new restaurant. Are you as tired as I am of missing your favorite eating spot? Things are probably still pretty quiet. Give a new place a try.
- Call an old friend. We are hearing about how lonely people feel right now. Call an old friend and get up to date about life’s happenings. Mark just heard that one of his close friends from high school has recently passed away. He feels bad that they hadn’t kept in touch better!
- Take a nap. Mark and I have been very busy decluttering and cleaning our tiny home. I’ve been taking lots of naps lately and found them to be an absolute delight. Don’t feel guilty; relish the chance to unwind and regroup.
- Buy fresh flowers and enjoy them. Although they often show up during the summer, it’s not too late to enjoy some late bloomers this time of year.
- Watch an old movie. When I can sneak some TV time, mainly when Mark’s sports viewing has ended, we’ll pull up Netflix and watch an old favorite or one we haven’t ever seen. Funny, but we end up talking about the movie all day the next day.
- Declutter one room altogether. With all the stay-at-home time we’ve experienced, sometimes we get complacent with how things look. Take some time to declutter at least one room. Who knows, you might get inspired to work on the whole house, just one room at a time.
- Go to a corn maze. Yup, in many places, the corn has been harvested or is almost ready to be harvested. We had Staheli Farms near our home in the St. George area. They have an elaborate maze every fall; it’s a blast!
- Carve a pumpkin. As grandparents, we hadn’t carved a pumpkin for years until we moved back north a couple of years ago. It’s one of the challenges of living away from family. Check into finding a pumpkin patch where you can pick your pumpkins. That adds even more joy and adventure to the process.
- Go to the zoo. Although some animals may be preparing to hibernate this time of year, most remain active and enjoyable to interact with. Invite a neighbor and her kids to join you for a fun day.
- Visit a Farmer’s Market. A wide variety of items are harvested and ready to purchase. Whether for fall meals or to dehydrate for the future, consider getting out and saving some money while providing financial support for our struggling farmers. It’s been a challenging year for many of them, marked by floods and drought. They also often have crafts for sale that you can use to dress up for those annual Thanksgiving traditions of family gatherings.
- Bake Halloween cookies. In a recent post about Halloween, I mentioned that few people still give out freshly baked goods to trick-or-treat kids. Get busy and be the exception in your neighborhood. Hopefully, parents will let their kids eat freshly baked cookies; it’s worth a try.
- Dehydrate some sliced apples. Many varieties of apples are being picked right now. Before dehydrating mine, I enjoy some slices with cinnamon or soft caramel. This is a great treat this time of year. Some apple orchards will let you pick your own apples, which adds to the fun.
- Do something nice for someone. With many people feeling the need to stay close to home, consider reaching out to those who might appreciate help with shopping, walking their dog, sharing a home-prepared meal, or simply having a sit-down visit. We all could use a lift!
- Listen to the birds. Yes, many of the birds are starting their flight south. Take some time to sit in your backyard and listen to them as they travel through. We live near a group of fishing ponds. This year, we’ve seen and heard a flock of ducks and geese using the ponds as resting places on their long journey.
- Bake a cake. Recently, someone told me they hadn’t eaten a freshly baked, made-from-scratch, neatly decorated cake in ages. I filled the bill and loved every minute of the experience, as did they.
- Cuddle with a pet. We’ve finished unpacking and decluttering, but our dog feels neglected. Mark is better at it than I am, but we’re trying to do better. He takes our little Stella dog for a half-hour walk many mornings. She loves it, sleeps better, and is in a better mood when we do.
- Make your favorite squash soup. Many varieties of squash have done well this year. Mark and I have enjoyed our zucchini bread, but with the cooler weather, we’ll be putting our garden squash to work, adding flavor and texture to our next batch of homemade soup.
- Make a loaf of pumpkin bread. As mentioned above, pumpkin can be used in a wide variety of baked goods. Bake some loaves, take them around to neighbors, and save one or two for your family.
- Rotate your pantry items. With all the good sales going on right now, it’s a perfect time to check your pantry inventory and do the annual rotation to use up those items near their “use by” date.
- Restock your pantry as needed. While you’re at it, stock up on those case good sales items to replenish the pantry; you’ll be glad you did with the increase in food prices we are seeing right now.
- Stock up on water. It’s hard to believe, but some places in the western US have run out of water and need the government to bring in supplies. Don’t get caught short if your area runs tight during the drought; get some water.
- Replenish your OTC medications. With cold and flu season upon us, many stores are stocking up and offering a wide range of OTC medications on sale. Take advantage while you can.
- Turn on the news. I know it can get a little irritating at times to hear what’s being said, but I do feel that, even with the downer information, we all need to stay informed.
- Stay off social media for 24 hours. I hit the limit earlier this week. There were too many questions and strange comments on Facebook. I’m taking a hiatus.
- Make a batch of muffins. Muffins are a great comfort food I genuinely enjoy. If you can make your own from scratch, you are a superstar! Here is Leanne’s Two-Ingredient Muffins.
- Organize your garage. During the summer months, with all the yardwork or after a few camping trips, our garages tend to get pretty cluttered. Take some time to put things back and properly organize them, so you can easily find what you need next time.
- Use your Dutch oven outside. I love cooking with my Dutch oven, and adding a campfire to the experience makes it twice as good.
- Change out your car or truck windshield wipers. With winter just around the corner, we’ll all deal with rain, snow, ice, and more. Those windshield wipers need to be in the best shape possible so you can see your way around. What an inexpensive way to make travel that much safer.
- Have your tires checked. A few years ago, at this time of year, I had a flat tire. The tricky thing was that my spare was also flat, but I didn’t know it. You’ll need to ensure your tires are at the correct pressure and have lots of treads to get around. It’s money well spent to be safe and avoid regrets when visiting family and friends this time of year.
- Fill your tank with gas. I’ve always advised my readers to keep their tanks at least half to 3/4 full. You never know when an emergency might impact your travel plans.
- Plant some garlic. Although Mark can’t tolerate much garlic in our meal preps, I love garlic as a seasoning. Plant some now so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor next year. You’ll be glad you did.
- Make some cornbread. I didn’t realize it, but many people really enjoy cornbread with meals. I’ve rounded up some great recipes. You may want to do the same.
- Make caramel apples. Earlier in this post, I mentioned that you should dip apple slices in caramel. Now I’m suggesting you dip your whole apple in that caramel, oh my!
- Indulge in caramel popcorn: How To Make The Best Caramel Popcorn Ever. Mark’s dad’s favorite treat was caramel popcorn.
- Pick apples. With apples coming into harvest/picking time, why not make picking apples a family event, as mentioned above? Be careful on that ladder, but you may actually save some money if you choose your own.
- Go shopping for a Halloween costume. Studies have shown that in the US, people spend more on costumes than on decorations and candy. Join the wave and have some fun this year! Plan a fun Halloween party and hold a customer contest with your invited neighbors.
- Bring your cozy sweaters out so they are ready to wear. Yup, evenings are cooler now. Why not bring out some of your “cool” sweaters and show them off?
- Roast some pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds can be used for more than just cooking. Roast some seeds and chew them as a special treat; you’ll love them.
- Have a warm cup of apple cider. Just like hot chocolate, a cup of warm apple cider makes for a great drink to enjoy at parties or on your porch or patio as you wind down your day. Right now, most stores will have it on sale, with Halloween coming soon.
Outdoor Adventures
- Visit a pumpkin patch and pick your own pumpkin
- Go apple picking at a local orchard
- Take a scenic drive to see the fall foliage
- Go on a hayride or horse-drawn wagon ride
- Hike a leaf-covered trail
- Have a cozy picnic surrounded by fall colors
- Visit a corn maze or a harvest festival
- Collect colorful leaves for crafts or décor
- Attend a local farmers’ market for seasonal produce
Cozy Home Activities
- Bake homemade pumpkin bread or apple crisp
- Make a big pot of chili or soup for a chilly night
- Light fall-scented candles (think cinnamon, clove, or pumpkin spice)
- Decorate your home with pumpkins, plaid, and warm colors
- Have a fall movie night (try Hocus Pocus or You’ve Got Mail)
- Try a new fall drink recipe — apple cider, pumpkin spice latte, or chai
- Host a bonfire with s’mores and blankets
- Start a gratitude journal for November
Family Fun
- Carve or paint pumpkins together
- Roast pumpkin seeds after carving
- Make leaf rubbings or fall crafts with kids
- Take family photos in cozy sweaters
- Have a backyard campout with hot cocoa
- Visit a local fair or Halloween event
- Read fall-themed books or stories
Seasonal Celebrations
- Host a Friendsgiving dinner
- Hand out treats on Halloween night
- Try a new Thanksgiving recipe
- Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
- Plan a fall weekend getaway to the mountains
- Start a new autumn tradition with your loved ones
Just for You
- Spend a quiet morning with coffee and a good book
- Write down your goals before the new year
- Treat yourself to a cozy sweater or blanket
- Take a break from screens and enjoy nature
- Reflect on what you’re thankful for this season
Final Word
I hope you have a wonderful day today! If you have some ideas to add to the best bucket list, please share them. Please keep prepping. May God bless this world, Linda
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