Dedicated autumn enthusiasts. You know the type. You probably even have one in your family; most families do. Maybe it’s even you. The people who simply can’t wait for summer’s bright humid days to transition into crisp air with crunching leaves underfoot. 

The friend who sports graphic tees with pumpkin spice lattes and sayings like “It’s fall y’all!” The sister who decks everything in deep red apples, scarecrows and jack-o-lantern decor. The neighbor who embellishes their mailbox with cornstalks and chrysanthemums. 

Here in New England, our population is scattered with folks who can’t get enough of fall. In fact, my favorite color is autumn in New England. So let’s lean into this instinctive attraction to the start of sweater weather. Here’s my autumn bucket list to assuage any pumpkin lover’s need to get their fall on. 

Spoil Their Senses with Rich Fall Flavors 

Autumn memories have so much to do with scent. So you can start by brewing a pot of mulled cider or homemade hot cocoa and watch their face light up. Or surprise them with a pint of  pumpkin ice cream—yum! Light a granny smith apple candle next time you’re cuddling on the porch. And dig out grandma’s pumpkin pie recipe to try your hand at homemade dough. 

If you’re from around here, then, most likely, your autumn childhood memories include a giant pile of leaves for jumping and sticking your hands into slimy pumpkin centers. Who can resist these marvelous pastimes? I bet you can smell dry leaves and cold pumpkin carcasses just thinking about it.

Make a Day of It

Plan a whole day dedicated to everything quaint and lovely about the Monadnock Region. Soak in our world-famous fall foliage, pull over at our quintessential covered bridges, bring the family outdoors for apple picking and hayrides and meadander the shelves of a tightly packed antique shop. 

For folks who live here, we tend to get accustomed to the goodness found in our sweet little corner of the world. Pause to treasure our surroundings and help your fall lover to relish our one-of-a-kind seasons. And don’t forget to grab a few photos to use in your holiday greetings.

The Golden Hour

Is what a friend of my calls the hour before sunset. When the streaming sunlight deepens into a warm golden glow. Start your evening out with s’mores and a campfire listening to that perfect Autumn playlist. As the stars alight one by one, let the music die out, lay back on warm blankets, lean into cozy sweaters, and listen to night falling.

We play a game where whoever calls out seeing each celestial object first gets points. 1 point per star, 5 for planets, 10 for a whole constellation, 20 for the moon and 50 for a shooting star. Don’t worry too much about keeping score; we all end up winning a beautiful even under the glittering midnight sky. 

Dishing Out and Scoring Points

You can’t celebrate fall in New England without game night. Sunday nights when you invite your fellow football fans to catch the game and entertain them with mouthwatering eats. What’s on my appetizer menu? Dips galore for starters. Spinach and artichoke dip (with or without sausage), bacon cheddar onion dip, buffalo chicken and blue cheese dip, and for my sweet tooth, cinnamon bun cheesecake dip to dunk graham cracker pretzels. 

But I don’t stop there. I load up charcuterie boards with salty olives, pickles, dilly beans, sweet nibbles of grapes, crunchy bagel bites, and creamy soft cheeses. I scatter around small bowls of spreadables like Roasted Garlic Onion Jam, Wild Maine Blueberry Jam and Hot Pepper Jelly from Stonewall Kitchen. Then, I top it off with Teriyaki, Cheddar & Pepper Cheese & Jalapeno Summer Sausage slices from Thousand Hills. Ah, the flavors just go on and on, but the main focus is scoring those touchdowns!

Autumn is My Happy Place

However you embrace Autumn around here, it is a time for a deep breath and thoughts of sincere gratitude. A sofa for scanning old photos of those loved and lost. A reflective moment. A line sent to someone you miss. A warm embrace. A thoughtful gift for someone else. A shared smile. 

Like leaves, memories and moments fall away gently if not nurtured. So, call up your pumpkin spice lover and set a date for some fall fun.