Archives for 2012

2012: My Top 5 On-the-Go Fall Family Activities

October 12, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Anthony Easton)

With Halloween and Thanksgiving coming, the local fall activities are increasing in our area.

I love the many options to go out with our family to enjoy the fall season. From trips to the playground to attending a soccer game, we enjoy the outdoor activities during the autumn season.

With so many choices, I chose these adventures as my top 5 on-the-go fall family activities:

My Top 5 On-the-Go Fall Family Activities

#5 – Romping through a corn maze

Before Paul and I had children, we visited a corn maze each year. We loved the 1-2 hour adventure through the maze finding our way out.

With younger children, we limit the corn maze to the smaller options at the apple farm. If you have upper elementary-age or older children, then they may enjoy an adventure through a local corn maze. I have seen a few daily deals for corn mazes, so check to see what’s available in your area.

#4 – Roasting marshmallows around a bonfire with friends

My husband and children love making s’mores. Preferring my chocolate separate from the graham cracker and the marshmallow, I like toasting my marshmallows and eating them plain.

Hanging out with friends around a warm bonfire on a brisk autumn evening mesmerizes me with the crackling wood and reddish-yellow flares. Ah, the wonderful sights and smells of fall!

#3 – Watching the live performances at our Fall Festival

Even though I am working at our fall festival, I love to watch the live performances with my children. Occurring in the center of the KidZone, the live performance continue throughout the event. I get to watch with my children while staying available should a problem arise. I love mixing my responsibilities with family fun at our event.

To find local festivals, check Craig’s List for activities and events under the community category. Continue visiting that site to find new or updated information on community events as Craig’s List is updated regularly.

#2 – Taking a hayride

Sitting on the hay and riding through the woods with the putting sound of the tractor over the uneven trail rings in the fall season. Enjoying two thus far this fall, I always look forward to an adventure on a hayride.

#1 – Visiting the pumpkin patch at the Apple Farm

The #1 pick for my top 5 on-the-go fall family activities is our annual visit to the apple farm. Besides getting a bag or two of apples, we pick our pumpkins, take a hayride, romp through the corn mazes, snap pictures, visit the animals, eat a picnic lunch, bounce on the tire jumps, solve our scavenger hunt, and mine gems. Visiting the apple farm is the highlight of our fall.

In planning your fall activities, you might attend a sporting event, schedule family portraits, visit a local park, or choose one of my top 5 on-the-go fall family activities. However you choose to spend your fall season enjoy those close to you while using time wisely. In two weeks, I’ll share my top 5 without-leaving-home fall family activities. Happy planning!

Question: What are your top 5 fall family activities?

2012: Garden Journal – October Edition

October 11, 2012 by Tracy

Turning from summer into fall, our garden continues to bring forth fruit. 🙂

At the beginning of the season, I only expected growth through August, but this garden has exceeded my expectations. Since our last update, our active garden yielded these results by the end of September:

Strawberries

When I came outside after a thunderstorm to check on the garden, I found a visitor caught in the net.

Brave Paul freeing the bird caught in the net.

Scared to death, I gave him a lecture on staying out of my garden, and then asked Paul to free him. I then reset the net, but the little nibbles on the strawberries continue.

Even with the “sharing” with the birds, our plants produced 16 strawberries.

Tomatoes

Our four cherry tomato plants produced 66 tomatoes even after losing so many when I pruned the plants in August.

Cucumbers

The cucumber plants did not recover. Though done for the season, I really enjoyed the cucumbers and will watch them more closely next year.

When my son brought home a couple of Lima beans from a project at school, we planted them in the empty part of the garden where the cucumbers had grown. Though no sprouts yet, we continue to water.

Lettuce

Also gone are our romaine and our butter crunch bibb lettuce. Learning that lettuce does not like heat, we might need to find a better place to grow lettuce next year.

Peppers

Harvested 1 beautiful green pepper which I rinsed, dried, and placed in the freezer.

Carrots

The green leaves are growing taller which usually means the carrots have grown as deep as they can. I will harvest these this month and report back in November of the results.

Onions

Like the carrots, the green stems are growing more. Looks like I have some digging to do to rescue the onions from the earth.

Herbs

With the herbs growing so well, I again cut, dried, and stored more parsley, basil, and oregano. Since they continue to grow, I will continue to prune and dry these herbs.

September 3, 2012 September 23, 2012

Continuing to grow and produce, our garden provided our family with strawberries, tomatoes, a green pepper, and herbs during September. Though I am not as faithful with the watering, the cooler temperatures seem to retain the water enough for growth.

In using time wisely, I have come to adore our garden and check on it often. Besides the fruit, I enjoy the conversations and development shared throughout the process. Love the opportunity to teach in action. Learning along the way!

Question: How do outdoor activities spur conversations at your home?

Heads Up: Third Quick Tip Week – October 14 – 20, 2012

October 10, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Stock.xchng

It’s time for another quick tip week making it the third of 2012.

Next week, beginning on Sunday, October 14, 2012, I will post quick tips in each category. For series already in progress, I will pick those back up the week of October 21-27, 2012.

Since I am struggling to keep up with posts while caring for my family, entertaining, and planning our Fall Festival, I chose a quick tip week to catch up and launch ahead.

My favorite part about Quick Tip Week is reading your comments. Thanks for being a part of the Using Time Wisely community. I appreciate you. Happy fall!

Event Promotion: A Personal Invitation

October 9, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

I am getting consumed with Fall Festival preparations. Keeping separate times to work and to put it away, I feel more balanced this year. Having spent so much time last year designing the space, I only need to tweak the plans, which saves me energy and time.

Our marketing volunteers have created banners, posters, flyers, postcards, and business cards to promote our Fall Festival. Keeping these invitations in my purse, I am learning the power of a personal invitation.

When I shopped at a craft store today, I extended to our cashier an invitation to our Fall Festival. After chatting about the event, I left a postcard with her listing the location, date, and time. Our cashier seemed truly thankful for the information and the details.

Though I know not whether she will come, I know that she has the information to attend. I cannot tell you how many times someone has informed me of an event when I am on the run. When I get to a place to write it down, I cannot remember the location, date, or time. Had I been given an invitation or flyer, then I would have the information to add to my calendar.

In using time wisely to promote an event, remember a personal invitation spoken will go further with a written flyer, postcard, or business card. Knowing this gesture saves me time and energy, I seek to help others as I invite them to our upcoming event. Happy inviting!

Question: Do you find personal invitations helpful for community events?

2012: Halloween Decorations

October 8, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

With a love for holidays, I store totes of decorations for each holiday and season in our garage. By taking the time to remove previous decorations, I seize the opportunity to clean my home while preparing for the next holiday or season. With fall activities underway, I’m ready to break out my Halloween decorations.

Though I keep my decorations simple and non-frightening, I love to see the creations of others. Depending on the project, I enjoy crafts, but I limit the time requirement. In using time wisely, these are some fun Halloween decorations that are child-friendly that you will want to display:

Decorating Candles

Love the simple additions to these candles creating a non-frightening mummy and ghost. The others are cute as well, but I really like the mummy.

Another candle craft option where children can help is this “batty” decoration over a tea candle.

Pine Cone Garland

Combine a family walk finding pine cones and a craft project to add a decorative pine cone garland to your home.

Spooky Silhouette

If you have empty wall space, then check out this adorable Halloween-style family tree.

As you decorate your home for Halloween or the fall season, enjoy using time wisely with your family. As a co-manager of our home, Paul leaves the decorating to me. Though I can decorate much quicker on my own, my children love to help which makes the event a family affair. Happy decorating!

Question: What is a favorite fall decoration in your home?

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