One of the best parts of being in a small town in the middle of the mountains is that we really get to see the changing of the seasons. I remember reading Charlotte Mason in Chicago and thinking, “Tommy doesn’t see enough nature to be able to do any of the activities she recommends!” Well, we’re definitely noticing nature every time we look out the window or drive around town. I’ve been revelling in the beautiful fall colors around, and Tommy gets excited when he sees a tree with beautiful turning leaves. (Peter and John–isn’t it ironic that I’m taking my kids for “color drives” after all those years of complaining when M&D took us?)
In keeping with all the fun fall activities, we’re reading some of our favorite books about the seasons:
A Time to Keep is wonderful all year round, and Tommy just sits and pores over the illustrations like I did when I was his age! Tasha Tudor totally inspires me to be intentional about family traditions that we look forward to every year. The fall pages are some of my favorites.
Tommy also loves Corgiville Fair, which technically takes place in September, when our local county fair did. I was too sick to take the kids to it this year, but I think we’ll really try to do so next year if we’re living close to one. We love the way the whole community of Corgiville spends all year looking forward to the Fair!
The Seasons in Fern Hollow is another beloved book that I passed on to my kids. The fall pages totally entrance Tommy, and he can’t wait until our leaves fall so we can rake them up in a big pile like the animals do in Fern Hollow. He’s also talking a lot about bonfires, so we’ll definitely have to go to the one our church is hosting in a couple weeks. Derek thinks–and I agree–that this is the best of all the Fern Hollow books.
What were your favorite childhood books about fall?
I STILL pour over Tasha Tudor!! And i never had the Fern Hollow books, I’ll have to check them out!
Unfortunately, the Fern Hollow books are out of print, so I’ve brazenly stolen my family’s copies (hey, when my brothers have kids, I’ll share, but until then…) and picked them up whenever I see them at used book stores. If you have a good library, you and Geneva might be lucky there.=)