What to Do with All of Those Fall Leaves

Just because something is naturally grown doesn’t mean that disposing of it can’t create a problem for the earth. While you might not have thought twice about disposing of those fall leaves in the past, here is why you should be thinking of responsible ways to get rid of fall leaves today. Thing you shouldn’t do With fall clean up, many people opt for using a leaf blower. While this might be a good choice in areas that might otherwise be dangerous (such as getting leaves off of your roof), in general, using a leaf blower is a bad thing. … Continue reading

Using Fall Leaves as Winter Mulch

Here is a great idea for using some of those fall leaves that are falling all over your yard. By creating winter mulch out of them, you’ll protect your tender plants and bulbs, save money and feel better about having to do all of that fall leaf clean up! Winter mulch can do a lot to protect and preserve your perennials from the harsh winter that is coming up soon. Many people believe that the winter mulch acts as a blanket, protecting the bulbs and plants from the cold. While it is true that it may offer some little protection … Continue reading

Useful Things to Do with Fall Leaves (No Crafting Involved)

Sure the fall leaves can be pretty, but around this time I get overwhelmed with what to do with them all. It seems so silly to clean up nature and “toss” it away. You may have ready my earlier post about My Love/Hate Relationship with the Fall Leaves. We have two acres of property, so that is a lot of leaves. Fortunately, most of it is wooded, so at the moment, there is only a few spots where the leaves have to be collected, along with any areas near those areas, to prevent leaves from blowing back where we don’t … Continue reading

Involving Kids in Fall Cleanup

Around our house, fall yard work is a complete family affair. Everyone is expected to do his or her part, even the youngest. While this may see like cheap labor (in fact it sometimes takes more time when kids help then when they don’t) it is actually a way of spending time together as a family while doing what needs to be done. Involving kids in fall clean up also builds valuable life skills. It can build self-confidence, a feeling of having a place in the world and being important in the family, and a sense of responsibility. Tasks such … Continue reading

My Love/Hate Relationship with the Fall Leaves

When fall first arrives, it brings great delight. The leaves change colors and descend, brightening up the yard and driveway with colors from nature, as though an artist’s brush has painted the landscape. People travel from all over to the hot fall spots (we called these tourists “leaf peepers,” when I lived in New England. (By the way, I am adamant that New England has the absolutely best display of fall leaf color. It is the combination of warm fall days and crisp cool nights that does it.) Back in my single days in Connecticut, I really looked forward to … Continue reading

More Ways to Have Fun with Fall Leaves

By now you might be cursing the thousands of colorful leaves scattered across your yard, your driveway, your deck, and your garage. But, before you take a match to the season’s most popular symbols consider gathering up a few to create fun art projects that will keep your kids busy for hours. Here are some of my preschooler’s favorite fall leaf projects: Stuffing. Rake up a bunch of leaves and use them to stuff a homemade scarecrow. Masks. Go on a leaf hunt and see who can collect the most colorful bunch. Then, glue the dry leaves to a store-bought … Continue reading

Ideas for a Frugal Fall at Home

I just love the fall! Crunching the leaves underfoot, the cooler temperatures that invite you to snuggle under a blanket or don a soft sweatshirt or sweater, the crisp sound of a bite into that first apple, hunting for pumpkins, fall decorating, the wonderful smells coming from the oven and more. It has to be one of my favorite times of the year. There are so many great things to do and take advantage of in the fall. Here are some that we are doing, have done or are planning. I hope you can take some ideas from here and … Continue reading

Fun With Fall Leaves

In most of the country, fall leaves are everywhere! Here are some fun ideas for those leaves: I love to watch kids chase leaves as they are falling from trees. It’s a fun challenge to try and catch one before it hits the ground, and the fact that it only happens a few days a year makes it even more special. Rake those leaves into a big pile jump in them. It’s an old idea, but one your kids will remember forever. We have some new subdivisions east of here that don’t have enough leaves for a doll to jump … Continue reading