Falling

 It is fall, which I recently learned is technically different that autumn, though currently it is autumn as well. Fall refers to the time in autumn when leaves fall to the ground.

So what can we do with all of this amazing color laying at our feet?

• There is always walking through the leaves creating a kid made tornado of color.
• One can also rake them into a pile and jump into all the crunchy color-ness while howling with laughter. (It works best if you howl too. No giggling, only howling.)

Don't forget leaf rubbings. Abigail has especially enjoyed these this year.

• If you want to get really creative mix your media. First do the leaf rubbings with a crayon (only a crayon will work for this particular activity). After the leaves are rubbed get out the water colors (again only water colors will work for this particular activity) and paint over your leaf rubbings. Since water and oil don't mix, the rubbings will stand out and the watercolors will fill in the empty spaces. You can get all science-y with this one--art and science what could be better.
• Tonight, for family art night,we are going to use our leaves to create pictures. We will be using colored pencils as I think it will be easier to draw over the rubbings this way. The nasturtium leaf rubbings will be the beginning of a pond of lily pads if we don't forget the frogs. And the yellow poplar leaves will make great cat faces with the addition of a face and whiskers. I am thinking of thumbprint fairies with leaf rubbing wings.

Last year I got ambitious and we waxed leaves. I have thought about it this year, but think I am going to pass. There are a couple of methods.

• The first uses an iron and waxed paper. Sandwich your leaves between two sheets of waxed paper. Put a towel over the sandwich and iron till the paper melts together preserving your leaf. Cut out the leaves. This is safe and fun, but the leaves aren't as pretty.
• The other uses hot wax melted on your stove and poured into a shallow tray. Last year, I used Gulf wax and shallow disposable aluminum pans. Cover your table with newspapers and waxed paper (so the leaves let go) and dip leaves into the hot wax. Let them dry. You can see how this may have been overly-ambitious with a three-year-old, and why with Simon so very mobile we will be skipping it this year. But the leaves are so beautiful!

There is also stenciling, where the leaf shape comes into relief.
Cut the leaf shapes from construction paper (or use the waxed ones) and string together for a garland.

So what are you waiting for this autumn, celebrate fall!

***Don't forget, today is the last day to RSVP to the Harvest Festival on Saturday! 

We do need to know one way or another.***