A GATHERING OF FRIENDS FOR THE FALL SEASON
Word Count: 566 Contact: info@togetherparenting.com
Category: Parenting/Family Activities
Key words: autumn,
entertaining, fall, fall craft, fall activity, fall leaves,
craft project, fall crafts, fall craft, Thanksgiving, gourds,
Thanksgiving project, Thanksgiving activity, autumn leaves,
dinner, neighborhood party, friends, autumn wreath.
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The signs of fall are unmistakable in my part of the country.
Golden aspens shimmer in the crisp breeze and crimson leaves
float through the air. Weekend visitors flock to apple orchards,
pumpkin patches, and intricate corn mazes that farmers have
carved into their fields. Canned food drives and Coats for Kids
programs are in full swing. The comforting aromas of warm soup
and a crackling fire fill our homes. Just as the animals prepare
for colder weather, there is something almost instinctual about
our desire to make the most of the last days of temperate
weather, stock up on autumn's colorful offerings, count our
blessings, and nurture, not just those we love, but the
community as a whole.
Now that we've comfortably settled into our school routines,
gathering friends together around the dinner table becomes a
Friday night tradition. With my friends, this started in late
September, when Susan casually mentioned that she'd made a big
pot of chili (too much for just her family) and it would save
her freezer space if we would bring the kids over and help them
finish it. Within hours, there were six adults sharing stories
around the kitchen island and nine children planning a circus in
the playroom. The next week, Lee called to say he'd just brought
home a new fire pit for the backyard and had soup on the stove.
Once again, the week's tensions fell away as we gathered around
the campfire, laughing and roasting s'mores.
When our turn came, I knew better than to plan a large meal. No
matter how many assurances of, "Don't bring anything, I have it
all under control," I knew no one would come empty handed.
Nancy's always sure to bring an appetizer or dessert, along with
an excuse for going all out. Sometimes it's a simple collection
of cheeses, pears, and spiced walnuts (because, "I bought them
at the Farmer's Market last week and I have way too much."). To
our gathering, she brought her famous lemon bars (because, "The
girls really wanted to make them."). After Susan arrived with a
spread made from cannelini beans, sage, garlic, and olive oil, a
loaf of good, crusty bread, and an armload of games for the
kids, I knew we were in for another memorable evening.
As I greeted my friends, each bearing a gift from their own
kitchens, I was reminded of the Children's folktale, Stone Soup.
It's a story about a group of individuals who don't have enough
to eat but, when they come together as a community, bring all
they have to the table to create a sumptuous stew. Our friends
are like that. Each of us, with our own personalities and
experiences, bring joy and support to one another.
I gazed around that night, feeling lucky to have found such a
warm group of friends, and remembered the gratitude wreath my
family creates each year for Thanksgiving. We build a wreath of
autumn leaves, each displaying a written message about what we
are thankful for. Lacking a pile of leaves, I asked my guests to
grab a gourd from the centerpiece, gave them each a permanent
marker, and told them to write anything that came to mind. When
we were through, we filled a glass vase with the gourds and
placed it between us on the table. The small pumpkin on top
simply said, "Good Friends."
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