I’ve already forgotten my solstice goal but I can remember that Ezra’s is to go rock climbing so we have 23 days to find a baby-sized boulder for him. This morning’s sun made me nostalgic for warmer days and then looking ahead to winter fun.

I don’t feel like I have any sort of “normal” fall routine since I haven’t been in school for more than a decade but it was nice to keep some annual traditions alive with plenty of cider donuts, early morning trail runs, visits from friends, endless higher education portrait photographs, volunteering with the Wheelers, cold water swims, a post-Thanksgiving family trip, late-night bike rides, and spontaneous trips to watch the sunset (many of them just laps around Libbytown with the neighbors).

There were lots of new things this year too with a family hike up Black Cap to catch snowflakes with Ezra, racing the Bold Coast Bash 50K, celebrating “Nothing New November”, pedaling Ezra in the bike trailer, a trip to the Adirondacks, and making lasagna for the first time.

We finally planted our garlic yesterday so now it feels like the fall is coming to a close so here’s a look back at some of my favorite moments of the fall (so far).

I’ll try and remember my solstice goal before the shortest day but until then I’ll keep spending as much time outside, exploring with Ezra, and practicing my baking skills for Rugelachfest.