Weekly Projects for Autumn

I know it's only September 2nd, but I'm thinking of autumn and the upcoming holidays. On one of my groups, Homespun Holidays, we've started a weekly prompt to remind us all to work on some crafts projects and decorating for autumn or Halloween. With weekly reminders during the month of September, we should be all finished (hopefully!!) with our project and will be ready to decorate when October rolls around. I thought it might be fun to share with you what we'll be receiving each week in those email notices. This one is for the first week of September. Do you have any fall or Halloween projects planned?

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"The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze."

- John Updike, September

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A LINK FOR AUTUMN CRAFTS AND FUN

Here's a link with some wonderful crafts for the fall season. There are printables for puzzles to do yourself (or for your kids or grandkids), fall leaf template cutouts for crafts and cards, ideas for decorating for the fall holidays, suggested fall activities, and even the answers to some questions (like why do leaves change color). Check it out... there's plenty to see and do!!
http://www.creativity-portal.com/howto/artscrafts/crafts_autumn.html

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"By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer's best of weather
And autumn's best of cheer."

- Helen Hunt Jackson, September, 1830-1885

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DECORATING THE FRONT PORCH FOR AUTUMN

~ Use bales of hay to hold seasonal decorations. Pots of mums, pumpkins, gourds, and a scarecrow can sit on top.
~ Keep a basket filled with a variety of pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn on the porch steps.