LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 13 Let's be honest. Summer, with its radiant days and carefree escapades, is a tough act to follow. There is a quote I think about often by Natalie Babbitt that compares summer to being at the top of a Ferris wheel, still and rocking just as it pauses before going down. After the climb from spring and preceding the slow drop to the chill of autumn, it is the very height of a live long year. When writing this column, I said to 6 year-old Olin, "Imagine being the season that comes after summer." It was breakfast time on a gorgeous day, and he stuffed a huge bite of maple syrup-soaked pancake into his mouth while giving it some thought. Eventually, he looked up at me and said, "That's why it's so pretty." Perhaps he's onto something, for an Ad- irondack summer ending without the grandeur of fall's curtain call would be almost too painful to endure. One of the most endearing qualities of fall is we never know when she's coming. I mean, technically a calendar tells us when to expect the "first day of fall," but to us ADKers, that is nothing more than a formal- ity. We want to know when the leaves are changing and when those glorious colors will arrive. When I owned and operated Great Pines Resort in Old Forge, people would always call to ask, "When will the leaves change? " Or famously, "When will the leaves be at their peak? " While we can guess, we never quite know the answer for sure. Fall sort of pops up like a visit from an old friend. She marches in with her thick cozy sweater, warm colored paints, and bright spirit in tow. She takes a seat on the couch with you next to the fire. You know the visit is brief, so you soak up every mo- ment all while watching her construct her bright mas- terpiece scenes. Maybe you make your favorite meals or bake seasonal treats while sipping warm drinks. You spend afternoons strolling orchards, hiking gilded paths, and taking in the cool air together. Everything is familiar, warm and lovely with fall. For our family, fall is many things. First, it's cozy traditions. We move fires from outside to inside alternating nights depending on weather. We get out our cast irons to make stone soup outside (a tradition that moves with us through winter). I bake bread and unpack the woolen blankets, hats, and Oaki rain suits. Our coveted collection of fall-themed reads take cen- ter stage: Christopher's Harvest Time by Elsa Beskow, Possum's Harvest Moon by Anne Hunter, and Autumn Story by Jill Barklem. We scurry up all our favorite mountain peaks to take in the gorgeous views before the leaves fall and we lose those daylight hours, often packing cider or Ovaltine to sip at the top. Fall is also our favorite time of year to hit the mountain biking trails at McCauley Mountain and Fern Park. Now, let me clarify: I, dear reader, am the designated snack connoisseur and tissue custodian. While the young riders master the trails, I ensure sustenance and comfort are in ample supply. Not only are the bike trails and forest beauti- ful, they are also less trafficked — the perfect setting for little kiddos who are still mastering their biking skills. There is also a great kids' pump track at McCau- ley, perfect for younger ones on Striders. Lastly, fall is full of fun festivals, and we never miss one. Inlet's Fall Festival and Adirondack Kids' Day are two of our favorites. To be honest, Adirondack Kids' Day actually is my kids' favorite day of the year. There is a fishing contest, food, games, and always plenty of exciting surprises — a day truly etched in our hearts. We also enjoy driving up to the Adirondack Experience in Blue Mountain Lake for their Fall Fest weekend. They have apple cider making, pumpkin carving, and carriage rides, another "must do" for us each year. Fall is so lovely here in the Adirondacks and we are so grateful to host her. We become immersed; busy living in cozy sweaters, taking in gorgeous foliage views, hitting bike paths after school, and hopping off to festivals on the weekends. And then, just as we're well settled into the sym- phony of fall, she departs with an elegance befitting a true artist. She slips away unnoticed, quietly closing the back screen door behind her. Yet, it's almost as though she senses our readiness, gracefully paving the way for the next act, as we bid adieu to summer's warm embrace and prepare for the chilled splendor of the days to come. Follow me @adk_momma for more ADK kid adventures! Summer's Curtain Call: An Ode to Fall By Britta Hennessy

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