Friday Morning Coffee Catch Up

On October 24, 2025 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized10 Comments

Hello everyone!! it is actually cold here this week, and temps next week will be cold as well. I think it is safe to say autumn is here for real.

And it seemed to blow in all at once. We were having a warm sunny day the other day, then all of a sudden it was overcast, gray, and a storm and rain moved in. And that was that. Fall was here in a flash.

We have just been moving along over here. We had a few Halloween events last week, where we gave Wyatt’s costume a trial run, and then a family get together with my brother’s family and my cousin’s family. Billy, Wyatt and I also went to the apple orchard, one of my favorite outings of the season, if not my very favorite.

Let’s start there. It was sort of a neat moment – we went on the same day, October 18th, that we went to the very first time we went to this orchard with baby Wyatt. When Wyatt was a baby, I wanted to find an orchard that we could make our tradition, like I had when I was a kid. The one I grew up going to has turned into a circus, with too many bounce houses and people with tables selling things – it’s just too much. I wanted a more simple experience. Pumpkins and cider and doughnuts and apples – we don’t need anything else. I found one online, Bennett’s Orchard, and off we went with tiny Wyatt. And we have been going there ever since. So this past Oct. 18th was our ten year anniversary of sorts, of going, and it was ten years to the day.

They also have this gentle Lab who will sometimes join you in your wanderings. He has to be getting up there in age now, and is such a sweetie. I love when he joins us.

We had such a good morning at the orchard, although I couldn’t talk Wyatt into wearing a pumpkin hat for old times sake.

The next day was the party at my cousin’s house. He and his partner had it all set up for the kids, and it looked so good! They did a great job making a nice party for our kids of all ages, from 16 years down to 2. There were pumpkins to paint and sticker, doughnuts, pizza, and we brought a jug of hard cider from the orchard to share, while my brother brought different chips and dips. It was such a nice time!

I also picked up my new glasses this week, and just in time, because I broke my only pair! I really like my new pair but I got progressives for the first time and I am finding them confusing. I like them when I am doing stuff around the house, because I only need them for reading and I don’t need to take these on and off all the time, but when I am just sitting and reading and not multitasking I am having a difficult time. So I bought a pair of $7 readers from Amazon that work perfectly for that. It however made for a slower week of reading until I figured out I could do that.

It was a week for reading and hanging out with Brian, my cousin this week, because I hung out with him again on Wednesday! We tried out a place in Detroit called Sip N Read, which is like a bookstore bar. It was cold and rainy and really the perfect night to sit somewhere warm and read. Sip N Read is so pretty inside too! I loved the velvety furniture in shades of green and burnt orange, the space itself was so inviting! There is a small bar when you walk in, and then on the opposite wall are bookshelves. The books are there to be perused and read while you enjoy libations, and they offer wine and mocktails to their patrons. You can either choose to buy the book or not, or just read from different books, or whatever you choose. We had so much fun just reading and hanging out with our drinks. It reminded me of an adult version of when we were kids and would go to the library, check out some Stephen King, and head to his house where we would drink Capri Suns and read together. It was pretty empty but I am chalking that up to the night – it was a Wednesday, and it was so cold and rainy! We had a great time, reading and chatting, and then Brian treated me to the book I was reading as an early birthday gift!

I also did some baking this week – I made cinnamon apple scones, and chocolate chip cookies. I think I am going to be baking more since life is so expensive these days, and the groceries I am buying look different now too. I bought a whole chicken yesterday to turn into a few meals, as it was a better cost value than buying anything else. We are also having meals that turn into leftovers, like chili and stew, and Billy is going to start baking his sourdough again this weekend. Every bit helps!

It’s been fun baking again though. I am not great at it, but I have fun bopping around the kitchen to Oingo Boingo, Taylor Swift, Yaelokre (an Icelandic band my brother introduced me to that has really cool story and lore behind it), and also listening to the In the Meadow Podcast.

All in all, it’s been a pretty darn good week! The leaves are finally turning to fire, the weather is fully fall, and things are getting pretty cozy around here!

I hope that whatever you do today, you do something that makes you smile!

Welcome September!

On September 4, 2025September 4, 2025 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized21 Comments

A few months ago, I was thinking to myself, I just need to get through summer to fall, then we would be on the other side of Wyatt’s surgery. And then, it seemed so far away. And now here we are. The other side. A new season, a new journey.

I have been reading here and there on the internet about people who prefer fall and winter to summer, how we like these months because there isn’t the pressure to feel busy, to feel like we are soaking up every single second in activity and making the most of the sunshine and hot weather. There is probably some truth to that. I do like to embrace fall for the coziness. It does seem more acceptable for some reason to work on my embroidery in the autumn, to spend more time reading, to fiddle around with all of our little creative projects. But I also just love the weather, the cool crisp days, the chill in the morning. I love wearing jeans and sweaters and boots, I love the crunch of the leaves underfoot. I love fall baking and making soup, bopping around my kitchen listening to Stevie Nicks and Van Morrison and Taylor Swift (especially her Folklore album). I love that mosquitoes die and tea can be hot again. I love wearing darker lip colors in the fall, something new for me. I love scary stories, and bonfires, and fall hikes, owl prowls right on the cusp of winter.

I am actually busier in the fall than I am in the summer. We have back to school, and now Scouts-turned-Blackbirds. Our calendar for September and October is filling up, with field trips and get togethers, a special date night at the end of the month, a baseball game, festivals. I would like to take Wyatt to a high school football game this year, to hear the crowds and the band, because I know my kid is not going to care much about the actual game. He is more like me, and gets wrapped up in the atmosphere.

This fall I want to learn how to make cinnamon rolls, really good cinnamon rolls, and apple pie. I also want to make oatmeal cookies, maple cookies, peanut butter cookies. Some sort of baked good every week, like my grandma used to make, every week in the very same kitchen. My grandpa had a sweet tooth and my grandma baked everyday, whether it was a sweet treat or a chicken pot pie or a meat pie. And pancakes on the Blackstone every Saturday morning, while we eat outside on the deck in our pajamas, our coffee steaming, the birds singing.

(I got these images on Pinterest and I am working on finding the artists so I credit. Once I find them all I will update here!)

Fall is afoot in my online life as well! Lisa from Boondock Ramblings and I are hosting two opportunities to link up together – one for Comfy Cozy Cinema, and the other is a monthly bookish link party for anything bookish at all! Share your bookstore shopping moments, book reviews, fashion inspired by book covers, whatever bookish posts you post. We also host drop-in crafternoons, which are monthly zooms where we just sit around and chat and work on whatever projects we feel like. I have embroidered and colored and once I painted my son’s little free library. So whatever floats your boat! We always have a good group and a good time! If you are interested send me an email!

Comfy Cozy Cinema posts go up on September 25th. We went for comedic, cozy, and then took some liberties near Halloween with some spookier movies.

And here is the linky for the bookish link party for September!

And with that, I think I am going to get moving. I have a small child here waiting for me to take him on our “book date” at Barnes and Noble. I hope that whatever you do today, you do something that makes you smile!

Cozy Fall Reads for the Non-Spooky Readers

On August 28, 2025 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized11 Comments

It feels like fall here this week. I know that summer will make it’s last stand again, but for now, I am going to enjoy this preview and not think about that.

I have a bunch of suggestions for fall reading this year! So many that I broke them up into separate lists, but I wanted to start with this one. Just a cozy, happy autumn book post, that feels full of pumpkin spice, crunching through colorful crispy leaves, apple orchards, bonfires, and hayrides. This list is all romancey, Hallmark moments and it gives me all the fall vibes. I can’t wait! I have a few of these on my own TBR for fall – I wish I could read them all! This list might get long, so I will try to keep my comments short!

This list is comprised of new and older books, but errs on the side of new. This post also contains Amazon Affiliate links. If you were to make a purchase using a link, I would make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

There’s Pumpkin About You || If It Makes You Happy || Kindling

There’s Pumpkin About You: This looks adorable! Grumpy-Sunshine, small town, a pumpkin farm, and two characters with bird names. Lol. Wren Southwick and August Finch. I have no idea if that comes into play in the book but it tickled me.

If It Makes You Happy: This is the one I have been seeing everywhere lately! It’s set in Vermont in the 90s, cozy small town vibes, friends to lovers, and is described as Gilmore Girls meets When Harry Met Sally. Sign me up for this one please!!

Kindling: A fall cozy romance set in Scotland!! I love it. It is a rom-com, grumpy sunshine, a lumberjack and yes, set in Scotland. Just saying that twice for those that are as excited as I am.

Falling Like Leaves || Fall I Want || Fall Shook Up

Did I group these by title? Perhaps.

Falling Like Leaves: This is a teen/YA focused fall read, so I am imagining that the spice is very minimal. (I hope!) It looks adorable, and is autumn fests, coffeehouses, and is described as Gilmore Girls meets Jenny Han. This edition has sprayed edges.

Fall I Want: This one is said to be extra spicy, so keep that in mind depending on what level of spice you like. (If you follow my romance reviews, you will know that I measure in peppers- I wonder if I could change it for fall? Hmm.) If your vibe is billionaire romance, fake dating, and he falls first, this one is perfect, and all wrapped up in the coziness of fall! This edition also has sprayed edges.

Fall Shook Up: This one is also said to be extra spicy, but also slow burn. The characters in this are a reclusive artist and nosey journalist, with an autumnal feel. This one is free on Kindle Unlimited.

A Love Like Pumpkin Spice || Falling Hard at Pumpkin Spice Cabins || Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow

A Love Like Pumpkin Spice: The black sheep of the family returns home to her small town after having sworn off relationships. This one looks so cute, with a stray cat and what sounds like a cinnamon roll of a male main character!

Falling Hard at Pumpkin Spice Cabins: This one sounds perfectly adorable, with lots of fall fun. It is set at a Halloween Singles Retreat at a campground full of cozy cabins. This one does sound like it may have a little more spookiness to it but it does sound more romance than scary.

Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow: This is like a Hallmark movie in book form! A young woman is determined to to save her family and farm by turning it into a pumpkin farm – in 6 weeks – with a hotshot property developer breathing down her neck.

Are you still with me? This is the end, I promise.

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn || The Cinnamon Spice Inn

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn: This one is set on Long Island, and involves Harvest Festival, an orchard, and an inn. The main characters are thrown together by their parents’, respectably the owners of the orchard (him) and the Inn (her), when they are put in charge of the highly important Harvest Fest.

The Cinnamon Spice Inn: I love this cover! Another Hallmark-esque book, saving a failing family business, combined with delicious fall treats and moments. Judging by the reviews, this one is very good – and will also make you crave some fall treats, so if you read it, maybe have a pumpkin muffin or a chai coffee on standby!

And phew! Thanks for checking out the list! I hope that whatever you do today, you do something that makes you smile. After making this list, I am pretty sure I am going to have to go in search of something delicious, like a pumpkin doughnut.

Hello November

On November 1, 2024 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Hello16 Comments

Welcome, November.

I am looking forward to the relative quiet of November, after a very busy October. Every year our October is jam packed. I like to whirlwind our way through the month, soaking in the moments, then like magic, on November 1, seeking the quiet and solitude of my birth month.

This is when the fall gets slower for me. The days are now short, with night closing in early, and all the hijinks of Halloween are done. I look forward to our slower paced days. Days of school and our art projects, the wolf embroidery I am working on for Wyatt, a return to slow cooked meals, Billy’s sourdough. Quiet hikes in the woods. Books and reading, movies, comfy beds with soft cushy blankets and flannel sheets, backyard fires with family.

Wyatt has this picture book called Thanksgiving in the Woods, and I still read it with him every year, and Billy usually listens too. We all love it. It is about this family who has just what the title says, a big family Thanksgiving in the woods and it is based on the author’s real life Thanksgivings. Every year we read this, and every year, Billy and I talk about how cool that would be. Wouldn’t it? I would love to gather everyone I love together at a big table in the woods filled with food and laughter and music. With tents and lights and bunting, with a big bonfire and games. Wouldn’t that be amazing? I just need to find the woods. But on days like today, blustery and beautiful with bright leaves littering the ground, the crazy chaos of last nights trick or treating behind us, I can imagine it, that meal.

We do have some fun things planned, things like stargazing in our backyard under blankets, with hot chocolate and cookies, calling for owls, getting back to nature, to gratitude. I pulling out our sweaters and warm clothes today, in preparation for the cold weather that will soon be arriving. (even though it was 80 this week! Ugh)

I am excited about our November scouts meeting this month. Billy’s mom is a potter, and she is going to work with our kids on making ornaments, that she will take home to be fired in her kiln. We are also going to open the box that we received from another pack in Oregon, who lives in the high desert there. Our two packs each gathered nature items from our area to send to the other, and I am excited to share with the kids what the Oregon pack sent with them. I peeked at it already and I think they will all like seeing what is in there. In our box, we sent leaves that were labeled, a sprig of white pine, which is Michigan’s state tree, a cicada shell, acorns and sycamore seeds and chestnuts, seeds from a Michigan apple, an apple tree bud from my confused apple tree, local honey, and a few other fun things, like a bag of Petoskey stones. I am looking forward to what they think of our stuff as well! And if anyone lives in another region who is reading this, and would like to send nature representatives to our pack from your area, let me know, because this was fun!

And, I need to refill my coffee so I will end here. Have a wonderful day everyone, and whatever you do today, try to do something that makes you smile.

“In November, the earth is growing quiet. It is making its bed, a winter bed for flowers and small creatures.” – Cynthia Rylant

Hello September!

On September 2, 2024September 2, 2024 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn autumn, Hello, hygge15 Comments

It’s September! The first of the “ber” months, my favorite months of the year (except for March, Wyatt’s birth month)

September is fall to me. Back to school, fall clothes, comfort meals, cozy mornings and evenings, jeans and sweaters and boots, leaves crunching under foot, cooler nights, crisp air that makes me feel more alive, bonfires, cider… so many good things!

Except..it is not these things immediately, at least not here in Michigan. We are still in shorts, eating our warm weather meals of salads and tomato cheese sandwiches and hamburgers (I love hamburgers, not going to lie), but some things are beginning to seem more like fall. The nights have been cooler, and we are going back to school, so two things on my list! I will take it as a start!

I saw a reel I saw this morning about how in the 90s we would all truck off to school on the first day in boots and jeans and giant sweaters, because they were our “new back to school” clothes and we would all just die and sweat all day from the heat. It made me laugh because I definitely remember doing that!

I love fall and how as nature starts to slow down and rest, we do too. The days are getting shorter, the darkness settles in much earlier, almost whispering to us to settle in as well. To find that cozy blanket and book, and relax and not run around trying to get everything done until you fall exhausted into bed. It’s our reminder that we need to restore ourselves as well. To fill back up after a long summer of doing and going. To play that autumn playlist full of rich songs while we make a flavorful soup or homemade bread on a weekend morning, to indulge in mugs of hot drinks that warm us body and soul, to hole up for a few hours on the couch surrounded by our little comfort piles. It’s time to dim those lights in the evening, and leave the harsh glow of the day behind. To take walks in the crisp air, crunching leaves underfoot, never minding the soft rain that may fall on you. To have warm apple pie for breakfast one day, just for fun.

My squirrel friends have been visiting more often these days, looking for the treats I leave them outside. I watch them eat some, then scurry off with other bits, stashing it somewhere only they know where. Sometimes we have an opossum friend too, who visits wanting apples. Over the summer mama possum was hanging out in our yard with her babies, and while I know they wouldn’t all stay I wish they could have. Like Jerome Kildee is Kildee House (a kids book I read for the first time this year and I wish everyone would read), I would share my space with all the little animals too. Although maybe not in my house. Outside is fine.

We are slowing down, and I try to remember that when making plans for the fall. I want to do so much too, to take Wyatt to all the festivals and camping and Halloween events, but I am mindful to not do too much. I try to pick and choose carefully, to make space between the events for slow days too. Enough to enjoy but not so much as to overwhelm, where everything runs into another thing and dulls the excitement and joy. We are taking a short trip to Cuyahoga Valley National Park this fall, and riding the train which I think will be a lot of fun. Wyatt loves trains and this will be his longest train ride to date – plus I bought tickets for the train car that has a glass ceiling so that we can get huge views of the outdoors as well. I have a few other things planned as well, but also plan to spend some fun days here too, at home.

I made a little graphic to frame and put on my desk, to remind myself to slow down and rest this season. I will link it here in case you want to print it out too, or just save it to your phone or computer.

treat-yourself-slow-down (1)Download

I hope that you all enjoy fall (or spring if you are in the southern hemisphere!) and do some things that are restful for your soul.

Greenfield Village – Late October

On October 27, 2021October 27, 2021 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn family friendly14 Comments

Saturday morning we woke up determined to have some family fun time. It’s been all work all the time around here lately, and we all needed a break. We tossed a few ideas around before deciding on Greenfield Village. We got there as the gates were opening, the day was overcast, and we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves which was awesome.

I love visiting this time of year. I love fall and Halloween, as you all know, and the Village is all dressed up in vintage Halloween decorations, as well as some spooky ones too. They do Halloween Nights there, with candy and live performances, but to be honest, we prefer it like this. Empty. Without the fanfare and other people. Plus, we can actually see everything rather than be part of a huge crowd in the dark. We did that once and while it was fun, we like visiting on our own terms more.

We walked around the farm, greeting all the animals who were enjoying their breakfasts al fresco. The horses, John and Wilbur, were on their way to plow up the fields and we gave them a quick wave as they went off to work.

We walked around the “town” area, by the Wright Brothers house, closed up refreshment stands, and creepy decorations.

And made our way across the spooky covered bridge, making ghostly ooos and boos as we walked through…

These scarecrows were terrifying. I stepped in close for a photo, and and had the weirdest feeling they were watching me back. I freaked myself out, imagining one would leap off its post at me, and after snapping the picture, raced back to Billy and Wyatt.

We toured around the homes, and headed back over the bridge, not knowing the scariest monster was still to come…

Such scary!!!

Needless to say, Wyatt had fun! And so did we! (I look like a crazy person…I was helping make scary noises with Wyatt…lol)

I love this time of the year at the village! I am so happy that this year they extended the length of the visiting season for members through November. I see some mornings there in our future for a few more weeks at least!

Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

On October 23, 2020 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn autumn, day in the life, family, family friendly, Michigan15 Comments

One of our most beloved family traditions every year is our trip to the pumpkin patch and orchard. We have been doing it since I was a little girl, when we would go with my cousin and follow it up with chili for dinner and cake to celebrate my uncle’s birthday. This year, it almost didn’t happen, for obvious reasons. But the kids have been studying pumpkins all week and we needed to find a way we felt comfortable going, if possible.

So we did! Billy, Devin, and Chrissy took a day off of work for our “field trip” this year, we got up early so we could arrive right when it opened, and we chose to go one of our favorite orchards, one that is a favorite because it is just about the pumpkins there. No rigmarole or fair like atmosphere – just an orchard, pumpkins, and for adults, a hard cider tasting room, where they make the cider onsite. We didn’t do any tasting this year but we definitely bought some to go.

We pulled up around the same time almost exactly, and headed off through the grounds, which we had all to ourselves. We kept our masks on, as good practice for the kids, and my mom as well, and maintained our distances although it was just us.

Well, us and this dog. He was with us our whole excursion and didn’t stray too far from my niece’s side. He lives there and decided to hang out with us.

It was an absolutely glorious morning – sunny, warm, a bit crisp. The perfect day for our adventure. We messed about in the orchard, laughed about our dog friend and honorary group member – we are the James Herriot Primary school after all..

Then we headed to the store area to shop for our gourds and pumpkins and all the good things. All the pumpkins were really up there so no picking through the patch for one but that is ok, much easier to lug them the two feet back to the car then all that way. We did have to run in to pay and to pick up our cider, and I also added a jar of honey from their hives to my order.

And the dog’s name turned out to be “Greater”. All Creatures Great and Small, anyone?

Happy Fall everyone!

Homeschooling: September

On September 26, 2020September 26, 2020 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn autumn, homeschooling14 Comments

It’s been a month. From starting homeschooling to Wyatt’s surgeries, it’s been busy. We are using the Blossom and Root curriculum, supplementing with Chickie and Roo’s Kinder Nature Beginnings, and I am also throwing in my own stuff as well. It’s a lot to sort and juggle, but it is worth it. We read Aesop’s Fables and Stone Soup this month so far in Blossom and Root, and did some fun activities to accompany the readings.

We started September by studying apples, then moved on to red foxes because I love them, then ended the month with a two week leaf study. We didn’t get to everything extra I had planned but that is ok.

And frankly, this month has been such a roller coaster I can’t recall most of the resources I used for the first two units of extra study. Our leaf study though at least is fresh in my mind!

We discussed the parts of a leaf, played with a leaf ID puzzle, traced and colored leaves, worked on leaf IDs, did a My Leaf report page, and painted an autumn tree. We made a leaf squirrel after being inspired by Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert, as we also read a bunch of books. My favorite was our leaf rubbing day, where we sat outside in the sun and read and created.

So, the resource round up!

Printables:

Kidsparkz Fall

Leaf Investigation Freebie

Wildflower Ramblings Leaf ID

Parts of a Leaf from Twisty Noodle

Books:

(Contains Amazon Affiliate links)

Pooh’s Fall Harvest || Fletcher and the Falling Leaves || Leaves || The Gold Leaf || Leaf Man || Hello, Fall || Illustrated Stories From Aesop || Stone Soup

Hello, Fall was a big favorite here – so adorable. And we always love David Ezra Stein, and the Fletcher books too. Wyatt is a fan of Winnie the Pooh so that is always a winner for him, but his favorite this time was the Flip-Up Fairy Tale of Stone Soup, which had lift the flaps and a CD.

Extra Materials and Links

Crayon Rocks – perfect for leaf rubbing!

Wooden Leaf Puzzle

Stone Soup Board Game

Next week we are learning about acorns and squirrels – it should be a fun week!