Ozark Living

16 • S E P T E M B E R 2023 • O Z A R K L I V I N G By Erin Rowe September marks the beginning of fall, my personal favorite season. Warm cozy knit sweaters, football games, apple cider, pumpkin patches & crisp temps all make their appearance this season. But what about making sure we enjoy every moment? How do we intentionally ensure we don't miss a minute, a leave or a fresh picked apple? Well, make yourself a list, ya'll and check it twice, because being meticulous doesn't just fall into the realm of the big man in the red suit. Living your life fully means noticing and choosing to be a part and make time for each season, not just letting them pass and wondering where all the time went. I find as I am more intentional with my life, time and the people in it that time passes slower, like it used to when I was a kid out in the woods all day, collecting leaves and building forts. That may be one of the many keys to "adulting" well. Here's my top 10 for fall; feel free to adapt these into your own personal list for the season…and don't "leaf" it behind – do it! 1 Bonfire under the Stars with S'mores - I guess I'm a country girl at heart. Nothing beats the free nature that's available in our lil' corner of the natural state. Get a gang together and set up a campfire. You don't always have to camp to enjoy stoking the coals. Plenty of great conversations happen around firepots in backyards all over NWA. Break out the marshmallows, chocolate & grahams for s'mores with the friends and kids. Chef tip: add some raspberry jam to that mix and watch your dessert game get elevated! If you can't build a fire where you live, oven baked s'mores are a close second at 250 degrees til melty. You can still take them outside under the stars to enjoy. Another tip with stargazing from my times in Colorado: it takes about 45 minutes for your eyes to adjust to see all the stars, so make sure it's lights out in the yard and house for that long before searching for the Big Dipper and Milky Way… and I'm not talking candy bar here! 2 Eagle Watch - Little known fact: Hobbs State Park actually does affordable Eagle Watch Guided Boat Cruises on Beaver Lake! They're a blast and so informative. I learned more than just aviary facts on my most recent one. Check out this link to sign up for one and get available dates! We have eagles nesting in Northwest Arkansas along many of our lakes and waterways during the fall into winter. Nests are easier to see as leaves drop, so this will be a great time for viewing! 3 Fall Leaf Peeping Drive or Cruise - And speaking of viewing, no September is complete until you've looked for the change of the autumnal colors. Granted this happens at its peak in October, but come late September you'll start to glimpse orange, yellow and fiery red shades in the hardwoods here. I love driving back highways and roads heavily wooded for maximum viewing pleasure. Also, if you've got access to a boat, Beaver Lake Fall Wishes

• Cover