I sat down in mid-September to write a summer recap, hoping to share stories about the garden and all the summer adventures we tried this year. But I couldn’t get through the post. In a short span of time, we lost two loved ones on different sides of my family, making it a summer marked by grief.
I went pretty quiet for a while, online and offline, trying to hold space for myself and for my loved ones whom I knew were hurting, as well as simply keeping up with life’s demands. Everyone processes loss differently, but writing has always been a way of healing for me. It has just taken me some time.
That said, I’m grateful for these fall memories, the time to process, and the chance to share with you some of the things we enjoyed this season. I hope they might give you a few ideas to enjoy with your own family, and maybe someday I’ll finish that summer recap post.
🍎 Fall Getaways Close to Home
Some of our favorite fall memories come from quick trips not too far from home. One weekend in Nebraska City included an overnight stay at an Airbnb and a visit to the AppleJack Festival at Kimmel Orchard to celebrate my mom’s birthday.
We stayed at a cozy Airbnb, perfect for girls’ nights or larger families. The space had four big beds in one room, a kitchen, two bathrooms, and a comfortable living area. We spent some time doing Halloween crafts, Mod Podging Halloween buckets, and, of course, watching movies. (Airbnb Photos courtesy of Superhost, Jack)
The next morning, we visited Kimmel Orchard. It was busy since it was the weekend of the AppleJack Festival, but the kids had a blast exploring the play area. We didn’t do apple picking this time, although we’ve enjoyed that in the past. Instead, we wandered through the gift shop and left with apple cider and a few other goodies.
It wouldn’t be fall if we didn’t get in a good hike, so one weekend the three of us headed to Eugene T. Mahoney State Park in Ashland, Nebraska. We had dinner at the lodge restaurant, Carl’s, and stayed overnight in one of the lodge rooms (a little outdated, but spacious). In the evening, we soaked in the beautiful views, enjoyed our meal, and planned out our morning hike.
Mahoney is definitely a place we want to spend more time exploring. Ashland itself has so much to offer. This was a quick trip since we had other plans the next day, but we’re so glad we got to have this experience.
Speaking of hiking, we also spent a fall morning at Indian Cave State Park. We love this place, and Jeff even took me here on our second date. It’s one of those spots where we’ve shared some really good conversations over the years.
During our visit, we did a short hike, explored the cave, enjoyed the lookout, and let Aubrie play a little at the park and the school. Next year, we hope to time our visit with Indian Cave’s Halloween festivities, as it seems like it would be a fun way to celebrate spooky season.
🏈 Small-town Celebrations & Activities
We spent some time this season celebrating our small towns at different events. Aubrie particularly loved the bubble machine at one of them, as well as the parade.
We also enjoyed firetruck rides, a few football and volleyball games, and some of the best stadium fireworks shows around, maybe the only ones, but still the best.
🎃 Pumpkin Patches & Halloween Traditions
You Belong in a Field of Wildflowers was the song playing in my head at the end of wildflower season. We had so much fun with our little wildflower patch. “Just throw them down and they’ll sprout!” was the advice from my expert mother-in-law, and she was right. Before long, we had beautiful flowers that created the perfect backdrop for our pumpkin patch. It made our backyard sunset views feel dreamy.
Our pumpkins were a little trickier this year. I ended up ordering an entire seed kit that turned out to be faulty. Guess I should have known better than to trust TikTok Shop for my garden needs! Despite that, we ended up with a pretty abundant patch. I used a variety of seeds from my mother-in-law and ones from Lowe’s. When I first planted, I labeled everything carefully. By the end, though, pumpkins were all over the yard in all sorts of unexpected mixes.
My mission this year was to have a variety of carving pumpkins and decorative pumpkins, but my main goal was to get some hanging from the trellis, and we succeeded on all fronts! We ended up with a mix of colors and sizes, and just the right amount for carving, although my jack-o-lantern patch did take a hit during those very hot days. Next year, we’ll move them to a different spot and see how they do.
As Halloween approached, we took a couple of trips to pumpkin patches, two completely different experiences. Our first stop was Roca Berry Farm in Roca, Nebraska. We had been there before, and we absolutely love it for this age. Aubrie is four. It’s small enough to explore in a single visit, but big enough to stay busy all day.
Some of our favorite attractions at Roca include the small haunted houses, the train, the jumping pillows, all of the slides, the ziplines, and Aubrie’s ultimate favorite, the mega ropes course. She could honestly spend the entire day here!
According to their website, there are over 70 attractions at Roca. You can tell this is a family-run business that is well-loved and carefully maintained by its owners.
We absolutely adore Roca and can’t recommend it enough, especially for families with younger children. It’s also a great place to visit with a group, as there’s truly something for everyone.
The next pumpkin patch, or maybe more accurately, amusement park, we visited was Vala’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard in Gretna, Nebraska. I hadn’t been to Vala’s since I was a kid, nearly 25 years ago, and wow, has it changed! It reminded me a bit of Disney World for Halloween. I completely fell in love with the atmosphere, though I’ll admit I’m a big amusement park fan.
The Halloween vibe was impeccable, and you could easily spend two days exploring everything. Vala’s spans over 450 acres and is known as one of the largest pumpkin patches in the region. It has rides, shows, amazing food, and an abundance of activities for all ages.
We had such a great day at Vala’s. Aubrie was a little too small for some of the rides she wanted to try, but we were all the perfect age to sample the decadent food. I had macaroni baked inside a squash, and I’m still thinking about it. Aubrie got to pick out her own caramel apple at their on-theme gift shop. Below is the winner!
Out of all the things Vala’s had to offer, Aubrie particularly loved the pony rides. I found out the history behind this ride, and it’s such a sweet family story. I love learning the background of local places, and the story behind Vala’s is both unique and touching. You can really tell how much the family loves the place they created.
My favorites from the day were the train ride and the fun photo opportunities. Jeff was completely blown away by how much Vala’s was like an amusement park. He wants to go back next year! Obviously, I’m holding him to it!
Finally, after all of the spooky festivities came actual Halloween! Usually, we have Aubrie’s costume planned well in advance, but this year ended up being a last-minute switch. Earlier in the fall, we found the cutest Winifred Sanderson dress at the Rhea Lana sale, too good of a deal to pass up. I bought it thinking she could wear it to some Halloween event, but it actually turned out to be her final costume. I found some cute hair pieces online.
She absolutely loved being “Winnie’s Mini.” My mother-in-law just happened to have the perfect little broom, and I printed a label using Canva with her name on it. We loved how it all came together. No complaints from mom either, as it was honoring my all-time favorite movie, Hocus Pocus. 90’s girls unite!
We usually visit family on Halloween night, but this year was a bit tough on the heart. We weren’t able to see two of our loved ones, and I had a moment where I really had to pick myself up. I’ve learned that grief comes in waves. Sometimes it just hits. In honor of Grandpa Jim and Poppy, here are two photos from our last Halloween spent together. How lucky we are to have these cherished moments to hold onto when we need them most.
🧡 Experiences that Felt Like Gifts
We celebrated many birthdays this fall, but one special one was my grandpa’s 80th. His kids surprised him with a big family lunch at our favorite family place, the Lied Lodge. Not taking these moments for granted.
A couple of other birthdays we celebrated this fall were my sister’s and my nephew’s. I made both of their cakes, which is something I truly enjoy doing for family. The themes were completely different, construction for my nephew and a sophisticated “25” for my sister, but every extra dish in the sink was worth it.
Lately, I’ve heard a lot about how working with your hands can be so beneficial for the brain. Maybe that’s why I keep returning to cake decorating. It’s the perfect combination of creating something for others while also recharging yourself (in small doses…too much will cause me to lose my charge!)
Speaking of working with your hands and experiences that feel like gifts, my sister’s Christmas present last year for the girls was a cooking class, and it was absolutely perfect! We had so much fun at Sur La Table. It was different from what I expected.
I thought we would each be at our own station, but it turned out to be a group effort. I almost ruined the hollandaise sauce, but thanks to the wise older man across the table, he kept me in check. If you can’t think of a gift idea for someone, this is a great one.
Thanks, Sis, you nailed it! We ended up creating a delicious salmon dish with a crème brûlée dessert. Mom even got to use the torch, which was fun…until it got taken away.
Another gift, this one from nature itself, was the opportunity to see the Northern Lights right here in our area, which was pretty incredible. They showed up better in pictures than in person, but the view was still special from atop a cemetery just down the road from our house. We watched in our pajamas and simply enjoyed the show.
🍂 Fall Reflections on Grief and Life’s Lessons
As I end this post, I reflect on how much I’ve taken from this season, how much I’ve worked through and learned. As adults, we often have to compartmentalize our emotions each day just to take the next step, whether it’s grieving a loved one, fearing a health diagnosis, or navigating life’s most challenging moments.
Looking around at those close to me, I see so many of us facing similar and often devastating challenges. What I’ve learned is that we can’t perfectly balance being fully present for ourselves and for those we love. We have to give space, listen, grieve and grow on our own, and reach out when we can. We are all simply doing our best for one another and for ourselves.
In a season when retreat often felt like the easiest choice, I’m learning to challenge myself, to let those close to me love me, to reach out to others even when I feel like I might be a bother, and to stay engaged with every day life. Our world keeps turning because we have each other. Whatever season you are in, I hope you navigate it with the love you deserve and give that same love to yourself, especially as you go into this holiday season.
💭 Thoughts I Didn’t Share
If you’re interested in a deeper, more personal reflection, come join me on Substack. My first post will be a full 2025 reflection, honest, a little raw and probably not what you’re expecting. I’d especially love to share it with those who find healing in connection. You are my kind of people. Thanks for being here. 🤍
Leave a Reply