Hello Friend,
A sure sign that fall is here is when I see our kids gathering twigs and branches so my husband can get a fire going in our fire pit for s’mores. The air gets cooler, the leaves transform into bright red, orange and yellow, and the smells? Apples, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, fire pits…it’s a feast for the senses. Fall traditions are a big deal in the Cruz home. And while this year may be a little different with quarantine and distancing, I’m grateful there are still so many ways we can celebrate the fun of this season with our family, friends, and neighbors.
And speaking of neighbors, have you ever BOO’d your neighbors? It’s literally my family’s favorite thing to do in October. When the sun goes down we leave a bag full of treats or small gifts as quietly as possible at an unsuspecting neighbor’s front door. We ring the doorbell and then — ding-dong-ditch — we run like crazy to hide behind cars or bushes so we can watch them discover their surprises! We do this every year and it’s such a great way to spread a little kindness among neighbors.
Just outside our neighborhood, we’re lucky to be surrounded by so many local farms and orchards — two of our family’s favorites are Butlers Orchard in Germantown and Homestead Farm. We cannot resist the corn maze, the haunted hayrides, the caramel apples, hot chocolate for the kids, and (my favorite) warm apple cider. We love choosing the perfect pumpkins to carve. And while we always come home with more apples than we need, our daughter Sofia makes good use of them. As an aspiring baker, she makes our home smell absolutely delicious with her mouth-watering apple pies.
Another tradition that makes this community so special is the highly popular "Trick or Treat On The Row". Our offices are located on the Row and it’s always fun to join my fellow agents in dressing up and handing out candy to trick or treaters.
I think I like fall so much because it’s a season devoted to sharing experiences with the people you care about. And aren’t we lucky to live in one of the most beautiful places in the country? Fall is special in Montgomery County. I can honestly say I wouldn’t want to live anyplace else. Because here, fall feels like…home.
With much gratitude,
Dana
