Nora Long
Staff Writer

Autumn is a fun and exciting time of year. It’s a time of year where the trees are changing color, you’re pulling out those warm sweaters and flannels, but yet you’re running into a stump with things to do. Autumn is full of great outdoor fun to be had. There are plenty of activities you can do this fall, whether you are more of an indoor or outdoor person. Here are just a few of the many projects you can do: Pumpkin carving, apple picking, hayrides, corn mazes, music festivals, apple festivals, baking pies, making apple cider, or even finding walking trails near you that feature all of the changing leaves. You see, there is plenty to do! Here are two activities to do to get your fall started:

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Apple cider is a staple drink for the fall (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia).

How to make Homemade Apple Cider:
Ingredients:
Serves 6-8 | Produces ½ gallon of cider
-8-10 apples
-½ to 1 cup of sugar
-4 tablespoons of cinnamon
-4 tablespoons of allspice

Directions:
1.Quarter your apples
2.In a large pot, add your apples and fill with water – enough to cover the top of the apples
3.Add your sugar
4.Wrap your cinnamon and allspice in a cheese cloth and tie. Add this to the apples and water!
5.Boil on high for one hour (uncovered)
6.Turn down heat, and boil covered for two hours
7.Take off of heat after two hours, and allow to cool
8.Remove spices and mash the apples into a potato-like consistency
9.Once cool, pour over a strainer into a large bowl
10.You can store this in an air-tight container in your refrigerator for up to one week! This recipe was found at:
http://www.food.com/recipe/moms-homemade-apple-cider-non-alchoholic-253224

How to Carve Pumpkins in your Dorm Room:
Supplies:

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Just because you have space limitations doesn’t mean you cannot participate in the ever-popular tradition of carving pumpkins (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia).

-Pumpkins
-Large black contractor trash bags
-Desk size trash bin with trash bag (no holes)
-Knives / Carving tools
-Spoons / Ice cream scooper
-Paper towel / Old wash towels that you don’t mind getting messy
-Old sheet

Directions:
1.Lay the sheet on your dorm room floor where you will be doing your pumpkin carving.
2.Lay black contractor trash bags over top of the sheet where you will be carving.
3.Put a desk size trash bin with a trash bag in the middle of the carving area.
4.Have your carving tools, ice cream scooper, paper towels, and old towels on hand and right next to you for when you need them.
5.Take a seat and get ready to carve your pumpkin!
6.Cut the top of your pumpkin off (the lid) and place it to the side.
7.Scoop out the insides with your ice cream scooper and chop away some pumpkin from the sides with your carving tools.
8.Throw away your pumpkin guts (unless you’re saving them) into the trash bin.
9.Continue this until your pumpkin guts are all out of the pumpkin.
10. Open another contractor trash bag and place your pumpkin and pumpkin lid, carving tools and ice cream scooper off to the side on top of the trash bag
11.Do a quick clean-up by throwing out the guts and contractor bags.
12.Now you are ready to carve your pumpkin in any way you would like!
13.Once finished carving, take each edge of the contractor trash bag into the middle and throw it out into the dumpster.
14.Congratulations, you have a carved a pumpkin!