Autumn, writes the poet, is the year’s last, loveliest smile. And for us at Leland’s Cabins, it’s the time when we savor every last drop of sunshine. There’s no better place to spend those precious hours than in the great outdoors in your own log cabin home.
There are plenty of reasons why we love Texas cabin homes throughout the whole year. But autumn offers particular pleasures. Here are what we consider the joys of simple cabin living, ranked in no particular order. Sit back, prop your boots up, and see if you agree.
Autumn Leaves
The science behind the changing leaves is simple enough. As summer comes to an end and the daylight hours get shorter, trees start to prepare themselves for winter. Wintertime is when there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis—which we might recall from fourth-grade science class is the way plants turn water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar to live.
During autumn, the trees shut down their food-making factories, and the green chlorophyll that makes photosynthesis happen disappears from the leaves. In its place, we start to see the yellows and oranges associated with fall. The bright reds and purples we see when maple trees start to turn come about as a result of glucose that’s trapped in the leaves.
Whether you want to explain all this to family and friends is your decision. But what we do recommend is sitting back and soaking in the colors of the season, marveling at the beauty from your cabin’s front-row seats. Fall is the time of year when it’s hard to take a bad photo, and when everything around us looks like an oil painting.
It’s the time of year for slowing down, enjoying the simpler pleasures like rocking on the porch of your family cabin and sharing memories of the year. The crunch of leaves underfoot as the kids play, the dazzling color in the trees all around—these are the memories that will last a lifetime.
Crisp Air, Mild Temperatures
While our cabins like the Settlement Harbor feature 12-foot ceilings with fans and top-grade air-conditioning systems, we recommend in autumn that you throw open the windows and let the fresh, crisp air inside. Our cabins are Texas made and Texas proud, so we know how hot the temperatures can get. When fall rolls around, we try to take advantage of the milder temperatures as best we can.
We’ve even been known to throw on a cozy sweater and thick socks once in a while too.
Pumpkins
Pumpkin picking and pumpkin carving are special joys just for this time of year. The tradition dates back to the Irish immigrants who brought it to America in the 1850s. The original Jack O’Lantern was not a pumpkin, however, since pumpkins were not common to Ireland. The ancient Celtic cultures instead took to carving turnips as part of their celebration of All Hallow’s Eve. Inside the turnips they set an ember that they hoped would ward off evil spirits.
With our cabins like the Lone Star, you can carve your pumpkins and bake the seeds for a tasty snack in the spacious kitchen. Let the kids spread out at the dining table while you whip up some pumpkin-flavored treats—from muffins to pancakes to pie—at the stove. All of our kitchens feature handcrafted cabinets of pine, hickory, or pecan woods, and appliance options from black, white, or stainless steel finishes.
All Things Apple
When you’re living in Leland’s custom cabins, you likely are outside of the big city and embracing country life. Which means an apple orchard isn’t too far away. And apples, aside from being the perfect food fresh-picked from its source, are good just about any way you prepare them.
From apple cider to apple crumble to caramel apples, you can’t go wrong with this fruit. And autumn is when apple season goes into full swing. Every American eats about 65 fresh apples a year, according to the University of Illinois Extension, which totals over 19 pounds of apples per person, on average.
Americans grow about 2,500 varieties of apples in yards and hobby farms in every state, while about 100 varieties of apples are grown commercially in just 36 states. In colonial days, apples were known as “winter bananas” or “melt-in-the-mouths.” We feel the same way still and, at Leland’s Cabins, we’re happy to swap our sweet tea for some apple cider come autumn. It takes about 36 apples to create one gallon of apple cider, and 2 pounds of apples to make a 9-inch pie.
The Best Holidays
You’ve worked hard all year, and you’re due for some downtime. This is when your Leland’s cabin serves as the perfect getaway. Forget about the cheap candy and scary movies this year, and head straight for your cabin to celebrate Halloween in the woods. S’mores have never tasted so good when they’re made at the campfire, underneath crystal-clear skies and a cozy blanket, spooky stories filling the air.
And Thanksgiving can be extra special when you celebrate it at your family cabin. With a custom log home like the three-bedroom, two-bath beauty The Lodge, there’s plenty of space for grandparents and cousins as well as all the cooks in the kitchen. Clocking in at more than 1,500 square feet, this cabin boasts the biggest and best we have to offer.
While autumn lets us know that winter is coming—and along with it, the stress of the Christmas rush—one good thing to remember is that it’s not here yet. So there’s still plenty of time for photographing the foliage, nibbling pumpkin pie, and making time for the very best part of the season:
Leaf piles.
If you are thinking about the simple joys of log cabin life, we hope you’ll jump in. Stop by one of our Leland’s Cabin showrooms across the state. Or visit us in Grandview, home of the largest cabin showroom in Texas. Take your time. We’re sipping our cider and waiting for you.