Easing into autumn with PBS

Back in the late 1900s, during my fourth-grade summer break, I discovered “Donna’s Day” — the calm, creative, family-friendly television version of Pinterest.

On those summer afternoons, host Donna Erickson welcomed me into her space filled with shelves of crafting materials and beautifully decorated windows. It was neither the minimalism of today nor the maximalism that seems determined to defy it. Just a woman who thoughtfully collected things that inspired her and found joy in sharing them through thrifty projects, kid-friendly recipes and permission to get a bit messy.

(Although I never did — understanding as a kid that permission on TV did not necessarily equal permission in our household!)

Her easy joy, comfort and creativity — and especially the way possibility seemed ever-present in her outlook — inspired me. “Donna’s Day” was a spark for me in learning not just how to find fun and joy in setting up a home, but how to create the kind of ambience that makes other people feel comfortable being there.

I also loved her thriftiness. I can still picture her cheerfully toting a box of glass jars toward a desk and offering “another plug for garage sales!” As a country kid, garage sales were some of my earliest encounters with the wider world – and my mom was always happy to make an accidental brake check when she spotted a “rummage sale” sign on the way back “from town.”

Today, I’m the woman who will proudly declare, “Vinny’s!/Goodwill!/$2 at a rummage sale!” whenever anyone compliments any part of my outfit.

While my brothers teased me about my love of the show, they’re now among the beneficiaries of my cooking and hosting skills. That’s one of the things I marvel at now, in my 30s and working for PBS Wisconsin: how the programs we watched growing up followed us into adulthood.

My brother Steve spent his weekend afternoons watching “The Woodwright’s Shop,” “The New Yankee Workshop” and “This Old House.” Every so often, he’d yell to me from across the house. “Alyssa, come quick!”

I’d sprint to his doorway.

“Look! They’re building a deck.”

I’d walk in to see Tommy, Norm and crew on the screen and, for the remainder of the episode, join him in watching the latest developments. Today, Steve is a tech ed teacher.

After years of Rick Steves bringing the world into our childhood home through our giant tube TV, my sister Molly now maps out her European vacations with the help of his episodes and guidebooks. She and her husband even enjoyed some wine with him, virtually, last year. My brother David, a talented woodworker in his own right, proudly displays his Bob Ross-inspired oil paintings in beautiful hand-built wooden frames around his home.

We may have grown up and developed our own interests, but PBS came with us.

While my siblings build out their plans for conquering the world beyond that beautiful 20-acre wilderness we grew up on, I’m building out a cozy autumn of my own — with a little help from PBS.

Put the garden to bed

First up: Getting my garden space ready for its winter slumber. I joined a new community garden this summer, which gave me the joy of meeting new, friendly people and tending a little patch of Wisconsin soil alongside them. Before I planted my first seed, I gave myself permission to make it a “Let’s see how it goes” kind of season — plant the simple things I know how to prepare in the kitchen, add a row of cutting flowers and be okay with things not going to plan.

It’s something I could only do having built up my green thumb confidence with the help of PBS Wisconsin’s digital gardening series, “Let’s Grow Stuff.” With a few years of gardening under my belt and without the pressure of perfection, I was able to observe my garden and make a list for next year. I’m already excited to read and plan around it come February’s cold, dark days.

One thing I’ll do this month: use the remaining zinnias to create seasonal centerpieces for my annual Halloween party, with the help of J. Schwanke’s episode, “Life in Gloom.”

Taste the season

While my “Donna’s Day” days are long gone, my “Martha Bakes” days are alive and well. If you’re in the front seat of my vehicle in September and October, you’ll notice I punctuate silences with “Ooo, pumpkins!” or “Aw, apples!” every time I see a farm stand rich with the season’s prime produce.

I’ve already noted the Sunday afternoon in my calendar when I’ll put a “The Best of The Joy of Painting” episode from PBS Wisconsin Passport onto the TV and bake up some pumpkin bread from Martha and a batch of spiced apple walnut pancakes from PBS Food.

Take in the color

After time in the kitchen on those autumn weekend afternoons, I’m always happy to give the oven — and myself — a break. My favorite way to do it is taking in the sights and sounds of autumn in Wisconsin, with “Wisconsin Life” host Angela Fitzgerald as my guide.

For those destinations a bit too far to plan a trip to, I’ll let “Wisconsin Foodie” host Luke Zahm lead the way in exploring another seasonal celebration: Bayfield’s Apple Fest.

Look up

Of course, my cozy autumn wouldn’t be complete without the bittersweet business of saying goodbye to the season. My favorite way? Turning my eyes to the sky to watch our birds bid farewell for the year as they seek out an even cozier home for themselves — a reminder that I’ll soon be doing the same once snow hits the ground.

When I think back to that fourth-grade summer, I don’t remember every project Donna made. I remember the feeling of her show: that ordinary things could be awesome, that there was always something new to try and that a home could be a place where people felt comfortable being themselves.

Decades later, I’m still cooking, growing, decorating, exploring and looking up at the sky — with PBS keeping me company along the way.

How are you easing into autumn? Share your favorite cozy fall traditions with me — or tell me how PBS has inspired the way you cook, garden, create or enjoy the season.