It’s October…true autumn at last. I have friends all over the country, and some of them are telling me “it’s so cold here!” while some are saying, “is it ever going to cool down?” Obviously the answer to that is, yes, of course. It will cool down, and for the most part, families will be driven back indoors by the chill in the air.

That’s too bad, because few things the earth offers us are so pleasant as cool autumn evenings. It would be lovely if we could spend every weekend in front of a campfire, snuggling together for warmth and eating marshmallows. I wish it worked that way. But even if it doesn’t, there are ways for a family to enjoy a cool fall night together.

One of the easiest and least expensive is simply to buy an outdoor heater. These are like space heaters, but the heat is more focused and less diffused. The ones I like, made by Outdora, are designed to warm up people and objects, like that patio chair you’re curled up in, and not just to warm the air in front of you—because let’s face it, on these lovely fall nights, that warm air will blow right way in the breeze, leaving your kids shivering.

It’s so great to be able to sit outside during my favorite time of year. I love the wind, the smell of burning leaves, and the feel of wearing several layers of clothes—but I hate being cold. And I cannot stand for my kids to be cold—I’m one of those moms that makes everyone put on a sweater when I get cold. It’s possible that my aversion to cold makes us miss a lot when it comes to beautiful fall days and evenings.

This is why I want one of these outdoor heaters. Outdora makes the kind that sits on the floor and warms from below, but it also has some really cool ones that look like standing lamps or table top lamps. You don’t even really know they’re heaters unless someone tells you, so they add to the beauty of the décor.

I’m sure I don’t have to say this, but I’d better, anyway…obviously you don’t want to leave small kids unattended with an outdoor heater or anything else that’s hot. If you have toddlers, you’re probably best off with one of the table top models. But whatever kind you get, think of all the good times you’re opening up for your family, just by making it warm enough to go outside together.