Fall is Upon Us
None of us want to admit that summer is coming to an end. The temperatures are starting to cool down at times, and the smell and feel of the air is noticeably different. The good news is we are still a long way away from winter; however, the bad news is the days will continue to get cooler and shorter. With so much attention given to the summer and winter months, we often forget that fall is a season of its own with unique characteristics.
Mornings
In most places throughout the continental United States, the morning dew is much heavier. We do not think about this often but if you park your car outside it should be clearly noticeable by now. Furthermore, it is much cooler in the morning hours than it was a month ago. This climate change is proof enough that the fall months are upon us. The need for long sleeves and some light jackets is now a thing and we must let our vehicles defroster run for a minute to ensure we can see things clearly. Additionally, mornings are darker, and we are seeing a later sunrise. This not only affects our commute but often has an impact on our mood in the morning. The cooler temperature and darker light level can lead us to feel restless in the morning. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do but adjust. It is time we realize the best of summer is behind us and the cooler fall morning air is here to stay.
Wardrobe Changes
The weather is still warm enough to wear open toe shoes or sandals still, but not every day. The change in the weather will, if it hasn’t already, change how we dress. We are more likely to start wearing full length pants and it might even be time to break out a quarter zip sweater or even a light weight jacket. Fall is a unique season and with it comes the need for a unique wardrobe. Fortunately, most of us do not change clothing sizes often and many of our previous year’s attire will still be wearable and fashionable. The hardest part about seasonal change, from a fashion and dress perspective, is finding everything and rearranging our closets. The light weight tank tops and shorts can now be placed in reserve in favor of more practical fall outfits. Although reorganizing our closets is annoying, it usually is not the worst part. Remembering where we stored everything is its own challenge. Furthermore, cleaning the dust off the apparel items from the previous year can be a lot of hard work. A trip to a local laundromat might make this process less painful. Instead of doing laundry loads one at a time you can get them all done simultaneously. Also, make sure to look at your dryer. Many newer models have a steam clean feature that works wonders, it gets the dust off without the need for a full wash cycle.
Food
The change in seasons also means there will be a change in the types of produce that is harvested. Global trade enables us to get whatever fruits and vegetables we want year round; however, there can be a notable difference in freshness. Melons are typically best during the summer months and items like corn and apples are typically best in the fall. As a result there is some seasonality to the way we cook and eat. Items like pies will start appearing in large quantities and local appeal farms will start having events. Embrace this time of year. Most of us have fond memories of apple picking with our families when we were children, now time for us to start making new memories with the younger members of our families. Additionally, it is important to enjoy the seasonal flavors while they last. So when you are heading to a dinner party bring a pie instead of a 6 pack. Try a new corn bread recipe when you plan a dinner party meal. Make the most of the seasonal foods while they are here. If you procrastinate too long you will have to wait another full year to get that perfect seasonal item.
Recreational Activities
Even though most public pools are open, odds are the crowds are very different. Children are back in school and what was once a hub of activity and fun quickly becomes a ghost town. This can be said about many places now that children are back in school. Shopping malls are quieter and restaurants have shorter wait periods. In contrast, libraries should be busier and traffic patterns around local schools should be very different. It is hard to believe how quickly our day to day lives change when school resumes. With no kids to look after, most of us resume our normal work routines. Less vacation time is taken and it is time to get ready for the ever important fiscal fourth quarter. Christmas is a long way away, but any business who sells a product that can be given as a gift should be in full planning mode. The crowds at daytime sporting events are also drastically different. Weekday baseball games are a tougher sell and NFL preseason games are played at weird times. All of these factors cause changes to our recreational and social calendars. This is not a bad thing, but we just have to realize that things will be a bit different when we make plans. Every season has its own unique activities and now that fall is here what we done in our spare time should change, we might not even realize it has happened.
Fall is upon us and it is time to stop holding on to the hope that summer will last forever. With fall comes unique climate conditions and a different way of living. It is a small change but a change none the less. Just remember to embrace the fall season and enjoy what it brings before it is too late.