There are lots of jokes about the start of fall in Texas. Most boil down to the reality that the weather doesn’t feel or look like what’s going on in most other parts of the country. Especially in our former home up in Western Washington. In fact, a common FB comment from friends up there was that “Fall has come early this year!”. They’re talking boots and slow cookers and even fires in fireplaces. The high here on the official first day of fall (9/23) was 97˚! And, sunny. It rained today for 3 minutes. 🙂
The ‘Signs’ of Fall in Texas
Fall typically brings visions of gorgeous stands of colorfully leaved trees. Bright reds, yellows, oranges, browns, and greens with bright blue skies in the background. Those trees and their leaves exist in Texas, we’ll just have to drive a little way to view them now. In fact, this recent article ‘Texas Highways’ called ‘Fall Really does Happen in Texas, You Just have to Know Where to Look’ has beautiful photos and several locations to visit. Great resource! Eventually, we’ll get to some ‘real fall’ signs here in Temple. We know, we saw them last year!
Other signs of fall are in full swing in Texas. The Starbucks here have PSL’s. Pumpkins are popping up all over. And, of course, as I posted last week in ‘Texas Sports Kids Style’; football has burst onto the scene and all our local teams are winners so far! UMHB, Belton HS, and our favorite N. Belton Middle School came out on top of their games this week. (Better luck next week Seahawks!)
Orange and yellow mums are for sale in garden centers and Halloween has overtaken the aisles at the big stores. (We won’t mention that Christmas is out as well!) Summer wear is on clearance and flannel shirts and argyle socks are stocked.
Here’s a link to an article in one of my favorite Texas magazines. There are gorgeous photos and directions to go visit where fall is happening in Texas. “Fall Really Does Happen in Texas-You Just Have to Know Where to Look“
The Holidays of Fall
Octoberfest is right around the corner. And, then in a blink, it’s Halloween. Thanksgiving will be here before you know it, finishing off the autumn holidays.
Fall in Texas is beautiful, entertaining, fun, and very warm. And, I love it!
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Psalms 96: 11-12
Finding a new purpose in living and joy in the day-to-day was the goal when author Kathy Rowland and her entire family (adult kids and grandkids) moved from the PNW to Texas several years ago. The focus of Quiet Hollow is to encourage ‘next chapter women’ – those who are retired, empty-nesters, or have found themselves without a spouse to jump back into life. And, she shares multiple tips, ideas, and possibilities toward that end. Kathy completed her almost 30 years as an elementary teacher and hopped into over a decade of volunteer work, side hustle-type businesses, and grandchild care before discovering her unique and fulfilling purpose for the next chapter of life. What you read on Quiet Hollow is a large part of that calling. Another part is the happy life she’s leading in Central Texas in the same neighborhood as the 3 big kids and her 5 grandkids. She and her college sweetheart husband made sure to add a pool to their new Texas home, so there are lots of noisy, splashy days in their little oasis of a backyard. Come join her on Quiet Hollow in a conversation about finding and living the life you were created to live in this later stage. The chats will be full of laughter, support, faith, and inspiration to create.
