Dreaming about Fall

I know the calendar has just turned to August, but these days I find myself dreaming about all things September/October/November. 

I don’t know what it’s like where you are, but here in Texas it is hot, hot, hot—without any foreseeable break ahead. And it seems like it’s been that way everywhere we’ve traveled over the summer, too. Even places that weren’t supposed to be hot! (Except for Southern California, which was lovely in the low 80s, though the locals kept apologizing for the heat! 😂)

Anyway, combine that with the start of school—which I always think should mean the weather changing to crisp and cool, but in Texas, it never does—and all the fall decor already in the stores, and I find myself wanting to turn down the AC, put on a light sweater, and drink a hot drink. 

Sigh. 

So I thought I’d let myself dream a bit more tangibly and tell you the things I’m most looking forward to this fall. 

1. Intelligentsia Coffee’s Avena Latte—I got hooked on Intelligentsia when we lived in Austin, because their shop was across the street from our condo building. It’s the only location in Texas. And I fell in love with their Avena Latte, a blend of cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, and a splash of cayenne. It just tastes like fall. Since we moved back to Dallas, I haven’t had one, but we have not one but two trips to Austin on the books this fall, so I’m excited to indulge in this “autumn in a cup” drink once again—even though it will be even hotter in Austin than Dallas!

2. The Dallas Arboretum—I love their fall decor of pumpkins and gourds, and so do my granddaughters! Hoping we’ll have some cooler mornings in late September so we can go together. Especially since our newest, June (5 months old), has never been. Those are always memory-making days with lots of cute pictures. 

3. Cleaned up flower beds—I do not like to work in the yard, and I do not have a green thumb. But I do love flowers in front of my home. So every spring and fall I hire some local guys to clean things up and plant seasonal flowers. Of course, this will have to wait a while so they don’t burn up the minute they go in the ground! 

4. Sitting outside—I love sitting in my backyard in the afternoons. My round sectional couch outside is one of my favorite things about our home. But I can’t do it until the afternoon temperatures drop. Thankfully, it gets afternoon shade, so that helps. But it’s still a hard place to feel comfortable in the summertime. Same with our outdoor table. I’m dreaming of the days when we can take our dinner outside and enjoy cooler weather. 

5. The Texas Book Festival—Another Austin thing we loved and haven’t been back to do. But we have our hotel booked for this year and are excited to wander the Texas Capitol building and hear all kinds of authors talking about their books! The weather ought to be nice, since it doesn’t happen until mid-November! 

6. A trip with my daughter—This is the thing I am most looking forward to this fall! Not only do we get to spend some time together, but late October in Boston first (where she lives) and then Mystic, Connecticut (where we’ll stay for a couple of nights) sounds glorious! This trip ought to hit all the markers—Pumpkin spice lattes, apple cider donuts, sweaters and sweatshirts, and colorful leaves! We don’t usually get any fall travel to places that actually have an autumn, so this is a doubly special treat! 

That’s my list. For now. 

What are you looking forward to as the weather cools and the days shorten?