Preparing for Fall

In Texas, fall isn't what I'm used to.  The temperatures don't drop as much.  The leaves don't really go anywhere at all.  The wind picks up some, and evenings do get a bit of a chill, but it's not like back in New England.  Over the three years I've been here, I've had to learn a whole new way to prepare for winter.

This time of year back home was filled with preparations for fall activities and on into winter.  A lot of families started picking up heavy winter coats and snow boots for their children if the ones from last year were outgrown.  Scarves, hats, and mittens start to be found.  Warm, heavy socks are found in preparation for those first chills.  It may be too early in the year to worry about wearing them, but it never hurt to have them on hand.  When the weather turned, which always seemed to start earlier than expected, you would want to know exactly where all of it was.

Here in Texas, fall is rather different.  During the day it stays quite hot, and often does straight through the winter.  We've been known to have ninety degree days in January or February, matched with below freezing nights.  Fall weather means digging out all the layers, that way you can prepare for all the changing temperatures, and the whole range of weather.

All summer long it's hot and humid.  There seems to be no break from it all.  Occasionally as summer starts to give way there's a few scattered storms as hurricanes hit the coast and gulf, blowing rain and clouds out our way.  Usually it's fall where the rains start to come in, though it's never much.  The temperatures can be quite nice and breezy, with just a hint of cool enough for a sweater early on.  Early fall is rather mild in Texas, providing a break from the brutality of summer's heat and sun, a slow preparation for what is yet to come.

Of course, this is the perfect time to prepare for later in the fall.  While now it may be quite nice out, later in fall the weather is much more of a challenge.  Now is the time to start digging out sweaters, or buying new ones.  You want to be prepared for the days of layering.  Come late October and November you want to be prepared for the layers you may need to put on early in the morning or late at night, but not dress in a way where it's impossible to take them off when the day turns so warm and pleasant.

This is where I'm at right now.  It's time to look into new sneakers for the children while it's still nice enough out to wear sandals.  It's time to dig out sweaters before they'll need them.  I'll need to pair all the mittens and be sure they are easy to find for when we'll need it.  Hats need to be found and light jackets need to be checked for fit.  Travel means packing the car with all sorts of extras "just in case it gets cool", a concept I wasn't so painfully aware of in New England.  The diaper bag needs to be stocked with a sweater, hat, and socks at all times, and it may even be time to start looking for a jacket for the baby.  I'm starting to wonder if perhaps I should just leave a packed suitcase in the car with all of our "just in case" items for the weather.

That seems to be the challenge of Texas.  Preparing for Fall means being ready for anything at a moments notice.  Dressing for the weather is impossible.  Knowing whether a hot lunch would be so much better than something cold is impossible to guess.  Planning ahead is next to impossible when it comes to the weather.  Just expect a bit of everything.

But, fall...  I am looking forward to it.  I'm looking forward to Halloween, where all the kids get dressed up for the occasion.  I'm looking forward to our first Thanksgiving with this new family.  It's my favorite time of the year.  I just hope I'm ready for it!