It's only been a week

Driving into Austin the other day I realized what a difference a week made. There were tons of acorns and leaves on the ground. I noticed more pumpkins on porches and at stores and caught the faintest hint of that holiday cinnamon apple scent. The holidays are here and I'm most excited about Halloween and Dia de los Muertos while listening to Christmas music through earphones. I am very discreet because I know how that music can rub some people the wrong way. Already looking for a tree farm we can all picnic at the day after Thanksgiving.

Friends of mine have been saying that so many acorns on the ground so early in the season in Texas means a mean winter is upon us. Goody! Because that could mean time off from work, ice and sleet days, perhaps snow.... An old co-worker who moved to DC and then Virginia a few years ago was telling us of her winter snow stories and how wonderful it is to shovel snow when you have spent your whole life in Texas. She's only had a few winters of snow shoveling. Honestly, being born and raised in Texas with a longing for snow my entire life, spending a Thanksgiving or Christmas here and there in shorts or having to turn the ac on in March and keep it running through October, I can say I probably wouldn't tire of shoveling snow for a long while.  My ideal climate would have four solid seasons, nothing terribly extreme and snow for Christmas.

The Rio Grande Valley had plenty of Dia de los Muertos decorations. I spotted sugar skulls being sold from trucks and cars parked along the highway and around highway fruit stands. It's time to bring out my altar and maybe make a few new doilies for it this year. We'll start drinking Mexican hot chocolate and won't stop until after The Epiphany. It's exciting because this year Austin is experiencing a really pleasant autumn, in fact, it's just cool enough at night to start lighting the chiminea. I think I'll do that tonight.