We have had amazing weather so far this fall. It’s late October, and still in the 70s. Yesterday it was in the 80s!
The wonderful weather has made it enjoyable to walk outside and take note of all of the changes happening. The fall color is beautiful right now, and leaves are starting to fall. The canopy is opening up and more light is getting through (leaves are probably about 20% gone).
Some of the pine needles have turned yellow and fallen to the ground, creating soft piles beneath the trees.
The sun angle is getting lower and lower, and the golden light is amplified when it shines through the trees. In the late afternoon, some trees positively glow.
This is such a beautiful time!
The summer flowers are still hanging on, but they probably know their days are numbered. They are thinned out. The zinnias still have color. The begonias are still showing color, but looking worn out and tired. The petunias are stringy and down to their last couple of blooms.
Fall flowers are looking great right now. Mums are everywhere, and are getting geared up.
Acorns are falling, and squirrels are darting around, making sure they get their food.
I love scented hand soaps because they are so simple and easy to change out each season, and they make a big impact. Mrs. Meyer’s has been my go-to for hand soap for a couple of years now. All purpose cleaning spray and dish soaps are also offered in the seasonal scents, and it’s fun to throw in some of those too. The products are good quality, free of harmful chemicals and dyes, and the packaging is pleasing to the eye. For about $4 each, it is a fun way to add a pop of color and scent to a kitchen or bathroom.
For fall 2020, these are the scents I am loving:
Apple Cider: This soap is my favorite of the fall lineup. It is the brightest and cleanest scent, in my opinion. Apple cider reminds me of outdoor fun during the warmer days of fall.
Mum: This is a wonderful fall floral. Mums are the quintessential fall flower, so it is very fitting that Mrs. Meyers picked it to be part of their fall lineup. This floral isn’t too overpowering, it has a kind of a muted, earthy quality that seems very appropriate for fall. The bottle is a gorgeous plum shade. I will say, after using a whole bottle in the kitchen last fall, I was ready to move on to a different scent. But I am ready for it again this year.
Pumpkin: I am a huge fan of pumpkin everything in the fall. I love that a pumpkin scent is included, and the vibrant orange with the pumpkins and leaves of the vine is so great. Unfortunately, this scent is a little too much on the spice side. I don’t use this one in the kitchen, but I appreciate it for an occasional dose of pumpkin.
Acorn Spice: I wanted so much to love this one! Acorn as a scent concept is pretty unique, and the brown label makes it so appealing for late fall. Unfortunately, the fragrance was overpowering and gave me a headache. Even on the drive home after buying the soap and cleaning spray, I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep them in my house, and I returned them the next day. Of course, this is my own personal experience and some people love this earthy scent. I just wish Mrs. Meyer’s could tone down the spice!
Spiced Pumpkin: This is an exclusive scent that is available through Grove Collaborative. I haven’t tried it yet, so I can’t speak to the scent. But given how strong the Acorn Spice scent is, I am not in a rush to try this one out.
It’s early September, so I’ll put these out to use in a couple of weeks, when we get closer to the first day of fall!
The transition from summer to fall is one of my favorite times of the year. The hot days lose their edge but still stay very warm, while the nights start to get a little cooler. The light has shifted ever so slightly, and the night comes noticeably earlier than last month. It’s still very much summer, but fall planning has begun.
The prevailing theme of late August is usually back-to-school, but in covid times, a lot of kids will do distance learning from home. Back-to-school has felt different this year, as there hasn’t been such a rush to get new school supplies, backpacks, and clothes. There are no yellow school buses driving around here yet, and there won’t be for awhile.
So in a way, it feels like summer is extending even longer than usual. I know this fall and winter is likely to be a little more cooped up than normal due to social distancing, so I want to enjoy all the summertime we can get.
Late August is like being in two seasons at once. We just got back from the beach, but it’s time to think about fall. I am beginning to plan my decor and make a list of all the fun fall activities that we can do this year.
On August 25th, Starbucks released the Pumpkin Spice Latte. That is a very strong signal that fall is getting near.
Outside, the cherry trees are dropping a lot of leaves. They are usually the first to lose their leaves each season. The green canopies are speckled with yellow, and each day, a new layer of yellow and brownish leaves fall. Most of the other trees are still very green, though. A few look a little worn out from the summer heat, but their canopies are still full.
I am so excited to start this lifestyle blog, Seasons and Tides! I love the changing seasons and everything about them, from the first buds of spring, the colorful summer produce, the golden light and textures of fall, the glowing lights of winter. I want to document it all! Topics will include nature, food, home decor, travel, and much more.
Please also check out my Instagram: seasonsandtides.
