Keep on, Fall

I love the Christmas holiday season and I love winter, but around this time of year when I feel fall slipping away the day after Halloween, I get a little resentful and conflicted. Why the rush? Especially in Texas, it's still just starting to feel like fall, and I don't think I can stretch my imagination enough to believe it's time for snowflakes and candy canes. And this year, I haven't even carved a pumpkin yet or roasted the seeds, so that's going to have to happen. Anyway, just enjoying fall while it's here. Winter will come in due time.

- From the desk of Mrs. M

I Will Have my Fall (Even if Texas Doesn't)

If you were familiar with me or my blog around this time last year, you might remember that fall is my absolute favorite season. I went a little crazy at the pumpkin scented/flavored section of Wal Mart (and still have some of that febreze left!).

I think fall is a favorite for many folks. Understandable, because it is perfect. Fall in PA is just lovely- the trees change colors, the air gets colder, Dunkin' Donuts breaks out the pumpkin spice flavored items (I used to work there), and all is well with me. This will be my first fall down in Texas, though, and the last season I have yet to experience in this southern state. From what I gather about Texas, however, there are mainly three "seasons"- Really Really Hot (over half the year), Less Hot and Stormy, and Warm or Sometimes Chilly. I suspect there will be some days that feel like fall, but I'm not at all expecting a similar shift in season as up North. I am determined, however, to make autumn happen here, even if the weather doesn't entirely cooperate.

I will wear all my most autumn attire. 

sweater/chambray/necklace/loafers/Toms

I will bake things to make the house smell and taste like fall.

I will buy some pumpkins at the farm where we got our Christmas tree. 

And then I'll roast the seeds from those pumpkins.

I will go to Starbucks for some pumpkin spice. And buy some Dunkin' pumpkin spice if they have it in stores here.

Also, I am looking forward to handing out Halloween candy for the first time (in our own place)!

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I will have my fall. 

- Mrs. M

Summer Favorites

Sweet lady Lin and a couple other gals are hosting Random Thursday, and this weeks topic is favorite things about summer! 

I do not like summer, because summer is hot hot hot, especially now spending my first (10-month long) summer in Texas. But aside from the heat and AC bills, between the bug bites and frizzy hair, even I can find some good things about my least favorite season. 

 Cold Treats. A particular abundance of them. 

Hanging out in the backyard, reading, tanning, longing for the air conditioned indoors, whathaveyou. 

 Flip flops and sandals all the time! Though in Texas this is a year round luxury. 

 Outdoor adventures.

BBQ

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Summer movies. 

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Birthday times, both for Kyle and I, and a lot of friends too. 

Though my favorite summertime of all is summertime in Finland.

And, funny enough, almost exactly a year ago I wrote a post about my summer favorites, you can see here. 

-Mrs. M

Finland in Spring

As you might expect, the transition from winter to spring in Finland is truly wonderful. Winter has a bit of an extended stay, especially in the North where I spent a long Easter weekend at my 3rd host family's cottage (/ friend's reindeer farm!), but eventually things start to warm up. I particularly remember one weekend day in April when there was a big festival along the river. Lots of vendors out, selling food, flowers and other little things; everyone out walking about in the sun. I remember I was wearing flip flops, as it was really nice and sunny out, but apparently despite the warm weather, I still looked like the weirdo wearing flip flops in winter (you know the type: they are especially rampant in college culture, wearing shorts, t shirt and sandals in the middle of winter, snow gently falling. the fools). But it was so warm, I promise! May 1st is Vappu, where all the high school graduates don their graduating cap, college students wear their college jumpsuits, and everyone gets drunk in the center of the town. The holiday could really give St. Patrick's day a run for its drunken money. It is dangerous every time I do these Finland posts, usually for Kyle, because I'll be asking him repeatedly when we can go there.

Easter in the North. I rode around on fur-lined jet-skis, fed reindeer, and walked on the frozen lakes.

 Spring day along the river.

 Sunset on the island Ruissalo!

 Vappu

 Helsinki

Sailing around the islands. One of the best experiences.

Want more Finland? (I know I do)

Summer in Finland

Winter in Finland

Christmas in Finland