It still surprises me to be able to be wearing shorts and t-shirts in early to mid November. It doesn’t quite feel like the autumn days I recall in my years of living in the lower mid-west. But, fall has finally arrived with overnight lows hovering at 65F and days still approaching 80F. This time of year in Florida is just lovely with cooler mornings, low humidity, and sun-filled days.
November is, however, 2/3 of the way through fall! For years I did a Seasonal Action Plan but recently shifted to a Seasonal Possibilities List. Different title means less of a need to get it all done, in theory. I did find myself on November 1st looking to see how much of my Fall Possibilities I did check-off! Old habits are hard to change.
It has been an activity filled fall between my planning mode being back into place (after my grieving period with no mental energy to plan anything), my normal exercise programs continuing, and the club activities heating up with the new season. I’ve learned that summer here is the slow time, between no snowbirds and the summer heat avoiders. Yes, these are slightly different “animals”. Snowbirds usually have two homes (if not more) and Florida is their “winter” one. There is a mass exodus in April/May and then a return in Nov/Dec. Summer heat avoiders are Florida residents who just vacation somewhere cooler in August and sometimes that extends July to September if they are pulling their RV! Anyway, both of my garden clubs do very little in the summer and then go full on beginning in October.
So what were some highlights so far this fall?
- This fall started off with us in hurricane recovery mode, which seems to have extended itself into months. I am still working through “is it truly dead” in my yard. My garden club plant sales saw me bringing home quite a few replacements; some still need to be planted!
- I’ve added in both New Moon tarot card readings and Full Moon shelling. Besides making me more aware of the natural cycle of the seasons, I find both of these solo activities meditative and reflective.
- I love looking back on my New Experiences Tracking to reminisce on some of the fun new things I tried. This fall I listened to a podcast on intuition; did a pub-crawl dressed in a tutu and tiara; and made chocolate covered frozen bananas for the first time, with bananas from our own banana tree.
- The planning and execution of my various club activities. I loved talking plants with people who have an interest in them at two different plant sales. The organizer in me enjoyed the pre-work for the wine festival silent auction. The wine-lover was thrilled to be part of the wine tasting to choose the wines served. I pushed out of my comfort zone to do cold-call requests of donations for the silent auction. And it was nice to get the 15 cases of crafted wine bottle centerpieces out of our garage! (See header picture of three in place at the event.)
- Our trip back up to Cincinnati allowed us to catch up with so many friends. It was bittersweet as I miss how easy a get together with people who I’ve known for years can be. Absolutely, we have friends here in our new home. And someday they will be people who I’ve known for years as well.
So what’s on the Fall Possibilities list that I need to get on making happen? With this glorious fall weather, I need to look at planning some beach walks, park walks, and kayaking. There are also a few activities I want to do this Holiday season – holiday shows and light displays.
My retirement lifestyle continues to bring me a feeling of contentment – Active Body, Connected Heart, Creative Spirit, and Contemplative Mind.
What’s your favorite fall activity, that doesn’t require cool fall temperatures?
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Hi, Pat – Thank you for joining us for #wboyc. Although we have had an unseasonably warm autumn here on Vancouver Island, I am jealous of your warm temperatures there. It is so much either to hear outdoors without having to bundle up head to toe! 🙂
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It still is so odd to me to be in shorts, T-shirt and flip flops the first week in December! We do get some cooler temps and I was thrilled to pull on pants and a sweater last week!
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I’m still jealous!
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I adore autumn, but we have a similar climate to yours so it’s always quite slow to arrive. I’ve recently re-started posting New Moon and Full Moon posts on my astro site. I’d forgotten just how in touch with the seasons it helped make me. Thanks for linking up!
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I’m going to have to start following your astro site! Can you send me the link?
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Hi Pat, You’ll find it here …https://jotracey.com.au/
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What a great recap of a fun month for you Pat. I’m always intrigued with the various terms, ‘snowbirds and summer heat avoiders’ and I’m so glad you explained them. I also enjoyed the image of you doing a pub crawl in a tutu – what fun :). Well done on changing to the word possibilities list, it is a much more reasonable way of making a list but without the pressure. Thanks for joining us for #WBOYC, it’s always good to see what you’ve been up to.
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Snowbirds is a common term in the USA. Heat avoiders is my own, as they really are not traditional snowbirds. The pub crawl was my first ever one… I enjoyed it but not sure how often I’d do one. I’m not really a drinker. I do like to find new things to experience, so that event definitely fit!
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Hi Pat… late to the party, but I saw your comment on another blog and realized that I hadn’t been receiving notices of your posts. WP has been doing some odd things recently. One of my favorite fall activities that doesn’t require cool temps? Watching the incredible sunsets we get this time of year.
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Hi Janis! For me it’s sunrises! We face southeast so I see lovely sunrises, if I’m up early enough.
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Happy fall, Pat! Those temps sound delightful. While we are not quite as warm in Southern Utah, it has been delightful this week, with highs in the 70s and lows in mid-50s. I am loving it! Your chocolate-dipped bananas sound glorious, especially with bananas fresh from the tree. Do you notice a difference in taste compared to store-bought bananas?
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Christie, Our banana tree bananas taste almost exactly like store-bought ones. The big differences are the size and skin. I call our tree’s bananas two-bite ones. Usually only 2-3 inches long. And the skin is really thin. Peel-able, like store bought, but very thin.
Our banana trees migrated from our neighbor’s yard. Another fascinating fact, when these trees produce one bunch of bananas, they are done and die off. But they’ve sent out baby trees underground. Right now, I think we have 3-4 ones of varying sizes in our yard, from the neighbors original ones.
Oh, and when a bunch ripens, you have about 50-60 bananas ripe within 2-3 days! It’s actually similar with the local mango trees and avocado trees. We don’t have either on our property, but neighbors do. When a tree ripens, you could have 100 ripe fruit in 1-2 weeks. Everyone is making mango smoothies or guacamole those weeks!
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I find that fascinating, Pat. Thanks for enlightening me on one of my favorite fruits.
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Our fall has been unusually warm and as a result we’ve had color on the trees longer than usual. What’s your favorite fall activity, that doesn’t require cool fall temperatures? I’d say sitting on the deck late in the afternoon with a glass of wine while taking in the leaf colors as the sun sets.
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Ally, I do miss the leaf colors! Our trip back to Cincinnati was a week too soon to see much color. I must consider a late afternoon with a glass of wine taking in the setting sun. Fall sunsets can be quite lovely and I don’t watch them very often!
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Fall has been unseasonably warm here and what snow we had melted. But still days get dark early and I am all about inside time and projects other than the daily walk. You’ve had an interesting collection of activities.
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Bernie, I need to start thinking about doing inside projects in the evenings as it’s dark here earlier too. Not the long nights you get up north, that’s for sure! And yes, the tiara/tutu thing was quite outside my comfort zone.
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I can’t even imagine running around in one! It won’t be on my costume list for next year’s Halloween dance.
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“This fall I listened to a podcast on intuition; did a pub-crawl dressed in a tutu and tiara; and made chocolate covered frozen bananas for the first time, with bananas from our own banana tree”. You are just too much and my life is dull in comparison. Who can top a pub-crawl while wearing a tutu? 🙂 I might just borrow that idea for my next birthday.
Typically, fall would be all about a leaf-peeping road trip, but we couldn’t find time this year. We are flying to Quebec City on Saturday and will be there for a week, getting our winter fix. Wish for snow please. Everything else has been pretty much on cruise control. Life is good.
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I’m with you Suzanne! A pubcrawl in a tutu and tiara?
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Suzanne, my first ever pub crawl in fact! Quite a bit outside my comfort zone, but I had fun. Not sure it’ll be anything regularly planned however. I do miss the colorful fall leaves. Our trip north was a week too soon; you never really know when the color will be. I hope you get your snow in Quebec City! I’m quite looking forward to some cooler weather Florida style. Not snow, but jeans and a sweater would be a nice change.
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I love it! You had a really full fall! Maybe not the Hurricane recovery stuff, but all the rest sounds great!
I didn’t really do anything new, well, except travel! We went to Paris for a few days with friends and then went on to Positano and the Amalfi Coast! It has been a “bucket list” thing for me for years and it did not disappoint! Then, not two weeks later we took a very short hop down to Marco Island (a trip we have done for years with friends) and had stunning weather while there! Maybe next year we can extend the trip and come see you guys?
We came home and did a touch of fall/Thanksgiving decorating.
Oh, Oh, I adopted another rescue Chihuahua, Lola! I’ll send some pics.
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I chuckled with the “I didn’t really do anything… just some time in Paris and the Amalfi coast.” Next trip to Florida, you do need to let us know. We’re not that far from Marco Island.
Waiting for pictures of Lola! Tim commented, bet she’s got a whole new wardrobe being purchased too. 🙂
Fall fog on the water this morning which was actually really cool!
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Hi Pat – we’re in Spring mode here in Australia and the days are warming up nicely. I’ve been enjoying the roses – they’ve had a glorious season this year (not my roses because I don’t have any – just all the ones in the neighbours’ yards). Glad you’re enjoying your Autumn and the cooler weather. I do love these in-between seasons where the weather is mild and perfect for being out and about.
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Leanne, Fall was always my favorite season, followed by spring, as I too like that in-between weather. I’m learning it’s quite different here in Florida! But still, it really is out-and-about weather.
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