Cherishing the Last of Summer, While Embracing Back-to-School and Upcoming Autumn Delights

Mon, Aug 05, 2024 By: Jennifer Lea

Embracing the End of Summer

It seems like summer is coming to a close earlier and earlier, not by default of the weather, but rather by the school systems starting the kids back sooner in most states and the retail world starting to put Christmas items on the shelf in some stores in July—I'm not naming names, Hobby Lobby. Rumor has it that with the election year, we can expect to see a great deal of holiday shopping promotions in October prior to the election. There’s something to be said for getting it done early, but I just don’t want to wish away every month. I want to savor every day of the summer. Perhaps that’s because I have grown up in Nebraska all of my life, and we know once it hits Labor Day, the weather almost instantly changes from 80° days to 60° days. Sometimes we have a longer fall, and other times it can turn blisteringly cold ultra quickly.

Yearning for Routine

With as much fun as summer is, it is everything but routine and by this point, oh how I yearn for a "normal schedule." My daughters are in their teen years, and it’s a full-time job to manage their summer schedules of camps, sports, other activities, and their social calendar. The second full-time job is driving them all over the city. IYKYK! And all that might be fine, except I’m a single mom and run two companies. Lol.

While I absolutely do not want to wish away summer, I secretly love all of fall. It’s a beautiful season in Nebraska most years. I am fascinated by the trees changing colors and losing their leaves. It’s a reminder every year to shed what we do not need and have a renewed sense of self and purpose going into the next year.

Fall Traditions and Transitions

We have pumpkin patches, bonfires, nights by the lake with sweatshirts and jeans. My wine choices switch from white to red, I switch from salads to warm soups, and despite the cooler temps, the nights just seem cozier. I love football games, mostly for the food and friends. My daughter will be a freshman this year in high school, and I anticipate we are starting our first of the next six years of “Friday night lights” (my younger daughter is in seventh grade).

Preparing for Fall Decor

You can bet your bottom dollar I will keep my tropical plants out until Labor Day. I will relish every warm day that I can before I transition to fall. But I am also ready! Our September kits are fabulous and everything you would expect for fall colors. In addition to updating my entry sign, I transition my garden flag with summer flowers on it to fall floral. I replace my bright and cheery rug on my front porch with a darker green and beige one. I switch out my seasonal pillows from nautical navy and white to olive, cream, and rust. Finally, I update my planters with faux florals from summer that have faded and been well-loved by the sun to coordinating fall colors with my seasonal pillow and front porch rug. They typically look like a combination of woodsy browns, bittersweet, gourds, pumpkins, and faux fall-colored leaves. I might even throw in a mum (artificial, of course, no watering for this girl!).