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The Shift We Wait For
If you live in Texas, you know fall doesn’t just show up with a bang. It tiptoes in slowly, teasing us with a morning that feels a little cooler or an evening that doesn’t cling with heat. After months of sweating through triple digits, that first hint of change feels like a gift straight from heaven.
It’s not like the movies where leaves suddenly change overnight. Here, fall arrives in whispers. A cloudy morning. A softer breeze. Even a little rain that doesn’t instantly sizzle on the pavement. Texans learn to pay attention to the small things, because they’re the first clues that summer is finally backing down.
Small Clues That Mean Big Joy
Football Friday nights are the real kickoff to fall around here. Whether you’re in the stands or catching highlights on TV, the sound of the marching band and the glow of stadium lights just feel different once September rolls in.
Then there’s the grocery store. You know it’s fall when H-E-B and Walmart roll out the pumpkins, hay bales, and mums by the truckload. Never mind that it’s still 95 degrees—you grab one for the porch anyway, because it sets the mood. Bought my first one this weekend, as a matter of fact.
And don’t forget the breeze. After weeks of hot, still air, the first time the wind carries a cool edge, even just for a moment, it feels like a celebration in itself.
Creating Cozy Moments
The truth is, we don’t wait for the calendar or the weather to tell us it’s fall—we create the feeling ourselves. That’s half the fun.
I’ll light a pumpkin or apple-scented candle in the morning just to bring that cozy vibe inside. I’ll simmer a pot of chili or stew even if the AC is cranked down low. A soft blanket on the couch and a good book makes it feel like fall, even when the thermometer outside still says otherwise.
Fall and Halloween decorating is another little joy. A wreath on the door, a few pumpkins by the entryway, and suddenly home feels ready for the season. It doesn’t have to be fancy—it’s just about creating a cozy corner that makes you smile every time you walk by.
Why Fall Feels So Special
Maybe it’s because fall in Texas doesn’t last long that we hold onto it so tightly. The cooler nights, the golden sunsets, the way evenings feel just right for porch sittin’—all of it feels fleeting.
There’s also a sense of togetherness that comes with fall. Families gather for football games, county fairs, and backyard cookouts. The air carries the smell of barbecue and campfires, and conversations stretch out longer under the stars.
And for me, fall always means more reading. There’s something about curling up with a Hallmark-style romance, a good mystery, or even a witchy tale that just feels right this time of year. It’s my way of slowing down and savoring the season before the rush of the holidays takes over.
Celebrating in Our Own Way
At the end of the day, celebrating fall in Texas isn’t about perfect weather or changing leaves—it’s about finding joy in the small signs. It’s about creating cozy spaces, enjoying traditions, and soaking up those moments that remind us life is meant to be savored.
So when that first hint of cool air blows through, you better believe I’ll be the one outside, pumpkin candle lit inside, bowl of chili waiting, ready to celebrate every bit of fall that comes our way.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.