The Spider Invasion Has Begun!

Part 1: Or… “My Supplication To The Gods Of Seasons,” As It Were…. Is that a change in the air…?

We had our first actual taste of fall weather here in Austin the day before the fall equinox. And I do mean taste.

Not just that metaphorical brief fleeting experience of an amazing flavor. But that thing you experience: when the air you breathe outside has more than just essence, but a distinctively fresh flavor to it. And it’s a breathful taste that I find invigorating.

Yep, the web is that big. And he’s 5’10”.
Want one? Click the picture.

For here in Central Texas, we don’t often finally get to taste fall until later in the year. You know… closer to winter.

We’re always behind the rest of the world in our spring and fall seasons. And when the seasons do arrive here, they are generally more like speed bumps in the switch between two main seasons of hot and cold. A veritable two-week tribute to spring or fall, but so rarely a full court press of the real thing.

Never the case with summer though. Never with summer at all. Do you miss summer where you are? Come visit us in July and get your fill. You’ll never miss it (or us) ever again.

So to have that first taste of fall arrive here on the actual equinox is like some sort of amazing blessing. Nay. It’s more than that. It’s a sign. A bright sparkly one. The seasonal gods have smiled upon us this year.

Miniature snowman scraped
together off the truck long ago.

Dear seasonal gods: While we have your attention, could we maybe have a snow day this winter?? With real snow to play with and not just wet ice? I mean, if you don’t mind and all. After all, it’s been years. The kids are teens now. And well, we want to make snowmen together again, even if only miniature ones. Oh! And snow ice cream too. …oh please, please, please…

But please also make sure no one has to get out and drive in it though. No one here knows how.

At the first hint of “the taste,” I immediately threw open all the windows. Fresh air in the house, it’s so wonderful. And it whispers to me. Not only were we blessed with an actual spring this year (lasting more than two weeks), we’ll be blessed with an actual fall too. 🙂

With October finally here, the most wickedly fun of all holiday months (and dear hubby’s and my birthday month), I’m feeling more alive. Even if more in spirit than in body.

And that’s saying a lot. Because I haven’t felt myself since breaking my right ankle at the end of the summer road-trip adventure that I took with my teens. It’s been two months + 11 days of blurred trauma, surgery, and complications. As of today, I’ve only just been walking about 3 weeks.. ish.

There’s definitely an interesting story to tell there, and one I want to share with you, as I’ve learned quite a bit too. But it’s a story that will have to wait for now.

Why? Because the spider invasion has begun at our house, and it demands adoration. Its story refuses to be put off.