Musings from Marilyn

Posts Tagged ‘fall’

It’s this time of year when the days shorten, the temperatures cool, and the leaves start to fall, that I start my whole routine of hauling out those good old sweaters.  I really, really love sweaters so this is always a bit of a joy for me; even if it means putting up with brisker weather and loss of sunlight.  Perhaps it is in my Finnish Lapland blood that I don’t mind it so much.  It must be inbred in me to at least somewhat tolerate Arctic Circle conditions.

The great thing about most sweaters is that they seem to last forever.  I am talking about natural fibers here.  Cashmere, wool, mohair, and angora  are my faves; not so much acrylics and cotton.  They will last a long time if you care for them (yes, you can gently hand wash all natural fibers).   Just don’t overdo the washing.  A sweater can be worn many times without it getting dirty, and it’s good for the fibers not to be washed so much.  And please, do NOT dry clean sweaters…no, no, no!

Another fab thing about sweaters is that they usually stay in fashion forever, year after year, if you choose a classic style.  I wear a lot of vintage sweaters and I love cashmere.  Vintage cashmere is super thick and soft, especially the sweaters made in Scotland.  I love wrapping myself up in a comfy cashmere sweater because it’s the only natural fiber that I can wear next to my skin.  Cashmere keeps me warm without much bulk which is always good for looking a bit sleeker.   I mean, I like heavy wool sweaters but I have to wear a layer underneath and I end up looking like a linebacker!

So out come my favorite cashmere sweaters, I’ve kind of missed them.  It is actually kind of sensuous and sexy to wear them; a bit of the old vintage sweater girl aura.   My heavy wool sweaters will come out eventually, when icy cold winter rolls around.   But I only save the big guns for the fiercest weather… girl’s gotta have her fashion priorities!

“She wore a short skirt and a tight sweater and her figure described a set of parabolas that could cause a cardiac arrest in a yak.“  ~Woody Allen

~Marilyn

The weather is glorious today, and is supposed to continue throughout the week.  My laundry is outside hanging on the line, one of the last weeks I’ll be able to do this I’m sure, before the sunny rays fade and the cool rains set in.  Soon it will be back to drying my laundry inside on a drying rack.  I’ve lived so long without a dryer that it would be weird to use one again.  But the transition from outside drying to inside drying is a bit wistful to me;  I so enjoy the sunshiny contentment of hanging my clothes outside.  Inside drying is fine, but comes with the minor annoyance of finding space for the drying rack, and having wet stuff draped over every drapable fixture in my small house.

I haven’t turned on my furnace yet either.  We’ve had pretty nice days, but cold nights and I’ve been able to resist turning it on by letting the sun shine in the windows all day, and wearing layers.  I have this strange compulsion to see how long I can go into the season without turning the heat on.  I’ve made it to October 5th at least!

Even though the days have been warmish, there is still that cool undercurrent of nip in the air.  I have been wearing socks, shoes, and my beloved cashmere sweaters.  There is just no denying that we can’t hang onto the sunny warm weather forever here in the Pacific Northwest.  It makes me feel sort of blue; poignant and reflective.  My emotions seem to change with the seasons too.

Now comes the time to transition into doing more ‘nesting’ things.  I’m reading more novels, cooking homemade dinners, and plan to start knitting again.  It is time to get in the rhythm of fall; slow down the pace and enjoy the season.

Marilyn

I have been feeling wistful the last few days, and I think it’s because I’m realizing that summer is starting it’s slow fade into autumn.  The days are not as long, and the sun is setting markedly earlier.  It is still hot, but not that burning intense mid-summer heat.  The leaves are starting to turn on my maple trees, and the blackberries are ripening fast.

I am realizing more and more how much I really love summer.  The long days and brilliant light are so treasured!  The Pacific Northwest has months and months of unending gray dampness, so the sun is especially welcome.  I can dry my clothes outside on the clothesline,  I don’t have to turn on the heat, and rarely even turn on the lights.  I wear as few clothes as possible and don’t have to worry about layering, socks, and shoes. It is just a simpler lifestyle all around.

But my fashion magazine ‘Fall Fashion Spectacular!’ issues have been arriving at a steady clip, advising me what I absolutely need to be wearing this fall (’80s-style sequined shoulder-padded mini dresses, no thank you…).  School schedules and supply lists for my son are coming too.  The inevitably of fall is upon me.  I don’t know how much more I can live in denial of that fact!

I never been too great at transition points.  I always get thrown off for awhile, and a little sad.  Once I’m past the delicate tricky part, I can delve into change with great gusto, but I have to go through a little poignancy in the meanwhile.   I guess it’s just a part of life of living in a place with four distinct seasons, and me being a more sensitive sort.  It pays to just go along with your feelings sometimes.

While I will soon bid the long days of summer adieu, I’ll hold onto and enjoy the last vestiges of light and warmth while it is still here.  I actually do enjoy fall in all it’s glory.  But let me loll in summertime for a while longer.

Marilyn