Sweater Weather is in the Eye of the Beholder

Spooky season arrives when we say it does.

Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion.

Being alive is a special occasion!

-Unknown

August is a time of transition in Alaska. Summer’s warmth gently recedes, giving way to a subtle, yet unmistakable, chill. The deep, dying reds of fireweed and the golden-pink hues of tall grass signal the shift, while the green of cottonwood and birch trees slowly surrenders to bright yellow.

Now that September is here, the presence of fall is undeniable. Mornings greet me with misty fog and clouds of breath as I step from the warmth of my cabin to drag my fingers through thick condensation on my truck’s windshield—an early morning ritual I’ll continue until dew turns to frost. I’m eagerly awaiting the first freeze, the true marker of autumn’s arrival and all the delights that follow.

Until then, I will engage in a dance as familiar as the changing of the seasons. Mother Nature sends whispers of fall, and I surrender to their allure—pulling on cozy sweaters in the crisp morning air and dusting off my favorite soup recipes. By mid-afternoon, summer creeps back in, bursting my bubble with warm sunshine that lasts well into the evening.

I love to go walking in the woods this time of year. The forest floor is brilliant and alive with color. On breezy days, leaves flutter down, swirling over the trail, even though the trees above are still fairly green.

I sense fall’s presence, though she hasn’t fully revealed herself yet. It’s as if she lingers on the doorstep, hesitating to ring the bell—taking her time, letting expectation grow before stepping in and making herself at home.

A Friday morning walk, pumpkin bread picnic, and my beautiful backyard

I’ve been siphoning off my anticipation with little moments of forbidden pleasure. I pulled out my fuzzy slippers and switched my coffee creamer from vanilla to pumpkin spice. I checked out a big stack of mystery novels from the library and fall flavors have taken over the majority of my culinary endeavors.

These stolen indulgences are bringing me so much joy right now. Especially because they feel a little taboo. I used to abide by strict seasonal rules like “No Christmas music until the day after Thanksgiving”, “No heart shaped boxes of chocolates until February” and “No pumpkin anything until October”.

But all that changed in the last five years, a period of loss that has taught me to appreciate small pleasures.

It all started when I lost both my grandma and cousin within weeks of each other. Sometime in the grief filled weeks that followed, I found myself standing in front of a display of lit Christmas trees at Walmart. I was drawn to them by a sudden wave of joy that washed over me when they caught my eye. I’ve always loved Christmas, and those twinkling trees filled me with a familiar, comforting warmth.

My first instinct was to push it down. After all, it wasn’t even Thanksgiving yet! But as I stood there, staring at those plastic trees, I chose to embrace that unexpected glimmer of hope. Those moments are meant to be felt, not tucked away.

Telling happiness, ‘Sorry, it’s not your time. Come back in December,’ is crazy when you think about it. Who can afford to turn joy away when it arrives unannounced? Not me. I need every bit I can get

Begrudgingly, I’m starting to understand my mom’s insistence on keeping her tree up past New Years. I get why people start decorating for Halloween in August and celebrate their entire birthday month. They're just trying to connect to something good, in a world that feels so bad, so much of the time.

And honestly, what’s wrong that?

If you want to be a basic b!+ch and sip pumpkin spice lattes while wearing unseasonably warm sweaters and decorating your home with skeletons…who’s going to stop you? No one. That’s who.

Do what makes you happy and ignore everything else. Life is way too short to follow arbitrary rules.

Autumn yoga flow for a cosy morning | Amala Movement

16 Minutes | All Levels | Beginner Friendly

How this video doesn’t have over a million views is beyond me. Everything about it screams cozy, comforting warmth - from the soft glow of the fireplace, to the rising sun outside the window and the lusciously stretchy yoga sequence.

Load this up any time of day and treat yourself to the ultimate autumnal expereince.

Cozy & Gentle | Fall Morning Yin Yoga Sequence | Yoga with Shaunneka

35 Minutes | All Levels | Beginner Friendly

I want to start by saying that I loved this class. I walked away feeling so relaxed, I could hardly believe it.

That said, it was also humbling. I’ve avoided Yin yoga in the past because I don’t enjoy holding poses for long periods of time. As I suspected, the first 15 minutes were uncomfortable. But then something shifted - I started to relax into the poses and actually enjoy them. By the end, I was in heaven. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but... I’m looking forward to more Yin Yoga with Shaunneka!

Please note: Shaunneka starts class with an extended toe stretch, a pose I had to release long before It ended. Give yourself grace. Toe squats are challenging to hold, and It takes time to build tolerance for the intensity.

15-Minute Yoga Nidra for Nervous System Regulation and Joy | Loren Runion

16 Minutes | All Levels | Beginner Friendly

This Nidra class aligns perfectly with the themes in this issue, offering a quick and effective nervous system reset. It uses glimmers to cultivate feelings of comfort and joy.

If you're unfamiliar with glimmers, they're the opposite of triggers—the gut reactions that pull us into fight-or-flight mode, often bringing feelings of dread, anger, or discomfort. While we're frequently encouraged to 'know our triggers,' I find it more helpful to focus on glimmers—those small moments that bring comfort, hope, and a sense of ease. They say we find what we look for. So why not train our brains to notice more of these sparks of joy?

Some of my personal glimmers include the scent of Stargazer lilies and Sitka roses, browsing for a new book at the library, baking, Christmas music, and curling up with a big bowl of buttery popcorn to watch my favorite show..

What are yours?

If you’re wondering about the banner image above, it’s an enormous rosehip. I spotted it on one of my daily walks and just had to capture it to share with you. For me, ripe rosehips are a sure sign that fall has officially arrived. I’ll be revisiting this bush after the first frost, when rosehips are said to be at their sweetest.

Wherever you are, I hope you give yourself permission to indulge in some autumn delights this week. Read a gothic novel. Bake something seasonal. Buy yourself a bag of candy corn and mix it with a jar of dry roasted peanuts. Whatever you choose, enjoy it with zero guilt!!

See you next Sunday!