Autumn (but not really)

So today is the first full day of autumn.  I have always loved the fall.  When we lived in Ohio, it meant fall festivals, the first chili of the season, and really lovely fall colors on the trees:

Since we’ve moved to Mississippi, we’ve had to adjust our autumnal expectations.  It is currently 69° F and will get into the high 80’s today.  They serve chili down here any time of the year because it’s almost never “soup weather”, there are festivals but they have nothing to do with fall, and the incredible fall display of the trees here looks like this:

I like green and all, but…

We moved south to get away from the harsh Ohio winters.  If you’ve never lived through one, you’re probably thinking, “Harsh winters in Ohio?  Yeah, whatever…” but anyone who’s ever lived north of I-70 knows what I’m talking about.  I don’t regret moving; after all, we’re building a home here which is kind of a permanent thing.  Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely do not miss shoveling 18 inches of snow every three days and weeks on end of temps under 20° F. There’s just one thing that gives me pause at this time of year.

I wasn’t a knitter when I lived in Ohio.

Never mind the obvious, like it may not have been quite so unbearable during the winters there had I been knitting lots of warm, squishy sweaters and things to insulate me and mine.  Never mind that it is just weird that I didn’t learn to knit until we relocated to a tropical climate.  The big thing is, I have a serious case of sweater envy.  Each fall since I’ve become a knitter, I get these lovely magazines and see all the beautiful warm sweater, scarf, hat, and mitten/glove patterns and I’m…well, jealous of all of you who live in a cooler climate.

How sad is that?

In all fairness, there are a few days each year down here in what the locals call “winter” where a wool sweater and scarf would not come amiss.  However, I nearly suffered heat stroke trying on my recently completed Iced cardi.  The truth is it will be worn more often to insulate me from the overactive a/c down here rather than the cold weather.  This, it turns out, makes me a bit sad.

So for those of you who will endure frigid temps and lots of snow during the coming months, let this thought (along with your scrummy hand-knit woolens) warm your hearts:  you are really living in the heart of knitting heaven, and there are those who envy you greatly.

Lisa

xoxoxo

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