I realize that I am politely waiting for Fall to arrive.  Just as I am politely waiting for Summer to depart.  As we were taught as children — not to rush someone out the door (of course we must give a hug or a kiss and stand waving from the front porch!) and not to jump on a newly arrived guest before she has a chance to catch her breath and say hello.

In this case, I feel like our two seasonal guests are passing each other on the front walk — one coming, one going.  So, it is a little awkward.  Here I am teetering on my front step, half “hello,” half “good-bye.”  And it is not just courtesy on my part.  I am not quite done with Summer and not quite ready for Fall.  

Mums on the porch, yes.  Pumpkins?  Nope, not yet.

Spiced tea in the evening? Yes, please.  Spice-scented candles?  Not yet, thank you.

Overall, the temperatures are pretty mild yet.  Even with the rain.  But late evenings and early mornings are cooler now.  Last night it dipped down into the 50s (I know because we have this very classy digital clock & outdoor thermometer contraption that projects onto the wall in our bedroom — a bit of a clash with our Arts and Crafts decor, but we love it and are particularly tickled when the numbers line up somehow — i.e., 52.7 degrees at 5:27 am)

And tho I go through the day in khaki capris, t-shirts, and sandals, I welcome a sweater and slippers at the beginning and end of the day.  With all this waffling and wavering, thank heaven for shawls!  They are perfectly appropriate for both Summer and Fall, slipping on when I feel chilly (whether because of air-conditioning during the day or the sun going down in the evening) and slipping off when I feel warm (when the morning marine layer breaks up and the sun shines bright and hot or in the evening when that spiced tea kicks in!).  I have shawl hooks in several rooms of our house — so shawls are always handy.  But my favorite — the one that lies perfectly over my shoulders and drapes perfectly over my upper arms is this one:

One of my knitting goals is to make a cardigan sweater that is just as “just right.”  Because Fall is on the front walk and Winter is on its way.  My shawls will need a little reinforcement!  And a good sweater buddies up well with a good shawl when the cold comes calling.