Cozying up to fall

[pegkerr]

I have been talking with Kij a bit about my nervousness about facing autumn. I had an extraordinarily difficult time last winter with the depression, which I think was at least partially seasonally-affected. So when I see the days grow shorter, it is hard not to think, uh oh. And start cringing a little bit in anticipation--even if I don't feel depressed at this point yet.

But this is shaping up to be really a beautiful autumn. And it occurred to me that I could try to change my thinking about autumn, framing it in my mind not as a season to be dreaded, but as a cozy time, a time to pull on my favorite soft cashmere shawl and pamper myself. What is cozy about autumn? What do I like about it?

Cuddling up in my cashmere shawl
Driving to look at changing leaves (I think we should schedule one, maybe with a visit to some apple orchards)
Hot mulled wine
Hot tea, with scones and all the trimmings. We could go to Cafe Latte for this
Bag End Seed Cake
The Red Wing Fall Festival of the Arts--perhaps Rob could get a day or two off and we could go?
Replacing the broken string of fairy lights in my office, so it is lit by a soft glow at night--very lovely
Fall baking (something tasty AND low-cal? Is this possible?)
Shopping for new boots--needed!
Going to a bead store with the girls, where we all make fall-themed necklaces
Pull out the Halloween decorations, to be followed by Thanksgiving decorations

What do you like to do that feels particularly cozy to you in the autumn?

Comments

[ironymaiden]

i tend to do fall cleaning rather than spring cleaning - i ready the house for us to spend more time inside and be more domestic.
cozy: more hot tea. putting the throw blankets out on the couch. getting fall foods like apple cider from the farmers' market.

on the depression front, i got a dawn simulator this fall. i've been using it for over a week now, and it seems to be helping me get out of bed and makes my mornings less fuzzy.

[folk.livejournal.com]

Mind if I ask which dawn simulator you bought?

[ironymaiden]

i have a SunRizr attached to a clamp light with a halogen flood. i wanted to get the more adjustable one (the store was out of them that day), but 45 minutes seems to work fine.
i quailed at the cost of the dimmer, but the operation is absolutely smooth and silent. the store i linked to is not far from home for me and offers a 30 day trial period.