Enjoying Outside, Inside - Fake it 'til You Make It

Kristie Ehrhardt • September 21, 2023

My daughter and I were back to school shopping at the mall just a few days ago. As it turns out, so was the rest of the Sacramento region, it was pretty crowded. We went pretty early in the day thinking we’d accomplish our goals there and still have the rest of the afternoon to tackle a few more “before school starts’ tasks. Again, as it turns out, everyone must have had the same idea because parking wasn’t terrific.


We found a spot and strolled into the mall. Instantly we were blasted with chilly, pumpkin spice scented air. Chilly is actually an understatement, it was down-right cold air but looking around, the low air conditioning setting seemed to be intentional. The store mannequins were all decked out in outdoor fall attire. Ahhh, clearly these mannequins are all planning on attending a harvest festival or hay ride or whatever mall mannequins do when nobody is looking. And, of course the culmination of every outfit; the newest versions of all the boots were out on grand display ready to be snatched up and worn to go apple picking or what have you.


As we ambled through the mall, it seemed that every single store had their own version of pumpkin, mulled cider or cinnamon wafting through their racks of sweaters and puffy vests. And of course, pumpkin spice lattes and thick slices of banana bread were being peddled at all the coffee shops.


I’ll admit, it was a refreshing change. I’m not a pumpkin spice latte person but I do love a good fall candle and the delicious smells that come the oven when baking fall treats. I love the change in colors and the crisp mornings. I love opening the windows at night and being just cool enough to need a blanket. And it’s definitely not a bad thing when my tiny dogs get coldish and want to snuggle with me and my blanket either.


Both my daughter and I thought that this is good, back to school shopping and it actually feels like fall. This is nice. We strolled around from pumpkin scented store to pumpkin scented store trying on sweaters and hoodies, pointing out things that might make good Christmas gifts for each other and remarking how fast the summer went. We finished our shopping at the mall and headed to the door with a spring in our step despite the crowds and dodging thousands of (I’m exaggerating) strollers.


Thinking about what we were going to do next and chatting about maybe having some homemade soup or chili for dinner we gleefully threw open the glass door. Immediately, we were blasted by torrid, 100-degree air, sunlight so intense that neither of us had the muscle strength to open our pinched-shut eyes, and asphalt so sweltering that I’m positive it would have been comparable to walking across hot lava. The air felt like fire, it was hard to breathe. I’m pretty sure we both were browning like two pieces of garlic bread under the broiler during the walk to the car; which I’m confident somehow ended up now being parked on the actual surface of the sun.


WE WERE DUPED. Summer in Sacramento is no joke and just because the calendar says it’s back to school time does not mean that the temperature magically goes down. Rather than complain though, I’m going to try to will my way into autumn. Just those couple of hours in the mall being surrounded by all the pumpkin spice and fall fashions did make it feel like fall had arrived. Even though it’s not time to rake leaves yet, I can light a spicy candle and at least find where I stashed the rake last time I used it. It might be a little warm outside for soup but I can find and save some recipes and look forward to making them. It’s a little too hot outside to bake a lot but if you do it early in the morning you can have some yummy treats like spicy zucchini bread or apple dumplings for breakfast. And, at my house, the mere sound of football on tv makes it feel like fall, even if it’s preseason. To plan ahead for some outdoor activities when it does finally cool off, check out Tuleyome’s events page and rsvp for some upcoming fall trail work days or great fall hikes then locate those cooler weather clothes in the very back of your closet; if you can’t find them, the mall is chock full of boots and hoodies!


So, hang that fall wreath on the door and pretend its sweater weather outside.


-Kristie Ehrhardt (kehrhardt@tuleyome.org)


Tuleyome Land Conservation Program Manager

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