Seasons change, if only temporarily...

A week ago, temperatures went soaring into the triple digits down here. If you didn't catch the national news, LA hit a record 113, which is the hottest day ever recorded in history. EVER. Remember me? Jackie? The one who gets hot and bothered really fast? Well, if you heard that news report, I'm sure my sweet little face was the first thing that popped into your head. I want to reassure you that I actually did okay during the day time hours. We got our air conditioner to work better, so the main living area stays pretty comfortable. Sleeping, however, was non-existent for a couple of nights, due to the lack of cool air in our room. Regardless, we survived yet another heat wave.

A few nights ago, Brant read an article declaring this week's weather pattern to be in a "cooling trend." Whatever that means, right? Admittedly, I laughed out loud when he read the "cooling" to be temperatures in the 70s, with 20% chance of precipitation. Where I come from, when I flip my calender over to the month of October, I have submitted myself officially to the season of fall, and all its glory (i.e. gray, rain, wind, change of colors, leaves on the ground, hot chocolate, fires, blankets, sweatshirts). So, in preparation for this "cooling trend", I got excited and invited fall into our home by pulling out all of my decorations. I did have fans on in order to give a slight "chill" to the room, as I decorated - I also did this because, although my house welcomed fall, it was 84 degrees and sunny outside.

I will say this about the seasons down here and the "cooling trend" we are experiencing. We have had a few thunderstorms, clouds, and (gasp), RAIN. Rain!! Yes, it has been raining all day long today. Now, we don't need to get into technicalities here...the rain, although steady, has been more of a gray mist and not a downpour. Nonetheless, it is moisture coming down from the clouds above, so it qualifies. I was very happy to wear a jacket outside today when I left for work (I was still in flip flops :) ), and when I came home, I was very quick to light my "pumpkin nutmeg pie" candle my dad bought for me last June when we first moved in (thanks, Dad!).

To end tonight's post, I will leave you with a wide array of pictures, signifying the change of seasons in southern California. I took a lot of these pictures to remind myself that cooler weather does exist, come Sunday when it is predicted to hit 90 degrees again. :)

Thunderstorm in the distance, at Sunset (view outside our window).Yes! There is wet pavement down there!Rain on our window! We haven't seen this once since we have lived down here. Amazing!!Pumpkin nutmeg pie candle...mmm....I bet you want to come to my house right now just to smell this! Trust me, you do.Our table centerpiece. The flash sort of ruined the coloring, but you get the idea.Another little touch of fall in our house.C'mon, now. You didn't really think I would leave Disneyland out, did you? They change seasons, too, you know!Main Street, USA, in all it's autumn glory.Walt and Mickey are happy to see me again. I'm an old friend. :)
And finally, what would a post with pictures be worth, without a picture of Maddie? This was during our last trip to Disneyland (last weekend), when it was in the upper 90s - we were under a water mister in this picture, trying to stay cool. She loved it!

Happy fall, everyone!! :)