E213_I'm Manifesting Fall, Y'all

Caitlin Kindred 0:23

If you've been listening for a while, you know that I started crocheting a while back. I started this project a while ago to try to bring fall to Austin. It's a ghost doily. Dear listener, I actually started this project in July, so just I've been ready for fall, okay? Anyway, this ghost doily. It's six Casper-esque ghosts surrounded by some sort of lace-looking border. It was super hard. I ran out of the specific yarn that I was using during the first attempt. And then on my second attempt with a new yarn, I had to take it apart three different times before I finally finished it. The whole thing took me probably like six weeks. You can see it on my threads page if you want. It's adorable, but it didn't bring fall. Cut to me two weeks later, still in September, wearing my I Gotta Rock Peanuts Halloween t-shirt, surrounded by two real pumpkins, four more that I crocheted to again manifest fall, like some sort of yarn witch casting a seasonal spell. I am pretty sure that if I make any more pumpkins, my husband and son will are gonna lose their minds. Where else are they gonna go in this house?

Welcome

Caitlin Kindred 1:53

Welcome to Not Quite Grown Up. This is the show for moms just trying to keep themselves from losing it on the daily. I'm Caitlin. And if you're new here, well, I crochet things when I'm feeling emotionally unstable, especially about the weather, apparently. If you're a regular listener and you know a mom who'd appreciate that kind of energy, please send her this episode. It'll only take her like 10 minutes to listen to.

I'm Unhinged

Caitlin Kindred 2:20

Anyway, it's not just the pumpkins. I have a fall candle going. It's 90 degrees outside. So the second I open the door, those vibes are gone. But I light it again anyway, out of spite, or I'll just put it underneath my candle warming lamp so that it just stays on. I yeah, this is crazy. Yesterday I spent 15 minutes looking at iPhone cases covered in Snoopy playing in piles of leaves. Leaves that I do not see or have access to here in Austin, Texas. This is crazy. I know this is a little unhinged, okay? I get it. It's not even October, and it still feels like the fifth circle of hell here in Texas. But you know what? F it. The day this episode drops is the first day of fall 2026. Insert jazz hands here. So I'm gonna keep casting my damn fall spell even harder. So I suggest y'all invest in Michaels or maybe some orange yarn stock, because I'm not done.

Fall is a Mood

Caitlin Kindred 3:34

Clearly, my brain has decided that fall is more than a season. And if you're a fall girly like me, you're gonna nod your head at the next thing I'm gonna say, which is fall is a mood. Like it is a full-on mental health mood. I have historical data on this, by the way. The ghost doily and pumpkins, the candle I keep relighting like it's some sort of tiny ritual sacrifice to the Halloween gods. The Spotify Halloween playlist I started listening to in July that has Werewolves of London and Thriller on it. Apparently, Fall is a mood that I have to manufacture through sheer force of craft supplies and vibes because actual fall has pathological demand avoidance and refuses to cooperate. She's a jerk. Maybe she has ADHD. I don't know.

My Epiphany

Caitlin Kindred 4:36

There was a time when seeing Halloween candy in the grocery store in August would piss me off. I know I've walked down that aisle in HEB with all the Dia de los Muertos de Corps and said, it's too effing soon, y'all. And if you live in Texas, you know the one I'm talking about. You know that aisle. I've done it with back to school stuff in July, back in the days when I used to shop at Target, I'd be partially offended that during July I would see folders for sale. I've done it with Easter stuff, and I've sure as hell done it with Christmas stuff too. But this year, somewhere in crochet pumpkin number three, I realized that I'm not actually mad at Halloween candy in stores in August. I'm not mad at the HEB aisle. I am mad that summer will not end fast enough. Because what do you mean fall is still at least a month away? How dare you remind me of that, HEB! Screw you. Except, no, because I love HEB and everyone here knows HEB is doing the Lord's

Fighting Summer with Crochet Pumpkins

Caitlin Kindred 5:52

work. So instead of picking fights with our Lord and Savior HEB, I am fighting with summer. I am fighting it one crochet pumpkin at a time. I have now in my fall arsenal a crocheted fall leaf, which was really hard because I was also uh watching Black Panther uh while counting stitches, five crocheted pumpkins, and three real pumpkins, 90 plus degree weather and no regrets. I can't control the weather, but I can crochet my way into a fall mood. And honestly, once I have my first pumpkin spice latte, probably on ice, because again, fifth circle of hell, that will be perfect for me.

Sign-off

Caitlin Kindred 6:56

You can see the crocheted pumpkins in the blog post for this episode if you want, or I'll email them to you directly if you sign up to get emails from me. I don't send annoying emails, I just send one every couple weeks. Love to have you. You can sign up at the link at the top of the show notes. Until next time, thanks for listening to my unhinged fall ramblings. Love you mean it. Bye.