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Fall Is In the Air

In other parts of the country the weather is getting cooler and the leaves are changing color, but in Texas, we're lookin' up, 'cause Fall is definitely in the air!

I was visiting with a friend of mine the other day who is originally from Arkansas and now calls South Texas home. As we move into Fall, she commented that one of the things she misses most now that she lives in Texas is the changing of the seasons. For the life of me, I just couldn’t understand what she was talking about. Oh, don’t get me wrong, Texas has different seasons… and some days we have all four seasons on the same day! What we don’t have is the vibrant and radical changing of colors and consistent weather dips that other parts of the country experience and enjoy. I can certainly appreciate the amazing beauty that comes with the different seasons that other areas experience, but I just can’t seem to understand the excitement that goes with it. The first half of my life was spent in Southern California and the second half in South Texas, two places known for fairly consistent, year-round weather, so this whole “changing of the seasons” phenomenon has just never been part of my existence. Honestly, I just don’t get it.

Then, the other day, as I was looking at the weather report, I found myself getting giddy with excitement. A cold front was headed our way. I wasn’t excited about the cooler temps, although they would certainly be a welcome relief from the 90-degree days we’ve been having. I was excited about the potential arrival of millions of Texas Snowbirds and migrants. Cute and colorful warblers making their way through town on their way to South American (cause, really, who wouldn’t want to spend the winter lounging on the beaches of Costa Rica with a cool drink and beautiful view?). Whooping Cranes headed to their winter hangouts along the South Texas Coast. The ducks… oh, the ducks, floating peacefully in all their stunning beauty in lakes and ponds all over the state. Vireos, sparrows, kinglets, and a myriad of other species soon to be arriving in my neck of the woods as they escape the snows up north. SQUEAL!!!

Honestly, winter birding in Texas is just the best! And with each Artic blast that passes through this time of year, I’m finding myself looking towards the sky, feeling the air, and getting more and more excited about the changing seasons.

So, Minnesota, Vermont, and Arkansas, we might not enjoy the vibrant reds, oranges, and purples of fall, and Texas might be steady, and green… all the time. But we only get snow on the rare occasion, it’s not uncommon to be running around in shorts and flip flops in the middle of January, and even if our plants and weather don’t change with the seasons, our birds do, so all things considered, I think it’s a fair trade!

About the author

Cheryl Johnson

Cheryl Johnson

Cheryl wears many hats: she’s a business owner, photographer, and author; but more importantly, she’s a wife, mother, sister, and friend. During the day she runs a boutique advertising agency; in the evenings she puts on her wife and momma hat, enjoying life with her husband, two daughters, and their dog; on the weekends she can often be found with camera in hand, exploring the wilds of nature; and in between all this craziness, she squeezes in some time to sit at her computer to write and design books for children and adults.

“I believe very strongly that you need to follow your passions,” she says. “Everything I’ve ever done, I’ve been very passionate about, although, often, completely unprepared for. My degree is in Religious Studies, yet I ended up in a career in advertising. One day I picked up a camera and decided to take wildlife photos. Several years later, my pictures are winning awards and (shockingly) selling. In 2019 I decided to try my hand at writing a children’s book. The result, ‘My Backyard Bird Book’ was picked up by a publisher and has gone on to sell thousands of copies. I think the biggest lesson I’ve learn on this crazy journey called ‘Life’ is that you can’t be afraid to take chances. Certainly, I’ve failed at many things over the course of my life and career, but I’ve also succeeded at many things, and because I’ve always followed paths that bring me joy, whether I’ve succeeded or failed, I’ve always had the best time!”

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Cheryl Johnson

Cheryl Johnson

P.O. Box 3926
Victoria, Texas 77903

If you would like to see my books or art, please stop by my offices Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm
Outburst Advertising
5003 John Stockbauer, Suite J
Victoria, Texas 77904

(361)574-8844

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Nature is Amazing

These beautiful books by writer and photographer Cheryl Johnson, are designed to not only engage your child but to encourage their imagination, exploration, and discovery of the world around us.