The cool air is sweeping in. The days are getting shorter and shorter. My wardrobe has met the addition of the in between jacket. Not the heavy winter coat for the dead of winter; but a jacket with some substantial weight to it, to keep some body warmth in. It is also a good time of year to run some seasonal checklists through your head.
Some of you might think that it is a bit earlier to start preparing for winter. However, in Indiana, you can never really know when winter begins or ends. It might be good to check your emergency kit at home. Although we are probably pretty far off from the horrendous ice storms that knock out our power so efficiently, it is always good to make sure you have a decent supply of fresh water, batteries, flashlights, etc.
Changing weather conditions means changing road conditions! It is a good time to make sure you have a decent emergency kit in your car. Check that donut or full spare, have some fresh water, rope, couple of energy bars, and hand warmers/blankets. Familiarize yourself with your car's tire changing gear as well. Every car is slightly different, and if you are driving a new car, it helps to be familiar with the new equipment.
I recently had the chance to refresh my tire changing skills. Over the years, it seems I have had some interesting tire change stories. My first lesson in doing so, was a friends video of her changing a tire for her skill demonstration speech in high school. I once got to change my tire on my car as well. Then there was the time I had to change a classmate's tire in college while having my whole class of 20 girls watch as I struggled with the most stubborn rusted bolts I'd ever dealt with. It is a great skill to have and you never know when you will need to use it again. So lets starting cheering for these wonderful months ahead!