Fall Vibes: 5 Crochet Pumpkins, A Halloween Playlist, and Zero Regrets
I'm Not Mad at H-E-B's Halloween candy display, I'm Mad at Summer
It's still over 90 degrees out, but I’ve already crocheted five pumpkins, one fall leaf, and fully committed to a Halloween playlist I started listening to in July. This episode is a fully unhinged, very funny confession about why fall is more than a season for me—it's a mood I have to manufacture by force.
Who Should Listen
Anyone who's ever gotten irrationally mad at Halloween candy showing up in stores in August
"Fall girlies" who start decorating before the weather cooperates
Listeners who want something light, funny, and low-stakes after some heavier recent episodes
All y’all who cope with an unbearable season by throwing yourselves into a project (craft or otherwise)
Quick Poll 🍂
Are you a Fall Girly?
Yes! 🍁🍂🍁
Nope
Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
01:52 – Welcome
02:19 – I’m Unhinged
03:34 – Fall is a Mood
04:36 – My Epiphany
05:52 – Fighting Summer with Crochet Pumpkins
06:55 – Sign-off
What You Get In This Episode
A very honest confession: fall isn't just a season for me, it's a mood I have to manufacture myself for my mental health
My epiphany: I was never actually mad at Halloween candy showing up early—I'm mad that summer refuses to end
My current fall arsenal: one crocheted leaf, five crocheted pumpkins, three real pumpkins, and zero regrets
A reminder that sometimes coping with a season you can't control looks like a completely ridiculous craft project, and that's fine
Host Bio
Caitlin Kindred is the host of Not Quite Grownup, a podcast for moms navigating the gap between who they're "supposed" to be and the messy, real version of adulthood.
Sources & Mentions
H-E-B—referenced for its early seasonal displays (Halloween candy, Día de los Muertos decor) and, lovingly, for "doing the Lord's work"
My favorite Halloween playlist, including "Werewolves of London" and "Thriller," (started playing this in July)
Black Panther—mentioned as background viewing during a crochet session
Email list signup—link at the top of the show notes for anyone who wants to see those famous crocheted pumpkins
Read this Episode's Full Transcript
Fall Vibes: Why I Have 5 Crochet Pumpkins and Zero Regrets
Caitlin K.: [00:00:00] 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- 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.[00:01:00]
Cut to me two weeks later, still in September, wearing my "I Got a 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- 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?
[00:01:30] Welcome
Caitlin K.: Welcome to Not Quite Grown Up. This is a 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.
[00:01:57] I'm Unhinged
Caitlin K.: Anyway, it's not just the pumpkins. [00:02:00] I have a fall candle going. It's 90 degrees outside. Though 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'ma keep [00:03:00] casting my damn fall spell even harder.
So I suggest y'all invest in Michael's or maybe some orange yarn stock, 'cause I'm not done.
[00:03:12] Fall is a Mood
Caitlin K.: 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, uh, 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 [00:04:00] 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.
[00:04:14] My Epiphany
Caitlin K.: 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 H-E-B with all the Dia de los Muertos decor 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 personally 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 [00:05:00] not actually mad at Halloween candy in stores in August. I'm not mad at the H-E-B 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, H-E-B? Screw you.
Except, no, because I love H-E-B, and everyone here knows H-E-B is doing the Lord's work.
[00:05:30] Fighting Summer with Crochet Pumpkins
Caitlin K.: So... instead of picking fights with our Lord and Savior, H-E-B, 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, [00:06:00] five crocheted pumpkins and three real pumpkins, 90-plus degree weather, and no regrets.
I, 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.
[00:06:33] Sign-off
Caitlin K.: 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. [00:07:00] Bye.
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