Weekending

It felt like the last warm weekend, and it was extra special for it. It was almost hot in the sun under the deep blue sky, but with enough of an edge to the breeze to remind us that it's truly autumn now. What a treat to spend Saturday and Sunday with the kitchen door wide open, the kids in shorts and t-shirts, to-ing and fro-ing between garden and house. 

We tackled the garden. Bella, Angus and I emptied the paddling pool of it's muddy rainwater and packed it away. John and I cut back, pruned and tidied plants in the low afternoon sun. Our apple tree has produced about ten apples, most of which are out of reach in high-up branches, but I cherish it all the same and picked some anyway, just because. The kids dug for worms. I picked the last few alliums which stopped flowering long ago and brought them indoors to dry out. In the kitchen I washed and weighed, peeled and chopped. I pickled and chutneyed (and I'll post about that soon) and labelled. I had fun choosing a woodland-themed fabric for my jars of hedgerow jelly, just to add that extra Brambly Hedge feel to the whole thing. We went to a car boot sale and I came home with many gorgeous things and only spent a fiver. That little pottery candle holder above cost me one whole pound.

In the evenings I lit candles and pottered in a crafty way. I started a little embroidery for Bella's bedroom, full of autumn colour and detail. I love the effect of the leaves on the tree, made by loosely tying french knots. It's been ages since I've done any embroidery and I'm enjoying it. I made do and mended and patched my jeans, and Bella's too. I did a couple more squares for what will eventually become a blanket for our bed. I started this project on holiday and it's a slow burner, something to dip in and out of for the next year at least. There's no rush.

I spent a good while today staring at all the Scarves, Shawls and Cowls page on The Purl Bee. I really fancy making a quick-ish scarf or cowl for myself. I feel like this has to be a knitted project too, I don't know why. I'd really like to buy the yarn at Yarndale this Saturday - I want to use something quite muted and flecked and organic feeling, if that makes sense. 

Ah, autumn. You're here.