September

September has been hot and humid. We've had cloud and rain as well as sunshine, but the main thing to note is that it has been very warm. We are still wearing summer clothes. This weekend is supposed to be 22 degrees, which is a lot for October.

Of course we were all thrilled that the heatwave coincided with the new term, after a cold and wet summer holiday. Just ecstatic. A classroom with a temperature of 29 degrees filled with hot children, what's not to love?

So we went to the beach. There's nowhere else to be when it's this warm. We went late afternoon as it turned into evening, The water was warm and clear. I had a glass of rose and my first (and last) sea swim of the year. We contemplated fish and chips but then, seeing the queue, drove home and ordered take away.

As the traffic slowly trundled over the bridge on the way home, I snapped a couple of blurry pictures of the sunset.

It's been a month where we've been outdoors a lot, but I'm trying to bring a bit of autumn into the house. 

It briefly cooled down enough for me to get excited and get out my blanket, but then it got too warm again, so it's back under the bed.

I always enjoy the way the light moves around the house in different ways at this time of year. 

Lower and sharper, briefly illuminating corners before dipping behind the houses opposite us.

We've had a couple of big thunderstorms, really loud ones, and days where it's suddenly gotten very, very dark in the middle of the day, so dark you need to switch the lights on, before the torrential rain comes. 

I've been trying to will it to be autumn through my cooking. We've had apple pie, apple crumble, spiced banana bread, and beef stew with dumplings.

None of this has brought autumn, but it has all been delicious.

The garden is starting to look a bit scrappy but the sedum is doing it's thing, turning from green to pale pink to deepest rusty-raspberry with each week that goes by.

Our walk have been local and functional. Long enough to stretch the legs but not too long, partly for the heat and partly because there is no time.

But there are whispers of autumn here and there.

I have finally finished by Iceland holiday embroidery and need to take it to the framers.

It seems strange to be finishing this almost eight months after we went but I could not have sewn it any faster.

Life has been busy. The week days are full of work, school and college. Weekends have been functional, involving things like housework, chores, food shopping, DIY, jobs like tidying the garage and going to the tip. The garden still needs a fair bit of attention as, thanks to all the sun and rain, everything is still growing. I need to buy bulbs. A lot of my previous ones came up blind this spring so I need to invest in some new ones. I like planting bulbs. Such a simple task, but whenever they come up I always wish I had planted more. 

It is three weeks until half term and we cannot wait. The start of any new school year is always intense, so much to do, to plan, to remember. I hope the weather finally cools down enough for me to start wearing jumpers and boots and crocheting socks. I haven't even got my crochet pumpkins out yet, it just feels wrong when it's so warm.