Autumn

 

Autumn has been a mixed bag so far. The weather has been unseasonably warm, then very wet, before finally cooling down. We've had all sorts going on at home, in amongst the usual treadmill of work/school/college. We uncovered a slow leak in the bathroom which resulted in lots of the wall needing to be knocked out to expose the pipe work. It is three quarters fixed and I am distracting myself by choosing paint colours since we're going to have to redecorate. There's an issue with the roof which is causing small leaks in the dining room and living room. And the front door is also leaking. So it's been fun. Add to that a poorly dog, although he is better now, and it's been a rollercoaster.

This sourdough is a good metaphor. One bake rising unfeasibly high, the next flat as a pancake (like my pumpkin one above). And then the starter got flies in it, because I didn't put the lid on properly, just to top it all off. Sometimes a sourdough starter is a bit like having another thing to keep alive and I have my hands full with children and pets. 

But there have been many seasonal comforts and moments of joy in amongst the vets and plumbers and mess. Like autumnal food, such as this resplendent toad in the hole, as well as many pies and stews and crumbles.

I have been tidying up the garden ready for winter. I am proud of myself for remembering to put my geraniums in the cold frame, so that the frost does not get them. I love a geranium. Large plants which had outgrown their pots have been moved into the borders and I have planted bulbs. The outdoor sofa cushions have been brought inside ready to be washed and packed away.

There have been lots of walks. I took this photo about a month ago and it was so warm that afternoon that we were all in t-shirts.

Other small pleasures include getting my nails done...

...watching Great British Bake Off....

....and a lie in with a good book. 

On the crafting front, I did finally finish my Iceland holiday diary and took it to the framer. I am still working on the same patchwork quilt and crochet blanket that I have been for years. The socks I started on the plane back from Iceland have not been looked at since. 

We did have a very lovely jaunt to London with our friends during half term. We ate, drank, played miniature gold and shuffleboard, rode in a cable car and a boat and saw an excellent exhibition at The Imperial War Museum about espionage. It was all very much needed.

Now my thoughts are turning towards Christmas a little. It doesn't start for me until December 1st, at the earliest, but the calendar is filling up and I have started to do a bit of shopping. I am trying to get ahead of myself, but still very much enjoying autumn. I always think it's a shame when people want to jump straight to Christmas the minute Halloween is over, because autumn is still happening and it is the best season. But then if putting your tree up on 1st November makes you happy, crack on - we all need to find the joy wherever and whenever we can. 

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.