October 2012

Mmmmmmmm, a bowl of steaming hot porridge with sultanas, chopped banana and a generous drizzle of golden syrup. That was my lunch today, I had such a terrific craving for it at lunch time and it was absolutely delicious, so cosy and warming, real comfort food on a cold, rainy day.

The light levels have been so, so low here this week, with heavy grey skies and intermittent rain. At the weekend our clocks went back an hour, so no more Summer Time and such an early close-of-the-curtains in the evening now too. Our lamps are working hard, both in the early morning and throughout the evening, and I have a makeover in mind for our old, plain cream Ikea job there. I'm thinking something decopatchy to match my dining table lampshade, but with extra crochet and button trim pizazz. I am also thinking about a stripy crochet wrap-around for the stick bit of the lamp, ha! It's gonna be a bit whacky! I can see it very clearly in my Minds Eye, so watch this space....

The blankets are working hard too, their workload goes hand in hand with the lamps. Which reminds me, I really must get round to finishing off the ripple. It just needs a bit of a border putting in place but I've been procrastinating over it and doing other things instead. It bothers me that it's over a year since I started it, and yet it hasn't had it's moment of ta-dah glory yet cos of the missing border thingy. So slack of me I know. Soon though.

One thing about this time of year that I really love is the way that the Little People come back to their indoor pursuits. The bad weather and dark evenings force them to play more indoors, and although this suits Little Lady very nicely, the boys struggle a little. But it's been a really nice thing about summer's end (for me anyway), and I've been encouraging all sorts of creative pursuits. Colouring books have come out, new sketch pads and pens have been purchased, spirograph has been given a whirl and recently the hama beads have been rediscovered. One very happy Mumma here, as I love to watch my Little Peeps busy with their creative fingers.

The Very Large Tub of Lego has been back in action too, much to Little B's delight. He's still a bit young to really build with the small lego, but he's not bothered so long as he can somehow be included. As you can see, he just tends to jig around on the periphery making lots of excited chatter, but it seems to keep him very happy. He is also very accomplished at Lego Demolition, and will dismantle a carefully built vehicle with alarming dexterity. All good fun.

Crochet is not in any way a seasonal pursuit for me as you well know, but I do really have a major crush with blanket making at this time of year. It just fits the Autumn season so perfectly, especially if there is a crackling fire nearby and a hot mug of tea to hand. I am still working slowly on my Granny Patchwork blanket, fitting a few squares in whenever I get chance. The funny thing is that I started this blanket as a way of de-stashing my Stylecraft leftovers, and of course the inevitbale has happened and I am running out of the stuff. Ahhh, shame, it looks like I shall have to restock in order to complete the de-stash project, does this count as a success or a failure?!

I am still wholeheartedly addicted to my monthly magazines, and have been enjoying the Autumn editions very much. Usually I find they get me down a little with all the brown and all the indoorsy stuff, but I am finding them inspiring and cosy this year. I particularly enjoyed Sarah Raven's write up about tulips in the November issue of Country Living...I am very inspired to try this exact planting scheme of hers in some big pots.

I've been thoroughly enjoying my little garden posies throughout October, such a sweet and colourful reminder of Summer. Sometimes I have them on the dining table, sometimes, beside my bed and sometimes (like now) in the bathroom. Wherever they end up, they bring so much joy to a room, even though the ink bottle is only small and the snips of flowers very modest.

This picture was taken a few weeks ago, the Prosecco cork a sweet reminder of a 4pm Friday celebration with friends when The Results were through. Very happy to report that Little Man passed the 11+ exam and will be heading to an extremely well respected boys grammar school next September. Happiness and utter relief all round. Silly 11+ system.

October often feels like a transitional month, with one light foot still in Summer camp, and one woolly-socked foot in Autumn camp. We did have a couple spells of bright sunny weather in October, although the memory of them is buried under the general damp mist and rain that hung around for much of the month. I stopped hanging out my laundry to dry in September when the window-fitting men dismantled my washing line, but my neighbours across the back street are still hanging theirs. The view of my elderly neighbours pyjamas and underpants is an oddly comforting sight, although I'm not sure I should really admit to that. A laundry-filed washing line just speaks of cosy domesticity, and I always delight in seeing it.

The colours of Autumn are very evident in my neighbourhood now.

Our walk to school has become a leafy affair, and on dry days we delight in much kicking and shuffling through piles of fallen leaves. I often think that when you are a parent of small children, it's quite wonderful to suddenly find you can legitimately do all these things again...running and jumping through leaves, splashing in puddles, singing as you walk, balancing along low walls. Little B has re-introduced this simple, physical fun back into my daily life which I am rather grateful for.

We are so, so lucky living here in that we have a really beautiful piece of woodland just a stones throw from the town centre. It's owned and managed by the Woodland Trust and offers a really wonderful reflection of the seasons. I think my favourite time to walk here is in May when the wild garlic is in full bloom, but October comes a close second. Many of the trees here are beech trees, and their coppery golden leaves at this time of year are beautiful.

We walked in the woods a few Sundays ago, a lovely family walk on a sunny morning. Little B absolutely loved it, striding out in his new wellies, enjoying the outdoors and his favourite pursuit of poking a stick into muddy puddles. I took some lovely photographs on this day, I'll share them with you sometime soon before the memory is lost.

I am declaring October to be the official Month of Cheese. Since returning from France, I've had a renewed love of cheese and have been eating it often at lunch time with a bit of crusty bread and butter. I am back with the English cheeses though (on the left is Five Counties, on the right is Wensleydale with apricots), but I think I need to be more adventurous with my Cheese Appreciation lunches. Tomorrow I am going to go and search out some gooey French cheese to remind me of my week away.

Been trying to counterbalance the Month of Cheese with some healthy snacking, especially as my jeans are only just do-uppable at the moment. I do need to shed a bit of excess weight that has accumulated during the course of this year, but darn it, it is baking season now (as well as the cheese thingy) so not sure if I am capable of any dieting malarkey till nearer springtime.

October has also brought about my seasonal candle obsession too, like the lamps and the blankets it's a natural reaction to the lowering light levels at this time of year. I love candles, they never fail to make me feel all sort of cosy and mmmmmmmmm.

Autumn love extends to my faithful hot water bottle, brought out of it's summer sleep sometime last month and now pressed into nightly service down by my feet. I cannot bare to have cold feet in bed, they keep me awake and make me fidget, but I don't like to be too overly hot in bed either (electric blankets are not for me). I love my hot water bottle ritual. Yeah, it's the cosy-mmmmm thing for sure.

Halloween yesterday, did you celebrate it where you live? We do, in a fairly low key way that involves a few spiders and some suitable chocolates. Oh, and definitely always a pumpkin too.....

....I wish I was showing you a picturesque pile of pumpkins on an organic farm or something, but have to admit that this is just the local supermarket. Still glorious though, aren't they?

J actually took it upon himself to purchase the pumpkin a few days in advance of halloween, and he chose a very sweet little specimen for us. He said he picked it cos of the shape and smooth skin (good, good) but the diminutive size of it seemed to have escaped him. I had a little laugh when he got it out of the bag, he was a tad offended I think. But still, we had a family pow-wow over the design, and I set to work.......

....very pleased. Scary but fun. I am not one of those Mums who can leave it to the offspring I am afraid. I did allow them to carry out a little bit of scraping-out (and in Little B's case, some experimental tasting of the seeds), but the carving fun was mine-all-mine.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo spooky! We had a fun but rather wet trick-or-treat outing around our neighbourhood last night, but it was really good. We taught Little B to say "Hap-py Hall-weeeeeen!" and he delighted all the houses we visited. Sweet, sweet boy (he was dressed as a skeleton this year), he is impossibly cute.

Octobers Attic view has seen Summer depart and Autumn arrive.

The moorland is wearing it's parched, dry grass look, and the bracken which covers the side of the hill has now turned brown.

Definitely Autumnal.....

....but the beautiful light at this time of year helps make up for the browness.

So that's October then, all done and dusted and behind us for another year. I'm hoping that November will be a gentle month of homely pursuits as my nesting instinct has finally kicked in (a little late this year, it's usually a September thing for me). So I shall be donning my apron and getting down to some serious housekeeping during these next few weeks. I expect that I will feel a pressing need to tell you all about it. Bet you can't wait.

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Comments

[Ali]

Well done Little Man! Our way of sorting out secondary schools in this country is a brutal one. Glad it worked out for him.
And I know what you feel about late nesting. I'm sure it's delayed because it has only just begun to feel cold.

[Helen]

This is such a lovely and thoughtful post Lucy.
I too am enjoying the cosy delights of a hot water bottle and I have my porridge the same way but I'm a bit fussy about putting raisins or sultanas in with the oats as then they get nice and plumb too.
I've really enjoyed the few days of bright sunny weather we've had but mostly it has been a bleak recently
http://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk/

[Mercedes Leet]

I so much enjoy your posts Lucy, but most I enjoy your crochet work. I was hoping you could tell us how soon or how late you might be adding directions to your site on how to make the french bird from Provence, loop, flowers and all. I have only been crocheting for a few months and still need step by step instructions. Adorable projects!!!

[Christine]

Congratulations to Little Man. We went through the 11+ thing with DD1 two years ago and she's now in her second year at Grammar School. It's a long day for her as the school's 12 miles away and she has a ten-minute walk to the train station, nine-minute train journey and then a 'round the houses' bus ride - we leave the house at 7.20am and she gets home between 4.30 and 4.45pm and then there's homework to be done. However, she says she's really glad she's there rather than our local secondary school which is a five-minute walk from our house!

[Rachael Iddon]

Oh, what a lovely post. I found myself nodding along with so much of it, particularly the kicking of leaves (my almost two year old discovered this recently) and the 'indoor pursuits'. You are very good at restricting yourself to one pumpkin. We had three, one for each child. I let them do their own thing but actually, I may just buy one for myself next year....

[Half Acre Wilderness]

Thank You Lucy for this lovely look into your family life in October. I love the way that you transition from one subject into another and love all the wonderful photo's. I must admit it's not an easy thing for me to do and my blog has been suffering of late.
I hope you have a wonderful cosy November with lots of lovely crafty pursuits with the little people.

[Claire]

Totally agree about seasonal blanket-making. Three on the go here...!

[Melissa G]

Thank you so much for sharing your little part of this world with us. I love your granny patch blanket. I think it was a success. :) You used up all of your yarn that you were wanting to get used and that is all that matters. Giggle Giggle. Thanks again for sharing and have a wonderful and snugly fall!!

[Beate]

It's at times like these I wish I already had my own Little People, when I read about the joys your ones give you, Lucy. I haven't gotten that far yet, but it's in the hopes for the years to come. Lovely photos as always. And I'd definitely call the destash business a success :D

[Sarah west mids uk]

Dear Lucy I noticed on your post that you had been reading Sarah Ravens
article about tulips and as I had a bit of a garden makeover at half term
I thought I would order some of her bulbs to plant along one section of the path. Hopefully they will arrive in a few days. And if they are successful
I will add to them the following year.
I'll let you know how I get on with them. Love the Autumn photos, my favourite time of the year.

[Delirious]

Here in China we have hot water bottles that are actually hot oil bottles. You plug them in to an outlet and they heat up very quickly. Very handy in this cool fall season!

[Drusilla Cleary]

Hi Lucy, I love your colours. So inspirational.
Great for our grey weather. Keep crocheting.
Drusilla

[Louise]

Love that pumpkin! What a great design! Good job!

[Catherine]

Hi Lucy,
So glad to hear all your news. I should be in bed by now but I often take a sneaky blog read especially yours which never fails to bring a warm glow to me. So much of your life as a creative Mum resonates with me. We live in an area where beech trees are the dominant species and they are stunning at the moment. I had a lovely walk with the children on Monday. We too have the 11+ down here in Bucks and hope my 7 year old son will do as well as yours. Big well done to him. Thanks for sharing so much. X

[Izzy]

Hi Lucy sounds like you are still love struck with Provence!
I love cheese, love it , our local supermarket has lots of cheese from Europe and Britain. A good wine, cheese and fruit with bread yes indeed..
Our Halloween was cancelled because we had hurricane Sandy and it made it dangerous for the kids to go around with all those trees down and power lines.

[Adaliza]

What a treat, to share your Lovely Lucy post whilst treating myself to tea with cinnamon & raison toast, & listening to the waves crashing on the rocks below our half-term holiday home. Isn't 11+ cruel - I'm so glad he's through and hope his friends are too. Can't wait to see your Ripple blanket all done. Don't make us wait too long!

[Carolyn Dietrich]

I look at the using of your yarn stash as a great success. Anything left over from what you have to buy to finish it will be the beginning of a "new" stash! Hee Hee
Actually, I also look forward to what you have to say. I love visiting England and you home through your eyes. (I live in Garden City, Idaho, USA, and had the great privilege of coming to England 8 years ago and would love, love, love to return. Maybe some day!)

[Carolyn]

Ahhh a season change post-my favorite! Love the look of the moor from the attic. Puts me straight into a Sherlock Holmes frame of mind. We don't traditionally celebrate Halloween where I live but I enjoy seeing what other people get up to with their decorations at this time. The lit jack-o-lantern is a beauty- positively scary:/

[lori]

oh hee hee, i remember those extra large piles of legos. happy november lucy dear.

[Kim Kobayashi]

I love your blog Lucy! I live in the Pacific Northwest of the USA, and the weather and natural scenery is so similar to yours. What would we do without color to get us through?! My daughters and I love to crochet, so your site is a constant inspiration. Thank you for sharing your little part of the world-I hope I can visit someday!

[Kim Kobayashi]

Oh! I forgot to say that Wensleydale cheese is my favorite! We've had it with cranberries and with dates. I think we were inspired by Wallace and Grommit!

[Mara]

Thank you for sharing all these colourful pictures.
They´re lovely.
You´re so lucky for having all this pretty nature around you.
Kisses from Spain.
Mara

[Chel]

Congratulations to your little man. My two went through the process a couple of years ago and then decided after passing that they didn't like the grammar school and wanted to go to a different school, so all of that drama was for no reason in the end! Silly system. Our Halloween was quite quiet this year, I think with the bad weather it kept most of the little ghosties away. Lovely post Lucy. Chel

[jooles]

Oh what a gloruoisly autumny post .... fab pumkin and a very good choice by J!
Mmmm that porrige looks delish and well done to little man .... clever boy x
love jooles x
P.S loving your tulip plans, i have a Sarah Raven giveaway happing over at my blog at the mo if you are interested

[Kate]

Oh yes, porridge and fruity bits with golden syrup- lovely. Hasn't the darkness come as a bit of a shock? Any sunshine does indeed get lost in the general gloom, hurrah for bright orange pumpkins I say!'Prinses Irene' is an absolutely tip top tulip, I would recommend it.If you want some bright colour and a lovely shape AND perfume go for some "Ballerina' too- they look great planted with some dark purple/deep crimson.
Serious housekeeping needed here too-shocking!
Well done at getting through 11+ hell.