September 2011

First day of October today?????? Is it really?????? Crumbs. Who'd have thought it?!

We are experiencing an extraordinary late summer heat wave here in the UK this week. The skies've been summer-blue and there's been real heat in the sun these past few days, very unusual for this time of year. It's felt absolutely wonderful actually, like a precious and unexpected gift. It was my heart felt wish for summer to linger just a little longer, and it feels like my wish came true, I'm sending up my thanks to the Cosmos!

September in general has felt decidedly Autumnal though, and I've noticed some beautiful seasonal colours around and about.

The trees are very slowly losing their fresh summer greens, and there has been the crisp scent of Autumn in the air. 

The light has been incredible too, very mellow and golden.

As ever I continue to enjoy my calendar pictures, they deliver a very sweet and seasonal message.

They say :: Harvest and Make things! Gather and preserve!

I love the idea of making preserves, of gathering produce and brewing up jars of tasty condiments. But truthfully I am not one of those people who does kitchen stuff involving dough or thermometers. I avoid things that have potential to Fail Miserably. Failing to rise, or failing to set, nope, better not to go there in the first place.

However, when one is presented with Natures Harvest one is morally obliged to do something with it don't you think? It would be so rude and wasteful not to. So when blackberries and windfall apples were given to us I bravely swallowed my fear of jam making and got stuck in. And, dear readers, it was a resounding success and I magically produced two jars of bramble and apple jam.

These weeny crab apples were given to us when we were down in Dorset and for a week or two after our return they sat in the kitchen making me feel burdened. But after the jam-making success, I decided to have a go at making some crab apple jelly from a recipe I found on the internet (and I am very sorry I've just tried to search for it but cannot for the life of me find it). The recipe seemed easy enough and basically involved apples, lemon juice and sugar. Oh, and a muslin bag thingy for straining the juice from the apples.

It worked out just fine, and lo and behold I produced a jar of beautiful golden jelly. I felt ridiculously proud of myself I can tell you, and even had some stirring thoughts about aiming to conquer my fear of yeast products in the near future. Maybe that'll be Octobers challenge.

September has seen me very busy within my four walls as I continue to work on my newly established Home-loving routines. This past week I've been concentrating on the living room, just one hour a day and no more. I've been pulling out all the furniture, re-arranging shelves, cleaning windows, de-cobwebbing the coving, showering my houseplants (!) and generally giving this much-used living space a good dose of love. I am really enjoying this new approach to keeping house and I'm finding the one-hour-a-day thing suits me very well. It's just enough time to achieve results without it taking over or becoming a chore. I can highly recommend it.

But with the sky being soooooo blue this week and the sun feeling sooooo warm, I've been relishing my outdoor Morning time too.

I've enjoyed not one but two trips out to Bolton Abbey with various friends this week. Taking Little B to explore the dappled sunlit woodlands has been sooo enjoyable, he loves to walk and explore and you can fair see the happiness radiating out of his little body as he potters about making discoveries. He learnt about the sneaky tripping-up nature of tree roots the hard way. He also learnt that Bolton Abbey Ducks are not afraid of little children and will come and steal food from their hands if they don't pay attention. He also learnt that splashing in cold river water can be lots of fun once one acclimatises one's little feet to the temperature. Thank goodness for baby crocs.

We went to visit the Money Trees, and made our secret little wishes on the ancient coins. Well that's to say that I did, I'm not sure a one year old is capable of making financial wishes.

The trees at Bolton Abbey were still looking remarkably green and lush for September actually, still very much more Summer than Autumn up in the canopy.

The view from the Attic Window throughout September has really looked very Autumnal though. There's been that subtle change in the light and colours that defines the Autumn lanscape.

Take a look......................................

The second picture from the end was taken one afternoon following a very heavy rain storm, I remember how incredible the light was that day. September did see a lot of rain mid month, and I was even forced to dig out my wellies at one point. But overall, it's been a wonderful transition month, a kind of Summer-Autumn-backtoSummer hybrid. It's allowed me to ease gently out of Summer mode and step gently into Autumn mode. In fact I feel rather excited by Autumn this year which is very unusual, me being a Summer Girl through and through. 

Yes, I think October's going to be a terrific month. Bring it on. I'm ready.

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Comments

[Marian]

You make me want to move somewhere with four "proper" seasons! Here we have summer...a very hot and very long one...and "winter" which rarely involves snow. I'll just live vicariously through you for now :-) Lovely pictures!!

[Audra]

Hi Lucy,
just found a link that clames to make a easy loaf/s of bread.http://www.farmgirlfare.com/2011/01/farmhouse-white-easy-basic-white.html
You could start your bread making experiance by making pizza bases. I have a good recipe if you are intrested.
My spring cleaning in the garden/ house /painting has taken a halt. Managed to get the Flu that everyone here has had for the last few months. Do not wish this flu on anyone,talk about sick, even found crocheting tooo hard.
Hugs Audra
6craftyacres

[vildkatten]

Oh, broken autumns obviously makes me spell very bad and change out words so my comments doesn't really make any sense too. Sorry, you'll just have to use your imagination when you read that previous comment of mine.

[vildkatten]

I'm glad you're enjoying yourself and learning to enjoy autumn, I an hte other hand is very disappointed. I am an autumn girl, always have been and I don't think that will ever change. I love everything about it and I so love that my time of the year is finally year. Although this year I am a bit crossed, october in northern Sweden isn't supposed to be 20 degrees celsius and have a blazing sun with no variation! I want wind and rain and chillyness and thunder and storms and "bad" weather! Then some mild autumn sun for nice autumn walks. But noooo, here comes summer all over again and it's hot and sweaty and so doens't go with all the lovely colours. Yes, for me is is a partly cranky autumn and I'm just hoping this madness will be gone in a couple of days because I just can't accept it, summer's had it's time!

[Ann Kelsey]

Just Love your blog Lucy xxx

[sew]

Fab pics as always and Snakey looks very comfy too! I've recently made chutneys with the abundant harvest and there's nothing like a chunk of homemade bread to go with your own preserves. You could try soda bread for a start (without yeast) or use a packet of bread mix to which you just add water & a knob of butter. There are some very good ones in supermarkets these days and this might ease you gently into breadmaking which you & your children will enjoy.
I used to make little hedgehog rolls when mine were Littlies by snipping with scissors to make spines and adding a cherry for the nose. Ahhh, happy days!

[Dana L]

Dear Lucy
your blog makes me happy. it's so joyful.....
and the pictures are so beautiful that when i open your blog i have a big smile just from seeing them.
thank you :)

[Lynda]

Hi Lucy

So much love the Attic views and the autumn colour. We're just heading into spring down here in Australia, and everything seems lighter, brighter and fresher (although I do shamefacedly admit that I love my brown and creamy shades) - daylight savings just kicked in this morning!!! The banksia rose is a golden froth on the fence, and the lilac has buds. Yes, I'm excited.

Don't worry about yeast products...while I haven't tried it myself, I know my uncle has tried a variety - of beer bread! There is a recipe in the 'Chicken Soup for the Soul Cookbook', and it sounds too easy to mess up. No other yeast involved - nice.

Thank you for sharing with us, and I also love your hour of potter-tidying, and the jewel-like jams and jellies you've created. Gorgeous as always!

Lynda

[Gail]

Your jam looks good, we made strawberry jam this summer it was delicious, amazingly I think we still have a jar left! I have not tried apple yet. Nice pictures, I love autumn and am ready for the crisp cool days, Ilkley was hot yesterday.

[heidi]

here i am again (with a morning cuppa of course) had to take another peek and admired your beautiful rose. i had a similar one that i received from a very dear person years ago, moved and couldnt take it with me. i drove by there just a week or so ago and saw it is still standing in my old garden and blooming with all it's might and glory which gave me such a wonderful feeling that it all can and will go on... you DO sweeten my life, lucy! thank you so very very much...
ps. 'if at once you fail, try, try again' yeast dough was my enemy as well until i defeated the foe and found my very own way to master it in all variations - it did take years ;0) trick is don't use too much flour. folks tend to think its too gooey and flour it to death and the result is that it wont rise and bakes as hard as a board! another thing to watch is that you have good yeast. fresh is best. some dried yeast packets work very well also, nice to have at home if you get a whim to bake (like me) so you can always have it at home... only thing is watch the expiration date! if you grab one that isn't 'new' you can CAN it. you may want to try a simple thing like a veggie pizza first or a cake (i make one with streusels on top and creamy pudding on the bottom under the fruit that'll knock ya off your seat) on a baking sheet (i will email you both super recipes that are very simple) xoxoxo

[Katie]

I made a strawberry jelly that just oozed. The good news? It's still quite wonderful over ice cream. Thanks, as always, for sharing interesting and decious tidbits of your life.

[Victoria]

I'm loving the thought of that one hour a day cleaning thing....now just to find that hour in the day, it's amazing how I can find so many other things to distract myself.

[Mom Wald's Place]

Autumn has come early here, and still October is a surprise. Thank you for sharing your warm comfy photos.

[Gin]

Jam making is a blast! You must try yeast--and don't worry--it doesn't work out every time! I have a baking business and make 40-80 loaves a week, and there is no way to determine how they will turn out!

[Armida]

What lovely pictures!! Yay for preserving success!! My Mom and I did some preserving this year as well, and I found it to be so much fun :) It's definately feeling like Autumn here in my neck of the woods - chilly temps and that Fall smell are in the air. After going for a walk this afternoon, I came home and decided I needed to knit a pair of fingerless gloves to help keep my hands warm for next time! lol

[Karen]

Amazing photography! The colors are SO vivid.

Enjoy autumn!

Karen

[Catherine]

Very impressed by your jam as I have always been afraid of making it too - but wanted to tell you that yeast can be approached gradually - you could start with pizza bases (so much fun to watch it bubbling and frothing as the yeast 'wakes up'), work your way up to brioche, and then ease your way into proper bread...
Thanks for your lovely and uplifting post!

[Lily Scott]

Here in Australia we are having Spring but the weather is most un-spring-like with thunder and lightning storms galore - so much rain - good time to be inside playing with wool! My mama used to make blackberry & apple jam, which I imagine is the same as bramble & apple - yum! Nothing like home-made.
I am about to start a new ripple blankie, greens & blues - should finish a couple of others first? Maybe later . . .

[Serena]

Beautiful pictures! I love the view from your window! Your jam looks delicious!

[Helen]

I've had miserable success myself when I try to make jam or things with yeast! My jam either ends up so hard you have to cut it with a knife or it doesn't set AT ALL. Seeing your recent success I might have to have another go, but as summer isn't quite here yet I have a few months to fortify myself before the next attempt!
xXx Helen

[sue]

Love your Autumny pictures Lucy!
Crab apple jelly is the most delicious jam you can ever make. No really! I have a old Good Housekeeping book with a recipe in and I make it without fail EVERY year and every year we say "should've made more" It's particularly gorgeous in bakewell tarts.
Happy weekend ♥

[Lynne Kovan]

Lovely post. If you're not careful, you'll be making marmalade in January. To be recommended if you've got time for all that chopping of peel.

[Kay Guest]

Hey Lucy,
You can also freeze fruit with just lemon juice & sugar. I wrote about it on my blog under Papa's Pears". I am at www.georgiagirlwithanenglishheart.blogspot.com
Love your photos here and your views out your window!

[Edith van der Bol]

Thank you for making me find the FLY-lady again.
My room is so much nicer after one week of decluttering. I'm so busy I even lost some weight! (Which is a good thing :-))
Love your post and pictures.

[Teresa Kasner]

Hi Lucy.. checking in from Oregon, USA! The money tree is neat.. it's surprising that someone hasn't pried it all out and taken it! :-) Bravo on the jelly/jam making. We made raspberry freezer jam this summer. Your livingroom looks so tidy, I think I'll go do some straightening up as our 2 little grandsons are visiting this afternoon. We plan to make them homemade blueberry pancakes for lunch! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)