Speedy September

Well here I am back under the eaves, gently re-opening my little Attic window to give you all a wave....hellooooooooooo, cooo--eeeeeee, I'm baaaaa-aaaack!!! Oh it's so good to be back in the Attic again, I have really, really, really missed being here. Thank you all very much for your patience and your kind words of sweet concern during the past month I've been gone. It has meant a lot to me knowing that you have been out there wondering and waiting for me, I truly never meant to be gone for so long. Yes it's been a month, a whole long month, cripes the days and weeks of September have been so speedy!

But here I am, a little worn by the very busy-ness of my life at the moment, but essentially I am very fine and dandy thank you. Nothing to worry over. Just a sudden heap of Very Important Things that all needed my focused time and attention at the same time and kept me from my beloved Attic window.

So....a little catch up is in order I think. Where did we leave off? Ahh yes, I remember, I was just about to jaunt off on holiday wasn't I?

We had an amazing week away at the end of August, a beautiful, relaxing, happy, jolly family time beside the sea and I'm very much looking forward to spinning some post-holiday tales for you. I took almost five hundred photos during that week (well the place is supremely photogenic), so will need to ponder on how best to add some words and squidge it all down into manageable chunks.

While we were away beside the sea, Little Man became ten years old. It was a lovely day of gentle pottering, bookshops and cafe refreshments (mmm cake), rockpools and coastal walks, a barbecue dinner (mmmmm more cake) and all round family happiness. When we came home a few days later, we hosted a little lunchtime party for family and friends with a spread of party food, balloons and party poppers, oh and yet more cake. Sigh. I have been mothering for ten whole years, and now my dinky little first born is almost as tall as me and has bigger feet. How time marches on.

September always feels very nostalgic for me, I seem to hold a great many layers of vivid memories for this summer-into-autumn month. It is the month I met J (19 years ago, age 24) it is the month we got married (11 years ago, age 32) and it is the month we brought our first baby home from hospital (10 years ago, age 33). If you were to ask me about my feelings for September, I would not be sure how to answer. On one hand, it can often be a truly golden, glorious month, the last gasp of sweet summer before Autumn takes hold. Yet on the other hand, I always experience a weird sense of mild panic creep in during September, a feeling that everything is slip sliding away and there is not nearly enough time. It makes me feel uneasy somehow. We are on the cusp of a very noticeable season change where the emphasis suddenly shifts from outdoors to in, and with that comes a certain sadness. I am most definitely an outdoor Summer girl. It makes me feel like I want to wail with the unfairness of it all. Wahhhhh!!!! I want to hang my laundry outside to dry all year round! Boo-hoo!!!! I don't wish to spend so much time hunkering down indoors while it rains and gets all gloomy and grey and cold!

But hey...one thing I've learnt through writing this blog is that Annual Seasonal Cycles can be and should be celebrated and embraced. It does no good to wail and feel sad when ones favourite season draws to a close, cos it will most certainly come around again next year.

So September arrives, the Little People get new black footwear and a new school year begins. Routine resumes. Nesting instincts kick in. I start obsessing about the light levels and buying candles. I start wanting to clean and tidy the place.



And yet, I still cling to the feelings of summer. I spend every available opportunity outdoors when the weather allows, pottering in my back yard, chattering to the remaining flowers, willing them to keep going just a little while longer.

The surrounding landscape in September is glorious here. This is heather season which means a beautiful purple haze spreading across the moor tops. We went up a few weeks ago to stroll amongst it (remember last year?) and breathe it all in. It was a delicious feast for the senses.

We sat a while on the sun warmed rocks in amongst the springy dry grass and bushy heather plants and I indulged in a little bit of al fresco hooky. My patchwork granny blanket is growing beautifully (if a bit over-the-toply) and I've made 7 x 12 squares so far. Will give you a full update on that soon. Possibly tomorrow. Shall we talk colourful, exuberant, hooky squares tomorrow? Shall I show you where I'm at with it? Ok. Will do.

A new treat for us this September has been the fantastic arrival of butterflies to our front garden. Oh boy, I can't tell you how happy I have been to see them flutter to our patch, it's been absolutely delightful. I bought and planted a Buddleia bush in our garden last summer, and this has been it's first flowering year.

We've had many Small Tortoiseshells, Peacocks, Red Admirals and a Painted Lady come to visit (have a look at this lovely site depicting our British butterflies), and I am pleased as punch with my rather untidy, sprawling butterfly bush.

September is also the month for Dahlias, although they have been appearing on the market since mid August. At £2 a bunch, they are an affordable, glorious weekly must-have at this time of year, and I generally buy two bunches at a time. With two bunches at my disposal I can experience the fantastical clash of vibrant reds and pinks in a single jug on the table. Oh boy. They deliver such happiness.

A jug of brightly coloured fresh flowers certainly helps to lift the spirits, I love walking into the room first thing in the morning and seeing them there on the table. I've not yet been able to get my Home Blessing routine back into action as I've been so incredibly busy these past few weeks. But on Tuesday I had to undertake a day of back breaking Emergency Home Rescue as I had my Dad and Lady B arriving to stay a week with us. It took a good part of the day to transform the rather untidy, chaotic Attic into a satisfactory Guest Bedroom, and an equally good part of the day to see to the rest of the place. My dad, never one to hold back with his very direct observations, declared my home to be overly full of objects, but with an overall Cosy Vibe. Yes, it is just that, and it makes me happy.

Part of my Emergency Cleaning mission involved a spritz of Mister Sheen polish and a swipe of my floral duster along the two mantels. I had to share this picture with you, it's my sweet little driftwood house and boat which now has two residents! They are most likely a part of some elaborate game of Little Lady's devising, that girl has a magnificent imagination and it always makes me smile when I stumble upon evidence of her play.

The temperatures have very suddenly fallen here in my patch, and this morning for the first time we awoke to the sight of frost on the rooftops. We switched on our central heating a few days ago as we found we were kind of shivering with cold in the early mornings. But we are holding off lighting our fire, saving that seasonal pleasure for October if we can. The logs and kindling are at the ready though, we are all prepared...but September is still a Summer Month you know. It is, it is, it is.

I have to say I am really looking forward to telling you a bit about what has been keeping me so busy of late. It's almost time. It's very exciting stuff, a new venture I'm involved with here in Attic Land. It has meant there hasn't been much time for relaxation these past few weeks as I've been busy, busy, busy, but I think things will ease up a little bit now. Very soon I will be able to chatter to you about it and I can't wait!

Righty-o my sweetie pies, I am going to love you and leave you and tootle down from the Attic now. The view across the hills this afternoon is especially glorious and I am reluctant to leave it, but I'm going to go and fetch my crochet bag and sit outside in the afternoon sunshine to make a granny square or two now. It's been pretty marvellous chatting to you I have to say, so good to catch up. Will be back tomorrow with some bright and cheerful Granny Patchwork to show you, yiipppeeee! See you then....

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Comments

[Curtain Cleaners London]

In that case please you will in your life , in order that relieved the vaca was amazing whilst your daddy was feel good about your incredible the full although more comfortable your own home , whilst your endeavor -- an ebook ? a novel ? is imminent along properly.

[Curtain Cleaners London]

"Dry Bones", and pointed to the bones in our body as we sang. My students remembered way more from that one song then they would have if I just kept repeating the bones to them. Music can be such a wonderful thing to stimulate learning as well as get the students moving in the classroom. I plan on using it a lot in my own classroom.

[Knitting Needle Sizes]

Welcome Lucy!Glad to see you posting again! So happy that you've gain a lot of blogging knowledge on the few weeks/months of rest. Anyway, as I was always saying, I love the content of your blog. I can't help my self from commenting on your post! You really inspire me a lot! Keep it up.

[DeeDee]

So glad you are back!! I've been checking almost daily, hoping to hop on your posts and float off to another land :) Everyone needs a break though, although it seems you've been busy on yours! So very glad to have got caught up on your posts. They just make me so happy! :)

[Angela]

I am a bit late to this post, but yes, be happy for the seasons, I live where it is warm most of the year, but after 10 years I SO miss 4 seasons - we only have two - warm and not so warm - no bare trees, no spring blossoms, I really do miss them and, unbelievably, the cold, in fact I make a trip south each year to experience it! Never thought I,d resent summer, but too much of a good thing...!

[Liza Flores]

Im so glad your back did miss your lovely pictures and what goes on with your family. It warms my heart to read your blog. Welcome home!!!!

[Angela-Southern U.S.A.]

Another fine post! Love all the pics,so glad you're back :)Looks like a grand holiday..happy (belated)birthday to L.M!Fall is in the air here one day,then summer the next.I always feel the need to clean/stock for the coming winter.The butterfly bush looks glorious,and the dalhias,love love them.Lol,your dad sounds like mine :)(my home falls in the same category);0 Can't wait to here all the busy news! Have a good one :)

[mary]

Phew.Thank goodness you are back .I missed you so much. Mary xx

[Rosie]

How very nice to see you back and to be able to share your joys again, your blog is such a morale booster with lovely pictures and colours. I'm so glad to hear you are well and enjoying life.
And September is going to be a joyful month for me in future because I now have a week old granddaughter for whom I have been busy making various crochet goodies, including several blankets, at least partly inspired by your wonderful colourful lovelies. My first grandchild, I had forgotten the feel and smell of that precious tiny head!

[Alana]

here in Albany, South Western Australia - glad you are online again, we are in Spring, putting away the winter clothes and looking to Summer, it's nice to contrast tbe seasons with yours, being so far away but feeling a connection with someone on the other side of the world - united by crochet!

[Mummytothree]

Lovely post! You inspired me to get me going with my craft/DIY projects at home! Take care x

[Hannah]

Ooooh, looking forward to hearing about this new project of yours. Nice to see you back, Lucy!

[Susan M]

So glad to see that you are back!!! You've made my day!

[Mary]

So glad you're back! Missed reading about your daily adventures. I feel exactly the same way about September as you - perhaps school going back in has something to do with it and it not REALLY being fall yet?!? Our weather (Vancouver Island) is still fairly mild, but change is definitely in the air with cooler days. Take care! Mary

[Lilach]

Dear Lucy, I have become an 'addict' reading your lovely attic blog, which has inspired me to start my own ripple blanket this summer, and I have been waiting and kept checking to see if there is a new post this September. I am very glad that you are back and looking forward to starting the new wonderful Autumn season.

[Donna]

Hi Lucy, welcome back. You and your colorful world were missed.

[Eileen Collingwood]

I am so happy that you are back. When I logged on this morning, I was so thrilled to see that you had updated. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your writing is truly amazing and inspires me so much. Welcome back.

[Jilly]

So pleased your back lucy and cant wait to hear about your exciting news.
Pictures and your blog as usual look fab. Thanks for sharing
Jilly x

[Helen Benson]

I need to add an S.O.S. to my long winded post previously Lucy.PLLEEEEAAAASSSSEEEE can you explain to me how to join multicoloured squares so the yarn used to join doesn't show through? I am totally bamboozled so desperately need your advice if you don't mind.The more I learn the more confident I hope to become as I am rather lacking that way :s

Looking forward to your next news & chat.Better than any magazine Lol.My 2 sons are now grown up & I am an empty nester but Oh how I would have loved to be a fulltime Mum like you.I love your tales of family life & home making.Very hard work but the best job in the world!! Time just flies by way too fast as they are growing though sadly.Keep up the great work Helen xxhugxx

[Betsy]

It's good to see you and your lovely cheerful photos back with us. Welcome home to the Attic.

[WendyBee]

Oh, you are a tease! A new venture. What could it be? You were dreaming and plotting and planning a few years ago (BLB: Before Little B.), and now you seem to be back up to something. Okay, I'm waiting for the big news!
And in the meantime, may I say that I missed you and you've not disappointed with a very colorful re-entry post!

[Mrs Pearce]

Hurrah! At last, you are back :-) glad that all is well in your world x

[Jay]

It's good to have you back!

[Vikki Cook]

Woop woop! You're back! While you've been gone I've realised how much I'd come to rely on spending a few minutes in the attic with you to cheer up my week... My spirits lifted at the sight of a new post. Glad you've had a good and productive break ... Looking forward to much hookiness on cosy winter evenings to come! :-)

[Loretta]

Hi Lucy, I am with your other "online" friends - I just about cried with joy to see a new heading on your blog. I was so happy to see you back here with all of us again.
I sure do appreciate and thank you for sharing your little piece of the world with all of us.
With joy, Loretta