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....

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Julie B]

I have missed reading your blog and seeing your beautiful photos.
Glad you are back.

[Mellie]

Its good to have you back in blogland Lucy, I am looking forward to tomorrow and hearing (or rather reading!!) all about the granny square patch!

Mellie xxx

[MiriamMiriam]

Ciao, welcome back Lucy.Veeeeeeeeeeeeery nice post. Nice to read that all is good with you and your family.Looking forward to see why you was so busy! ;-))
Miriam from Itlay

[Karen]

Welcome back, Lucy! You've been missed.

I'm looking forward to your "news"!

Karen

[Μarieta]

Dear Lucy I'm glad I returned back with us. We missed you. I hope you have a good winter and the days pass peacefully, calmly with many creative moments, hot tea by the fireplace and cuddling with your babies. Welcome back, Marietta.

[Eva]

Good to see you back again. I enjoy your posts so much, thanks for sharing your world!

[Pammyjo]

Although I'm far away in the middle US, I've missed your little corner of the world so much. You being gone and not sharing the beauty of your family and surroundings was like a void. Silly as it may sound, but true. Welcome back and September has gloriously taken over my lil' area of the world too. :)

[Purple Princess]

Hooray you're back! I missed you! :o)

[Julie]

Happy to see you back. I celebrate the seasonal changes in my kitchen by changing curtains, tablecloths, candles etc. to match the particular season. And a good scrubbing and cleaning too!

[penelope10]

Glad to see you back! I cling onto summer for as long as I can. Including wearing shorts and sandals!
Your new venture sounds very exciting!

[Thriftwood]

Welcome back Lucy ... Love your tales from the attic xxx

[Sophie]

Welcome back Lucy !! Glad you sound full of energy and that new project is keeping you busy ! as the other readers, I would love a crochet tutorial book done by you ! you have inspired me so much. I took my hooks back reading your blog, and it helps me relax and unwind after a hard day in work ! North of France country side is much alike yours, and I love the change of seasons in the garden, by the beach or our in the fields.
Keep making us dream ! love from France !
Sophie

[Lynn]

You're back! You are such an inspiration! You are responsible for vibrant colors popping into my projects!

[Merja TanaLeria]

I love the photo of the drift house, boat and dolls. It is calling for a story. Great to see your colorful photos again.
Merja

[Merja TanaLeria]

I loved the photo of your drift house and the boat with dolls. The picture is calling for a story. Great to see your colorful photos again.
Merja

[Vicki]

So, so pleased you're back! This is my first comment on your lovely blog but I've been addicted to it for over 2 years now and check in every day to see all the happy, colourful things you've been doing. I'm actually embracing the season change this year, maybe I've just faced facts that we get more cold, grey, wet weather than anything else in this country. I'm looking forward to cosy cardies, roaring fires and cups of ovaltine by candle light! Looking forward to hearing all about your new venture xx

[josue]

So pleased to hear from you, Lucy. So pleased you were away from Atticland due to Supreme busiosity. Can't wait for more

[Linda]

Hi Lucy,

I'm glad your back as well. Thanks for the lovely pictures of your world.

[Val Johnson]

I love reading your colourful blog Lucy.....you certainly make everyone feel like part of your family...I enjoy reading about your life....and your photo's....thanks so much for being part of my life....xo

[Karen]

So good to see you back Lucy!!

[Leigh-Ann]

Hi! Welcome back! I love reading your blog and I absolutely LOVE your photo's!! Please can you tell me which camera you have?? I am planning a Christmas family holiday to the UK and want to take a million awesome pics, but am totally overwhelmed by the choice of cameras!
Many many thanks

[Meredith]

Glad you're back, it's nice to see the attic full of colours again!

[Liesbeth]

Hello dear Lucy, it's sooooo nice that you are back! The sun is always shining when I read your stories and you make me happy!
Love from The Netherlands!

[Debbie]

Very pleased you are back Lucy...been looking forward to some attic24 therapy reading.....always makes me happy reading your posts and looking at your photos....more more more please ! thank you xx

[Marguerite Coan]

Really glad you are back,Lucy,and pleased all is well in the Attic!