Ahhh September, such a nostalgic, emotional, heart felt time of year this is, don't you think? The slow changing of the seasons, the return to school routines after the gentle pleasure of summer holidays, and the excitement of a new year beginning. In so many ways, the start of September always feels more new-year-ish than January does for me, it's a thoughtful, meaningful time full of new plans, new ideas, renewed routines and a delightful kind of optimism. I love it for that, but also feel ever so slightly overwhelmed by it too. Only ever so slightly though, which is good.
By the way, isn't the above image beautiful? I am more than a bit in love with it (it's the September month on my Country Homes calendar which I gaze at to the left of my desk), oh those blooms! I seriously love dahlias so much, and can't wait to see them arrive in the pavement buckets of the market very soon. An armful shall be mine, I shall swoon!
There is a big part of me that gently mourns the end of the summer holidays, as much as I enjoy the return to routine that comes with the start of the new school year. This morning I was re-folding and re-arranging my rather impressive stack of crochet blankets which has been under constant attack during the holidays. Little B has carried out an obsessive daily den-building mission during the past few weeks, turning various bits of furniture into his own private, cosy, blanket-filled snug. It's been sweet to see, he's been wrapped up like a little door mouse playing games, watching films, even eating his lunch which I've delivered to him through a blankety gateway. As a result I've enjoyed my own obsessive daily blanket-folding missions too, it's been comforting and lovely to fold, smooth, stack and get lost in a good many blanket-making memories. Soon these blankets will begin to migrate upstairs to the beds as the weather cools, not yet though. Right now my friends it is Still Summer, yes it is! Summer, summer, summer I tell you, and blankets don't go on beds until Autumn arrives.
I have love love loved our walks to and from school this week, we are so lucky to have an easy ten minute walk along the side of the canal, with swans in attendance if we're lucky. I am overflowing with gratitude for the beauty and simplicity of our school day routine.
We became ridiculously lazy during the summer holidays, with the exception of the last week when I whirled around the town with one or more of my Little People in tow, scowling at the price of shoes etc and the ridiculous amount of money emptying out of my bank account. I blinkin' hate the annual torture of school uniform shopping, the footwear part of it most of all. We purchased nine pairs in total. Nine! I am still wearing my £1.50 bargainous flip flops bought on holibobs in St Annes in May. Bright pink. I need new shoes for the Autumn myself but can't bare to face the fact just yet. Not whilst it's still summer and I've just repainted my toenails in peacock blue.
The LP went back to school this week in dribs and drabs, so that Tuesday was Little B, Wednesday The Teen and finally on Thursday off went Little Lady. This gave me and Little Lady one precious day together with no boys to worry about, she was beside herself with happiness I can tell you. We started the day with coffee/juice and sourdough toast at a local café, then went on to do some light and enjoyable shopping for new pens and the such like. Don't you just love the smell of shops that sell pens and stationary? It is so unique and nostalgic, I breathed in the air and felt as if I was ten years old all over again.
I dug out my planner on Monday, my poor neglected planner with its six weeks of blank pages as I simply refused to plan my time during the summer holidays. Bizarrely it made me very happy to sit and write lists again, even if they were rather worryingly lengthy and a tad scary. Soooooooooo much to do during the next two weeks, with Yarndale so close and some exciting new projects in the pipeline for the Autumn too. Chocolate definitely helps when there is a lengthy list crisis, I discovered this divine Lime and Sea Salt chocolate at the farm shop this week, good grief, it is sinfully good.
The late Summer landscape is looking lovely around here, the mix of green and brown telling the story of the slow season changeover creeping in.
We were up and out very early this morning, brought about by the clear blue skies and gentle sunny warmth that greeted us when we woke up. We took off just a few miles up the road to have a picnic breakfast beside the resevoir, wanting to make the very most of these last days of warm summer time. But oh how the Little Ones moaned !! It was comical really, but not unexpected with a 7.30am shout to get dressed and ready. Poor things. But to be fair, they were awake and up at 6.30am so it's not as if we actually pulled them from their beds or anything. And as ever they seemed to enjoy it once we were there, sitting on a sun warmed bench to eat soft bread rolls filled with butter and jam, fresh orange juice, and (for J and I) a flask of hot coffee. It's so nice to sit and eat whilst looking out across water, so tranquil and uplifting for the soul. I would do it every day if I could.
I've got a very, very busy week ahead of me, and I am trying not to allow myself to be swept up in a tidal wave of panic. All will be well. I shall wear my pink flip flops and admire my peacock painted toe nails and hope for blue skies and sunshine as I work work work. All is good!
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ps Autumn officially begins (for me) at the Autumnal Equinox which this year is on 22nd September - I know lots of people think it starts on the 1st of September, but it's stiiillllll suuuummmmmmer right now in my book! :)
Your blog warms my heart, especially during this beautiful month of September with the leaves and temperature changing daily. Thank you for sharing; you have made my day today.
Posted by: Eileen M | September 17, 2016 at 05:29 PM
I love September. The fall months are my absolute favourite and after the heatwave that we have had in Canada I am very excited for it to finally be cooling down! Beautiful photos x
Posted by: Holly | September 16, 2016 at 07:21 PM
I totally agree that it's still summer! Make it last! Thank you for another lovely post. I've followed your blog for years and you've inspired me to start writing my own. I'm so glad you're able to write once more.
Posted by: Hilary at hemtohem.co.uk | September 15, 2016 at 11:48 AM
With another 27/8 degree day ahead here - it's definitely still summer here! X
Posted by: Rachel | September 15, 2016 at 08:01 AM
Finally catching up on blog reading. Loved your post, the scenery & hooky rugs. Was up your way last week & will be attending Yarndale too & your summer is definitely lingering as this poor Aussie lass was actually "hot" yesterday. Don't stress/panic in the lead up to the big event. Take care.
Posted by: Susan | September 14, 2016 at 08:35 PM
Hallo Lucy,
I follow your blog for some years now...
I have the feeling that I know you... I think you are a warm and great person and mother... Therefore I dare to ask you something...
My name is Nele, I am a teacher for a long time now. This year I teach the 10 years old. I have 23 pupils... Two boys of my class have a really hard time... R. mother died of cancer in december, E. daddy commited suicide last week... You can imagine there is a lot of grief in my class... To comfort my pupils I told them the story of Jezus and his sheep... A story to calm down...
It would be very nice to give those two little sweet boys a Yarndale sheep as a very special gift made with lots of love...
Is it possible to send two of your sheep to The Flanders, Belgium? I want to pay you the shipping costs if necessary...
Very special greetings, XXX
Posted by: Nele Moenaert | September 14, 2016 at 08:08 PM
We have Autumn colours already in Kintyre and I LOVE it! Have barely picked up my hook all summer so am looking forward to some cosy crochet time. That gorgeous pile of blankets has spurred me on. X
Posted by: I Was Swallowed by a Hippo | September 14, 2016 at 06:51 PM
Reading this post this morning at my office with my coffee really helped me calm my very frazzled summer nerves. Thank you!
Posted by: Sherry in MT | September 14, 2016 at 02:21 PM
the temperatures in England made news in Australia today! I am lamenting that winter has not been cold this year and I am hot already.
Another advantage of being in Oz. Our New Year really is new year on the calendar, for school and so on.
Posted by: Suzan Warnes | September 14, 2016 at 07:43 AM
Very much still summer here in Texas too! School here usually starts the last week or so of August while it's still very hot. But like you, I always think of the beginning of school as the new year. It comes with the territory after having children in school from 1974 until 2005. September holds so many promises, strange that way. Love your blog and your travelogs of places I most likely will never go. Thank you for the beautiful pictures and the descriptions of your lovely part of England. Maybe I'll get there someday after all. It is September, you know!
Posted by: Linda | September 14, 2016 at 04:33 AM
Hi Lucy I've just started to crochet (about 8 months ago now) and friend put me onto your blog I think it's fantastic. I made the cosy stripe blanket in the spring and the pattern was brilliant to follow. I only had a few issues in the first few rows by dropping the odd stitch at the end if the row but the blanket has none the less turned out brilliantly. I'm coming to Yarndale for the first time this year and really looking forward to it. I'm looking for my next project but just can't decide what I want to make next because it all looks fab!
Posted by: Emma | September 13, 2016 at 11:11 PM
Ahhh The swans are so nice to look at ♥
summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com
Posted by: Summer | September 13, 2016 at 08:28 PM
Definitely still summer in my book! Hope you are enjoying some of the warm sunshine up in Yorkshire today. Your posts always put a big smile in my face, thank you.
Posted by: AnnieOB | September 13, 2016 at 06:57 PM
Deep breathes.....you will make it through! Love your updates on your littles....can't wait to see all the updates from Yarndale....oh I wish I could transport myself....some day....some day!!!
Posted by: Mary Nolan | September 13, 2016 at 12:45 PM
What a nice and lovely post, thanks so much Lucy! It's still summer here too, in France, near Paris, we spend as much time as possible in the garden...so nice. I agree with you, shops that sell pens and stationary smell soooo goood! Take care!
Posted by: Lorenza | September 13, 2016 at 07:49 AM
Your walk to school sounds so lovely! My planner was definitely neglected over the summer, but who really wants to plan out all their time? Not me! Good luck with the kiddos back in school!
Posted by: Sierra | September 12, 2016 at 07:50 PM
September seems like the beginning of the year to me, as well. I love Autumn and the rich warm colours. Your blog is like a breath of fresh air, Lucy and always so inspiring. Beautiful photos!
Posted by: Eleanor MacLean | September 12, 2016 at 06:51 PM
Love the patchwork quilt backdrop to your calendar photo! It's definitely still summer here in Norfolk too (I have purple toenails!) but the evenings are drawing in so fast! Hope your week goes well - breathe and relax! x
Posted by: josiekitten | September 12, 2016 at 06:37 PM
Thank you for the lovely update Lucy! And for the reminder that Summer is not over yet. I agree, that despite the nip in the air it is still Summer!
Have a wonderful week!
Posted by: lisa | September 12, 2016 at 05:49 PM
September is a strange month. Sort of the start of the gentle slide towards Christmas. The days are still warm, but the early mornings are chilly, it sort of gets you ready for the days slowly turning colder. The nights are drawing in now too. I live in London and it's properly dark now at 8pm...holy moley, it was only the other day it didn't get dark till 10pm...where did the summer go? :-) I'm gradually crocheting a granny squares blanket. The squares are done, now comes the process of crocheting them together. I haven't been able to touch them during the summer...MUCH too hot to have a blanket over my lap, and no matter how I started off holding the work, it always seemed to end up on my lap! So looking forward to to cooling off days to get back to that again!
Posted by: Catherine | September 12, 2016 at 05:16 PM
Lucy, the lovely round cushion sitting atop your pile blankets.....is their post/tutorial for it? I think that I remember reading one, but of course cannot remember what it is called. 😕 I love the simplicity of the cushion--the soft colors and the delicate flowers and vine. Would love to make one.....
Posted by: Thelma Pillepich | September 12, 2016 at 03:41 PM
Love the blankets done with the cotton yarn - the colours...oh my!! But, just wondering: how do you keep the blankets from stretching and losing their shape over time?? Love your blog and photos - thanks for the inspiration!!
Posted by: Shana | September 12, 2016 at 03:13 PM
Loved your blog Lucy. Your photo's, as always are beautiful. Here in Australia it is Spring, and warming up to Summer. Hope Yarndale is a huge success, I am looking forward to your news and photo's when you have finished Yarndale. Best wishes from DownUnder. :-)
Posted by: Margaret Simpson | September 12, 2016 at 01:02 PM
bringing back some wonderful memories
oxoxoxox crafty mema
Posted by: crafty mema | September 12, 2016 at 12:21 PM
I am on holiday on the Northumberland coast and we have visited lots of the places you blogged about! It's definitely still summer here too! We will be passing through your way on our way home and I hope to pop into Coopers for a coffee. I am definitely putting Yarndale into my calender for 2017! Don't work too hard - it will all get done in time x
Posted by: Rowena Corlett | September 12, 2016 at 12:07 PM