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! :)
I love Sptember, a culmination of the summer, my dahlias are stunning, a little bite to the early morning weather, then smoothly into warmer days. Bliss. Thanks for sharing your stunning views. Xs
Posted by: SueM | September 12, 2016 at 10:51 AM
September is the best and most beautiful month of the year. I love the September-feeling. And even more now, that the girl is in the kindergarten :)
Posted by: Annamari | September 12, 2016 at 09:40 AM
Hey Lucy, lovely sweet refreshing blog. Glad you can enjoy your children's holidays. Believe you me, kids grow up and move out faster than anyone can imagine. Making lifelong happy memories for your children to carry in their hearts for a lifetime is SO worth it. They will, I am sure remember with deep affection the early morning walks, the seaside holidays, the fireside Christmases, filled with love and fun. Your blankets are like a sequence of events in their lives too. I'm in the process of making my two sons blankets. They however are 24 and 28. Wish I had started earlier. Looking forward to meeting you at Yarndale. We are travelling up from Somerset!
Posted by: Janette Surtees | September 12, 2016 at 09:24 AM
so wonderful to read your september post i my self am looking forward to this time of year as my daughter will be turning 40th this mouth plus my new grandchild is due to be born any day now. summer has been lovely and each day I wake up i feel blessed and every little bit of time i get to go out and sit in the sun shine and crochet i do. thank you for bringing as in to your very busy family live have a blessful autum
Posted by: Teresa Ford | September 12, 2016 at 08:53 AM
Thank you so much for this lovely uplifting post- I'm celebrating my first full day of school for all 3 Little Postcards and reading this was the perfect gentle way to begin my day, coffee in hand. Good luck with all the Yarndale preparations - I'm so excited that this year... at long last I'm coming too!!
Posted by: Postcard from Gibraltar | September 12, 2016 at 08:41 AM
I am sooooo looking forward to Yarndale, will be traveling from the West Midlands . I have been to Yarndale every year, I'd never been to your area before. I love it there.
Hope to see you there xx
Posted by: Jen | September 12, 2016 at 08:19 AM
Great blog post! Hope you can have many wonderful crochet hours in your studio now that the kiddos are back in schools!
I am having my summer holiday in France atm 😊 Since I am not working as a school teacher anymore, we try to go on holidays when there aren't school holidays anymore.
Take care
Anne
Crochet Between Worlds
Posted by: Anne | September 12, 2016 at 07:57 AM
Love the pictures, thank you for sharing. It will be awhile before I have cooler weather.
Posted by: gracie | September 12, 2016 at 07:53 AM
Love this post and in the East Midlands we are expecting hot weather this week. Hooray. I am looking forward to visiting Yarndale - may see you there!!
Posted by: Carol | September 12, 2016 at 07:37 AM
Loved your post. They always make my day brighter.
Posted by: Julie | September 12, 2016 at 02:28 AM
I just enjoy reading your daily activities so much. You make the normal feel special somehow. Everyday beauty comes alive with your expressions and photos. Thank you for all you share with us. I crochet a lot, but your blankets are always favorites due to the happy color schemes you use. Thank you again for your fresh, happy posts.
Posted by: Cathy Frye | September 12, 2016 at 02:07 AM
I adore you, too! And if you like dahlias, you should read Ben Pentreath's blog today: http://www.pentreath-hall.com/inspiration/2016/09/11/the-melplash-show/
Posted by: Joyce | September 12, 2016 at 12:44 AM
I'm glad you're having warm weather. We had some very autumn-ish weather at the beginning of September and I thought summer was over.. but we're having a reprieve of sunshine and warmth, too. I hope YD is fun for you again. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | September 12, 2016 at 12:07 AM
I hope it remains summer...for you, there, but I'm s-o ready for fall with record temps this year here and not much rain, I'm throwing a party when those cool crisp days appear. lol Gorgeous dahlias! Enjoy!x
Posted by: Angela-Southern USA | September 11, 2016 at 11:41 PM
Hi Lucy, my heart sang yesterday when I admired the cupcake stripped blanket I crotcheted for my baby granddaughter on a 9 week holiday around Australia. I posted it home during the trip and now it is on her bed ready for when she transitions from cot to the bed. The colours you put together were beautiful, thank you. Kindest regards Lenore
Posted by: Lenore | September 11, 2016 at 11:35 PM
My lad is all grown up now, but I still work in education, so I still love that pen and stationery buying business for myself and I try my best to keep my sandals on until October half term, but sadly last few years have failed. And totally I agree with you Autumn (Hydref here in Wales) does not begin until 21st Sept. All the best from
Rhian xx
Posted by: Rhian McCarthy | September 11, 2016 at 11:05 PM
Another lovely blog, always exciting to see you have written, always so cheery. I am sure you will write a book one day when you have the time, all your blogs and blankets would make a lovely book, I would buy it immediately. We have a lovely sunny day here today, I do wish I could be at Yarndale I am sure it will be great, cant wait to see all our sheep pictured.Caro NZ
Posted by: carolyn mary jackson | September 11, 2016 at 10:46 PM
I love the way you write. I don't know your background but if your not a writer, you should be.
You live in a beautiful part of the world and I have to add it to my bucket list.
love your writing and love, love your crochet. Hi from Sydney.
Posted by: Rosslyn | September 11, 2016 at 10:31 PM
Well done to all of you for getting out there so early to have your breakfast picnic especially after the first week at school for your youngsters. Love to see the photos of beautiful Yorkshire, and counting down to making the long trip north to come to my first Yarndale - so excited!!!
Posted by: Wendy Burnett | September 11, 2016 at 10:27 PM
Lucy, I Love reading your wonderful words and looking at your beautiful photos. Thank you for making my day, from a Pom living in Sydney.
Posted by: Ann | September 11, 2016 at 10:06 PM
Ps: you've reminded me I should now plant dahlias for our autumn... thanks!
Posted by: Louise | September 11, 2016 at 09:42 PM
You go girl, summer it is then! I think of Yarndale as the start of Autumn: all things wooly, and boots to avoid squished toes! xx
Posted by: Sarah | September 11, 2016 at 09:42 PM
Such beauty in your photos of the surroundings and of your yarn arts! Thank you for the color! I live in a barren area of Arizona so the lushness in your posts is a feast for the visual senses!
Posted by: Carol | September 11, 2016 at 09:41 PM
And here in Kangaroo land, I'm shaking off the winter cobwebs, enjoying early flowering tulips in my garden and enjoying the blossoms as they progressively appear on each of the fruit trees! Enjoy magical autumn!
Posted by: Louise | September 11, 2016 at 09:41 PM
Good luck with the week ahead. We have a very busy schedule over the next 5 weeks between work contracts, including countrywide visiting and the birth of a new grandchild! Also have to make at least 3 blankets in that the next month, thankfully two are baby blankets but then knit a huge 4ply shawl!!
Best of luck with Yarndale this year, unfortunately I am at the southern end of UK so totally impractical for me to visit, although I know yours is a beautiful part of the country. X
Posted by: AlisonB43 | September 11, 2016 at 09:38 PM