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 your blogs, they always have such an uplifting affect. I love your style of writing and I love the happy colours. I know exactly what you mean about stationary shops, I love them too. I gave my 16 year old son £20 of W H smiths vouchers just before starting 6 form collage that I'd had stashed in the draws for years to see if they were still valid and to our delight they were. He made sure he spend every penny buying all manner of things including a pack of sharpes in every colour you can think of. II'm not to sure what he wanted them for, unless he's going to do some amazing graffiti 😉but I completely understand why he bought them.
Posted by: Sarah Lewis | September 11, 2016 at 09:38 PM
Ha! I had more than a few "HOW MUCH?!" moments before small daughter went back to school as well. Glad you enjoyed your picnic, it's good to be able to make the most of these late sunny days xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | September 11, 2016 at 09:32 PM
Oh I so agree with you about summer - the equinox is the start :D it's still summer For a little longer 💕
Posted by: Fi Sharp | September 11, 2016 at 09:20 PM
All a bit overwhelming here too, I am trying to stay calm and eat my elephant one bite at a time. Gorgeous dahlia photo, they really are a treat at this time of year. I'm a fan of stationery shops as well, the local one is very well visited by us. Wishing you a good and productive week. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | September 11, 2016 at 09:17 PM
Laughed at your post, so familiar. Everything started here too with the usuall hickup of things going wrong and have to be set straight again. Your doing so well with those picknick mornings, so precious. Kids and clothes and shoes, oh my. No cheap shoes on those feet. We come later, those kids are more important at the moment.Love september if there's an Indian summer to be expected. Last year was a grey one, this year is going to be the first tropical since 1947, johooo!Your blanket stash is fab! Can't wait to hear what's coming up in the weeks to come. Don't panick, one thing at the time. ( keep telling myself this ;>p)Take care.
Posted by: tinke | September 11, 2016 at 09:08 PM
Hope a happy week follows this happy post xx
Posted by: Sarah @motherbirdmakes | September 11, 2016 at 09:01 PM
I simply adore you, Lucy.
Posted by: Joya | September 11, 2016 at 08:01 PM