Autumn Moments {one}

🍁 So far this Autumn the weather has been mild and I've been overjoyed to still feel some last little wisps of Summer lingering. I've been trying to spend as much time outdoors as I can, especially on days when the sun is shining and the sky is that utterly uplifting shade of blue. On mornings when I don't particularly need to be anywhere I've been extending my school run by not going straight home afterwards - so instead of walking up the hill I carry on along the canal, then right along through the park and up to the farm shop on the edge of town. The extra exercise and fresh air has been a real tonic, and I've absolutely LOVED feeling the gentle warmth of the sun of my face.

🍁 Sitting on my favourite bench in the park on my return walk back from the farm shop, taking in the trees, the blue sky and the feel of the sun on my face (did I mention how much I love the feel of that? The sun? On my face? Makes me sooo happy). I don't tend to linger long in the farm shop as it's one of those places where absolutely every single thing is gorgeous/delicious/pretty/desirable/displayed to perfection and one can end up spending a small fortune. So instead of browsing, I head straight to the counter where there is freshly squeezed fruit juice for sale, drink up one of the small samples to see how good it tastes, then ignore the healthy juice and order up a latte instead. My treat is to sit a weeny while on the bench with the above view whilst sipping my coffee, with the sun on my....yeah...you know how I feel about that.

🍁 My hill view is quite brown now that we are into Autumn - a lot of the colouring on the hillside comes from great swathes of bracken and this plant is only green for a few short months of the year, from late May to late August. I still love this view though, no matter how brown it gets, and delight in seeing it waiting for me every morning at the end of my street before I descend down the hill to the canal.

🍁 Oh, we lit our first fire of the season, something so very Autumnal it makes me fidget with indecision. On one hand, it's one of my most favourite things to look forward to in Autumn, but on the other hand I try and put it off as long as possible, because the Lighting Of The Fire surely means that temperatures are dropping, the days are shortening and the weather is worsening. Bitter sweet, for sure. For the record, our first fire this year was on Monday 9th October which is earlier than usual. I wasn't going to give in (wailing about it being too early) but in the end I completely caved in to J's wishes for it. But since then, it hasn't been cold enough for the fire really, so it's only been lit twice I think. 

🍁 We walk pass this wall on our way to school, and the colour of the leaves just knocks my socks off.  Pretty much every day, Little B picks some of the fallen leaves up from the pavement and presents them to me, knowing I can't resist them. They go into my pocket, then get emptied out onto the dining table at home where they sit and darken and dry to a crisp. 

🍁 I have been using one of my Weekend Bags all year, alternating between the different colourways. The one I'm wearing at the moment is called "Heatwave" and although this is wishful thinking on my part and makes me think wistfully of late summer warmth, the colours are very suitably Autumnal I'd say. I'm still also wearing my beloved Fly London boots, although they desperately need replacing as they leak in water now and make my hand knit socks all soggy. Buy New Boots - it's on my To-Do list.

🍁 So much colourful leafy goodness lying around the place at the moment, so much to catch my eye and stop me in my tracks, which happens many, many times a day. Sometimes I capture an image with my camera, sometimes I stoop and gather into my pocket to bring home, and sometimes I just stand and stare and think how beautiful it all is. Mother Nature, she sure is a clever so-and-so. 

🍁 The above photo was taken at the end of a walk in the woods on Monday, a day when the UK turned a very strange colour indeed. I took lots (and lots and lots) of Autumnal woodland photos which I'm saving to share another day - oh, the leafy colours are spectacular at the moment.

🍁 The storm gusted through here on Monday night and the strong winds blew a whole tree down at the allotment, causing it to crash right across our plot. I reported this disaster to J (I'd popped up to the plot to pick rose hips for my Autumnal mantel display, more on that later) and he and Little B  set out to carry out some emergency tree dismantling work. They came home with rosy red cheeks, cold hands, and a flower pot full of the last of the tomatoes which they rescued from under the fallen tree.  

🍁 I got inspired by the season to treat myself to some new washi tape for my planner pages, I just could not resist. The acorns and the trees called out to me, and they in turn somehow made the owls, umbrellas and the pretty folksy blue tape fall into my virtual online shopping basket. If you feel similarly tempted, do go and visit the lovely Dominika over on Etsy and see what gorgeousness she has in her shop....oh cripes, I've just spotted the mushroom tape.....I must resist the cute mushrooms.....

🍁 I've been catching up with my favourite magazines and loving the utter beauty of the seasonal pages. Everything looks so warm and cosy and homely and snug in Autumnal Magazine Wonderland, it's very inspiring. I'm currently crocheting an Autumn Garland for my fireplace, and changing out the summery look on my mantel to make it more in keeping with Autumn - I've got lots to show you! Hang on, I'll go grab a photo so you can see what I've been up to................

🍁.............there! What do you think? After many frustrating failures, I finally managed to design and make a very satisfactory looking two-colour oak leaf. I'm so so pleased about that, such a happy feeling when I finally nailed that tricky shape. I made acorns too.....I can't wait to show you more next week, I'm making some tutorials for these oaks leaves and acorns as well as a little beech leaf I've been making too. 

🍁 The light this week has been magical, especially in the mornings when we set out to walk to school. Half Past Eight and the sun is only just rising above the hill at this time of year, all misty and golden and just breathtaking. There is much to enjoy about Autumn - it's not my best favourite season, but I warm to it more and more as the years pass.

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I so enjoyed writing my "Summer Moments" posts this year, that I thought I'd like to continue on into Autumn. I hope you enjoy them too, and that you are finding many moments in your own days to make you stop, smile and feel glad. 

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Comments

[Linne]

Hi, Lucy. Thanks so much for your constant uplifting posts. I come here so often for that and because we share a love of colour and creativity. Your photos inspire me, too. I love your acorns and oak leaves, too; they are special to me. I'm looking forward to your tutorial for those. I love that you take time for yourself in those small but meaningful ways; I do that more and more these days. Like you, I'm a bit wistful to see the end of summer, but autumn brings its own loveliness and even winter, as it's then that I have more indoor time for creativity. Love your fireplace; I still prefer an open wood fire. The garland sounds interesting and I'm also looking forward to the blanket's progress. Thanks for sharing so much with us.

[Brooks Ann Miller]

Love your blog! Your oak leaves are really lovely. I find it interesting that although I live in Texas, USA, we have very similar oak leaves here. I found it amusing that your "weird sky" and orange sun were so unusual. Here in the area of Texas where I live we often have dust storms and other similar phenomena that cause us to have similar skies on a regular basis. I think it would really freak me out if I didn't see this on a regular basis! I had never thought that this kind of sky wasn't a normal occurrence in other places. I was truly very pleasantly surprised to learn this. Thanks for your glimpses into a place I someday hope to visit. Very charming!

[Anna Vacha]

I don't often comment, but I read every week, and wanted to chime in. Thank you for continuing your Summer Moments into Autumn, and thank you for sharing the wonderful gift you have - of making small moments magical - with us. You are an inspiration for your crochet and your "eye", but also for your outlook and positivity, and joy in small moments, as well as your gift with words. Truly an inspiration and a role model, and every time I feel glum I come to your page for a reminder of how to open my gosh darn eyes and see the wonder around us. (plus as a wee 28 year old just starting to settle down and build a life it gives me such a deep feeling of hope to see the reminders of how possible it is to keep exuberance alive and present while still being a successful adult (and mother!!)).

Anyways, sorry for gushing, and thanks for sharing of yourself!

[Helen]

I loved reading this post, please keep them up! We are currently enjoying the spring season here in NZ. Our seasonal changes are nothing near as dramatic as what you experience in England, I miss that so much!

[Rae]

Loving your oak leaves x Although I do love the Autumn and the colours I hate the thought of winter and dark nights.The clocks change next weekend arrgh. I do keep my garden clock on Summer time to make the dark nights hurry on through x

[carolyn mary jackson]

A belated Happy Birthday and congratulations on your awards. I always enjoy all your blogs, and pleased you have had a few restful days after all your hard work at Yarndale. I look forward now to seeing all the hearts,
always enjoy seeing the bunting, and mandalas again.
Many thanks, Carolyn.

[Sue]

Gorgeous as usual.
Is there any chance of a tutorial for the owls which you designed for the Yarndale brochure last year? I tried to buy a brochure but there were none left.....too successful.
I feel an owl would sit well on an autumnal wreath!
I hope not too much of your allotment was damaged. Are you allowed to use the wood?
Sue

[Teresa Kasner]

I enjoyed the Autumnal images and colors in this post. Bravo on the leaves and acorn designs! I adore acorns. I found some black ones last year. I ordered the English version of Country Living and will get my first one in January. It's so much better than the slim US version. I'm glad you noticed all my "Lucy" projects on the sofa in our caravan! You have inspired me so much, my friend. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Charlotte.]

Congratulations on your many well deserved awards. A very belated Happy Birthday. We have been away to a family reunion and not checking in regularly. It is always special to see the wonderful sites from your part of the world. Autumn really doesn't happen in Florida. Nice to see your pictures. Thanks Lucy.

[Jacquie]

I always love your posts of home and crochet and seasons Lucy. They are so comforting, inspiring, delightfully cheerful and colourful.
A visit to Yorkshire is long over due I think. I hope our shed is finished soon, then mum and I can sneak away.
Jacquie xxx

[Tina Kercher]

I love your autumn creations. I love seeing how others make leaves and such. I decorate pumpkins every year made from upcycled sweaters with crocheted stems and leaves. It's so much fun.

[Elizabeth Wittig]

The leaves look lovely and the acorns - so cute

[Kay Amhaus]

Such beautiful pictures, and such a pretty place you live in. I just love popping in here from time to time to see what you and your family are up to. Loved the summertime "moments," and so do continue into autumn (my favorite season). Warm weather here in southeastern Wisconsin has caused our trees to delay turning color so you pics especially fun to see.

[Angela-Southern USA]

I look forward to seeing your autumn garland, I too have been inspired by autumn to reach for my hook I've been making mini pumpkins, crows, spider webs and even a spooky ghost cactus. Enjoy the season!x

[mrs. smythe]

Gorgeous! Thank you for sharing. There's something so magical about a cloudless, autumn-blue sky. It's my favorite color, I think.

[Denise Marshall]

Like you I cling to the last vestiges of Summer, but I do adore the Autumn colours. Love your acorns and oak leaves. Can't wait to see what you make of them. D

[Ingeborg]

such a wonderful-lovely-heartwarming post, dear Lucy <3
I absolutely love the attic view of the opposite hill, be it green or brown or grey, I LOVE it.
And I am so curious about your new blanket project :)
Thank you ever so much for your kindness to share your world with us.

[Pink Milk]

So you love the sun on your face, huh? :-)

Just a little 'hello' and a big squeezy hug by way of thanks. For being a colourful constant in an ever-changing world, an inspiration to embrace the little moments and for being lovely, kind you.

Hxxx

PS. I have some teal lace-up Fly London boots. Toe twins. ;-)

[Carol]

The weather has been lovely in parts but soo strange on Monday. Love your crocheted oak leaves and the acorns are a delight.

[Judy]

Just a quick note, Lucy, to say I received my Yarndale purchases today. Thank you so much. The magnets will be included in Christmas gifts for my knitting club, and I will enjoy the bag! :-)

[Jackie Farrow]

I love Autumn in the UK, that's why every time we can afford to have a trip over its that time of year I go. Don't need Summer there as I have too much here. Thank you for sharing and I love acorns. I'm so looking for to seeing you again at Yarndale. I plan the holiday around it.

[Jenny]

Lovely thank you Lucy love Jenny xx

[Camcas]

Love your seasonal posts as we are just the opposite down here inAustralia !!!

[Jenny]

What is your favourite magazine please

[Susan]

Incredibly we had also walked through our park today in Uttoxeter after a deluge of rain & the colours were stunning.I kept stopping to take photos like you 🍂