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

[Susan Smith]

Lovely post Lucy & so different to what we are experiencing here. Like you, I take lots of photos & end up with way too many for my blog, but still they come in handy when you need them further along & are great to look back on for the memories they evoke. I love being out & about too, & also envy your fireplace as they really make a house, "home". I'm hoping to give flowers & leaves a try in crochet, something I've never attempted, but the ones above are gorgeous. Well done you. Have a lovely weekend & enjoy.

[Margaret Simpson]

As always Lucy, stunning photo's. We are celebrating Sping here in Queensland Australia, but it has been rather hot for Spring. This last week we have received much needed rain, everywhere looks so green and fresh. Thank you for your wonderful blogs. 😊🇦🇺

[Dawn Dramis]

Love your oak leaves and acorns! Can hardly wait for your tutorial. The fall colors are my favorite. Would do fall year round if I could!

[CJ]

We have a hill near here that's a similar brackeny shade of brown at the moment as well. Like you I've warmed to autumn (and winter even more) over time. Love the oak leaves and especially the acorns, I've got a thing for acorns, they're just such a satisfying shape. Sorry about the allotment tree, I hope all is well up there now. Nice tomatoes, I'm very impressed, they're devilishly tricky things to grow. Have a lovely weekend Lucy. CJ xx

[Crafty Cath]

I love the Autumn colours of your crocheted leaves and cute acorns! Are you going to make an Autumn Wreath? Hope so :)