Blogtober 2021 :: Day 31

Well I thoroughly enjoyed having an extra hour at my disposal this morning, it was much appreciated and allowed me to have a super slow start to the day. I got up much later than usual and made myself a chocolate dusted coffee to take back to bed, relishing the pleasure of taking my sweet time with it all. It'll be all change again tomorrow, my alarm will be set for 6am and J and I will be out walking, but I think that made todays slow start feel even more luxurious. 

I had a craving for pancakes this morning, so I made myself a plate of easy oat pancakes topped with lots of fresh fruit (recipe on my blog ((here)) and they really hit the spot.

I ate my breakfast by candlelight as even though it was around 10.30 the heavy grey skies and pouring rain made the house very dark and gloomy. I'm trying not to let the low light levels affect my mood, it takes a conscious effort to embrace the candle light and fairy lights and not feel disheartened by the lack of natural daylight. So far I feel like I'm doing OK, and candles are most definitely helping.

I had to pop out to the shops this morning to pick up some ingredients for a curry that J decided he wanted to make. We realised earlier that Little B wouldn't be here for dinner as he'd been invited to a birthday party, so we took the opportunity to make a curry with a bit more spice in it than usual. The rain had eased up in the late morning and I was happy to get outside for some fresh air. There is a row of terraced houses I walk past that all have really well kept front gardens, and at this time of year the foliage is beautiful.

After a stormy night there were plenty of leaves on the ground, and I never tire of seeing the bright autumnal colours under my feet as I walk.

Similar to yesterday, the early afternoon gifted us with a break in the weather and we went from grey and wet to blue and sunny in what felt like the blink of an eye. I was pottering around catching up with laundry, accounts and emails, and all of a sudden J asks "shall we go for a walk?" Without a moments hesitation I dropped everything and pulled my boots on ready to go, I'm like a dog, ready to walk at a seconds notice, always eager to be out and about.

We walked through the park and it was unexpectedly glorious, so fresh and bright and very perfectly autumnal.

The wild weather from last night has brought down a lot of the leaves already - I remember from last year that it doesn't take much change in the weather for the trees to give up and let loose with allllllll their leaves. I expect the branches will be completely bare in a week or two.

We walked around some of our favourite streets, admiring gardens and enjoying the huge mature trees that grow along a certain long, hilly residential road that we like. The houses are all individually designed and quite substantial and have lovely gardens....I dream that one day we might perhaps leave our very modest tall thin terrace and live somewhere with breathing space around it and possibly a tree or two. I'd like that very much.

While I was away last week, Little Lady sent me a photo of some shortbread biscuits she baked with Little B and I was a little bit heartbroken that they went ahead and did it without me. I bought the biscuit kit a few weeks back, something for Hallowe'en that I thought would be fun for us to do.......awww, I don't know, I just got really choked up that I was not needed. Of course I'm super happy that she wanted to do it so much, and not only that but she said that BOTH of her brothers helped decorate with icing - wwwwwhaaaaat????? The 19 year old Big Teen got an icing pen and made bones on a biscuit??? Reeeeally? I was absolutely incredulous, but she swears that it was so.

This is the one that he made apparently, I am still in shock to be honest.

OK, hands up who remembers the incident with the  Silver Balls??? ELeVeN years ago my friends.....eleven years ago!! And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, the blog post about that unforgettable incident is ((here)). It's a shocker.

It occurred to me yesterday that maybe Little Lady is finding comfort in doing the things that she used to love as a child, because first the biscuit baking and then came some colouring. She printed this design last night and coloured it all in and said she enjoyed it and found it therapeutic - I suspect that part of it was nostalgic comfort, but a bigger part of it was procrastination because she was supposed to be revising for a maths and a physics test.

Talking of nostalgia, today saw the both of us sat at the dining table carving out our pumpkins, and it was a lot of fun. I managed to find a white ghost pumpkin at the supermarket for Little Lady to carve out a simple ghost design, and I settled on a spooky face for my larger one. 

I love the magic that happens when darkness falls and the candles are lit inside. No matter how wonky or basic the design, carved pumpkin lanterns always look so, so good in the dark. We had the usual small army of visitors knocking at the door, so much excitement amongst the younger residents of our streets.

And just like that, the month of October has come to an end. It's felt like quite a long month to me, and I really do mean that in a good way. The best of ways, actually. I feel like my days have been full, and even the slow, routine days of nothing in particular have had many moments that were worthy of writing about and capturing on my camera to share with you. I'll be putting together a Blogtober Review as I enjoyed doing it last year, so there's that to look forward to.

So many of you have told me in comments here, and on my Facebook page that you'll be sad when Blogtober ends, and so I'm going to try and be here as much as I can through November. I've enjoyed chatting with you very, very much this past month, thank you for your most excellent company.

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Comments

[Jungle]

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[Carolyn L Dietrich]

I'm so happy you plan to post often in November. I love your blog!

[Lynn]

Thank you for a wonderful October visit! I really do cherish your blogs and a Month of daily postings?! Well! It’s fantastic! My favorite picture is the big tree in full autumn colors with the blue sky behind it. I would frame that one. Love it! I can’t wait to hear about the new blanket and garland.

[Ronnie]

Thank you so much for blogtober. I know it must be a real effort and commitment to write every single day. I have had a very difficult month and it was really helpful for me, to drop in to the attic every day. So again - thank you!

[Hannah R]

Thank you Lucy, I have thoroughly enjoyed living life with you over the past month x

[Kirsty]

Just caught up on your last few Blogtober posts, and wanted to say a huge thankyou for making a stellar effort and posting every day - it's been a joy to read and follow your daily life for the month. Sending lots of love to you and the fam!

[Gillian McM]

The October blogs have been so nourishing, something to look forward every day, here in exile in the US. Thank you SO much, Lucy!

[Karyn]

Hi Lucy, I totally get the feeling of ‘I’m not needed’ as children become independent but maybe it’s just a sign that you’ve done some lovely parenting? The fact that they got together without your instigation to bake and ice the biscuits shows that they do enjoy being together and have happy memories of the things you taught them as children. Having a family and children who want to, and also enjoy, being together is a wonderful gift- cherish that moment and your success.
Thanks for the fun blogtober- I love autumn
With love and Prosecco bubbles from Australia Xx

[Susan]

I love your blogs ..I need your blogs! Well done lucy

[Tineke]

Can you make a compilation of all your shoe nose pictures in any kind of weather? It always makes me laugh seeing your toes peep out of the pictures. I bet it is fun. It is sad to not be there when kids do a traditional thing you usually did with them. The other side is they become independent, you did that, Lucy. That is the purpose of being a mom, making your kids independent adults. You did so well all along.

[jan mccann]

I have loved your posts in Blogtober! Really looked forward to them. I’ve just splurted coffee at the sight of the “boy biscuits “! Brilliant xx

[Tonia]

Splendid pumpkins!
I do remember your eldest's silver ball decorations - made me laugh as much now as it did then :D
Am doffing my cap at you and CJ and everyone who did Blogtober. That was a huge commitment but I have enjoyed reading all the posts. Tx

[Miriam]

I sent a comment, but I don't see it. So I say just a ciao with a big hug.
Miriam

[Charlotte]

I have enjoyed every day of your blog. It has been something to look forward to each day. Thanks for sharing.

[Beverley]

A walk in the park with all those leaves, how wonderful and such lovely colours.
Ha ha, silver balls how could we forget!!

[Charlotte Pountney]

Thank you, Lucy. I have really looked forward to a boost of colour therapy and nature from you every day, and hope you will invite us over occasionally during November! The fruity pancakes look amazing...and your pumpkins are very professional - the large one has a very scary Chinese dragon look to him!

[Marjorie Sanderson]

Thank you Lucy have enjoyed Blogtober very much and have looked forward to sitting down with a cup of tea and reading your blog every day . I will miss it but look forward to future blogs and your lovely photos and news.
Marjorie

[Gillian Edwards]

Thankyou so much for Blogtober. I've loved reading about every day and looking at the lovely photos. God Bless xxx

[Jacqui]

Kids huh silver balls😂😂😂😂😂
Little lady is learning how to cope with stress bless her its a scary time exams ,university, leaving home maybe !!!!!
Love your blog as ever and I love a nice hot curry yay.
Will be lovely to see your blogs and in november toooo

[Helen]

My partner says I am like a dog and need to be exercised in the fresh air to keep me well (he means in my mood!) I come back with my tail wagging and very happy. Your posts are full of comfort and warmth, reality and honesty, truly heart warming. Thank you for all your efforts in a busy life. It is so bitter sweet being a parent, longing for their independence but saddened by the apparent lack of dependency on you. Be kind to yourself as you are doing a fab job. You are an inspiration Xx

[Franziska]

Thanks Lucy for all those Blogtober posts, it was a pleasure to read!
Little Lady has obviously inherited your gift for colours judging by her painting.

[CJ]

I've loved popping in throughout October, it's been fun, and very cosy and comforting. I love that both brothers helped out with the biscuits, they made a very good job of them. The silver balls made me laugh. Boys. Those little oat pancakes are brilliant, SO easy and quick. The youngest makes his own sometimes. CJ xx

[Sarah Sparkes]

Thank you, I have really enjoyed reading your blogs.

[Ellie Williams]

Lucy, thank you so much for Blogtober, it’s been really lovely to read your blogs every day.
I don’t blame Little Lady for preferring colouring to revising Maths and Physics, my two most unfavourite subjects when I was in school, now it’s doing crochet or reading rather than housework!
Ellie

[Linda]

Thank you for your daily posts Lucy they have cheered me up no end. x