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

[Wendy Maartens]

I have so enjoyed your Blogtober. Thank-you for sharing with us. I do hope you have some sunny days in the months ahead. We will at the coast. I do love looking at the sea every day but your blog has made me appreciate it even more.

[Christine Whiting]

Had to look back at the silver balls blog and I must say it made me laugh. Thank you once again I shall miss my morning cup of tea with you.x

[Frances]

More thanks from me for your daily episodes during October. Always a little cheerfulness to read and lovely pictures to see. I really must drive to Skipton soon, only from Leeds, and try to join a cafe craft session. 😍💖👏🏻

[Barbara]

Yummy looking pancakes and gorgeous autumn scenery today. Loved reading your blogtober posts very much. Are you up for a blogmarch? I thought it might be fun to post daily in the spring. CJ is already signed up:) B x

[Maureen]

Thank you Lucy for inviting us to walk with you through your life in October. It has been a daily pleasure x

[Kim]

It's been an absolute joy to read Blogtober each morning. Snuggling down on a grey day, tea and warm croissants and getting carried away in your posts has been a highlight of the month. Thank you Lucy for your wonderful and creative posts
xxxxxxx

[Abby]

Love the baking incident! Great pumpkin carving from you and your daughter. What are you making with pumpkin Leftovers? Looking forward to soup I made yesterday

[Robin]

I have thoroughly enoyed the month of Blogtober! It’s been such a pleasure definitely a highlight of the day. It has been a long month and tough one for me. Thanks for sharing….

[Jools Morgan-Jones]

Blogtober with you has been an absolute delight, Lucy - thank you so much for doing it. Sharing in your day, seeing all the colour you naturally gravitate towards has made these darkening days far brighter, and ensured that I look for the brightness in the days, too. It must have been a huge amount of work, but I hope you have found it as much fun as we all have xxx

[Diane M]

Thank you Lucy for your lovely Blogtober posts. They must be such a lot of work for you, but they have been so nice to look forward to reading each morning here in Australia. Your gorgeous photos and way with words are a gift to us all. Looking forward to whatever/whenever you choose to post next!(fingers crossed it's not too long between posts though)

[Simon]

I've really enjoyed reading your Blogtober posts this year; it's a great way to round off the day! We had similar weather to you today, and although I didn't go outside to be in the sunshine I did enjoy watching a Wren hop and flit around the patio a few times. I don't like Hallowe'en as it is now, but your pumpkins look great! I wonder why people don't do something similar at Christmas as well? Stay well:)

[Jacquie]

Thank you Lucy. I remember the silver balls...still chuckling at the memory. I also remember your daily posts, they were a joy so it's been lovely to have those days back for a month.
Jacquie x

[Linda from Boston]

Hate to be repetitive, but everyone has said it all. Thanks for letting us share your life for the last month. It was most enjoyable. 💕

[kathleenalice]

Thank you for all your lovely posts Lucy. I have enjoyed every single one.

[Becki]

Thank you once again Lucy, loved your post and looked back at the ‘silver balls’ post, oh my goodness made me laugh out loud, soooo funny. Really looking forward to catching up again soon. Good luck to Little Lady for her exams. Take care, love and hugs xxxx Becki 🥰☺️

[Dawn Williamson]

I have absolutely loved reading your Blogtober posts Lucy. Well, I love reading aallll your posts all the time. Thank you for sharing your life with us all.

[Angela H.]

Thank you Lucy for sharing your October days…it’s been a real joy to look forward to reading your blog each evening & all your photos are very special 😃

[Jackielemon]

Thank you for all the lovely October posts. I really enjoyed them

[Gill Compigne-Leaney]

Thank you Lucy for livening up my day, every day this month. I do so love your chats about your family and the weather, your walks and all your lovely crochet. I hadn't seen the silver balls post as I only found you about 8 years ago, it really made me laugh out loud, something you will be telling your grandchildren and great grands in years to come.
Loved your photos of Dorset, I have family in Bridport and it made me think about visits to them. Glad you enjoyed yourselves.

[Karen]

Lucy, thank you so much for sharing your life for the last month. You are a talented writer and I have thoroughly enjoyed your colourful descriptions and accompanying photos. I too find the darker months difficult, but this year I have scheduled a few crochet and knitting projects to keep me busy and take my mind off the grey skies and shorter days. You are not alone, Lucy! Keep doing what you do and you will be fine. Thanks again.

[Winwick Mum]

It's been such a good month, hasn't it? I'm really glad you inspired me to take part in Blogtober, and I've thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts too. Oh, and silver balls, I do remember that incident and that was very funny! xx

[Arina]

Thanks......I enjoyed every day of it. Here on Curaçao where it is tropical I felt the comfort and cosiness of the fall while reading your post. Loved the pictures, the way you described everything. Like we where chatting over a cup of tea.....so..thanks again

[Sally Spragg]

I’m sorry that blogtober has finished! I shall be sad not to read your daily ramblings, part of your life! Shall look forward to seeing your blog pop up every now and then. I think your daughter needs those breaks from revision and doing the lovely colouring is a complete escape from what she has been doing. It does clear the mind from all worries, so I think its a good distraction.
It always feels sad when the youngsters complete things that you have been looking forward to doing with them, but looking at it another way, you should feel proud that you have given the confidence for them to complete these tasks without you. They will go forward into the world with the confidence that they will need.

[Debbie Tristram]

Thank you very much for your 31 days of October blogs. Have really enjoyed them.

[Corinne]

Thank you, Lucy, for your daily blogs this last month. It must have been a lot of work for you, but it has been very much appreciated.
My first crochet bag was one of yours, for my projects, lined and a zip put in, and it's still going strong! Thank you for your generosity, allowing us access to so many patterns. 😊