Preparing

Just over six weeks ago the thought of the first day of autumn term was of little concern to me. It was so far away, and there was a whole summer of late bedtimes, lazy mornings and fun filled days to be had. This last week, however, has seen the need for us to ready ourselves for the inevitable return to work and school. Lily has endured the back to school haircut, new shoes have been bought, name labels have been stitched and the P.E. bag is hung on the door ready for the morning. We're as ready as we can be.

Nevertheless, the whole idea of rushed mornings and the approaching darker evenings has got me rather melancholy this year. Naturally, I find myself missing the long, sunny, carefree days of summer, but by this time of the year I usually find I am in need of a bit more structure to my days as the seasons begin to change. Recently I have also begun to really love autumn, so I don't know why I'm feeling this way.  I'm sure I will feel fine once I get back in the swing of things and Lily settles into her second year at school. That's possibly part of my unease. It seems quite a big leap from Reception class into Year 1, as if all of a sudden they are expected to be much more grown up.

At least the changing weather has seen me spending more time in the kitchen. It has felt good to be getting my bake-on again and the slow cooker has seen it's first use since the beginning of the year. With my days getting busier, I think I'll be using it much more often from now on. 

I've also been doing some work outside. I've cut back some of the hedges and the small tree at the end of the garden. I still need to turn over the raised bed when it's finally cleared, the flower bed next to it and then tidy up the pots and large planter.  It's all been a bit neglected recently and I want to make sure it's tidied up and  I'm on top of things before the cold weather arrives. We're still eating our way through our home grown beans and beetroot. The tomatoes are finally ripening and they will get used up in soups and sauces.

Our days have been quite overcast, but  mostly warm and dry, so we've still found chance to get out in the fresh air. Following a walk in some nearby woods, we discovered a bird hide tucked away, which I think we will be paying a visit to again in the future, and at the weekend we spent a lovely afternoon by Grasmere. We were surprised at how quiet it was, for once, and we were so relaxed as we walked along we hadn't noticed how quickly the hours had passed. We didn't return to the village until almost half past five, however, we were still just in time to buy some Grasmere gingerbread which, having been freshly baked, was still slightly warm from the oven. Delicious!

J. X

Holding on to Summer

The long, hot, sunny days are behind us now, and predictably we are experiencing some mixed weather as we head into late summer. 

We've had the best time this year and I'm grateful to have had the chance to enjoy some wonderful days outside, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air with Lily.

Last week, rather spontaneously and most unlike me, I arranged for us to spend a few days away on the South coast. The weather here had turned much cooler, we didn't have any plans and the opportunity of being able to capture some extra summer sun was too good to miss.

So it was on Monday morning we found ourselves making the long journey south towards Kent, and I'm so glad we did. The weather was glorious, we spent a lot of our time at the beach, treated ourselves to fish and chips, enjoyed a bike ride and it also gave us  the chance to catch up with family we hadn't seen in a while. We visited the lovely little seaside towns of Whitstable and Herne Bay, walked along the shore to Reculver, and spent some time in Canterbury. (In future I must remember to check Lily hasn't sneakily put pebbles in the back pack after a day on the beach. I thought it seemed heavier than usual!) The shingle beaches took a bit of getting used to, but the fresh sea air was just the same.

Watching the sun set on our final evening, I realised that it had probably been the last week of warm sunny days, for us at least. Since our return home, there is an unmistakable change of the seasons in the air (we even drove through hail on our journey back!) and as I write this it is damp and grey outside. Next week will see a return to school and work, but before then I have name labels to sew into uniform and an earlier bedtime routine to establish.
J. X

August Days

Once again August is upon us in the blink of an eye. Around here some subtle hints of autumn are beginning to creep in, along with some blustery winds and wetter weather. The garden is looking a bit worse for wear and the grass which has barely needed cutting over the last few months has suddenly shot up. This week our days at the beach have been exchanged for walks through the fields and the woods, and instead of summer footwear we find ourselves in need of our boots.

I've recently had a little look back through some earlier blog posts and have noticed a gentle repetitiveness to our lives. The rhythm of the seasons, days out, general day to day happenings. In ever changing times I find this pattern very grounding and reassuring.

The hours of daylight are getting shorter and I find I'm closing the blinds earlier each evening. There is no escaping the fact that the year is marching on and the colder days will soon be upon us. We are already looking ahead to the start of the new school year, with the purchase of new uniform and during the next two weeks there will be appointments for a hair cut and shoe fitting.

For us, the middle of August is usually when the blackberries begin to ripen in the hedgerows. I can't decide if there are more than usual this year, or if it's just because I know exactly where to look for the best ones. Last Thursday morning I went out with the intention of collecting just enough to make some blackberry vodka, but as there was such an abundance within easy reach, I gathered a few more and made some extra pots of jam using the same recipe as for my raspberry jam.

In the last few years the flavoured vodka has become a firm favourite and is so easy to make.

For the Blackberry vodka you will need...

A 70cl bottle of vodka
Approx 300g of blackberries
3 rounded tablespoons of sugar
10 cloves
1 cinnamon stick broken in half

Rinse the blackberries and put in a large air tight glass jar with the sugar, cloves and cinnamon stick.

Pour over the vodka, close the lid and shake gently until the sugar is dissolved.

Keep the jar stored in a cool dark place and give it a gentle shake every few days.

After around twelve weeks strain through a muslin, bottle and enjoy.

It's delicious served up after cold winter walks when cosying up and warming your toes in front of the fire.

J. X

On the Beach

If there's one thing that really makes the summer for me then it's time spent at the beach. Long, lazy days, the warmth of the sun, and a gentle sea breeze. The soft scent of sun cream, sand between my toes, the time to relax and unwind.

At this time of year we spend a lot of our time at the beach. Our bag and picnic rug are always at the ready for a sunny day, and fortunately we have enjoyed so many of those recently. Just a picnic to throw together, grab the bucket and spade and we are out of the door.

There is something so soothing that comes from sitting on the sand, watching the waves and breathing in the salty sea air. And Lily is happy to while away her time pootling about on the beach, making sandcastles, collecting shells and poking around in rock pools. Some days we make sandcastles and sometimes sandpizzas with shells, pebbles and seaweed as toppings.

A paddle in the sea and jumping over the waves as they lap against the shore usually means getting more wet than originally intended but we soon dry off in the hot sun.

As the day comes to a close the air is cooler, the heat of the sun on our skin is replaced by our sweatshirts and we return home with salty skin, windswept hair, and sandy toes, but more importantly, happy memories of another summer day.

J. X