September 2023 - A Seasonal Diary
Hello September
September - Babe, can I give you three words?
YOU’RE TOO HOT!
It’s not the heat really that gets me craving autumn but rather the humidity, the heavy due and clammy air leave me a little short tempered longing the fresh breeze on my skin. Last August and September were marvellously delicious, the lack of rain, constant sunshine and dry heat although worrying on a climate level, felt like bliss on a domestic level. Back to 2023 though, and September, please get a little colder, I want the Aga on and a cosy latte in my hand.
The forgotten wood at the back of the airfield (The name I’ve given a small bit of wood and scrub that nobody else ever seems to walk down.) is looking marvellous, the rain and heat have made it lush again and there is just a slight nod to autumn in the yellow willow leaves as they summersault down. Dragonflies and speckled wood butterflies are buzzing in the hedgerow and the haws and hips cosy up the atmosphere with their warm autumn reds. Oh, I really do love you September, you’re on the brink of change, you’re exciting, you’re fleeting, you’re a month like no other. You sit on the fence, not autumn, not summer, some magical in-between place.
Our Fmily Holiday!!
September 18th 2023 - The week we thought it a good idea to hitch up the caravan and spend a week in close quarters. Hubby is 6’4”, I’m nearly 6’ and of course we have a 12 week old baby and a 3 year old. Not a restful week lets put it that way, the baby woke the toddler, the toddler woke the baby, but sleep aside, my goodness did we have fun. Matlock in Derbyshire was our destination and apart from the farmer losing his sh** with me for not checking the route and directing him down a very narrow road with a hairpin bend, all was glorious. Oh and the weather! The weather was absolutely awful 60% of the time but okay-ish 40% of the time and we’ll take that, not a lot we can do about it and it is Britain after all. It could have been awful 100% of the time. Thankfully it wasn’t. The Campsite was brilliant, there was the most beautiful walk over Stanton Moor leading straight from the campsite park. Ted managed a full 3 miles without complaining or being carried and I was so proud of him, oh and the heather had just gone over giving the spongy lumps of wilderness a warm cosy blankety feel. The bracken is one of my favourite things to look at this time of year, it’s as if the autumnal wind is slowly setting fire to it, although it is lovely both the Bracken and Silver Birch are invasive and conservation work goes on accross the moor to burn and regenerate the heather and remove some of the bracken and silver birch.
"By all these lovely tokens, September days are here. With summer's best of weather and autumn's best of cheer."
-Helen Hunt Jackson
Every year I like to make the most of the hydrangeas I’ve spent so much time watering, the thirsty trouble makers, by bringing a few stems in from the garden to dry in a vase. They dry into a lovely browny / greeny / pinky mass of autumn looking fluffy flowers. In the allotment there’s 3 pumpkins that haven’t grown any bigger since mid august, a tree full of apples and a tree without any. My trusty shed shoes are still making me very happy! I like to buy them well because they get more wear than most of my other shoes, I strongly believe in buying cheap heals from New Look because they get worn once a year if they’re lucky but the shed shoe, now that’s an investment, my last pair of clogs lasted 5 years and that’s pretty good going for a woollen outdoor slipper. Anyway, In our house these beauties are called Mummy’s chicken poo shoes and I accidentally wore them to the hospital to pop Toby Woby out. I bought them the same colour as my interior so they can sit by the door and not annoy me and they save so much hassle, slip on, slip off, wear bare foot or with big woolly socks. I wouldn’t be without them. I’ve even just bought my mum a pair for her birthday. Now I realise I’ve just waffled on about my clogs for a full paragraph and I think maybe it’s time to get myself out the house and into modern society so next month I have something to talk about.
Things I’ve been enjoying and buying this month…
Birkenstock Shed Shoes - See above paragraph.
SW Botanicals - There’s nothing like your favourite smells wafting over you as you sit and read a magazine with your feet curled up and a latte steaming in your hand. Phoebe is my go to, Autumn Nights is a particular favourite oil blend.
September In Paint & Pen
What has September been like for you? Have you seen anything out in Nature that’s made you smile or just peeked your interest? I would love to know, tell me in the comments below...