goodbye september

September has been lovely, the perfect start to autumn.  Bright days, sunshine and cloudless skies with occasional light rain.

It has been breezier.  Fresher winds herald colder times but our cold season will be shortened by every dry, mild autumn day.  I'm hoping they stay around for a while.

Our garden blooms have all but disappeared.  The leaves are beginning to turn and fall from the trees.  We will soon have a carpet of browns, oranges, rusts and reds.

Almost every shrub and tree in the garden are covered in jewel coloured berries. Deep purple elderberries, red hawthorn, bird cherries, honeysuckle and orange rosehips.

All sorts of fungi pop up overnight.  The most amazing colours and shapes.  I have no idea which are edible mushrooms so I regard them all with uncertainty. I won't be adding them to mealtimes any time soon.

I have lovely memories of collecting mushrooms in the fields on our farm with my granny years ago. Gathering them in a wicker basket and chatting as we went. Probably why I still have a fascination with all manner of fungi.  It's a shame that her knowledge is gone now.

As always linking up with Karin and Asa.

52 weeks of happy (48/52 & 49/52)

Two more weeks gone, so close to a year now.  My happy things for 52 weeks of happy.

Beautiful autumn skies.  Autumn is my favourite time of year, especially when blue skies and sunshine feature.

Artwork by the little fairy, one of many.  Now at playschool, she has found more outlets for her creativity.

Instagram.  A phone upgrade has meant I can play too.  Slightly bewildered at first.  Now, I have gotten the hang of it.  You can find me there @thelinencloud if you like.

Preparing for the longer nights.  Chopping logs and getting out the blankets and throws, ready to enjoy cosy nights by the stove.

Snippets of happiness here these past few weeks, joining in as always with the lovely Jen at little birdie.

Wishing you all a happy autumn.

autumn light

Some snapshots from our garden this weekend.

The garden is bathed in beautiful autumn light.  We spent a lovely afternoon enjoying the sunshine, outdoors in perfect temperatures.  Another reason why I love autumn.

The clematis is almost finished flowering.  The outer petals have disappeared but I love the spiky heart which remains.

The first apple from our tree.  A perfect, unblemished golden delicious.  There aren't many but they will be savoured. 

Fungi are popping up all around the lawn.  I am a little fixated with admiring them, wandering around peering at the ground.  I must look slightly off my trolley.

Hawthorn berries are weighing down the trees.  The birds will enjoy quite the feast and the firewood pile, the promise of cosiness and warmth until spring.

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend and that the sun is shining wherever you are too.

tuscan bean soup

Soup season.  One of the many reasons I love autumn.

Whilst having a browse for recipes using curly kale, I happened across a recipe for tuscan bean soup.

It is really delicious.  So delicious in fact,  I have made it three times already.  A definite success.

Lacking a few of the ingredients, I didn't add the parmesan rind and used butter beans instead of cannellini. But soup is forgiving.  It was enjoyed with some granary bread, a perfect warming meal for autumn days.

Give it a go.  I promise you won't be disappointed.

52 weeks of happy (46/52 & 47/52)

Another double dose of 52 weeks of happy this week.  I've been so busy with the little ones returning to school and countless school runs, time seems to simply disappear before my eyes.

I wish I could grab it and squirrel some away.  I expect things will mellow as routine takes over.  I'm looking forward to relaxing a little.  Maybe I'm kidding myself but I live in hope.

Anyway, my four simple happy things this week include one extra special serving of loveliness.  I became an aunt again.  My brother and his wife had a beautiful baby boy last week.  He is so precious and perfect.  A gorgeous new addition.

My sewing class is making me so happy.  I love it.  My teacher has a wealth of knowledge and is so generous in sharing it.  I get lots of one-to-one time with her.  Just perfect.

Taking part in Mezz's handmade card swap and receiving a parcel from Hannah from dainty and ivory.  It included beautiful cards and lots of pretty gifts.  Happy mail is just lovely.

Picking vegetables from the garden and trying new recipes.  Bean soup with curly kale, beetroot and chocolate cake, courgette fritters and steamed runner beans. All delicious.

Joining up as always with lovely Jen at little birdie and wishing you all lots of happiness in the coming week.

scaffolding

One of my favourite poems.

scaffolding by seamus heaney

masons, when they start upon a building,

are careful to test out the scaffolding;

make sure that planks won’t slip at busy points,

secure all ladders, tighten bolted joints.

and yet all this comes down when the job’s done

showing off walls of sure and solid stone.

so if, my dear, there sometimes seem to be

old bridges breaking between you and me

never fear. we may let the scaffolds fall

confident that we have built our wall.

Seamus Heaney will always be remembered for the warmth of his words in a particularly difficult time in Ireland's history.

He will be sadly missed on this little island.



home alone

All three of our little ones are back to school and for the first time in seven years I haven't got any of my sidekicks with me.  It feels strange and slightly wonderful in equal measure.

goodbye august

August was a beautiful month.  Warm with lots of sunshine.  There were rain showers but we were spared most of them during the day, the rain falling overnight.

The garden relished the rainwater and slightly humid air.  The lawn grew incessantly and everywhere is lush and green.

Flowers are becoming fruit and the colours are deeper and more vibrant.  There are some beautiful reds and purples.  Buddleia, fuchsias, clematis and honeysuckle, a pretty combination.  The garden is changing along with the air. There is a crispness to the shortening evenings.  Autumn is just around the corner.

Summer was amazing this year and we enjoyed all it had to offer.  Precious memories of a summer enjoyed outdoors, simple, easy and free will ease us through the winter.

So hello then, lovely September.

I love autumn.  I can't wait to walk through a carpet of fallen leaves.  What can't you wait to do?

Joining in with Karin and Asa.