opening chapter nine – hello september
Tawny leaves. Crisp blue skies. A welcomed nip in the air. Like the trees, let go of all that is weighing you down. Back to work. A clean slate. Fresh stationery’s a must. Tailored trench coats. Cashmere knits. Boot season is back. Blackberries ripen. Forest strolls. Leaves crunch underfoot. Chutneys boil on stoves - homemade gifts, in time. Bare legs shiver. Dare I say it, ‘tights season’ is near. Light fades. So long summer! No more denying, Autumn’s here.
As the woodlands and hedgerows start producing their yield for autumn, there’s something about September that makes me want to continue the celebration of abundance that I’ve attached solely to summer in recent years. Be it ripe and ready blackberries waiting to be picked, hopeful acorns, produced by the majestic English oak, hanging off branches; or the first signs of colour changing in leaves on trees, there’s a wealth of beauty to behold out there… it feels impossible not to stop and take stock.
Just me?!
Unlike October which oozes drama however (it’s hard not to notice when the conkers and leaves start to fall in their hundreds next month, after all) signs of summer giving way to autumn seem subtler in September. For that reason, though I willingly welcome its arrival today, it has certainly caught me off guard a few times in recent years. For instance, early September mornings always take me by surprise. One minute, it feels like it’s light and bright when I wake up. The next moment, my alarm goes off and it feels like it’s noticeably darker out there. There’s a sudden nip in the air that wasn’t there the previous morning. And on my morning walks with the boys, I find myself reaching for my fleece and/or field jacket out of necessity (not just comfort) for the first time in months.
Please don’t think that I’m complaining however!
I’m anything but complaining in fact!
Like that first, hope-filled scent of Spring that’s difficult to ignore in and around late February each year, each of these signs feel laden with hope too. Transformation is in the air. Change is coming. And though my fear of spiders lives on, even I can appreciate that their intricate webs soaked in dew on a crisp September morning, herald that Autumn is on its way.
With that in mind, you will find me rooting through my wardrobe in the coming days and revisiting old autumn/winter favourites that I can make the most of once again. (Like I mentioned in this post last year, one of the reasons I invest in good quality pieces more so than ever at this time of year is because they last for years, so from a cost per wear perspective, are essentially free!) Mid-month, Jemma will join me as we decorate the home for autumn, taking inspiration from what we’re surrounded by outdoors. Speaking of which, in the garden, my thoughts soon turn to the wildlife and how we can help them to survive the winter months (if you’re interested in this idea, there’s some amazing suggestions here that you can try in your garden too.) And as the month draws to a close, I’ll carve out time to root through the kitchen cupboards and prepare a few boxes to donate to local food centres ahead of the harvest festival.
Not to mention, get to work on this year’s batch of homemade chutneys that I’ll give to friends in months to come.
It’s one of those months that feels centred around preparation for the weeks and months ahead.
For that reason, it comes hand-in-hand with a sense of accomplishment that I look forward to and make the most of each year.
As always, I’d love to hear what you’re looking forward to this month. Let me know in the comments below!
PS. Looking for an item I’ve recently featured. Take a look at August’s Shopping Edit, here
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Can you guess where I’m off to for afternoon tea?
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The Autumn Equinox has arrived and as the nights draw in there’s so many opportunities to reconnect with nature.
Hosting a very special breakfast for my girls in honour of @princestrust and @thebrilliantbreakfast to raise money to help young women turn their lives around through work, education and training. A donation of £5 can enable a woman to simply travel to an interview which could go on to change her life forever so I would absolutely love it if you would join me in hosting your own Brilliant Breakfast between the 9th and 15th October, whether it’s simply coffee with a close friend, or encouraging your entire office to get involved, the funds raised will go towards helping young women, aged 11-30 create better futures for themselves.
And thank you to my angel @hello.petal.flowers for giving her time and creative flare to bring my vision for the breakfast to life, of course you don’t have to go with florals like me, but if that’s something you enjoy this is the perfect opportunity to throw a lovely breakfast with your girlfriends with a cause that will help so many other women, front and centre!
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Such an honour to drive to @goodwoodrevival with the @astonmartin team in the iconic DB5 to celebrate 110 years of the brand and 60 years of the DB5.
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Hi Lydia, i feel so peaceful after reading your september post! Ready to start my day the right way! I read this before looking on my phone and already feel like the day is off to a good start! Currently have my vanilla pumpkin candle on. Also just finished watching your youtube video with Jacquiline Hurst and it was emotional as I felt it was so relatable and you both really went into depth about feelings/ how the mind works. It will help me so much as i feel when you get older from a teenager you are introduced into the world of mental health without pinpointing what is happening. Now at the age of 25 i am learning and growing of how to be grateful for the things that I have. Also trying to create a stable life for myself whilst working as a nurse in York. I have also just recently started up my own business in Aesthetics! I really am so grateful to have you on social media as theres no one else like you.