Sinking into autumn
Crumble, clear-outs and career shifts
The deeper I stretch into adulthood, the more I’m amazed by the hold that September has on me. It’s like it’s ingrained in my very being; the tingle of anticipation of change, fresh starts and the promise of newness. With full-time education now a decade behind me, I still feel that chemical shift in my brain the moment August (always too-suddenly) tips into September, and I’m not sure if that will ever cease.
Now, as I write – somehow two weeks into September already – we creep towards the Autumn equinox next Sunday, on the 22nd. The natural world is almost in complete antithesis to my innate expectation of newness, as summer’s lush, billowing explosion of nature starts to tiptoe back towards the calm of the dormant winter months. I’ve started noticing a sprinkling of rust on once-zingy green trees, a distinct shift in the smell of the countryside, and even the suggestion of frost on the lawn as I padded outside with the dog this morning.
And although it didn’t really feel like we had much of a summer in the UK this year (don’t worry, I’ll save my gripes), I still find myself ready to embrace the comforting promise of Autumn, as always. Here’s how I’ll be doing so –
Celebrating Autumn’s bounty
While spring and summer often claim most of the praise when it comes to produce, there’s still a whole cornucopia of crops to enjoy this time of year. My beans, courgettes, peas and berry bushes may be dying down, but the trees on our allotment are coming into their own, and rosy apples and pears now crowd the heavy branches. Our figs are growing by the day, and blackberries still pepper the hedgerows with swathes of juicy, glistening berries just begging to be picked.
It’s almost a ritual for me to mark the new season with a hearty roast dinner, and with a new start ahead of me tomorrow – more on that in a mo’ – that’s exactly what I’ll be doing today. You’d better believe it’ll be followed by a bubbling apple and blackberry crumble, with lashings of custard.
Making subtle shifts
In the same way that my body clock intuitively reacts to the advent of September, there always seems to be an eagerness in me to rearrange the house a little when the seasons change. On the 1st of the month, I found myself clearing out my office, tidying some of the quilting clutter and making space for a clear mind and a new ambiance.
Today, I’ve tackled the downstairs toilet. While boring to most, living in our 1870’s rental, the bathroom-come-utilities-room is somewhere I can play. It’s small enough to make little decorative changes (that won’t take too long to reverse, should the landlord request), and small swaps like textiles or ornaments can make a big difference. Plus, it’s well and truly dahlia season now, and after a slow summer in my flower patch, I’ll be bringing great armfuls of blooms inside to brighten up every room.
Starting afresh
And as hinted at earlier, I’ve got an exciting change ahead of me as I leave the world of craft publishing (which I’ve occupied for over nine years, now) for a new job as Editor of Homes & Antiques magazine – starting tomorrow. It feels like the perfect time to dive into a new challenge, and I’m ready to spend a little while finding my feet in this new (and in some ways old) and exciting world. Although the team promise me a gentle start, I’m still prepared for a sharp inhalation of breath as I dive headfirst into the pool of the unknown.
Although it’s unlikely that most of you reading will also be gearing up for a new job, perhaps the new season is a good an opportunity as any to assess if you’re ready for a change in any areas of your life. If your body is as reactive to the seasonal shift as mine is, it won’t take you long to realise if you are…
Embrace the change, and enjoy the new season! I know I will.
Lorna x