Autumn......

I did promise some photos of the change to Autumn in my house, and here we are ......

The lounge. See the footstool? That is MY place to sit (and fall asleep with alarming regularity), and next to it is my craft basket. Full of projects which I dream of finishing. One day. Soon.

 That TV looked so huge when it arrived, and now seems rather piddly. As in, I need glasses to see it properly. A sign of the rapidly advancing years, |I think.

 Mum has made most of the crocheted blankets. And I have just ordered another one which she is making as I speak.

 This is in the entrance hall. Well - the tiny space at the front door. A hall implies something rather grander than reality. I was just thinking that it might be fun to haul out photos of the house and post the four seasons next to each other. Hmmm.

 And into the kitchen/family room we go. The bowl on the table is full of tomatoes, and there are more in the garden ripening too. Not to mention the huge bowl I cooked yesterday which is sitting in the fridge.

 We even have autumn bowls!

 Excuse the mess, and the airers lined up there. I take them outside to dry the washing when the sun shines. A rare event. BUT clothes dry perfectly well in the wind too, and of that we have had a great deal. Behind the airers is a large box. This has been here for nearly a year. It contains the breakfast nook I am going to put where the desk is at the moment. Over there at the top of the photo above, in the distance. In the dark place with the white and orange granny blanket. I am sitting right there at the moment. It is a PENDING project. I need to get rid of the piano in the new study, then dismantle the computer and all electronic whatsits, and then take down my shelves, desk, cupboards and paint and ....... I am exhausted just thinking about it, which is why it is pending and will remain so for the foreseeable future.

And a view of the lounge from the stairs. I like this one best. It looks autumnal, doesn't it? Warm and cosy, with plenty of blankets to wrap around ourselves. Given that fuel (gas and electricity) prices have just gone through the roof here, the blankets will be very useful indeed.

I have explained the seasonal change here in my house before, I know - for me it is very simple - I have a large plastic box which is full of the autumn things including the cushion covers, and wreaths and garlands and candles, so I take off the summer cushion covers and pack away the summer flowers and bits and pieces into the big plastic box and put on the autumn ones. The blankets are in bags stored with the Big Plastic Box.  In December, we change again. But I have to admit that in December there will be considerably more than one box gracing the centre of the floor. Christmas things - I could decorate  the village. I LOVE it! Oh, and the bathrooms change too, to orange bathmats, towels etc. Soap. Nail brushes.

I have been collecting seeds from the garden for next year. It is so easy to do, and saves so much money/ I love it. There are envelopes with seeds piled up on the counter, and drying on roller towel. And I made a blackberry cake today, so the house smells great too. Not to mention that the cake is delicious, and heading straight for the hips. Tough.

I have just finished reading Radical by David Platt. I know a great many of you have read it already, but I would love to know what you thought. It blew my mind. I cannot stop thinking about it. And, even though I am not American, the pursuit of the "American Dream" is international. I just wish I could discuss it with some of you. Outstanding book. Life changing.

The rain is here, just as I was about to water the remains of my garden. It is dying rapidly. But it has been such a delight and brought me so much joy this year. And I have seeds. And next year, who knows what I will be doing................