Wonderful Wednesday #132

Is August still summer? And some small joys from a fast-feeling week.

Prettier dried…? Could be.

Is August still summer…? I write that here and feel it in my bones that, yes, yes it surely is. Even if this summer has felt long and relentless at times, for me autumn can only really begin in September: That undeniable ‘new shoes/back to school, college, university’ feeling is impossible to escape even when you are forty-something and not participating in any of those things.

Not that I couldn’t of course. I’ll test you to find anyone not swept along by the lure of a new blank page or a freshly-shined shoe and, even if I need none of those things you can bet that some sort of small newness will creep into my periphery somewhere by way of celebration. A little thing to mark the occasion, fasten together those well worn and loved and cherished autumnal pieces i reshuffle or find new ways to wear each year or and a simple way to herald the beginning of a new chapter.

I think that September is my January you know.

A lucky capture.

But August it is, and autumn it is not. Not yet at least. I’m sorry for wishing away a handful of weeks. It feels a far less summery August already because there has been so much more warmth and light and sun for the most consistent time since I can remember. I’m still complaining writing about it because this extra warmth has created a funny illusion: A strange sort of seasonal muddle that has left me thinking that the year is further along than it actually is. Maybe in the same way that seeing Cadbury’s Creme Eggs in January does.

The light is shifting though: The littlest nudge each night, amplified just that bit more when there’s a little too much cloud for the sun to push through. The battle has begun but I’ve been grateful for it though. It’s rendered those nights accidentally much cooler and I always sleep much better once the temperature drops and I can be cool and not cold.

Light chasing….

We woke up to the sound of rain this morning (Tuesday). Just a little patter but, the most that there’s been in the longest time. The thick canopy of rain clouds kept away any sun—which waking up to has become less of a novelty now— and the bedroom was blanketed in an unusual grey. I was confused and had to check that my alarm somehow wasn’t waking me up earlier than it should have been. It has been so long since I have woken up to so much darkness. It was as if I’d slept for longer than one night and woken in a different season to the one I had fallen asleep in.

Treasuring stillness.

But I’m happy to ‘summer’ for a little longer. Maybe it’s because i know we’re nearing it’s end maybe because (and I write so often about this) my love of the little spot in between each season is unwavering. Where one is not quite another and there’s time to anticipate and look forward to what will come next: Sweet nudges of what’s to come on odd days but still, there are days that feel undeniably summer and not autumn. It’s a seasonal tug of war between what’s gone and what’s still to come. There is still warmth to be had but, like Spring warmth it’s less intense and pushy, softer somehow. I’ll let it be and try not to fight what the world infront of me is offering up knowing that all too soon I’ll be cold-cold and this feeling will be a distant memory all over again.

As always there is lots to remember and bright pockets in amongst darker days. Here are a few small joyful bits from lately:

The light is changing.

1 A new recipe. Isn't it easy to fall into familiar habits and rotate and repeat easy dishes? They’re comforting, reliable and quick mostly. But I find that by trying my best to cook along with the seasons a little more, I’ll be far more likely to change things up a little. We recently made a really lovely fish dish: A baked cod marinated in a zesty, lemon-y, garlic-full herby dressing and roasted alongside fennel and onions. Served on top of some warm grains and with chopped parsley. Light and lovely and would be so nice with sea bass, salmon or another white fish.

2 Sleeping more. Sort of accidentally and, I already think i sleep enough but, this nudge extra has made everything instantly better. So i’m sticking to it. Sleep really is magic and good for so, so many things.

3 Cool mornings. Whilst I have written and complained a little about the relentlessness of the warmth I have enjoyed that the extra light in summer has afforded me a whole hour pup walk before work. That hour of time stomping through the fields filled with wild flowers, hares, endless grass and tree canopy has been game-changing. I know it’s only thing I’ll miss once the light fades. So I’m lingering in this sweet in between: These cooler starts with just enough light left in them before there suddenly isn’t anymore and it feels as if I’m patiently waiting for the there to be enough light in the sky to walk the pup in the woods.

4 Raspberries and cherries. Before autumn snatches those and we swap them for brambles and sloes and gooseberries. Until then I’m freezing all I can and eating them like sweets!

5 Golden light. I’ll save you an essay for another day when there is more of it to celebrate but, those little nudges: First and last thing when the light is low and begins to catch on the crisping, curling, goldening landscape is just magic. It really is.

What small joys, nearly forgotten moments and lovely things are brightening your days and that you’re most grateful for? I’d so love for you to share.

How many times do i capture this view…? I love the light in here.