The Joys of September

A beautiful book, so perfect for the season.

There are pages on crafting

and delicious recipes.

Most of all this book is full of wonderful art

designed by artist and writer

Susan Branch.

This is just the best time of the year for walks

and when I walk far enough away from my neighbourhood

I can escape the roads with traffic

and seek out little paths of greenery.

Following the sunlit railings and sundrenched grass

and hearing the scrunch of the gravel beneath my sneakers.

I do love to see the sun shining through the trees

and those first leaves turning to copper

A soft focus on dreamy leaves

just to set the mood of the moment

and something a little colourful along the way

The roses are still blooming

Aren't they wonderful?

But now it's time to go home to tea...

I baked a Peach Galette

with homemade shortcrust pastry.

It's very melt-in-the mouth

and a little tricky to get it neat looking

so I've gone for the casual homemade look!

You're invited too!

I've put two plates on the table outside

At a glance, I can get eight slices out of this galette

So don't be shy!

Here's your slice

with a blob of sour cream!

Happy September!

Colour Therapy

Tender and blue with a hint of pink

Tiny budlets surrounded by a crown of flowers

A name: Lacecap 

A touch of delicate lilac

Are you as charmed as I am by tones that nourish your soul?

The centre buds opens to reveal a tiny bright blue flower

See the centre budlets opening and how the outer flowers go from

pale green to yellow and then gradually pink and blue and lilac.

They dance within the frame

I think they they're humming a tune, don't you?

What more?

Yes!

With more intensity

I can almost feel them breathe

as I capture their beauty.

The same plant and so many patterns and different hues

One last look before you go.

This is pure colour therapy.

Late Summer: a short story

She lifted her face to the sky

and felt the sweetness of an early September breeze upon her face.

At last!

The summer had been relentlessly hot and humid

it had not been easy living in the town.

Luckily, she had her balcony

and she filled it with flowers and herbs to harvest for the winter months.

There were orange and pink geraniums

Purple and yellow little beauties that had flowered the whole of the summer

and red blooms which draped themselves gracefully over the garden table

Begonias

Yellow marigolds in pots

and many more.

Her plants made her happy and she put them everywhere

creating the feeling of a real garden.

Sitting outside in the very early mornings was the best moment of the day

waiting for the sun to come over the hill

and create dancing shadows and

seeing the blue sky reflected on the smooth surface of the table.

Sometimes,

when the timing was right,

she caught the reflection of a sunset in the windows of the building opposite.

She felt happy

and she remembered:

'Happiness is a state of being.

It's feeling one with life as it is now.'

She felt herself smile

and the smile seemed to radiate all through her body

and out into the world

creating connection.

This is what summer is all about!