I'm not saying summer has been and gone just yet - at least I have high hopes for another fortnight of an Indian Summer, but for the purpose of attempting to keep some sort of rhythm with seasonal wishlists it would help to recap what's been happening over the last three months.
Back in June I made some framework of plans:

• Festival to our hearts' content - done! Latitude was another triumph and a local day out was lovely.
• Go to the beach - yes, we managed it the once for an afternoon of reading on a gritty beach towel, uncomfortably sunblocked up, fending of sand beasties.
• Harvest allotment produce when it's ready - it's been plentiful!
• Eat an ice cream - I had one in May, I hope that will count. I did really want another but the opportunities never quite presented themselves.
• Get myself back on track with a balanced lifestyle mindset - overall yes. Still, I feel like once the dark evenings set it it's less of a tussle for time as we can't be outdoors anyway.
• Write letters to whom they are owed - Fail! I feel like a dreadful penpal. I really do want to sort these out asap but with quality letters and not a hastily scratched botch.

• Forage more! We have outdone ourselves this year and I want to write more about what's been happening.
• Pick flowers from the cutting patch and display in vases - Virtually none. I just haven't felt like picking any, my heart's not been in it.
• Keep the allotment, flower patch and garden tidy - On the whole, I'm pleased with how this has gone. It's been much better than it could have been though I would obviously like it closer to 'perfect' than it has got at any stage.
• Keep tending the wildflower patch - Well, yes and this has been reluctantly. I'll have to write about how it's gone this year. (Note the past tense).

Well, if I haven't fallen back into the habit of abstaining from the blog again....
I would apologise for my absence if I was sorry, but I'm not so I shan't. So there.

It's high time I recapped on how spring went and laid out plans for the rest of summer, better late than never!

Back in mid March my to do list went something like this:

Visit the bluebells. Here there and everywhere (or at least somewhere) - yes! It was Wayland wood, Foxley wood and scraps of places we spotted bluebells. And for the first time smelled them.

Scuff the wildflower patch and sow the seeds - Indeed, this was done. Another arduous process and I'll be writing about this again soon.

Forage elderflowers and make cordial and gin - Yes the cordial, C did much of the foraging very close by. As well as cordial we made elderflower jelly and champagne. More to come on this.

Harvest rhubarb and make copious crumble and gin - Harvesting went well. I can't recall whether I did make crumble or just ate the 'barb without. I knocked up a batch of rhubarb and ginger jam and a new recipe of rhubarb and vanilla jam as well as one other interesting make.

Sow all the seeds and tend the flower plot, main allotment and the garden - Of course and this has taken up all my 'spare' time. But it's mostly been worth it.

Uncover the bench, eat outside - Bench is used for bbq nights and the odd hot afternoon. I envisaged getting the table out to facilitate dining al fresco but keep forgetting.

Take a holiday - Taken

Get a haircut and ideally embark on a treatment regime - Dream on Soph, this was never going to happen.

Swap my wardrobe around and get rid of things which don't fit and search out things that do - Well I had a go.

Not buy any more books and instead just read plenty I own, thus making some space on the bookshelf  - When your to-read list is a bookshelf, stack under, on top of and a pile beside it too it's going to take a lot of reading to 'make space'. I've been reading some fantastic books lately though.

Visit spring gardens and get envious - Yes and it's been fantastic although it seems photography is frowned upon so I didn't take my camera.

Start journaling my growing this year. I need notes to reference! - Another fail. I simply cannot be bothered which is an awful thing to say but it's true.

Foraging - we picked wild garlic and made a garlicky mashed potato and just wilted it as spinach. Much foraging has been happening and I want to write more about this soon.

Spy what goes on in the natural world - Always

It's mid March more-or-less which leads me to believe I'm at liberty to look ahead and make plans for the coming season. Spring is getting underway and makes me feel super happy! Can you hear my enthusiasm? What a joyful time of year. Here's the list of plans and wishes for this year:

To do

Already underway

One deer, two deer, running deer.

Galloping off.




What do you have planned for spring?
Take care,
Sophie

Winter plans?

As Autumn draws to a firm close it's high time to look back on what goodness the season held. Back in October I shared a wishlist of things that I'd hope to achieve by the end of the year. Let's see how I did.

• Make elderberry syrup - yes and it has been a taste revelation, delicious!
• Make rosehip syrup - yes, it's been lovely
• Capture all the sights to share - I've had a go but to be honest the coverage hasn't been up to scratch. A significant lapse in blogging has not helped.
• Make allotment produce soups for midweek lunches - I've made plenty! The roasted butternut squash with buttery onions and coconut milk was a triumph and will be repeated.
• Sort out the wardrobe for the colder weather and get rid of the things I won't wear - yes, but that hasn't applied to all the other clothes that lurk in the spare room 
• Read books if there's nothing on TV I'm dying to watch - Once or twice but opting for an early night has featured heavily.
• Dismantle spent summer plants at the allotment - it's been attended to pretty well
• Plan and execute thoughtful Christmas gifts - Planning was left a little late, though the execution took far less time than expected so this went very well. I hope they are a success with recipients.
• Carve a pumpkin for halloween - no and I think it's wasteful so I've no idea why I put this on the list.
• Forage sweet chestnuts - we got quite a nice haul and they were lovely. Had to resort to supermarket since though as the ones off the market were dreadful - so old and dry. What a swizz.
• Harvest allotment apples and remaining pears - yes
• Create new allotment flower plot - yes! This was exciting and I'll write about this soon.
• Plant up pots for winter colour and spring bulbs - they have been establishing well. Little violas on top with a bulb lasagne underneath. 
• Tidy and clean out greenhouse - it's not finished quite yet...
• I'd like to read my 'Autumn' book that I've not picked up yet - gah! Not once.
• Plan the allotment layouts for 2019 - no. Something for the winter then!
• Cut the wildflower patch and re-spray the new extension - We cut it but have suffered a setback. 
• I haven't penned a letter for at least a year and I would like to get back to writing - I sent Christmas letters to two of C's aunts. Aren't I thoughtful?

Bit of a melancholy post yesterday. It felt like a rather gloomy day and greyness spilled out everywhere.



Above, sloes taunting. Below, look at those berries (no doubt poisonous).

Amazing Christmas jumper it looks like was knitted on a machine. It's so warm and tricky to get into. Requires a wool wash and everything.


For no apparent reason I tend to forget that the run-up to Christmas is in Autumn. I also made a wreath that exceeded expectations, watched plenty of Christmas films and made plenty of Christmas decorations, made sloe gins, tended family obligations and overall it's been a jam-packed few months. The winter plans ought to be made soon but in the meantime I'll say happy Winter Solstice, the days' light will lengthen from hereon in but there are meteor showers tonight so if the sky's clear take a look if you can.
Take care,
Sophie

Already done

• Make elderberry syrup
• Make rosehip syrup

 Ongoing

 To do

Have I missed anything important?
Take care,
Sophie