End of summer rituals

[CostaDelOrchard]

It’s been a bit nippy today so got me thinking I should probably wash the summer bedding before the weather changes, also been eating in the garden most evenings (same reason), I should probably pencil in the seaside trip we’ve postponed the whole summer.

Does anyone have any other suggestions or rituals to wind down to autumn (like the opposite of spring cleaning? I suppose wiping down the garden furniture and putting it away should be on the list)?

I guess getting your autumn and winter clothes out and seeing what needs mending etc, before you put the summer stuff away.

Personally for me it means making sure there is some fun stuff in the diary especially around the HORROR that is the clocks going back.

Booking something for New Year.

Also any major sorting and decluttering - I find that much harder to do on evenings with no natural light.

I get all my winter clothes and bedding out and put them through the wash , the dogs costs n jumpers aswell , then put away .

I'm a Molton Brown fan so buy new shower gel , body lotion and hand wash in a warming comforting scent for autumn / winter and chuck out left over summer scented products.

I redo my garden pots / containers with winter flowers and clip / tidy the whole garden , trim back any overhanging branches from trees . Check the fencing so it can withstand winter storms . Likewise clean gutters .

The car gets a winter service .

I make the most of sitting on the veranda for early morning coffee .

Anything I've forgotten about I do as and when I need to .

You've just reminded me to bring the washing I.

Why do you chuck out unfinished stuff. Could you not use it up or save it for next year

I'm always bemused by how much stuff people have that is winter specific that it constitutes an entire wardrobe that is packed away for a few weeks every year.

My winter clothing consists of some slightly thicker jumpers and a few more pairs of tights. What are all the extra bits of clothing people have?

Just been doing last minute school uniform shopping today (left shoes until this week as feet keep sneaking in a growth spurt!). And thought today - must waterproof the winter coats that need it! So that's on my list for this week. Will change to winter duvets when a bit colder- hoping for a few more weeks before have to swop. And need to wash the fleeces....
Also bought some more thermal socks for me today, and have my eye on a new scandi duvet set.....also got a new "winter" candle today in white company -20% off so rude not too!
Probably need to encourage eating up the ice creams to make freezer space too!

I cleared out a load of old clothes today

This is my absolutely favourite time of the year!

It's my birthday week, mornings and evenings are drawing in, I can light candles and smelly things, I can curl into a cardigan, the blinds are pulled down early, so it's really cosy.

I can watch the bats at dawn and dusk and keep normal awake hours, the change of colours on the trees is stunning. It's a bit fresher and crisper out.

It's the start of nature snuggling in, tucking up, getting ready to go WOW in the spring.

Somehow, the pressure is taken away.

Autumn is the best season.

I have lightweight trousers and heavyweight ones.
I have summer tops, spring/autumn tops, and winter tops with some thermal lining.
I have sandals for May-September and other shoes for Oxtober-April.

So it us more like a 5 month / 7 month split for me, not just a few weeks.

I have all of those things too! But not in any quantities that they don't all just fit in my wardrobe and drawers year round. Maybe people have 5 of every pair of trousers I do or something.

We didn't have a summer

I'm in denial and shall string out the summer for as long as possible!

Booking the chimney sweep, ordering logs and getting the oil tank filled. None of which will happen until after my summer holiday which won't start until the schools go back.

We did in Hampshire. Lovely and hot several times.

I try and find all the spots the rats and mice get into the house and vermin proof, before they eat any more of our pipes! (thatched house)

I'm going to get my coats dry cleaned. I adore September and October too.

Eeek thanks for the reminder on the chimney sweep!

CostaDelOrchard
Where are you living, in the UK?

We have eaten in the garden about 5 times this summer! It’s been raining and the wind has been too cold most of the time.

I can’t believe I have to start thinking about preparing for autumn already…
🍄🍂🍁🍂🍄

@hattie43

Do you really throw out 'summer' scented toiletries? What a waste.

Maybe this year you could change this ritual and find a donation point for partly used cosmetics and toiletries that are offered to women in refuges.

I don't really do anything apart from taking the cushions in from the garden furniture,but It's nowhere near time to do that yet. I might plant a few bulbs and that's about it.

I will buy it! You’ve just completely sold autumn to me 😁

I’m in London so barring the downpour yesterday, it’s been consistently ok

Outdoors, I cut back plants in the garden, put in some bulbs.

Indoors, I sometimes buy a new candle and a new hot chocolate flavour for the velvetiser.

Trying hard not to admit defeat with the summer, but it's very tempting. Next week I'm relying on a reasonable bit of sunshine/23C temps - and low winds to make our outdoor jobs more pleasant. The wind has been as cold as November the last 2 days. After next week I think that's it, summer is over.

Once our village Flower and Produce Show has happened in early Sept I may wait a week or so and dig up and store my dahlia, which is about 4 weeks earlier than normal, but I think by then I'll have had enough of such a disappointing summer and just want to put everything away and start afresh next Spring.

I don't do anything in particular with my clothes. I don't have a summer and winter wardrobe apart from a few thicker cardi's and trousers. I wear thick tights with skirts and dresses, so that's an easy switch. One thing I do enjoy is bringing my winter lounge suits aka pjs to the front of the shelving in my wardrobe so they are ready for the chillier evenings.

That’s interesting, what do you plant? (Grabbing these life tips with both hands)

Daffodils mostly.

Get your big coat dry cleaned over the next couple of weeks.

if you have one that can be machine washed, do it this week so you can get it dry on the line rather than tumble drying.

do your winter boots need a new heel/sole? Pop them into the cobblers.