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 pack away several pairs of Wool trousers/thicker trousers. Down jackets and wool coats that take a lot of space. I have some cashmere sweaters that I fold and store to keep in good condition. Winter boots go into a container in a hallway cupboard so that my shoe cupboards just have summer sandals and trainers.
I only have one pair of thicker trousers that I wouldn't wear when it's warm. And one pair of lightweight ones that are too light for winter. Otherwise just a couple of pairs of jeans and shorts then otherwise dresses which are for year round, just with or without tights and with or without a jumper on top.

Never know when you're going to need a jumper. Only two of those are really thicker enough to only be worn when it is cold. I couldn't be arsed having so many different versions of the same thing that I'd need to pack some away every few months.

Backfired a tad when the zip on my one pair of boots broke as I left for work the other day. Spent the day with one of them unzipped. Boss found it hilarious I only have one pair of boots but I can't be doing with more than one pair of each type of footwear.

I always LOL at the 'cosy Autumn/Winter days' type comments! 😆 'Oooh, skipping through Autumn leaves, chilly dark nights, frosty mornings, 'crisp' walks (WTF is a CRISP WALK?!) cocoa, hot chocolate, snuggles on the sofa, big fluffy socks, big warm slankets, pumpkin spice latte - cosy cosy cosy!'

Nah, gimme the lovely long summer days, hot weather, lovely flowers, beach days, countryside walks, picnics by the lake, ice cream trucks coming round, trees brimming with leaves, evening walks during sunset, and the ability to dry the washing outside any day.

Winter is just grim! I HATE it. I count the days to Spring once October has gone. I can just about stand Autumn as there are some very pretty sights around, but once the end of October is here, I just wish for Spring. I'm not even fussed about Christmas really. I used to love Christmas - as a child - and a young adult, (and also when my kids were young/at home.) But since my kids grew up and flew the nest, I can take it or leave it.

As some posters have said, it's still summer and more lovely weather is on the way. Let's not talk about winter!!!

Heavy curtains also keep the heat out. I always close curtains on warm days to keep the rooms cool. A thin curtain would be of no use for me at all apart from looking cute between April - May and September - October.

I can honestly only think of about maybe 15 days where it's been what I call nicely warm and sunny - although we were in Greece 15th to26th July- so if it was nice then- we missed it!! Rest of the time a lot of 19 degree and overcast or started off nice and then 3 hours of rain- obviously very varied in UK this summer

These all sound lovely. We live in Italy though and summer will probably continue for another two full months 😱 Wish it didn’t though as I much prefer Autumn.

September is normally pretty warm still & October can be sunny too so for me snuggling on the sofa is a tad premature!

Regarding winter, autumn, spring, summer clothes. I don’t wear long sleeves very often as I don’t feel the cold. In summer I have a lot of brightly coloured tops and tees. Many of these get packed away from autumn onwards as the necklines and styles don’t work as well with cardigans and blazers. I don’t start wearing socks or tights until I absolutely have to. I carry on with ankle grazer trousers and loafers into October if I can. Once it’s winter, I do love a jumper though.

The clocks changing doesn’t bother me. I’m very much not a fan of very long days.

I always LOL at the 'cosy Autumn/Winter days' type comments! 😆 'Oooh, skipping through Autumn leaves, chilly dark nights, frosty mornings, 'crisp' walks (WTF is a CRISP WALK?!) cocoa, hot chocolate, snuggles on the sofa, big fluffy socks, big warm slankets, pumpkin spice latte - cosy cosy cosy!'

It’s just social media trite.

I think it might depend on where you live. Very humid here in East Anglia when it’s hot, once autumn kicks in the air feels a lot better

You throw away unused/unfinished toiletries because they have summery scents? 😳

☀️
https://youtube.com/shorts/z99-UXgRoBk?si=tF1gWFmfuJq2mg1K

Yep! Sure is! (I see it on here too.)

My spring, summer and autumn/winter clothes are so different, totally separate wardrobes!

I find I always feel freezing in winter and am very hot in summer. Even on summer days where it’s not an absolute scorcher I still get very warm.

So summer wardrobe is filled with strappy dresses, light jumpsuits and play suits, strappy vest tops, loose cotton trousers, and light blue jeans for summer evenings.

Spring clothes tend to be more t shirt midi dresses to wear with bare legs and trainers, leggings and smock type t shirt tops, jeans and vest tops/t shirts.

Then autumn/winter again is totally different. Darker jeans, turtle neck jumpers under pinafores, tartan trousers, chunky knitted jumpers, pencil skirts and tights, leggings and boots with knitted dresses etc etc.

I love autumn too 🍂

My social end of summer ritual is, my friends and I always gather for a big bbq the weekend before august bank hol weekend, as we found that august bank hol weather has usually already started to turn, whereas usually the week before (so around 17th Aug as it was this year!) it’s usually still quite nice then. So we have a big bbq and sit outside until it goes dark, and it’s lovely just being together, looking around at everyone’s tanned faces as it goes dark, reflecting on what a lovely summer it’s been.

In terms of housey things, nothing major other than bring the outside rug and
cushions in, clean them and put them away erc. Get the slow cooker out and start looking at autumnal recipes and getting ideas for new things to cook.

But my big one, my simple pleasure, is the candles! I am a huge fan of seasonal candles and wax melts. So currently the summer scents that I have out (rhubarb & rose, mint mojito, tomato leaf, geranium & basil, blush beaches etc etc) are going to be replaced (once they’ve run out!) with all my autumnal scents (pumpkin spice, maple & bourbon, apple cider, pumpkin pie etc) which I’ve already been to TK Maxx to buy, I love stocking up on new ones! This candle change usually happens the first weekend of September,
alongside my autumn wreath coming out. I love it!

This evening I've put on my 'autumn PJs' (not white as thick as my fleecy winter ones but warmer than my cotton summer ones). I've already swapped to my autumn duvet.

But looking at the forecast, the first week in September is looking good so I may yet swap back again.

We always have a week away once kids back at school , this time next week we will be in a lovely cottage in NYorks with fire on and tired after a day out walking with the dog - always have lovely weather for at least half of the trip and my favourite we get to look for conkers and pick blackberries

We always have a week away once kids back at school , this time next week we will be in a lovely cottage in NYorks with fire on and tired after a day out walking with the dog - always have lovely weather for at least half of the trip and my favourite we get to look for conkers and pick blackberries

Why would you have the fire on?!

I think it might depend on where you live. Very humid here in East Anglia when it’s hot, once autumn kicks in the air feels a lot better

Im a Londoner. I do like autumn, however I don’t start wearing thick jumpers & tights, drinking hot chocolate & snuggling under a blanket just because it’s the 27th of August …

I might be wrong but I think the person you’re quoting here was responding to you asking “what is crisp air?”
I get what they’re saying, crisp air is just that fresher, cooler air, I definitely experience this in the autumn, it’s lovely!

@LouH5 I never asked what crisp air is though?

It's August.

Apologies, I just re read! You asked about a crisp walk, and I think they were just trying to explain that means you go for a walk when the air is crisp 🤣🤷🏻‍♀️ I guess a “crisp walk” is similar to saying a “summers walk.” The walk itself isn’t “summer” but the weather is!

@LouH5 nope, didn’t ask that either. I quoted a poster who asked about it & said it was all trite 🤷🏻‍♀️

I see, Im relatively new and the layout confuses me, it looked like you had said it, not quoted it… but it’s starting to make sense to me now 🤣

The snuggling on the sofa amuses me. So in summer you have to sit bolt upright but as soon as autumn comes you’re allowed to curl up? 😂