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)?

@LouH5 no probs

I don't feel like it is autumn yet, though it is beginning to look as though it's heading that way in my garden.

When autumn does arrive, then I put all the pots and ornamental lights and other bits and pieces from the garden into the summerhouse and bring the cushions and throws in the house to be washed and put away.

I start craving pie and mash.

This has made me laugh!!!

For me I think in autumn/winter when it’s cold, we get tne blankets out and I’d cuddle up to my boyfriend for extra body heat, which feels quite snuggly.
Whereas in the summer we deffo cuddle less on the sofa as I get too hot and sweaty!

Because I spend my summers - May thru September - in shorts, linen tops and sandals. Maybe a cotton sweatshirt over the top.

As soon as the temperature drops below 14 degrees, I switch back to jeans or long skirts and t-shirts, and then gradually add layers.

Nothing I wear in summer is warm enough to wear in winter.

Noooo! I can’t guess if you’re mock horrified or serious. To you and a previous poster, yes I did mean lighter duvets

My bulbs will be a new supply of crocus, arriving early Sept. Will be nice to get them in the ground in Sept while the soil is warm and easier to work with. Naturalising them on the lawn, can't wait to see a lovely show of purples, yellows and whites in Feb/Mar.

Soon be time to pull out and compost all the annuals in the garden.
And then chop down the tomato trees plants.
Hack down beanstalks.

But also nearly time to plant bulbs ready for Spring. 🌼 🌷 🪻

I live in a really hot place (it’s been 36-41 degrees since June and will be until October) and all this talk of autumn ritual is making me feel really nostalgic!

When I was living in the UK, I loved that feeling of the nights drawing in and the weather getting colder. So cosy, and I much prefer winter clothes and winter foods! Seasonal change weekend is my favourite, cleaning and changing over the wardrobe contents, getting out my seasonal textiles and decor. I still do that, but it’s not as nice!

You've made it sound very twee - which is can be.

But I predate social media and have longed for those things since I was a child!

Nothing I wear in summer is warm enough to wear in winter.

I wore a sweatshirt & jeans yesterday, when it gets colder I will wear a coat.

@reluctantbrit

yes, I know they do. But I'd never keep the heavy curtains closed as I like the light coming in. The light ones diffuse the light if I want that at any time.

It felt very autumnal yesterday and the leaves are starting to turn and fall off the trees, I even put a jumper on yesterday.

I thought about tidying up my plants but my tomatoes have just started growing actual fruit, bit bloody late, and I want to see if they will ripen as I've had none so far this summer.

I'm already browsing winter holidays in sunny places.

Yes they've all been green mainly

I have Winter and Summer wardrobes

I love autumn. And winter. I change my clothes over - I work in central London in an un air-conditioned office, with a longish un air conditioned commute, I very definitely have different work dresses for summer! Will get my boots (many pairs) heeled.

I have the same weight (light!) duvet all year round as I like to be cool in a cold room for sleep.

Plant some winter bedding and do some tidying. Bake more. Batch cook stews, chilli and soup for the freezer.

Same, my wardrobe has all my clothes in it. I pretty much wear the same things all year round, just might wear tights and a jumper with my dress, or jumper over my t-shirt with jeans etc.

I do have some high summer clothes which are generally used for holidays with temperatures above 30; don’t get that too often in London. My “Winter” jumpers and fleeces are often needed for UK summer camping trips 😆

I'm enjoying this thread. Watching the seasons has always been something I've done but it's got a bit lost recently. Loving the suggestions.
SUmmer has been good on the whole here since end June/ beginning of July. Other than a couple of days in June/July when the sun was so intense but the wind so cold I thought that would be what summer in the very north of Scandinavia would be like!
Yesterday was the first evening I thought Autumn is coming. Garden has reached peak weeds I think (had no energy to do much about them). Clearing the garden is on the list. Finishing some indoor decorating projects too. I will look for some new autumn recipes. Plan how to to get more wear out of summery things before they go away. I need a new coat and jumpers this year. In the meantime I will rewaterproof the one I've got to last till the weather really changes and layer up for cooler days.

Still a few weeks good weather here I expect. So another weekend away to book, cooking in the garden to plan. Perhaps a day out before social occasions become indoor gigs, cosy pubs and comedy clubs rather than drinks in the garden, outdoor music events and cafe trips .

Summer truly ends here when the light duvet gets washed and away.

Already posted, but to add (as just thought if these and I'm enjoying the thread)!

I'm hoping for a little bit more summer, but in September I'm planning to read a book called Wintering, which someone recommended to me. Seems the right time of year to read it - it's been on my shelf for a while 😬

I definitely want to do some homemade things for Christmas this year too so will maybe start those and will join the threads about poncey Christmas on here too I think!

I love autumn but the later summer we've had this year means I'm not quite ready for it. I will probably wait until end of Sept before I start preparing unless the weather drastically changes between now and then.

Usually though it's things like packing away the summer clothes, making sure the garden things are tidied away neatly and fresh flowers in the pots. Autumn blankets out for the evenings etc.

Well this thread is an eyeopener. In my 50s and do none of this stuff.

I did however have a mass clear out of my wardrobes yesterday to see what I have that is actually fit to wear for autumn. The answer to that question was 'not much' but at least I have 3 black bin bags worth of clothes for charity shop, recycling and listed on Vinted and half a clue of what I actually have left that is wearable.

I usually love Autumn, but this is the first year that I feel totally unready. The summer came so late and has gone so fast. I need another month or two... and an actual break!

Nothing too radical and I do it gradually over a period of a few weeks.

Sort out all uniform. I have had to buy all new for DC1 as they are moving to secondary school but usually it's a combo of buy new stuff as needed / use things that still fit and hand me downs - DC3 is using jumpers both other DC have had!!

I will go through all the summer stuff and list / hand down / recycle anything that doesn't fit or has seen better days.

Have a reshuffle of all the clothing we are keeping so summer stuff is washed and goes into the less accessible drawers ie our "storage drawers" and the autumn stuff is moved to the main drawers / wardrobe.

Dig out the autumn coats / hoodies for cooler mornings (winter coats come out as and when needed. I usually wash them around October half term though!)

Put away summer shoes that are still okay and fit. Recyle anything damaged / past best.

I also have a mammoth clean when kids go back to school. I always have a few days off work to tackle this in early September.

Other than that I don't do anything in particular. Although I always check the heating / boiler in September.

A crisp walk is when the ground is hard and crispy with frost. The leaves are crispy with the frost. So when you walk it crunches under your feet. The air is also crisp because if it wasn't cold enough then the grass and leaves wouldn't also be crisp. I can't believe people don't get what a crisp walk is.