Sweet September

Sweet September, golden sky, the acorns falling on to the ground, fresh winds, cooler mornings; a lovely warmth inside my heart when I see all the leaves turning yellow, red and brown...


Autumn gardens, Apple trees, Pears and Plums, Grapes and Squashes...crumbles baking, sweet smelling home!


Grinding Flour, making dough, baking Bread, cooking Soup...The Harvest Time is a Happy Time.


Autumn in my Heart


listen and watch this video


played often in Asia for the Harvest Moon Festival
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4ZDFwFxchQ&feature=related










meanwhile out and about: went to see the exhibition of MIRO' at the Tate Modern- wow- that was impressive! 


Had a lovely day in London with my friend Chrissie! xxx

We went early evening at around 6 pm

There is always something cute in Miro's drawings and paintings,
a unique style! Always been one of my favourite Artists since I was very young!

it is nice to read the info, with background and descriptions and interpretations of Miro' spaintings but to be honest it was just nice to walk and look and sit and contemplate and it was relaxing...my friend and I don't intellectualize art if possible for full enjoyment of forms and colours....we simply breath in the paintings and breathe out an instinctive reaction such as like or dislike!

The book and gift shop at the Tate is always fun!

Putting a smile on my friend's face!

we went to have a look from the balcony, the sunset sky looking at St Paul's...

Sunset and Dusk, my favourite time in London




which reminds me of a snap I took the week before at around the same time in Blackheath, this is St Michael and all Archangels in Pond Road/Blackheath Park road

Clear and bright, golden, or pink; open and dramatic sky, this is the changeable September Sky

last days of August: the shift...

the longer shadows... early September

The threatening clouds

the playful lights...

September winds...clouds looking more nasty now...

all this sky is mine, mine mine, on the heath, Blackheath ( Autumn 2010)

I think this was already October!

Greenwich park early October 2010






so now it's time to go and see what it looks right now and update and compare!




more of this soon!




xxx
Susannah

Oxleas Woods

Outdoor sessions in Oxleas Woods starting this Friday 16th as usual from 10 to 12 
looking forward to seeing you there and share the magic of the woods!


Susannah

Sleep

Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of care
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast.
~William Shakespeare, Macbeth







On a full Moon night, happy dreaming to all!


x Susannah

Autumn Mandalas

I am excited! I have found this lovely craft activity so suitable for my outdoor parent and child group!
this is the link, go there and see for yourself!




I have added this blog as one of my favourites!


http://www.childinharmony.com/2010/11/mandalas-of-autumn.html






the fact is I am not sure what frosted contact paper is called in UK English ( the same or different)? Any American/English people who could help out there?

Blossoming Together

Blossoming Together is finally open- today!


We are going there today, Saturday 10th


I am so happy for Cinzia, we have all been waiting for the perfect cafe to take children, for a creative and claming space, for a homely, friendly and relaxing place, for a cafe where food quality and taste is high priority.


It is all happening, finally, for my friend who has been dreaming about it, then created the idea and working really hard on this project! Now it's real!
Good luck!


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blossoming-Together/223953090985726


for info and location


http://blossomingtogether.com/

September Moods

September moods


There is something about September...
it feels a bit like overflow of water, running from a tap that hasn't been switched off...
New beginnings. Abundance in nature, plenty around and everywhere... and a feeling of richness...






In life, well, my life, at the moment, so much going on, lots of new things starting, starting off from a few things ending...











This month is the Harvest Moon month, or the • Full Corn Moon; This full moon’s name is attributed to Native Americans because it marked when corn was supposed to be harvested.

Harvest Moon is the name of the Full Moon nearest the Autumn Equinox.

Here are some facts about the Moon at this time of the year, taken from a website.

http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/harvest-moon-2





Everything you need to know: Autumnal equinox of 2011

It’s more than just a connection to the season of harvest. In fact, nature is particularly cooperative around the time of the autumn equinox to make the Harvest Moon unique.

Here’s what happens. On average, the moon rises about 50 minutes later each day. But when a full moon happens close to the autumnal equinox, the moon (at mid-temperate latitudes) rises only about 30 minutes later daily for several days before and after the full Harvest moon. Why? The reason is that the ecliptic – or path of the sun, moon and planets – makes a narrow angle with the evening horizon around the time of the autumn equinox. The narrow angle of the ecliptic results in a shorter-than-usual rising time between successive moonrises around the full Harvest Moon.

These early evening moonrises are what make every Harvest Moon special. Every full moon rises around sunset. After the full Harvest Moon, you’ll see the moon ascending in the east relatively soon after sunset for several days in a row. The lag time between successive moonrises shrinks to a yearly minimum, as described in the paragraph above. Because of this, it seems as if there are several full moons – for several nights in a row – around the time of the Harvest Moon.

Want to know the time of moonrise in your location? My favorite source of that information is this Custom Sunrise Sunset Calendar. Once you get to that page, be sure to click the box for ‘moon phases’ and ‘moonrise and moonset times.’

Is the Harvest Moon bigger, or brighter or more colorful?

Not necessarily, but the actual size of the Harvest Moon depends on the year. The Harvest Moon has the reputation of being especially big and bright and orange. But it isn’t really the Harvest Moon’s size or brightness that distinguishes it from other full moons. In fact, this year’s Harvest Moon counts as one of the smaller full moons of 2011.

Still, you might think otherwise. That’s because the Harvest Moon has such a powerful mystique. Many people look for it shortly after sunset around the time of full moon. After sunset around any full moon, the moon will always be near the horizon – it’ll just have risen. It’s the location of the moon near the horizon that causes the Harvest Moon – or any full moon – to look big and orange in color.

The orange color of a moon near the horizon is a true physical effect. It stems from the fact that – when you look toward the horizon – you are looking through a greater thickness of Earth’s atmosphere than when you gaze up and overhead. The atmosphere scatters blue light – that’s why the sky looks blue. The greater thickness of atmosphere in the direction of a horizon scatters blue light most effectively, but it lets red light pass through to your eyes. So a moon near the horizon takes on a yellow or orange or reddish hue.

from

http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/harvest-moon-2

http://earthsky.org/tonight/what-is-a-harvest-moon

The mood changes with the weather and the days drawing in, warmer clothes and rugs and blankets and new throws and 
cushions...a sort of Autumn cleaning- similar to a Spring cleaning




I feel the connection with nature quite deeply and I am happy to see green spaces and gardens each day and notice the subtle changes...

Trying to bring the mood from outside indoors

Our old house in September 2006 

Watching the clouds approaching in Manor House Park

Flowers in Kensington gardens

A nice memory from last September...in fact I am planning to go there next weekend, weather permitting...

I start collecting acorns and leaves, cones and chestnuts, which have started to fall already!

At this time of the year I change the mood of my home: I like to use more pinks and oranges and golden yellows /mustard colours

My new throw from the Indian shop in Greenwich market!

Autumn activity

this is from my favourite blog

RHYTHM OF THE HOME 

Nature Collage Frame

Autumn is a time of drawing in, the tipping point in the balance between the bounty of the harvest and the quiet of winter to come. We are often pulled out of doors this time of year, into the mellowing light and crisp air, out among the vibrant last stand of growing things before they are tucked away for winter’s slumber.

In our wanderings, little hands gather the last bits of bright colors, carrying their treasures home in russet and golden bouquets. The lovely leaves and flowers are delicate and can crumble when left to dry on a nature or bedside table. In creating this simple nature collage, we can preserve these pieces of the season’s color, holding them as a reminder of the flourish of light and beauty autumn brings and honoring the changing of the seasons.
 Materials
Grapevines, wood or thick sticks for the frame
Thin yarn, hemp cord, or cotton string
Collected leaves and flowers

To create this collage, you will first need a frame. This can be constructed in a variety of sizes out of wood, grapevines woven into a wreath, or lengths of sticks with or without their bark. Creating the frames can be an enjoyable task for children, whether it is through nailing wood together, weaving the vines or whittling the sticks smooth.

Once you have constructed the frame, use your yarn, cord or string to create a web across the open center of the frame. Begin by tying the yarn to one side of the frame and wrapping it across the opposite side.

Continue carrying the string back and forth across the frame, wrapping at each edge, creating spaces between the strands where leaves and flowers can easily be tucked in.

The yarn can be arranged at varying angles or as symmetrically as you’d like. When you have wrapped the yarn as many times as you desire, securely tie off the end and trim any excess.

Your nature collage frame is ready to hold the season’s gatherings. Hung at the door to receive new additions or placed on a wall to bring a bit of autumn hue to a room, your frame will keep the colors and memories of autumn safely preserved.

::::::::::::

Amanda Greco Holmes is a mama to three home-learning, nature-loving babes. She works as a doula and parenting instructor and fills what little bits of time she can grab in between with creating, gardening and cooking. You can visit her blog for more crafts, recipes and inspiration.

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