August is a month tinged with preemptive mourning: a premature goodbye to warm days and late nights. Parting is such sweet sorrow: Summer is so wholly anticipated it is always a wrench to leave it behind and yet parts of us yearn for the drawing in of the night, for leaves bleached orange and the splash of little wellies through Autumnal puddles.
In the house we are faced with the remnants of hot days and holidays. The collation of all that we will need to re-enter real life. Rooms neglected in favor of the garden. And though the next Seasonal Scrub cannot be far away (check the September calendar me darlings!), we need a set of little treats to help us make the transition between August and (0h bliss!) September…
* Decorate a set of brown paper bags for a September packed with cheery, charming lunches.
* Mark out a date on your calendar to plan the season. Note events and celebrations on your calendar, plan new seasonal rituals and routines, create an intention board and make mission lists of all that you would like to achieve within the next three months.
* Celebrate Lammas by trying out a range of new bread recipes. Anyone for Beet bread?
* Plan a First Day Back at School breakfast party complete with streamers, muffins, juice and a teeny extra special little something for their pencil cases.
* Start auditing Summer clothes as they appear in the laundry room, tossing, recycling or giving or putting away as necessary until only the bare minimum of each family members Summer wardrobe remains in circulation.
* Stitch a set of pretty, oilcloth sandwich wraps…
* Eat a high
* Print out a Meet My Teacher sheet from At Whit’s End, and prepare to ask new form teachers to fill it out for nervous little ones…
* Print out Back to School morning routines for children to ever so slightly ease the pressure on busy September mornings…
* Clear a shelf in the pantry for your very own harvest, gathered if necessary at farmers markets and artisan food stores.
* Add a countdown to Christmas app to your phone. It helps to have a sense of urgency when it comes to seasonal celebration don’t you know?
* Use this wonderful list to plan a season full of bedtime reading with the kids.
* Start the search for a craft project that will see you through Autumn. Create a Pinterest file and fill it full of creative possibility…
* Rent the movie “Harvest” (2010), and watch it with a vast terracotta bowl of salt and vinegar popcorn.
* Capture the healing power of Summer in a jar when you buy a pot of +10UMF (the rating for therapeutic honey) Manuka honey to help you flight the flood of Autumnal colds and back to school tummy bugs.
* Bake gingerbread ladies and dress then in polka dot icing bikinis. The perfect after school treat for an Indian Summer…
* Sew autumnal printed vintage hankerchiefs on to plain aprons for a dash of old-fashioned pattern.
* Make the most of the farmers harvest by eating a vegetarian diet for at least four nights out of seven…
* Treat yourself to a new garden brush and thoroughly sweep every square foot of it. The purchase of a new stiff bristled garden brush should be a late Summer ritual for all of us.
* Make blackberry, mint and lime fruit leather…
* Start the whole family on a course of echinacea for the next eight weeks, then take two weeks off and repeat the cycle throughout Autumn into Winter to build immunity…
* Start knitting the pretty vintage equivalent of a Doctor Who style striped scarf…. knit in lengths of lace and ribbon, stitch with tiny buttons and add a crocheted fringe…
* Stitch coordinating corduroy or denim pockets on to light Summer dresses and prepare to wear them with long-sleeved vests, lace collars and tights as the weather starts to cool down…
* Follow this easy tutorial to make a lavender bottle for your bedroom…
* Set up a large wicker basket in the pantry or kitchen to fill with seasonal vegetables and inspire you to use them in as many meals as possible.
* Light a fire in the garden and sit out until the early hours with warm ginger
* Fill Summer suitcases with small camping equipment, beach accessories, towels and clothes for easy
* Make a long list of lunch box ideas in your food
* Channel your inner Victorian lady by downloading and devouring all of the Godey’s Lady’s Books you can find online. Start with this lovely September issue…
Happy Puttering Sweetie!
Other Things To Do At BrocanteHome
Browse the Bookstore
Discover a curated list of books to enhance and support life the BrocanteHome way
Life Love & Vintage Housekeeping the by BrocantePrintables on Etsy
Create your own Brocante Life Book, plan Christmas, set up routines and rituals or live life the BrocanteHome way with my guided workbooks and planners.
Take a Course
Discover mindful, meaningful days with self-led, habit-coaching courses from BrocanteHome.
The Slow Scrub Challenge at BrocanteMe 
Goal Setting for Homemakers 
Puttery Treats For Cosier Mornings… 
The Brocante Round-Up!
Welcome back, Alison….you were missed! The redecoration and new arrangements are very restful and will set off your colorful, creative writings and offerings very well. The only change I might request would be the changing of the title font that has the shadow? It is a bit like seeing double to read it.
Enjoy the rest of your August,
Lesley
Hello darling! Thank you for the feedback, I will have a fiddle with the font tomorrow.x
Welcome back, Alison….you were missed! The redecoration and new arrangements are very restful and will set off your colorful, creative writings and offerings very well. The only change I might request would be the changing of the title font that has the shadow? It is a bit like seeing double to read it.
Enjoy the rest of your August,
Lesley
Hello darling! Thank you for the feedback, I will have a fiddle with the font tomorrow.x
I would love to know the artist name of the print included at the beginning of your post. Will you share?
Hello Linda, isn’t she just lovely? The painting is by James Durden, but sadly I can’t find a title for it.x
I would love to know the artist name of the print included at the beginning of your post. Will you share?
Hello Linda, isn’t she just lovely? The painting is by James Durden, but sadly I can’t find a title for it.x
Alison, darling.
Love it. Simply love it.
Job well done.
Alison, darling.
Love it. Simply love it.
Job well done.
Love your new look! And I’m so glad you’re back. Sally
Love your new look! And I’m so glad you’re back. Sally
I love it!
I love it!
So glad to have you back! Love the new look!
So glad to have you back! Love the new look!
I love the new look! I have truly missed you! Can’t wait to try some of your luscious puttery treats… I have retired so August seems quite dreary and a little bit scary. What I need is to immerse myself in home caring. I know Finley will have a great year. How is it possible our kids have grown up so very fast? Well, just want to let you know your hard work really shows.
Oh but Gayla after August comes September and you now have the opportunity to start a whole new, new you year! New routines, new rituals: everything!And yep kids grow up horribly fast: I seem to remember you warning me years ago.x
I love the new look! I have truly missed you! Can’t wait to try some of your luscious puttery treats… I have retired so August seems quite dreary and a little bit scary. What I need is to immerse myself in home caring. I know Finley will have a great year. How is it possible our kids have grown up so very fast? Well, just want to let you know your hard work really shows.
Oh but Gayla after August comes September and you now have the opportunity to start a whole new, new you year! New routines, new rituals: everything!
And yep kids grow up horribly fast: I seem to remember you warning me years ago.x
A lovely makeover Alison and great puttery treats as usual. So many delightful suggestions in fact I may have to neglect the kids a bit whilst I work down the list… ☺
Oh I think neglecting the kids in the holidays is probably obligatory, Danielle! Enjoy.x
A lovely makeover Alison and great puttery treats as usual. So many delightful suggestions in fact I may have to neglect the kids a bit whilst I work down the list… ☺
Oh I think neglecting the kids in the holidays is probably obligatory, Danielle! Enjoy.x
Missed you loads! Kept myself going with your Pinterest boards! The new look is fab. x
Missed you loads! Kept myself going with your Pinterest boards! The new look is fab. x
Absolutely stunning site. I loved the previous one, but think these colors are even prettier. I’m a sucker for pastels, anyhow. You always make things look so pretty…and I’ll say this, you’ve saved me tonight. Have been depressed and down for ages, but looking at your pages here and photos on FB have inspired me. I’ve not puttered in AGES, and need the domestic therapy. Thanks once again for being my lifeline. 🙂
Absolutely stunning site. I loved the previous one, but think these colors are even prettier. I’m a sucker for pastels, anyhow. You always make things look so pretty…and I’ll say this, you’ve saved me tonight. Have been depressed and down for ages, but looking at your pages here and photos on FB have inspired me. I’ve not puttered in AGES, and need the domestic therapy. Thanks once again for being my lifeline. 🙂