September marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Towards the end of the month the leaves of the deciduous trees will begin to change, cloaking nature in rich hues of golds, reds, russets and browns. Children go back to school, in our case lessons begin once again, and life returns to a humdrum of normality after the summer holidays.
All around us, nature has something to say about this month and if you do a bit of research you will find loads of interesting historical happenings in September. Keeping the season and our faith in mind, I usually go looking for some appropriate way to celebrate those important happenings in our lives. Small ways to mark the month and create memories for my family.
My Favorite Seasonal Planning Resources
Here are our families plans to celebrate September.
To Autumn
John Keats
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run.
Folklaw
- Gem: Sapphire
- Flower: Aster
- A Traditional Rhyme: Married in September’s golden glow, smooth and serene your life will go.
- Full Harvest Moon ~ 19th
Faith
(I will use this list to plan some fun activities to mark these days – baking or crafting)
- Holy Rood Day a.k.a Holy Cross Day ~ 14th
- St. Matthews Day ~ 21st
- Michaelmas ~ 29th
- Harvest Festivals
Nature
- Autumnal Equinox ~ 23rd
- Blackberrying
- Apple Picking
- Migrating Birds
- Harvest
- More visitors at the bird feeders
- Ripening sunflower heads
- Seed Collecting
- Shortening days very noticeable
- Temperatures drop
- Autumn haze evident
- Smell of woodsmoke in the air
- Leaves beginning to yellow
- Conkers
Home and Garden
- Sort out clothing cupboards – donate clothes that no longer fit (done!)
- Make a list of winter clothing needs (done!)
- Start adding autumn decorating touches to our home
- Bring out blankets ~ try to delay switch on time of the C/H
- Check C/H system
- Deep clean kitchen cupboards and begin stocking pantry
- Plan cooking days to stock up freezer and preserve garden and foraged harvest
- Plant winter veg
- Clear out summer annuals
- Plant spring bulbs
- Make sure garden furniture & BBQ is protected from coming winter weather
Arts & Crafts
- Bake a ‘Foragers’ Cake for Holy Rood/Cross Day
- Autumn Leaf Candle Jar
- Painted Fall Leaves
- Make some Crock pot Spicy Apple Butter
- Collect Pinecones for garland
- Make a Twig Votive for our nature table
- Bake Apple Bundt Cake
So there we go, this is my inspiration ‘board’ for September.
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This post makes me so excited for Autumn, I love it. I can't wait for the crunchy leaves to be on the ground, my little boy will love it, he is already picking up fallen acorns.