My folklore diary says
Autumn brings closure to a busy growing year and is time for tidying up and preparing for winter. In our lives we can use this time to bring things that have reached fruition to a natural close and to make ready for what is ahead of us.
This is the September page from 'An Illustrated Country Year' by Celia Lewis
The word autumn comes from Latin autumnus and it's use dates back to the C14. In the USA it is known as fall and both autumn and fall were used in this country until the C18.
There are a few general weather sayings
September dries up wells or breaks down bridges
September rain is much liked by the farmer
It's been found to be true that there are three consecutive windy days in the middle of September which goes against the saying hoping for calm weather before the apple harvest.
September blow soft 'til the fruits in the loft
Other weather lore for September is concentrated on St Michael's Day or Michaelmas which is the 29th. I'll write about Michaelmas on the day.
My own September country days will include lots of preparing for winter. I had a note from the chimney sweep reminding me that it's a year since it was done, then the next day a note from the boiler repair company - time for that too. The septic tank needs emptying before too much winter rain and the oil tank will need topping up. I'd better get the ride-on mower serviced sometime, it's developed a squeak and rattle.............an expensive time of the year in the countryside!
Back Tomorrow
Sue
My own September country days will include lots of preparing for winter. I had a note from the chimney sweep reminding me that it's a year since it was done, then the next day a note from the boiler repair company - time for that too. The septic tank needs emptying before too much winter rain and the oil tank will need topping up. I'd better get the ride-on mower serviced sometime, it's developed a squeak and rattle.............an expensive time of the year in the countryside!
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Expensive and busy both. Hoping the mower issue isn't too serious.
ReplyDeletexx
It's still cutting OK but making some strange noises somewhere underneath, not as drastic as the time I crashed it and broke a steering arm!
DeleteNobody seems sure of the original root of the Latin word Autumnus - but it seems that the Romans might have borrowed it from an even older Etruscan term meaning "time of drying". That fits with gathering the harvest into barns etc. I like to think of these next three months as a time for gathering, preserving and preparing (both foodstuffs and Christmas things) And you are quite right to remind us that "Fall" was used in the UK for centuries. That was the word the Pilgrim Fathers took with them, and that's why its what our cousins in the USA still use today.
ReplyDeleteI like the word "fall" for autumn, wonder why it was dropped from our language.
DeleteLots of leaves falling already here as it's been so dry again
We have just ordered oil. For some reason, we had forgotten about it and are now down to the last 100 litres, oops!
ReplyDeleteI need to switch on my remote censor to see how much is left, cant leave it on all the time as it sometimes starts bleeping for no reason.
DeleteI love that September print - looks like a lino cut. We need to get out and prepare the garden now for winter, put the seats away etc if it ever stops raining here.
ReplyDeleteI think several of the pages are lino cuts and her illustrations are lovely too
DeleteA beautiful print from your book.
ReplyDeleteHope your expensive month isn't too painful.
I think I will stretch things out into October - all things that need doing so can't put them off completely
DeleteJust had the chimney re-pointed. The budget took a hit for that. HVAC (heating/air conditioning)system is 26 years old, so keeping my fingers crossed that it holds up for another year; that will be a huge expense. Temps are still in the 30s, so no taste of autumn here yet.
ReplyDeleteOur nights have suddenly become much cooler but here in the East we still have sunny days although north and north-west England have had a lot of rain
DeleteWell, with the remnants of Hurricane Dorian likely to be headed our way, it's quite likely we'll get our three consecutive windy days mid September.
ReplyDeleteHopefully it will have worn itself out crossing the Atlantic.
DeleteI love Autumn. It is one of my favourite times of year, but I don't like the thought of those dark winter days coming (not my favourite time of year!). I suppose we shall have to make the most of the warm, sunny days that are left!
ReplyDeleteI'm not looking forward to my second winter alone - but I got through last year so hope all will be OK
DeleteThanks for another informative and interesting post, Sue. I like the quote from the Folklore diary. Expensive time for you, funny how things all seem to happen at once. My stand mixer has just given up the ghost, not surprised as I have had it several years and it's had a lot of use mixing bread dough. And my washing machine is being temperamental again...sigh.
ReplyDeleteI hope I can put off the oil fill-up until October and the mower service until early next year. Just need to get organised to contact everyone
DeleteI like the way you just keep moving everything along Sue - well done and keep it up.
ReplyDeleteIt's the only way I know - I just keep keeping on
DeleteI always enjoy your first of the month posts and I usually learn a lot from them as well! I live in the middle of the country here and we usually have warm/hot weather through most of September with an occasional cooler day. I have always loved Fall and the beautiful colors it brings. We've had a lot of rain this summer so the changing leaves should be especially beautiful. Enjoy your week Sue!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely an expensive time of year if you live in the countryside. We are having to have two sides of our house re-dashed and new stone lintels and window sills installed after last years rain ingress highlighted all the problems with our old cottage.
ReplyDeleteOh and a new retaining wall built to hold back the hillside at the back of the house where the sheer weight of water in the earth is pushing out the current wooden retaining uprights ... and all so we can sell with a clear conscience!
I wondered where you were on the first with our lovely monthly information!! 🙂
Expensive, but think of the peace of mind you'll have when you have taken care of all those maintenance issues. Although I am in the US, I've always preferred autumn over fall. Thanks for the language lesson, I am always intrigued by the history of words.
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