Auntie Mim's vintage week

He's quiet. That's a good start.
I'm an auntie! My nephew Harry has arrived two weeks early. That's probably a good job as he's a hefty little monster already, and I don't expect his mum would've wanted to have an even bigger baby. I've ordered him a red cuddly dinosaur from the Natural History Museum webshop. It's washable, which will definitely be a good thing. If they're still running Dinosnores at the Natural History Museum when he's old enough to go, I'd love to take him to that. Papa Robot and I are conspiring to make sure he has plenty of steam trains and dinosaurs in his upbringing. (We'd have been exactly the same if my brother's child had been a girl. Steam trains and dinosaurs are cool.)

I am conceding that autumn is upon us – as a spring person, I'm not appreciating how dark and damp everything has become all of a sudden – and have got my woolly skirts and thick tights out again. For the past few years I've enjoyed being able to bring out the autumn clothes, they've been something of a consolation for the change of seasons, but things really aren't fitting right and so they're making me even glummer.

Two day's lunches there. I love apples for lunch.
One good thing about autumn: it is apple season. I know you can get apples all year round – I eat apples all year round – but this is the time of year when some of my favourite varieties are available. Discovery, an early variety, are now in the shops here, and they're one of my absolute favourites, having a beautiful red blush and a wonderful aroma. They're such fragrant apples, but don't keep well so the time to enjoy them is brief, making them all the more special. Wherever you are, do take time to enjoy your local apples in season; most countries have unique varieties.

UK TV Gold (a cable/satellite channel over here) has an Ealing Comedy season starting on the 18th of September. Richard E Grant is hosting a three-part documentary on Ealing Studios, and a number of the films will be show too. I was pleased to see a few of the lesser-broadcast films on the schedule. I've got the major classics on DVD, but a lot of the others will be new to me. That's those dreary, wet Sundays taken care of. Well, the bits when Poldark isn't on. *Lecherous face*

The other thing I like doing when it's dreary and wet is my embroidery. It's so much faster than knitting. The bit I've done so far isn't perfect, but it's nothing to be ashamed of, and every craft takes practice. I'd been knitting regularly for two years before managing to make something I was really proud of, so it'll be some time before my embroidery gets good. I'm going to stick with it. And, indeed, keep on with my jumper - I'm now on the sleeves, and should get it finished soon as with the weather as it is, I'll be wanting to wear it within a few weeks.
1938 design. It's getting there...

How's your past week been? As horribly rainy where you are? I hope you're getting your fill of delicious apples.

Comments

  1. That Harry is one handsome boy. Have you started building his home library yet? I know you will-how could you possibly resist?

    Our first local apples are hitting the stores-Mackintosh and Jonathan. They're too soft for cooking (unless you're making applesauce) but they're pleasant eaten as-is.

    We have an apple festival in two weeks that involves a trip to the orchard. The past few years have seen diminished yields due to poor weather, so hopefully this season's crop will be better. I asked Danny if he wanted to make toffee apples and he snarled, "Sure, if I have a week to spend chipping my teeth on it before I hit apple." I guess that's his way of saying, "No." Kids are so lazy today!

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    1. Books will definitely come! We have a great indie bookstore in Bath, Mr B's, and their kids' section is amazing.

      To be honest, the whole family has gone so mad buying stuff for Harry that I'm not going to bother with much till the novelty has worn off; my mum's being buying stuff for him for when he's THREE. I reckon aside from books I'll pump cash into his college fund till then. He's too little to notice, and anything I give him will simply be submerged in a sea of other stuff.

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  2. Awwww...Harry is adorbs!
    The only thing better than more books and toys is more books and toys!
    Apples have been coming down from the higher elevations here in Nepal for about a month now.
    Autumn & Winter are the DRY and cool season here...oh how I long to be dry & cool again.
    That embriodert is looking fabulous!

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    1. Dry would be GREAT. This damp little island has been even damper than usual of late. I don't know how you got used to monsoons.

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  3. Congratulations Aunty Mim!
    Apples. One bite of an apple and the bunnies are racing about excitedly wanting their share :)

    Love your embroidery xxx

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    1. I hope you share your apples with them. (Or buy them one of their own.)

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  4. I must admit I love autumn, I like the in-between dressing where you're warmer but not covered in a coat.

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    1. It's nice being able to get the woollies out. I could do without the rain, though.

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  5. Harry is a cutie. I love his dinosaur, what a brilliant choice of present from his Auntie Mim!
    Those apples look heavenly. Our trees are laden, I've been out and picked a bowlful of cookers and I'm on the hunt for an interesting recipe, we lived on spicy parsnip and apple soup last year.
    I can't bear Autumn - spiders, darker mornings and nights, the end of the car boots and the tortoise getting grumpy. xxx

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    1. It is an excellent dinosaur. I was tempted to keep it when it arrived; I expected to be slightly disappointed but it was perfect.

      I'm living on fruit at lunchtimes at the mo and ramping up my veggie intake. Getting seriously fed up of being fat. I'm not sure if autumn is getting to me. Like you I can't bear the darkness.

      (How can you tell when a tortoise is grumpy? I'm intrigued.)

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    2. I know, it does seem odd bearing on mind they aren't the smiliest of creatures but he's usually quite good at greeting us when we feed him but when it's damp and drizzy he hisses and sticks his head back into his shell. It doesn't help that we're having to pick the slugs off him every morning either! x

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  6. Being an aunt is the best and isn't Harry a little smasher?

    We have apples in abundance in the new garden, one is a russet but I have no idea about the others. I need to test and see how sweet they are.

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    1. Oooh, russets are ace. They come on slightly later, don't they? Once Discovery are over it should be russet time.

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  7. Huge congratulations!!! That's such happy news. Good call on the dinosaur. I just checked the UK weather and it's looking good! Hurrah, we can delay the tights a little longer (and I still have unworn items from my Spanish holiday I am keen to wear before Autumn really hits!!) Xx

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    1. Hoorah for better weather! It seems always to rain on Saturdays, which is VERY annoying.

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  8. Congratulations Auntie Mim! Harry's arrived. I reckon there are going to be lots of cuddles in your future.
    No, not dark and damp or anything here. Still summer. I'm walking everywhere in sleeveless dresses, with bare legs and sandals. It was 24• here today. I'm not giving in! Yes, the apples are just about ready now, slightly blushing on the trees. Your embroidery looks good!

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    1. I think the south-west is a very soggy part of the UK - the west of the UK generally is wet, I think Sarah Porcelina gets more rain in Wales, and of course Manchester is essentially a dry river...

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  9. Congrats on the new addition to the family, Auntie Mim!

    The orchard is looking good - plenty of apples this year, but not as many as last. Apparently, last year was a bumper apple crop year. I've already starting making apple and blackberry crumbles and stewing some for the freezer.

    The embroidery is looking good Mim. I brought an old Levi jacket from eBay recently and have been toying with the idea of doing some vintage embroidery on it, but I think I need to improve my needle skills first!

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    1. I think with embroidery the trick is to do what you can with simple stitches. Even stem stitch can be used in all sorts of ways, and add in a bit of chain and buttonhole and you're away.

      French knots can do one. I hate those things. Never have managed one!

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  10. Congratulations on becoming an auntie! Well, as you probably know I love autumn. This current weather is driving me mad though, muggy but grey and dank. Just bring on the cooler weather already! Typical British weather, it's so weird. xx

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    1. Yup, humid and unpleasant. I like autumn clothes, and am looking forward to autumn food. It's the damp and darkness that I hate. (January and February are ghastly, as not only are they still damp and dark, the novelty has worn off and there's no Halloween/ Bonfire Night / Christmas to look forward to.)

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  11. Huge congratulations on your new nephew. What a beautiful boy he is! I became and aunt (and Tony, an uncle) for the first time about six months ago and I swear, I'm still on cloud nine over it - as I'm sure your family is over your newest addition.

    Many hugs,
    ♥ Jessica

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    1. Yup, the whole family has got nappybrain. My brother and his girlfriend are so happy, it's really lovely.

      *Auntie fistbump*

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  12. Congratulations! He is adorable and with you to teach him he will be a history expert in no time

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  13. My warmest congratulations to the happy aunt!
    This now marks the start of a new age for you, and what a fun age it's going to be. I wish all the best to the little man, and may his future be paved with joy and happiness.
    To his aunt: try not to spoil him (a lot) :)
    Just kidding.
    Give him your advises, lead him when he needs it. You now have a new member to your family - oh, how great is that!

    Marija

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    1. Oh, I don't need to spoil him, all his other relatives are doing that. My mum has already bought him atuff for when he's THREE. I'm going to put money in his college fund instead; he'll be grateful for it in the long run.

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  14. Congratulations Auntie Mim, and what a cutie Harry is. I'm glad to see the embroidery is coming along. Meanwhile, we are having golden September days here in Belgium, and as long as it's not too damp I don't really mind autumn, actually. xxx

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  15. Congratulations on being an auntie. My niece has just turned 3 and being an auntie is the best thing! We have had over 100 apples off our tree this year!! Much crumble going on in my house! The embroidery looks fab.

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