Styling the Seasons – October

Styling the Seasons, by Apartment Apothecary and Lotts and Lots :“Reflect the change of seasons and show those changes in your own home, by styling any surface (shelf, dining table, mantelpiece) with something you like to reflect the new month and what it means to you”

 

Once again, I am squeezing this in with only a few hours of October remaining. I’ve been battling with the light this week to get some photos taken. Well, battling with the light and the juggling of family life.
October half term always seems like the most needed, especially this year, with Nano Mck starting school and Mckdad starting a new and more demanding job. We all limped towards this break and it feels as always, like the last opportunity to take some big breaths before the speeding juggernaut of Christmas comes towards us.

It is always rather a balancing act. There are things we want to do for ourselves, jobs that need doing wither in the house or the garden and of course three children to entertain. I’m not sure we got the balance exactly right, as both me and Mckdaddy are feeling tired and worn out, but we gave it our best shop. The Beer Festival has been visited, books have been read and Lego has been built. A room has been decorated, the cinema has been visited and pumpkins have been carved.

October culminates in the children’s favourite celebration, aside from Christmas, of course, Halloween. I used to resist it and the misanthropic side of me still thinks it’s too commercialised, too American and too sweet based. However, it combines two of my kids favourtie things, sweets and dressing up. Mini Mck is always very clear about his costume and this year’s request of a vampire saw me battle with the sewing machine to create a two toned cape, complete with sticking up collar. So, for this months Styling the seasons I am embracing All Hallows Eve. The pumpkin carving, the apple bobbing, the sweets and the excuse to light candles in the day and watch Charlie Brown and The Great Pumpkin.