September 2, 2009

Welcome back, September, I’ve missed you something fierce! (Plus passing along the Stylish Blogger Award)



So begins the month that hearkens the arrival of autumn, my most beloved season, and (with any luck) a return to more bearable temperatures! I am literally gleefully to see September return and cannot wait for all of the resplendent elements that autumn brings with it.

Before I go any further, I want to take a moment to extend my heartfelt thanks to those who left lovely "get well" comments for me in regards to my post on Monday. I'm feeling a little bit better, but am quite ill at the moment still (just one of those flare-ups I'm going to have to let run it's painful course). Thank you so much, everyone, for your sweet words. You are such wonderfully caring dears!

Over the past few weeks I’ve received blog awards from five different, fantastic ladies (thank you each deeply!). I’ve not had a chance to blog about any of the accolades yet, but thought that I would use today as the perfect time to start passing along one of these awards.

At the end of July fellow Torontonian Poke Salad Annie (of Loose Leaf Tigers) bestowed the Stylish blogger Award upon me, which really means a lot as I adore this stylish, cultured, wonderful gal’s blog and was super touched to receive an award from her.

The conditions of the award suggest that the receiver list 10 facts about themselves that their readers may not know. As it really hasn’t been that long since my last such post, I thought I would put a creative spin on this award for and instead list ten of my favourite things about September.

First however I want to pass along the Stylish blogger Award to ten amazing (and immensely stylish!) blogs that continually fill me with a plethora of inspiration. It is always terribly tricky to whittle down a list of fellow bloggers to pass an award along to, so please, by all means, if your name is not listed below, still feel to bestow this award upon your own splendid site.




Kirsten from Leproust Vintage

Simply Colette

Jennifer from Stay Classy LA

Syd from Golden Girl of the West

Kelley Anne from Kaleidoscopic Refrains:

Mademoiselle Coco from Knitter from the Past

Lagelle, the Art of accessorizing

Miss Matilda from Miss Matilda Dreams

Oh, Kirby!

Rosina Lee



Each of the recipients is welcome to pass this award along to whomever they wish (please copy and save the graphic above to your desktop of online photo album if you’d like to post it on your are), or simply accept it with my heartfelt thanks for being the magnificently lovely blogs you are.


{10 elements of September that I perpetually adore}




{A return to temperatures that permit the comfortable wearing of outfits sporting long sleeves and lightweight coats and wraps. I always feel more comfortable when I can don clothing that covers me up more than it tries to show me off.}



{The reappearance of longer nights. Few things rival the beauty and tranquility of a summer dusk that seems to last forever, but truthfully I like waking up in darkness and rarely mind the sun setting earlier in the evening. Perhaps I’m part vampire, who knows? ;D}



{Wonderfully relaxing nights spent playing card and board games, as a breath-taking harvest moon casts its amber glow through the living room window.}



{Leaves! Glorious, fiery hued, crisp as melba toast leaves. Raked, blowing in the wind, for jumping into piles of, for simply admiring their dazzling beauty, there are countless reasons why I adore autumn leaves!}



{Anything and everything to do with fresh-from-the-orchard apples! From apple sauce to cider, pies to pancakes, caramel to baked, come fall I eat so many apples the doctor is bound to stay away all year long! :D}



{The unmatched scent of wood smoke as it wafts like a cheerful specter through the ever-more-crisp autumn skies, first at night and then as the season progresses, all day long. Eternally one of my favourite smells on earth.}



{Walks in nature...preferably in the wildness, but I’ll certainly settle for an urban setting, too. The emphasis is on filling my lungs, still parched from summer, with as much refreshing, invigorating autumn air as possible.}



{The first crop of newly harvested pumpkins that begin appearing in the grocery shops by the middle of the month. I can never hold off until Thanksgiving to bake my first pumpkin pie of the season and delight in whipping one (or more!) up look before October has arrived.}



{Jumper style dresses and other types of frocks that can be worn over top of blouses, turtlenecks and long sleeved shirts. Often paired with dark hued tights, this look is a definite favourite of mine that I count down the seconds all summer long to start wearing again (turtlenecks and +40 temperatures being the natural enemies that they are).}



{The need to add – instead of remove – layers of bedding at night. As a self-described “cuddle bug”, I adore snuggling up and cocooning myself with a cozy, super soft blanket or two as the mercury begins to plummet outside.}

{All images above are from Flickr. To learn more about a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective Flickr page.}


Thank you again deeply Loose Leaf Tiger for the wonderful award! I encourage anyone who is not familiar with this lovely lady and her fascinating (often vintage themed) blog to swing by and pay her a visit.

This post is what I’m sure will be the first of many that will highlight my intense love of autumn and everything that the season brings with it.

I know that a lot of us had have come through a scorchingly hot summer and are as eager as can be for the arrival of fall. I would adore hearing about the things that spark your love of this season and what you’re looking most forward to as the last days of summer melt away into our memories.

34 comments:

  1. OH how I've not only missed September, but how I've missed you, sweet friend! =) I love this & all of your posts, always written so well & lovely vintage graphics that make me feel warm inside! I hope you are doing wonderfully. p.s. I have my first give away & your the first person I'm inviting! tehehe XOXO

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  2. You are such a good writer! How I wish I had your creativity when it comes to prose.

    I love you post because your reason's for loving September are so different from mine! Here in Los Angeles, September can be one of the hottest months! I look forward to the hot dry winds that come off the desert. I also enjoy the kids going off to school- I swear, I am just as excited as they are, maybe even more so! As for clothing, we are still wearing our summer dresses and longing for when the temperatures change, usually at the end of OCTOBER! LOL!

    Thanks doll,
    The Glamorous Housewife

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  3. Woo hoo Fall!!!!! My very favorite!!! Feel better soon!

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  4. I'm really excited about the Fall too :) I love all these images, they make feel all cozy. I just love pumpkin pie too, and like you I never wait until pumpking pie time to make or buy it! And I know what you mean, I'm definitely more comfortable in long sleeves, cardigans, etc that cover up instead of showing more off, as you said ;)
    Lovely post!

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  5. Dear Jessica! Have problems leaving comments on yr lovely site unfortunately so here goes second time!!

    Congrats on all yr so well-deserved`awards!!

    Love Fall & cooler temperatures (hopefully here!)

    Love all the images especially the apple one!

    xoxoxLOLA:)

    PS So with you about K Moss & her particular style! xx

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  6. Superb post. Can't wait to wear my jumper as well! xx

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  7. My grandparents have that exact Yahtzee set!! Oh childhood memories :)

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  8. Congratulations on all your awards! So very well deserved.

    I was already longing for Fall to begin, now I can barely stand to wait a day longer. It's been wicked hot here, over 100 degrees and only cools off to the upper 80's at night...yuck!

    Hope you're feeling 100% real soon!

    Hugs,
    Karyn

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  9. I love, love, LOVE Fall! It's almost tied for my favorite season with Spring, but I think Fall wins :-) I love the color of the leaves, pumpkins, apples, the whole schbang :-)

    I hope you get back to feeling 100% soon, I know how it feels :-(

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  10. Congrats on the awards! You deserve them doll!
    I'm also a lover of all things fall! I too prefer the night to the day, though I think being a vegetarian prevents me from being a vampire? hopefully? ;)

    xx,
    40sfemme

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  11. Hi lovely Jessica,

    Thank U kindly for the award!!!!!! I hope U are starting to feel better now. I always enjoy ur heart felt comments on my blog, thank U for caring so much xoxo

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  12. Congratulations on oyur awards, and again, i hope you feel better. I love autumn too, but am very much ready for spring at this point :)

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  13. Jessica, I'm so sorry your not feeling well. I pray you will recover to enjoy each slice of autumn in your post. I love the fall, the apples, pumpkins, wooly clothes and living in Maine makes enjoying these very easy. I love the color of the leaves and sun shining through the trees with such golden colors. Thanks for sparking wonderful images for the upcoming months.

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  14. Congrats on the awards - it's super cute! I love fall too! Unfortunately, I have to wait a little longer down south here to get the full effect of fall, but just the fact that it is September is making me happy!

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  15. Great photos. I really love that Better Homes cover. I love autumn. It's my favorite season of the year. There's so many reasons I love it so much.

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  16. I too am ecstatic for fall!!

    Thank you so much for the lovely blog award! You are so sweet! :)

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  17. Oh what a totally beautiful post. I don't know how you do it, not feeling well and all!

    I adore so many pictures there!

    Big congratulations to the sylish bloggers, well done girls!
    xoxo

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  18. Aww thank you dear friend! :) I'm honored to receive from someone who is so creative and blog flawless. ;) I can only aspire to put as much time and thought as you do.

    I'm also excited for fall. It's my favorite. Love those jumpers too. Hope you get to feeling better soon! :)

    xoxo, Nicolette

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  19. So happy to feel you are feeling a bit better. Gorgeous post today. I love Autumn . . . the cooler temps, the crisp air, the wonderful colors. Can't wait!

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  20. Hello Jessica,

    I've been so out of the loop this week..I'm so sorry you haven't felt well...do get better soon!

    Lovely post as always...such a blast from the past...I'm a 1958 model. :0)

    Hugs,
    Stephanie

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  21. What a great picture at the start of this post. It has suddenly got very cold here in England since September started, which I miss the heat but autumn is always good because my birthday is in November :)
    Glad to here you are feeling better now Jessica!

    What a really nice post :)

    ~Kirsty x

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  22. What a great post! All the things you love about autumn i love too, except it's spring now in sydney. Enjoy the cooler months ahead, and congrats on the award!

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  23. Dearest Jessica, just a short note to let you know that your blog is fabulous, and to tell you that I opened an online boutique for vintage-inspired accessoires. You might like my hats and shoe-clips...www.frolleinvonsofa.com, cheerio from berlin, frollein von sofa

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  24. I love Autumn. I can't stand how hot it gets in summer...not inspiring at all!
    Layers are lovely. =)

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  25. Hi Jessica,
    thank you ever so much for your kind words. and what a marvelous post! i hope you feel better soon. viva la autumn! :)

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  26. Congratulations for your award!
    It's a joy to read your blog each time.
    Hope you get better soon,I send you a healthy hug!!love tiz

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  27. Thanks so much! And congratulations on receiving it as well. I always adore reading your blog and really enjoyed your ten favorite things about September:) That jumper dress is just perfect.

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  28. I am putting you on my blogroll immediately! I adore your blog, that's a fact. Those ads are brilliant. And the Yahtzee set? I think I had the same set back in the 1970s (I am an only child, i used to play against myself, don't ask) - wish I knew where it was now.

    Lidian

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  29. @ GypsyFox, thank you sweetly, my dear friend! I've missed you as well, and thought of your often. Hoping that life is smiling more on you as we progress through this new month. (Thank you for the heads-up about your contest, I entered at once, and encourage anyone who is reading this to zip by Gypsy's site and do the same!)

    @ The Glamorous Housewife, thank you deeply for your beautiful compliments, honey. Many thanks, too, for sharing the wonderful elements that you look forward to about September in LA. (By the end of October it's not uncommon for us to have had snow already up here! :D)

    @ Maggi, it's my very favourite season, too, sweetie! Thank you for well wishes!

    @ Lizzy, I think we have so much in common, you and I often seem to really love the same things, honey. How neat to know that I'm not the only one who can't seem to hold off until October to start baking pumpkin pies! :)

    @ Nora & Lola, I'm very sorry that you're having problems leaving comments, that's definitely not good at all! What occurs when you try to do so? If it's an ongoing issue, please let me know so that I can report it to the Blogger powers that be. Oodles of thanks for your congrats and lovely words!

    @ Christa Weil, thank you very much! Three big cheers for jumper season! :)

    @ Trains and sewing machines, that's so cool! I just adore vintage board games!

    @ Karyn, thank you very much, sweet heart, for your comment and well wishes! I definitely know that you've been suffering under the wrath of a
    ridiculously hot summer, I hope autumn arrives super soon for you!

    @ kathie, you sound just like me! I'm a big fan of spring as well, though it's often a rather short lived season in this country. Canada has a tendency to hop from -30 to +30 in a matter of weeks. Vancouver and parts of B.C. are sometimes blessed with a lovely spring though. (I'm sorry you've been feeling ill this week, too, honey. Huge healing hugs!)

    @ 40sfemme, thank you so much, darling gal! :D The idea of a vegetarian vampire is really cute...maybe you'd crave beet juice instead of blood? :)

    @ Lagelle, you've very welcome!!!

    @ Pretty Little Pictures, thank you very much, sweet dear! I would welcome spring at this point, too - even winter would be a welcome respite from summer's fierce heat. It's so lovely to think that those south of the equator are gearing up for spring right now, I hope it proves to be a beautiful one for you!

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  30. @ Tracey, thank you deeply for your beautiful, caring comment, you words mean a great deal to me.

    @ Glamour Girl, thank you, sweets! I hope autumn hightails it over to your neck of the woods ASAP! :)

    @ Keith, I adore that cover, too! I was actually fortunate to chance upon some wonderful vintage Better Homes and Gardens from the 40s and 50s this summer for a song, so I'm now in the joyful process of reading through a small handful of them. I don't have the issue illustrated above, but I would certainly love to find it one day, that cover page is so fantastic - I'd love a print of it! :)

    @ Leproust Vintage, you're so very welcome!

    @ Dustjacket Attic, thank you, sweet soul. Some days I can't quite make it to the computer to post, but even on some of the rougher days I do strive to write because I sincerely find it to be exceptionally cathartic. A passion for what I write about and the amazing online friends I have truly spur me on! :)

    @ Simply Colette, you're absolutely welcome, honey! You are entirely too kind! Your blog is a true joy - I especially love the virtual trips you take us on each week. Thank you again so much for your immensely kind words!

    @ Amanda, thank you very much, darling. (I'm wild about the crisp air of autumn, too! I love it when my skin feels a little nippy, but not on the verge of frostbite, as it so often can once winter rolls around.)

    @ Stephanie, thank you very much, my dear friend. Love that you're a 1958 model, that's an adorable way to describe yourself! :)

    @ Kirsty, thank you, sweet heart! How fantastic that you're an "autumn baby", I always secretly wished I was too! :) I made up for it in part though, as my wedding anniversary falls right in the middle of October :)

    @ under lock and key, thank you very much, honey! I hope you have a splendid and gorgeous spring! (I can gush equally about that season, too, and no doubt will come 2010! :D)

    @ Frollein von Sofa, thank you sweetly for the lovely note! I shall indeed go peak in on your site, thank you for bringing it to my - and my readers'' - attention.

    @ Hannah Marie, layers are positively wonderful, I agree! Even on the hottest of summer days I tend to have at least two layers (tee, blouse or cami with a cardigan or cotton button down), I just feel so exposed with only one layer (*blush*).

    @ Poke Salad Annie, you're so very welcome! Huge thanks in turns for your lovely comment - I wholeheartedly second your exclamation of "viva la autumn!" :)

    @ Greetz from Tiz, thank you so much for the lovely comment and caring hug, you're such a lovely soul, honey!

    @ Kelley Anne, you're very welcome! Thank you so much for your sweet comment.

    @ Lidian, huge thanks for adding me to your blog roll, I greatly appreciate that - as I am by your kind comments. (I don't think playing board games with yourself is odd, I've done equally "unique" things myself over the years and I'm not even an only child ;D). Thank you again!!!


    Huge thanks to each of your for your wonderful comments and kind words. I'm honestly feeling quite ill still, but each message from helps to lift my spirits so very much!

    Wishing everyone a fantastic, relaxing, beautiful Labour Day weekend!
    ♥ Jessica

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  31. Oh Jessica, every time you describe something you make me love it! Your 10 elements of September are just perfect, even if it's not my favorite month at all (and it's my month birthday...!). Have a great sunday :-)

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  32. @ AlicePleasance, you are so deeply kind, thank you very much for the lovely and touching words, sweet dear! (Very happy wishes in advance for your special day!!!)

    Oodles of hugs, honey!
    ♥ Jessica

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  33. Hope you continue to feel better each day!

    You thoroughly deserve the Stylish Award :o)

    Blessings & Aloha!
    (can you imagine looking so put together, just to ride a scooter?) :o)

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  34. @ Personalized Sketches, thank you deeply for the blessings and immensely kind words, I truly appreciate your lovely comments.

    Huge hugs & joyful Sunday wishes to you!
    ♥ Jessica

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