Good morning, and happy Sunday! First off I want to say a huge thank you for the kind messages left after my last post - it has been a very difficult week but knowing there are people out there who care makes things a little easier. As a result of what's been going on, I haven't had a great deal of time to read other posts this week, but I have managed a short round up of posts you really should check out...

"The first peepings of Autumn" from Sally over here - beautiful photographs of vast skies as well.

Have you been watching the bake off? Jenny has been baking along with it and I am loving her Lemon Meringue Baked Alaska.

Some lovely moments of happiness from Sarah - she's been picking elderberries which I did a lot of last year, have you picked and preserved any yet?

A very simple DIY coconut and sea salt foot scrub. I've made this sort of thing for presents before and it's perfect for this time of year after a summer in bare feet and flip flops.

Have you got any must-read posts for me to catch up on before the week is out?

This blog is intended to be a collection of happy, positive memories, and it will continue to be just that, but some days there are no words you can formulate, and instead you must turn to those of others to help you through. Today I must bid farewell to a loved one, and I know it will be the hardest day yet. So I'll be clinging to that light and the happy moments we spent together as a family, as we remember and celebrate the life of a great man.

Living life by the seasons isn't something I've always appreciated. Despite the fact my parents have always lived in a similar way, as a teenager and even into my very early twenties it wasn't top of my agenda; I was distracted by the dreams and desires of others. Although this wasn't necessarily a bad thing, I neglected to consider what I really deemed important in life and what made me truly happy. I will readily admit that I'm not a positive person every minute of every day; I fall into spells of blue moods, get riled up when things don't quite go to plan and snap at others if I'm tired. But no one is perfect. Choosing to live a seasonal life has without a doubt improved my health, my mood, my relationships and my  happiness.

There isn't a one-formula-fits-all for living seasonally, but there are certain principles which weave their way through the lifestyle. Eating what's currently being picked on English soil is one. Not only is the taste superior but your bank balance will thank you throughout the year, especially if you shop locally as well.

Another is to understand and appreciate what makes each season so different, and revel in it. Spring brings new life, a freshness that is missing from the other seasons, and the chance to breathe into the year. The sky is often crisp and light and it is the perfect time of year to sow seeds, plant ideas in preparation for later in the year. Spring is also about faith: faith that the seedlings will turn into magnificent flowers and succulent produce; faith that the ideas you plan for today will succeed tomorrow; and faith that after a deep, dark period of the year there is hope of fresh, new life at the end of it.

Summer is the season of hard toil, long days, and feeling the heat of the sun on your skin. It's also about long evening walks and stargazing without a jumper, a glass of something sweet in hand and the warmth of the day still tingling on your cheeks. Summer is a time to relish the green of the English landscape - whether hiking up a mountain or meandering through a meadow surrounded by the hum of bees, the colour seeps into all the eye surveys.

Then, quite suddenly, things turn. Autumn creeps upon us and turns the leaves crimson and brown, turns the garden into a patchwork quilt and nips the hairs on the back of our necks in a morning. Haystacks litter the horizon, glinting as the late afternoon sun slowly seeps away. It's a time to preserve both our memories of summer and the berries in the hedgerows, and to take stock and prepare for the final stretch of the year.

The winter months are spent squirrelled away, taking solace from the elements in front of a roaring fire. The air is cold, menacing even, but the wind and snow form an impressive backdrop to cheerful carols and celebrations with friends and family. It's the time of year to open a few books and be creative, to return from a long frosty walk to a hot cinnamon tea and admire the persistence of nature through the cruellest of weathers.

I honestly could not imagine living anywhere that did not ebb and flow with the seasons. My house looks different in every one; I look different too. Until returning to live in the countryside I didn't fully understand how much life can be led by these changes, but letting nature dictate certain parts of your life has a strong sense of primitive purpose. The outside world has, and always will, alter with the year, so why shouldn't we?

August in Pictures

(From top left): turning back the decades over the bank holiday; exploring vintage displays on a whirlwind visit to Lancaster; the last of the garden's summer wild-flowers; camping coffee pot; beautiful butterflies; harvesting the corn; collecting lavender to dry and freshen linen; outdoor theatre at the Old Palace, Lincoln; embracing the new season picking blackberries.

The cooler weather as we entered August made every summer's day feel like it could be the last, so we squeezed everything we could from the sunshine hours. We haven't done everything I wanted to this month; stargazing has slipped by the wayside and our barbecues have had to be hastily rushed inside because of the rain, but as we leave behind balmy nights and golden hours we can look back and feel content. This month more than any other I have struggled to choose images for this round-up because I have documented so many happy moments, so many snatches of memories.

When I was younger my friends would question my desire to take so many photographs, and after I left university I lost the urge to chronicle every step of my life, but as the days slip away and the seasons wane I find myself returning to the camera. This is only my sixth post of the year in pictures, but already I find myself looking over the previous posts, recalling just how incredible a year it has been, and I think it is the very act of storing memories to return to at a later date that truly makes us appreciate the positives in our lives.

So onwards to September in just a few short days. A breath of fresh air and a rustle of leaves and we'll be into the new season before we know it, so let's revel in the excitement of change as the light fades and the rain lingers.

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If you've visited the Lake District before, chances are you've stayed in or around Windermere - the most popular lake - but this month we stayed in the Western Lakes at a National Trust campsite in Wasdale. It took a windy twenty-five minute drive past the lake before we reached our bed for the night, but the views made the single track worth every pounding heartbeat and scrunch of the brakes. It was breathtaking. When we arrived, angry clouds were seeping in over the horizon and the wind whipped my hair as soon as I exited the car, but for me that was all part of the appeal; we felt like we were face to face with the elements.

Wasdale is famous for being part of the 'nation's favourite view' and if scenery is your thing (as it very much is ours), this is the place to come. Every second was a framed photograph; I could have snapped all day long and still every image would have had an element of magic in it.

Whilst we were over to the west, we decided to visit Muncaster Castle. Home to the World Owl Centre, a historic, haunted building, a maze and tea-room, it was a the perfect way to spend a day in changeable weather conditions. Well worth a visit, and very child-friendly.

One of my favourite things about our holiday was discovering new villages, tiny shops, hidden views, and none more so than the Honest Shop in Coniston. With the focus solely on local and homemade products, it was filled with fresh fruit and vegetables, local crafts and tempting cakes. We settled for some melting moments and a watercolour of a hare, but we could have purchased so much more. Do you have any shops like this near you? I don't know of any in my local area, but what a lovely idea.

This week has passed in a haze, a blur of emotions that still haven't settled. It has been the sort of week where clutching hold of the positives in simple daily life is the only way to make it through. Picking my first blackberry in the village, hanging out the washing and feeling a hint of a chill against my skin, travelling home through stretched, bleeding sunsets; these moments have been precious in the swirl of everything other. As a result, a lot of the blogs I've been reading have been focused on similar ideas and over the last month I have discovered a number of new favourites that I'm sharing in today's post.

Thistlebear hits the nail on the head with this post on simple, happy things (including a delicious-looking apple crisp).

I'm so glad I've discovered House of Humble - the posts embody everything I aim for in life and this week Michelle from Hugo and Elsa (another great blog) shares her five favourite things.

Autumnal photos have been appearing all over this week, but these are surely the best of the bunch?

If you're still in summer mode, though, Steph's post - Hill and Dale - is just what you need.

Let's hop back into another season and be inspired to have a spring clean for 'stuff and clutter'.

If you're approaching a 'big' age or feel like the years are slipping away a little too quickly, head over and read these reasons why it is a blessing to grow older. This week more than ever has made me count my blessings too.

Have you ever pressed flowers? I had a wooden flower press when I was younger and I absolutely loved it. This post from Caroline has brought back happy memories (plus there's a give-away too!).

Finally, if everything gets a bit too much, try making these dark chocolate seed and nut protein bites. Chocolate makes everything just a little better.

What's been on your reading list this week? I'd love for you to share what posts you've enjoyed reading or writing.

Late summer is one of my favourite times of year. The crisp hint of autumnal air is appearing on the horizon alongside the long lingering sunsets that seem to stretch endlessly across the sky. In the countryside, harvesting is high on the agenda and we are lulled to sleep by the soft whirring of the drier in the farmyard next door before receiving an early morning wake-up call from the tractors at daybreak. The owls are out too; their melodic calls float across from the tree-lined track and permeate the sounds of industry to signify that twilight is upon us.

Best of all, berries start to blush on the hedges and bushes, their tantalising fruits waiting to be turned into jellies and jams - when we have a free moment of course; this time of year is often so busy, as we prepare for the months ahead both in the garden and at work. My eyes are forever hunting out ripe blackberries to make my favourite pie, and when I catch a glimpse it is as though nature's treasure trove has been revealed just for me and frantic picking takes place until there's just enough left for the birds to peck and nibble on.

Long evening walks clear my head after a tough day - and there have been a few of those this week - but the cathartic sense of being outdoors and following the footsteps of nature as the seasons drift and change is what keeps me going. The fresh breeze on the back of my neck, the crunch as I walk through the strands of leftover wheat stems, the feeling of stealing those last few moments of warmth as the sun slowly sets; these are what I'm noticing right now. I always wait impatiently for the start of the mellow, fruitful season of autumn, but when I stop and think about it, late summer is so beautiful that perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself.

It seems quite appropriate to choose a quotation from Dead Poets Society this week. And there's little more to say on the matter really, except to remind that whatever dreams you have, cling on to them tightly. You never quite know when things will change, lives will falter, happiness will wane.

Perching on the edge of a camping stool, curled up next to the log burner in a tipi, snatched early morning moments amongst the dew; finding time to read this month has been relatively easy, and I have devoured a number of books as a result. I might have mentioned previously that I've been reading in preparation for a new book club with friends and I've just finished Khaled Hosseini's And The Mountains Echoed as the first book we've chosen. My opinions changed over the course of reading this, and it was one of those books that you can't quite work out until you get to the end and then every loop joins together and you have a moment to reflect and think, yes, that was an intense but incredible read.

I've also made my way through A Croft in the Hills - the fascinating tale of Katharine Stewart's life in the Scottish hills and her family's attempts to live self-sufficiently. Her simple yet evocative descriptions of the area made me want to up sticks and move north of the border - although perhaps not in the winter months without running water or electricity, as she first experienced.

Finally I've been reading last month's choice for The Year in Books - Shatter Me With Dawn (Sally Russell) - and although I found it somewhat less accessible than A Croft in the Hills, it was nevertheless an eye-opening read filled with country life with a strong focus on the animals Russell kept on her farm.

For this month's choice I've selected a book on a similar theme - A Year in the Woods: A Diary of a Forest Ranger by Colin Elford. I will be throwing my tweed blanket over my toes and sipping hot cinnamon tea whilst reading as the cusp of autumn arrives.

What have you been reading this month? As always, for more recommendations or to take part in The Year in Books, head over to the link-up at Circle of Pine Trees and while you're there, catch up on the other lovely posts written by Laura.

Here's hoping you have a wonderful Tuesday.

Our week away in the Lake District was wonderful. We walked, relaxed, frequented the local pub, got drenched in showers of rain and laughed our way back to our tipi. The fires flickered in the log burner as the nights drew to a close and our muddied boots formed footprints towards the blankets of our bed for the night. Not quite autumn but not the height of summer either, our trip seemed to fall in that slight change in the seasons that so many have picked up on the past week or so, and we relished every second, pulling the last few threads of summer from our jumper sleeves and pulling them over our knees when it got cold.

It has been a swift return to reality, so today here is just a snippet of our time in this majestic, towering region.

Hello and welcome to the final guest post of the week! Today the lovely Beeta from Fill My Little World has shared her thoughts on mornings. Beeta's blog has lots of lists (you know how I love lists), travel and food posts and I love her Sunday round-ups as they never fail to put a smile on my face - head over and show it some love.

I have always been more productive early in the day and still wake with the birds a lot of the time, but what about you? Take a read and share your thoughts. Happy weekend!

Morning - a time of day that has escaped my attention for most of my life.

Getting up early was practically unheard of during my teenage years. Staying up late, of course, required minimal effort. That was the morning I enjoyed. Quiet, eerily still - whirring of the laptop, an unhealthy blue glare, footsteps of a parent going to bed.

Thoughts masked during daylight, the early hours unlock and engage parts of the mind and strands of rationale otherwise unexplored. Real mornings are chaotic, short, wasted. Is this cereal breakfast or lunch? Missed phone calls, missed cups of tea with family, disappointed Mum again - she was itching to start the day. Stole her morning too.

Moving forward - mornings should equal routine. Productivity, like today. Forced or encouraged to interrupt my comforting dreams by a responsibility out of duty or love, conducted with intentions to crawl back into bed again, but spurred on by cool water, open eyes, sugar, a to-do list that craves attention.

Alertness may be a long way off. Daily repetition will be stumped by health. But, both ends of the AM bring beauty - a silent push for getting jobs done as the birds tweet and the sun speaks, rivalled and equalled by the creative sparks the stars deliver.

It's just a pity, sometimes, that sleep is a necessity.

Good morning campers, and welcome to Wednesday. Today I have the delight of introducing the wonderful Amy from Slice of Sunny - I discovered Amy's blog in the early stages of my own blogging journey and I haven't looked back since. The blog's tagline - 'Eat, Explore, Enjoy' - sums up exactly what to expect and I particularly enjoy her monthly instagram highlights posts - why not head over and check them out? Today Amy introduces her favourite cookbook, which has now been added to my Amazon wishlist in the hope that some lovely person will buy me it soon...

There are so many variations of cookbooks available right now that it can be difficult to find one fantastic all-rounder. But I’ve found it – and it’s called Good Things to Eat.

A quote from author Lucas Hollweg inside the front cover sums it up perfectly: “This is a book about favourite things to cook and eat … It’s about the food that makes me hungry and happy, the food that makes me go ‘yum’.”

Lucas’ book is a seasonal delight, divided into the standard chapters, like cakes, roasts, spaghetti – and some more unusual ones, like chops, gratins and summer and winter soups.

I bought this book three years ago when I moved out of home after graduating, and moved in with my boyfriend. I spent a long time choosing my first proper cookbook, and I’ve never regretted spending some birthday money on this.

When I got it home I sat down and marked up pages and pages of recipes to try, and it’s really helped instill a love and excitement for food in me.

Good Things to Eat has become a firm favourite in our kitchen. We’ll turn to ‘Lucas’ (as we call the book) for help when we’re in need of something a bit nicer than our everyday dinners.

We’ve even formed new traditions around the recipes. Every near year’s day, we’ll sit down to a steaming bowl of pork goulash with a dollop of sour cream on top. No matter how bad the new year’s hangover is, the smell of that goulash cooking can revive anyone.

Other favourite recipes from the book fall into my own ‘comfort food’ category: macaroni cheese, and risotto – which it turns out I’m amazing at making!

Roast sweet potato and goat’s cheese salad is also a winner, taken from the winter salads chapter – and the chilled tomato and cumin soup, from summer soups. Even the cakes are good: the chocolate marmalade slump cake went down very well at work.

This book introduced me to new flavour combinations that I use even without thinking now. It’s perfect if you’re falling in love with the kitchen and love good home cooking.

Good Things to Eat is Lucas’ first book, and he regularly writes about what’s in season in the Waitrose Kitchen magazine. The book is even listed in the Telegraph’s ‘Hidden gems: 10 lesser known cookbooks we can’t live without’.

The introductions to each chapter are personal, and I defy anyone not to do as I did and mark all the pages they’d like to make. The photography is wonderful and simple too, and the emphasis solely on the food.

Thank you for having me on Creative Countryside. It’s been lovely to share my favourite cookbook with you! What’s your favourite?