Urban Cottage Weekend ❧ September 25, 2016

Welcome to the weekend at the cottage! Here are a few things that have been happening around here lately. Grab a cup of coffee or tea, or maybe treat yourself to a hot chocolate or a glass of wine (it’s five o’clock somewhere!), and settle in for some reading and browsing.

My September Beach Getaway

The past summer was one of those summers, by which I mean there was so much going on that I didn’t get to the beach once. I love being by the water, sitting in a comfy chair on the sand, in the shade of a big umbrella, with the gentle murmur of the waves the soundtrack for the book I’m reading.

Early last spring, when I booked my time at the cottage, I had to work around some other plans for late summer and early September (little did I know at that time that I’d be moving in late August!), so I chose a week in the middle of the month. That was risky, because although there’s no guarantee of perfect weather any time, September can be either beautiful or miserable, if my past experience is anything to go by. Having spent one week in September several years ago shivering and huddling by the fireplace while rain lashed at the windows, I was wary. To my good fortune, this past week turned out to be perhaps the most glorious I’ve ever spent in this special place.

I’ll let the photos and their captions speak for themselves, but I will say that I arrived tired and worn down, and departed this morning feeling more relaxed and refreshed than I have  in months. The first five nights there I slept a solid 10 hours; that, coupled with hours of reading on the beach and crocheting on the deck, was the best tonic I can think of.

I’m so very grateful to be able to spend time each year in this special place.

Welcome to the Beach

Walks and Sandcastles

Miles and miles of beautiful beach to walk.

A castle fit for a gnome, made by my daughter for hers.

Memories of standing calf deep in this water, watching the minnows dart away.

Would this be flotsam or jetsam?

Food at the Beach

Produce at the local farm market.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Thanksgiving!

White sweetcorn, “Silver Princess.”

This year’s cooking adventure: potato corn chowder. I’ll try it next with yellow corn for more colour.

Fall’s generous bounty: so much to choose from for dinner.

Freshly baked muffins by the lake; now that’s breakfast!

Water and Sky

September 22: calm and serene.

September 23, early afternoon: the waves are rolling in.

September 23, late afternoon. I love the drama of how the weather can change so quickly here.

Another breathtaking sunset.

Ah, Relaxation

Recap

Those muffins I made at the beach? They’re my oat bran banana muffins. It’s an old favourite recipe, and I urge you to check it out if you missed it earlier. I measured out the dry ingredients, plus the sugar separately and packed that with the pantry items I was taking. Then I just had to buy the wet ingredients when I shopped in the local town and, voilà, I was able to bake these muffins one morning.

And, can I just say that the tea towel is absolutely right?!