Moving house this week. Packing boxes and making plans for the new house. An ending and a beginning. This morning as I lay in bed listening to the predawn tawny owl chorus, a highlight of this time of year, I wondered if there would be owls living around the new village. I’ve left some apples on the tree for the birds and dug up a cluster of snowdrop bulbs to take with me. This morning the sun has come out and the wind has followed blowing the leaves from the silver birches like so much confetti.
We didn't have any trick or treaters (or guisers as they call them here) and the Halloween torchlit maze I was looking forward to was cancelled due to the inclement weather! but instead, we went round to see some friends, eat steak pie and watch horror movies. We also made a deliciously rich stew packed with the last of the harvest from the community garden (pumpkins and potatoes) and the last of last year's sloes. The autumn step count challenge has begun, so I'm spending every spare moment stomping around through slippery wet leaves!
A walk in the lanes around Great Chalfield Manor in warm winter sun with my daughter who was home on her uni reading week. Splashing through puddles and sliding on rust- coloured leaves. A posh coffee shared outdoors at the farmshop Driving home under glowering skies and eventual downpours of hail.
Thanks Jo. I've been following you for a while and blogging but have only just started my own Substack. If you like atmospheric, you might like to connect there.
We had lots of trick or treaters, and the weather stayed relatively dry - was fun to see the little ones dressed up and the older ones were very polite, was great. All Hallows Day is always a day of reflection - I went for a stroll in the woods which was a bit wet but I needed the quiet time. And now we are preparing for our bonfire night party, which I much prefer to Halloween, as it’s all about pie, parkin and treacle toffee.
Nov 3, 2023·edited Nov 3, 2023Liked by Lia Leendertz
Admiring the Halloween displays on my street (I am happy that my street takes Halloween seriously!) including the neighbour’s incredible pumpkin carving and rather terrifying ‘head on a spike’ (plastic, thankfully!)
Cooking with pumpkin, including risotto for dinner with butter fried sage and smoked paprika for even more autumnal goodness
Watching the moon undergoing a lunar eclipse floating across a cloud scudded sky between rainstorms, like a shadow-bitten ghost ship…
Placing a candle and a glass of red wine by a photo of my Dad to honour his spirit at Samhain
We went trick or treating in the rain, my little witch and wizard hanging onto their hats! They did a few houses and then we came home so that the street could trick or treat us. The doorbell rang constantly and we gave out all our sweets, all of Dad’s stash of sweets and then most of the chocolate tin! We had nothing at all left at all at the end but excuses.
The garden is now like a marsh. The road at the kids school flooded and everyone arrives home with wet feet and a soaking coat anytime they venture out!
Can’t wait to see your gorgeous tulip show next spring Lia! I need more tulips in pots - you have inspired and influenced me! Well, it’s all been about the pumpkins and other Halloween / Autumn crafts and cooking this week! We really enjoyed Lia’s atmospheric playlist as the background to everything we did this week- a great mood enhancer! Really helped my “ layers of loveliness” aim I must say ( I’ll explain another time!) A rare lovely day in this very wet and stormy week to do our usual “outdoor oldies pumpkin carve” ..... eating various roasted pumpkin dishes ( with roasted seeds, kale and sage) .....yet more Quince preserving ( spiced in syrup and quince/ hazelnut mincemeat ) and FINALLY all the trees in this very leafy part of Sussex turning gloriously to autumn colours. We won’t mention the lashing storm Ciaran gave the south coast!
Well it’s enhancing the enjoyment of my different activities by involving all my senses - adding the extra “ layers” through sounds, sensations, taste, scents. While outside carving the pumpkins we had Lia’s very appropriate soundtrack, drank spiced chai, had scented candles and enjoyed the softness of my cashmere scarf. All these dimensions added to the loveliness of the experience ! It works with most things - even ironing!
Those bulbs sound wonderful & love the names too - lots of beautiful colours ahead .. Good going with the trick or treat bowl too !
This week for me
Half term time spent with the teen - watching trashy halloween horror movies under blankets by candlelight
A quiet moment to celebrate Samhain with an angel guided meditation to remember our ancestors & lost loved ones -close by as the veil is thin
A restorative trip to the Antrim coast & a (rare) day of low autumn sun - waves crashing on the white cliffed beach, hopeful, hardy surfers bobbing, an endless sky ..
Feeling the first well below freezing temperatures during a trip to Minnesota, hearing the barred owl calls from the willows and ash trees above the creek in my back garden, watching the birds eat some of the grass and forbs seeds I've sprinkled around in an attempt to reseed some areas of lawn, reshuffling the clothes in my closet to move summer out and winter in and being excited about some of the cozy wool shawls and sweaters I'd forgotten about, but also feeling a deep need to purge what isn't working for me anymore (and not just in my closet)!
1st Nov morning - the 4 men working in my garden came to the back door with an empty bucket for some water, I was delighted to fill it with some of the uncollected trick or treaters chocolate (no-one came this year), then gave them the water they were after.
Hornbeam tree now wearing only its underskirts, bare topped.
and not very seasonal maybe but the Love in a mist are having a tremendous last flourishing, even some lilac ones which I have never seen before.
Veils of rain each day seeping into the Earth and losing the light .Lighting fires to bring back the flame of life in the evening .Walking across leaf strewn grass and carrying a sense of Triste for our world where nature is still giving and where we can we are planting her seeds of hope for the Spring. Bathing in moonlight 🌕Celebrating the Queens of the Wild Mother Earth , The Caillieach and the Faerie Queen as Samhain thins the veil between the worlds 🌀
I’ve made some parkin with the recipe Claire kindly shared with me after she mentioned making it on here. I’ve even been restrained enough to wrap it up for a few days and we’re looking forward to tasting it at the weekend. The horse chestnut trees in our road now have some completely bare branches. They will be the first to go green in the spring. The leaves of all the trees are really coming down all over the place and have turned beautiful colours. After a week of rain it’s lovely to see blue sky and sunshine streaming through. Time to start thinking about using last year’s leaf mould and gathering up this year’s leaves.
This week we had our first frost, an idea that always seems impossible in the stifling heat of summer until one day it is here and you realize you’ve forgotten how to dress for the cold. This is also the first week that I, an underemployed late sleeper, have consistently noticed the sunrise. There has been lovely pink and orange light on the trees opposite the lake out my window. Combine that with the cold air and you get a perfect scene with fog coming off the water and frosty grass on the shore. I need to get out there and take a photo.
Sounds like you had a very enterprising Halloween 🎃🎃 My first thing is waking up and feeling super chilly in the mornings. Second is taking an early train on the 1st of November and seeing the mist rising in a pearly blanket off the muted fields, trees picked out hazily behind them. And finally, the autumn trees in freiburg and the Schwarzwald really showing off their colours now - jewel reds, vibrant yellows, a myriad of browns, pale coral pinks, sunset orange. I try and collect the crisping leaves for hanging up but they fade so quickly - I suppose their temporary state makes them even more heart achingly beautiful. I feel the same way about blossom
We had a gorgeous Halloween at our local park where the cafe organised a community event, there was music, dancing, too many sweets and even my very first mulled wine of the year...! xx
Moving house this week. Packing boxes and making plans for the new house. An ending and a beginning. This morning as I lay in bed listening to the predawn tawny owl chorus, a highlight of this time of year, I wondered if there would be owls living around the new village. I’ve left some apples on the tree for the birds and dug up a cluster of snowdrop bulbs to take with me. This morning the sun has come out and the wind has followed blowing the leaves from the silver birches like so much confetti.
Goog luck in your new home Jill! Hope there are owls to welcome you. Love that you’re taking the snowdrops.
Good 😂
good luck with that move - and how lovely to take some snowdrops with you
We didn't have any trick or treaters (or guisers as they call them here) and the Halloween torchlit maze I was looking forward to was cancelled due to the inclement weather! but instead, we went round to see some friends, eat steak pie and watch horror movies. We also made a deliciously rich stew packed with the last of the harvest from the community garden (pumpkins and potatoes) and the last of last year's sloes. The autumn step count challenge has begun, so I'm spending every spare moment stomping around through slippery wet leaves!
A walk in the lanes around Great Chalfield Manor in warm winter sun with my daughter who was home on her uni reading week. Splashing through puddles and sliding on rust- coloured leaves. A posh coffee shared outdoors at the farmshop Driving home under glowering skies and eventual downpours of hail.
beautiful! I love reading these comments - they're just so atmospheric
Thanks Jo. I've been following you for a while and blogging but have only just started my own Substack. If you like atmospheric, you might like to connect there.
We had lots of trick or treaters, and the weather stayed relatively dry - was fun to see the little ones dressed up and the older ones were very polite, was great. All Hallows Day is always a day of reflection - I went for a stroll in the woods which was a bit wet but I needed the quiet time. And now we are preparing for our bonfire night party, which I much prefer to Halloween, as it’s all about pie, parkin and treacle toffee.
Ooh treacle toffee. So sad my fillings can't cope anymore 😢
Admiring the Halloween displays on my street (I am happy that my street takes Halloween seriously!) including the neighbour’s incredible pumpkin carving and rather terrifying ‘head on a spike’ (plastic, thankfully!)
Cooking with pumpkin, including risotto for dinner with butter fried sage and smoked paprika for even more autumnal goodness
Watching the moon undergoing a lunar eclipse floating across a cloud scudded sky between rainstorms, like a shadow-bitten ghost ship…
Placing a candle and a glass of red wine by a photo of my Dad to honour his spirit at Samhain
‘A shadow bitten ghost ship’ -love that x
me too!
We went trick or treating in the rain, my little witch and wizard hanging onto their hats! They did a few houses and then we came home so that the street could trick or treat us. The doorbell rang constantly and we gave out all our sweets, all of Dad’s stash of sweets and then most of the chocolate tin! We had nothing at all left at all at the end but excuses.
The garden is now like a marsh. The road at the kids school flooded and everyone arrives home with wet feet and a soaking coat anytime they venture out!
Can’t wait to see your gorgeous tulip show next spring Lia! I need more tulips in pots - you have inspired and influenced me! Well, it’s all been about the pumpkins and other Halloween / Autumn crafts and cooking this week! We really enjoyed Lia’s atmospheric playlist as the background to everything we did this week- a great mood enhancer! Really helped my “ layers of loveliness” aim I must say ( I’ll explain another time!) A rare lovely day in this very wet and stormy week to do our usual “outdoor oldies pumpkin carve” ..... eating various roasted pumpkin dishes ( with roasted seeds, kale and sage) .....yet more Quince preserving ( spiced in syrup and quince/ hazelnut mincemeat ) and FINALLY all the trees in this very leafy part of Sussex turning gloriously to autumn colours. We won’t mention the lashing storm Ciaran gave the south coast!
I’m intrigued by the idea of layers of loveliness.
Well it’s enhancing the enjoyment of my different activities by involving all my senses - adding the extra “ layers” through sounds, sensations, taste, scents. While outside carving the pumpkins we had Lia’s very appropriate soundtrack, drank spiced chai, had scented candles and enjoyed the softness of my cashmere scarf. All these dimensions added to the loveliness of the experience ! It works with most things - even ironing!
I love this Sue! x
the pumpkin dish sounds delicious
Those bulbs sound wonderful & love the names too - lots of beautiful colours ahead .. Good going with the trick or treat bowl too !
This week for me
Half term time spent with the teen - watching trashy halloween horror movies under blankets by candlelight
A quiet moment to celebrate Samhain with an angel guided meditation to remember our ancestors & lost loved ones -close by as the veil is thin
A restorative trip to the Antrim coast & a (rare) day of low autumn sun - waves crashing on the white cliffed beach, hopeful, hardy surfers bobbing, an endless sky ..
Feeling the first well below freezing temperatures during a trip to Minnesota, hearing the barred owl calls from the willows and ash trees above the creek in my back garden, watching the birds eat some of the grass and forbs seeds I've sprinkled around in an attempt to reseed some areas of lawn, reshuffling the clothes in my closet to move summer out and winter in and being excited about some of the cozy wool shawls and sweaters I'd forgotten about, but also feeling a deep need to purge what isn't working for me anymore (and not just in my closet)!
Definitely a great time to reflect and reassess. Love the feeling of the cold and the owls calling.
1st Nov morning - the 4 men working in my garden came to the back door with an empty bucket for some water, I was delighted to fill it with some of the uncollected trick or treaters chocolate (no-one came this year), then gave them the water they were after.
Hornbeam tree now wearing only its underskirts, bare topped.
and not very seasonal maybe but the Love in a mist are having a tremendous last flourishing, even some lilac ones which I have never seen before.
Veils of rain each day seeping into the Earth and losing the light .Lighting fires to bring back the flame of life in the evening .Walking across leaf strewn grass and carrying a sense of Triste for our world where nature is still giving and where we can we are planting her seeds of hope for the Spring. Bathing in moonlight 🌕Celebrating the Queens of the Wild Mother Earth , The Caillieach and the Faerie Queen as Samhain thins the veil between the worlds 🌀
Oh my!
A nip of port before bed. Cold ears peeping out of they covers in the morning.
I’ve made some parkin with the recipe Claire kindly shared with me after she mentioned making it on here. I’ve even been restrained enough to wrap it up for a few days and we’re looking forward to tasting it at the weekend. The horse chestnut trees in our road now have some completely bare branches. They will be the first to go green in the spring. The leaves of all the trees are really coming down all over the place and have turned beautiful colours. After a week of rain it’s lovely to see blue sky and sunshine streaming through. Time to start thinking about using last year’s leaf mould and gathering up this year’s leaves.
Aah the horse chestnut from my window is almost bare too .. they do seem to the first to go x
Also would love the parkin recipe - my 101 yr old Yorkshire born grandma mentioned it when we visited this week ..
Claire sent it to me as photos via email. I took photos - could see if I can still put them on last Sunday’s chat.
Seem to have managed to sneak it onto the pumpkin thread...
Thankyou so much !
This week we had our first frost, an idea that always seems impossible in the stifling heat of summer until one day it is here and you realize you’ve forgotten how to dress for the cold. This is also the first week that I, an underemployed late sleeper, have consistently noticed the sunrise. There has been lovely pink and orange light on the trees opposite the lake out my window. Combine that with the cold air and you get a perfect scene with fog coming off the water and frosty grass on the shore. I need to get out there and take a photo.
Oh please do! I’d love to see that photo.
Sounds like you had a very enterprising Halloween 🎃🎃 My first thing is waking up and feeling super chilly in the mornings. Second is taking an early train on the 1st of November and seeing the mist rising in a pearly blanket off the muted fields, trees picked out hazily behind them. And finally, the autumn trees in freiburg and the Schwarzwald really showing off their colours now - jewel reds, vibrant yellows, a myriad of browns, pale coral pinks, sunset orange. I try and collect the crisping leaves for hanging up but they fade so quickly - I suppose their temporary state makes them even more heart achingly beautiful. I feel the same way about blossom
We had a gorgeous Halloween at our local park where the cafe organised a community event, there was music, dancing, too many sweets and even my very first mulled wine of the year...! xx
Mulled wine... there’s a thought!
Ha yes, it was a delight! xx