Autumn to do list

Basket full of skeins of different coloured yarn, with more yarn in the background — All produced by the Isle of Wight Guild of Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers

There is change in the air: chilly mornings, wood fires, and woolly jumpers. And a change in my habits: what I eat, read and do. I know I’m not the only one who changes mood at this time of year, and starts looking forward to autumnal activities. Inspired by Michelle, I’ve put down a few of my own autumn ‘to dos’.

Read some classics – old stories of big rattling houses, mysterious attic residents, and strangers in a storm. Perfect fireside reading.
Bake something new – I have my baking favourites that I stick too, perhaps for lack of time, or inspiration. But, I am going to try out some of the recipes on those clean, unrumpled pages in my cookbooks.
Do muddy walks & pub lunches – the food is all the tastier, and the warmth all the cosier, having been out in the wet and wind.
Sew something to wear – I’ll happily sew stuff, but am daunted by proper seamstressing. So, this is my challenge to myself.
Take a city trip – stripped back trees showing more architecture, new exhibitions, and extra excuses for coffee stops.
Pick up sticks – I haven’t knitted anything since this project went a little awry. ‘nough said.
Take naps – my new job involves commuting daily by ferry. I have big plans to read lots while I travel, but I suspect that won’t happen..
Correspond – sitting down with pen and paper for some proper snail mail catch up is the perfect pace for this time of year.
Embrace the wind – strolling on the beach, getting buffeted about and watching the whipped up waves.
Wrap up in wool – plenty more excuses now to wear my favourite fibre.

What’s on your to do list?

Grey to green

We had heavy rain overnight and woke to grey foreboding skies. I was envisaging a day spent with tea and a book and quickly got to some baking. But no sooner had the caramel set than the sun came out. Just in time for a mini adventure to a favourite spot before tea.

West along the coast from where we live is Newtown, a little one road hamlet with a history of far greater things. In the fourteenth century it was a thriving community, and there remain reminders of its ancient past, in the old salt pans, the ‘Francheville’ town sign, and the beautifully restored old town hall. But now it feels like a perfect backwater, with the harbour walk being the main event, and lending itself to nothing more than a quiet meander.

In this summer wind the meadows were alive with butterflies and blossoms and the quiet rushing of leaves. A perfect quiet Sunday wander, and home in time to add the chocolate layer to these homemade twix bars. Yum.

Easy breezy

It’s been a weekend of windy sunshine and doing just what we fancy.

Yesterday, Tom and I treated ourselves to brunch at a favourite cafe and spent the afternoon on a longer-than-anticipated walk across Yaverland and Bembridge Down.

Today, with tired legs and heavy rain outside, we had the perfect lazy Sunday, filled with knitting, baking and reading.

This pattern from Kate is proving great fun, much faster and simpler than the initial five-page pattern had me fearing. Its got me picking up my knitting far more often than I have done for months and I’m enjoying watching its fast progress.

I’ve found a banana bread recipe (adapted from Hummingbird Bakery) that Tom seems to love. Home-baked goodies in a weekday lunchbox remind me of being a kid and always go down better than the Kit-Kats we settle on when I fail to bake.

I’ve taken my time reading Roger Deakin’s Wildwood. This morning I was transported to the wild walnut forests of Kyrgyzstan and this afternoon I was lost in the blackthorn and crab apple of English hedgerows.

It’s easy breezy weekends like this that make that early Monday morning start a little easier.