Although I was thankful for a bright and cheery Autumnal morning to launch this years foray into daylight saving hours, it always descends with a little sense of pending gloom. There is that little glimmer of hope for the twinkly days of around Christmas, when I can finally down tools and maker merry, but for now here are my top five tips for curbing the blues.
ONE - Natural Light
As the days draw in, and we naturally take shelter and solace in a cosy nook, the outside world can feel a distant and very unappealing place. But at this time of year, I feel that it is almost imperative to try and get outside to replenish some Vitamin D and see the changing flow of the season. As Autumn fully sheds into Winter the woods become stark and the trees paint their striking silhouettes boldly in the skyline. Although damp and decaying, there will be the first furtive signs of next years’ growth. Now as we head into the busiest season in the studio, I try to carve out an hour a day in walking the beast, this can be staggered out over an extended stroll around the park at lunch and some shorter walks. Or a dedicated longer stroll with plenty of time to sniff and rootle for the both of us, and the opportunity to be. I appreciate that this sort of time allowance is not available to all, but if the sun is shining and you have 5 mins, just let it soak in a little bit and fill the cup up.
Carving out time to see big skies and allowing some sunshine to fall on your face.
TWO - Quality Staples
The adage that there is no such thing as bad weather, but bad clothing choices, is somewhat true. And without wanting to sound incredibly boring, the truth is that good quality socks or a decent waterproof coat can be the difference between a good and bad day. Last year, we decided to update our waterproofs, because our old ones were distinctly tired and leaky, regardless of re-waterproofing. Instead of buying brand spanking new; I spent a week or two casually trauling Vinted and found two rather splendid, practically new coats for Jim and myself for less than the price of one quality new rain jacket. Mine is a classic Seasalt Tin cloth raincoat, but I massively sized up for extra layers, and now I feel like a caped crusader whatever the weather.
A sunny stomp today in all my Autumn hued glory. Featuring a my berry red beret a gift from Paris, my Ma’s mustard wool scarf, and of course the Seasalt stalwart, my beloved chartreuse yellow green Tin Cloth coat. An absolute bargain from Vinted.
THREE - Bowl Food
Let’s face it, it rhymes with soul food, so we have to be on to a winner. For me as we transition into Winter, hugging a bowl of something warm and delicious becomes a necessity. Starting the day with a bowl of porridge kick starts the fire in my belly, and sets me up for the stomp with the dog, or compilation of the to do list. I usually prep a bowl of oats and water with some ground clove, cardamom and ginger the night before, for quicker cooking time in the microwave come morning. Adorned with a dollop of stewed apple, and a liberal sprinkling of pumpkin, sunflower and linseed. Autumn is also the season of the soup, and now is the time for some serious Sunday smug batch cooking. I am essentially always thinking about what we will eat next, and love to meal plan to optimise our budget, time and diet, but generally always a few vegetables sitting in the fridge waiting to be consumed at the end of the week. With a few store cupboard staples, and little simmering time, a batch of soup can be whizzed up and there’s a healthy lunches made for the week. A few of my current favourites are Carrot, Tomato and Red Lentil with Cumin and Turmeric, and Classic Pea and Mint, with hidden greens. But this season I want to have a little foray into some Daal’s and Asian broths. I’ll let you know how I get on.
Relax and unwind with soft candle lit corners, nestling in with a cosy glow.
FOUR - Candle Light
Cultivate a cosy glow and embrace those longer evenings, and light some candles. I am all for a roaring fire; and lining ourselves up behind the dog, but for now candles must suffice. I love to create seasonal displays and groupings of objects, that change and evolve with foraged finds from my walks - they’re like a still life of my week. But in and amongst them will be my collection of candle holders and votives, and naturally a carousel or two. My favourite candle holders are some punched tin ones from Marrakech for pence, starting to tarnish with time, but create a gorgeous patterned twinkle.
I’m pretty choosy when it comes to candles and my favourite tapers are stumpy brightly coloured Scandinavian style ones that burn for 4-6 hours, or a couple of relaxed date night dinners. But mostly I am the queen of the tealight, with their perfect proportions and useful container, they cast a gorgeous glow. I am a fairly picky customer, and love a long steady twinkle. My everyday choice would be a Price’s tealight candle, I buy them from our local farm supply shop, but I think they are readily available from hardware stores and supermarkets. But if you can find them, always go for the deep filled 8 hour tealights that come in a red box - they are a happy find! If we’re wanting to create a little ambient atmosphere, I raid the scented candle box. And my go to is always St Eval’s - their choice of fragrance err on the side of clean, green earthy and mossy, as well as warm and cosy (watch this space for some rather exciting news regarding St Eval’s candles…)
When feeling at a low ebb on a dark and wet morning; 10 minutes of calm, candle lit stretching and a herbal tea can feel like a decadent start to the day. And you already know the glow they can bring to an evening.
FIVE - Give into Sleep
Sunday afternoons are made for napping, and give into some early nights. There’s been many a study proving we need to sleep more, so give into temptation, if time permits. I’m going to be factoring many more in over the next few months. How about you?