Simple Living Autumn Traditions

Simple and slow activities to enjoy the beauty of Autumn

As we are now fully immersed in the wonderful season that is Autumn I thought I would share with you some of the activities that I enjoy doing to celebrate the season. 

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Bring nature inside

Treasures that you find on your walks, or pottering in the garden, how about bringing some inside to create a lovely Autumnal display.  This year I’ve selected some horse chestnuts and pine cones to make a beautiful arrangement on the mantelpiece.  I’ve also added a couple of small pumpkins and a homemade one to the display.

Read

There is something so cosy about curling up on the sofa with a blanket wrapped around you, and a good book. 

Inspired by the lovely Molly from

Slow Scottish Stories

I chose this year to read seasonally.  Here is my selection for this Autumn –

• The Nature of Autumn by Jim Crumley. 

• My Garden World by Monty Don. 

• Woodsman by Ben Law

• Sacred Seasons by Kirsty Gallagher

  

Reconnect with craft projects

As much as I love quiet time working on a craft project, my attention is focussed on gardening during the spring and summer months.  Are you the same?  Having an allotment and garden to takes lots of time and but I love it.  Watching those little seedlings turn into a nourishing meal is the most rewarding thing ever!   As gardening slows down a little when Autumn arrives and daylight diminishes I find myself digging out craft projects.  I usually have a knitting project on the go.  This year it’s a chunky cable-knit headband.  I am also planning to knit a pair of socks.  Traditionally I knit a pair of autumn or winter themed socks each year.  I’ll talk more about my crafting life in a future blog.

Watch a seasonal film or series

My husband, Anthony, and I are not big fans of regular tv, most of our viewing is through Netflix and You Tube.   Here is my recommended watch list for Autumn.

• You’ve Got Mail – a firm favourite.  “Don’t you just love New York in the fall?”

• Harry Potter – a must watch as Halloween approaches.  We watch them all every year!

• Gilmore Girls – I’ve only recently discovered this series and I love it.  I’ve been very intentional about not binge watching it, however tempting :)  So every now and then when I need some down time I’ll catch an episode or two.

• Jonna Jinton – one of my favourite channels on YouTube.  Jonna is a beautiful filmmaker and artist from the north of Sweden. 

• My viewing list wouldn’t be complete without adding Hippy Highland Living.  Molly’s YouTube channel is perfect to help you to slow down, and the added bonus of being set in the gorgeous Scottish Highlands.

Drink hot chocolate

Autumn evenings would not be the same without a delicious mug of hot chocolate, with a dollop of cream of course.  I discovered a fabulous recipe for pumpkin spice syrup (see below) last year and it makes the perfect addition to hot chocolate. 

Photo by Karly Jones on Unsplash

Harvest and preserve your home grown produce

I enjoy preserving a lot of what I grow.  I freeze most of our gluts but my favourite things to make are pasta sauce, rhubarb marmalade (the best marmalade I’ve ever tasted by the way)! and I also dry my home grown chilli’s and chop them up into flakes.  They last me until next years batch is ready. 

Make pumpkin spice syrup

I discovered a pumpkin spice syrup recipe by the lovely CasaRustica last year.  It’s the most autumnal thing that I have ever tasted, I will definitely be making this a yearly tradition.  I’ll link to the recipe below.  You must try it!

https://casarusticahomestead.com/how-to-make-pumpkin-spice-syrup/

Take a woodland walk

Autumn wouldn’t be Autumn without taking a lovely woodland walk.  A beautiful crisp morning, with the sun just peeping through the trees.  To wonder at the stunning golds, oranges and reds of the falling leaves, the acorns, conkers and pine cones.   An hour or two of pure magical bliss. 

Photo by Erik Witsoe on Unsplash

Start a journal

I started my journaling and writing life in Autumn a couple of years ago.  To me it’s the perfect time to start, as nature changes and begins to slow down.  Something about Autumn sparks so much creative energy for me.  Take your notebook and pencil out with you on your walk, or sit in your garden.  Observe and write down what you see, feel and hear.  It’s lovely to look back and read what you’ve written.  If you don’t have a notebook and pencil with you, take a photo on your phone, or use your note taking app. The important thing is to log your observations.

Light a candle

Evening light dims as we head deeper into Autumn, so lighting a candle or two is an absolute must.  I love the cosy feel that the soft glow of candlelight brings. 

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

So, that’s my Autumn traditions. I’d love to hear about your own traditions for this season. Let me know in the comments below.

Thank you so much for reading. 

If you haven’t already done so, please consider subscribing so that you don’t miss future content.  I’d really love to take you along on this journey with me.

Next time I’ll be delving a little more into my back ground and why I chose this path to living a more simple and slow life. 

Until then

Debbie xx