Ideas to make the coming autumn lovelier ( or at least a little more bearable)

[Labradabradorable]

Looking out at the garden this evening I can see the light is a little more golden and the shadows a little longer. Autumn is around the corner, which I normally greatly look forward to on a hot late-August drive home through France, piled high with wine, well-read and dripping with idleness. I suspect this year’s bracing camping in Wales might just be a reminder of the rain and mud to come.

Any ideas to make the coming season a little nicer? So far I’ve come up with :

Blowing my birthday John Lewis voucher on a nice candle ( Diptyque Feu de Bois) and a couple of velvet scatter cushions
A houseplant for my bathroom window
Booking some riding lessons for all of us
Embracing the darker mornings and getting up early to walk the dog. Also, joining a beginners agility group.
Regular swimming and encouraging the kids to come too
A lovely bath foam ( I like L’Occitaine almond)
Buying good pyjamas and new boots
Planning some pretty woodland walks
Planning some good autumnal food (crumbles, stews)
If possible, doing a few days extra work and booking for DD and I to go to Paris. That might be wishful thinking as my summer energy ebbs.

Any other ideas welcome! 🍂

My autumn starts with a 1st September indorex-session around all the doorways/windows/fireplaces 😬 que much dead-dropping the next night and then none until spring 💪

That's very sad. Can't you just put them outside rather than killing them?

@WitchBaby

My autumn starts with a 1st September indorex-session around all the doorways/windows/fireplaces 😬 que much dead-dropping the next night and then none until spring 💪

That's very sad. Can't you just put them outside rather than killing them?

Ugh - no way have I got the time (or courage) to deal with the big fat bastards out in the countryside. No way am I going to be ushering them outside.

The multiple cellar spiders round the house get free reign most of the time. I let them be and they’re good for a timber-framed property.

It’s a compromise on my part, as I’m petrified of spiders. I’ve come to get used to the cellar ones, but that’s as far as it goes.

Anyone have a (not too indulgent) crumble recipe they recommend? I'm the only one that eats it here in my house so end up eating the lot! I tried a good food one but was so thick and sweet, it must have been half crumble! (Not that that's a bad thing but perhaps is if I'm eating it all!)

Crumble topping freezes well so if you've got any ramekins or any small baking dishes you can easily.nake yourself single portions. I'd make up a big batch, freeze it and then you can make yourself crumbles really easily!

Great idea to freeze crumble mixture.
I use Nigel slaters recipe with oats. I’m going to do a quadruple batch in the food processor and freeze 3.

Thanks ladies. Do I need to cook it first then freeze...?

Assuming Dog Agility.
Brilliant idea. We have just started and both me and dog are really enjoying it.

I’ve finally saved enough jars for a batch or two of Delia’s mincemeat, but it’s going to have to wait, since 2 very busy days coming up, and then we’re away on Sunday for 10 days.

Hoping for lots of windfalls from dd’s apple tree, too, for apple chutney.

I wonder whether we’ll have an Indian summer, to make up for the rubbish ‘proper’ summer? A few years ago I remember coming back from Greece in mid September, and it was almost as warm as there - shorts weather even well after dark.

Forecast is hot for Monday, Tuesday. Just as the schools go back As per usual..

@klajdndhus

Thanks ladies. Do I need to cook it first then freeze...?

No, it’s best if you mix and freeze the crumble mix by itself. You can cook a whole crumble and then freeze it but I find the crumble goes soggy this way.

Speaking of crumble.. the BEST recipe I've ever tried for crumble topping is one that includes pre baking the top on a baking sheet (especially if you like it to be a bit more solid than gooey on top) - I would never have thought of doing it before and it's a complete game changer IMO!

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/apple-blackberry-crumble

[quote covetingthepreciousthings]Speaking of crumble.. the BEST recipe I've ever tried for crumble topping is one that includes pre baking the top on a baking sheet (especially if you like it to be a bit more solid than gooey on top) - I would never have thought of doing it before and it's a complete game changer IMO!

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/apple-blackberry-crumble[/quote]
Thanks, I'm going to try this. Perfect timing as I picked a tub of lovely looking blackberries this afternoon.

@citygirlinwellies just a word of caution, but careful that it doesn't burn, check it before the timing says to!

@GromblesofGrimbledon

I also love carving a little pumpkin at halloween. We light him every evening until the 5th which is also my partner's birthday. On the 5th we take little pumpkinhead to the forest, take his hat off, and light a Roman candle inside him to say farewell. Then we have birthday sparklers and tea from our flasks.

This is a tradition my family had when I was growing up but we used to do it in our back green. Pumpkinhead is then left to be nibbled by wildlife and mulch back into the ground.

I love this. Great thread. Unfortunately it's responsible for me getting: A scented candle Seasonal duvet and cushion covers A string of decorative autumn leaves

I'm also on the lookout for acorns and conkers for (supervised!) sensory play. At least they're free.
Getting a bit seasonal sadness so keep the great ideas coming

@imisscoffee Do you have a link for the socks please? I have kidney disease which gives poor circulation and have been hunting for years for a decent pair of socks to warm my ice block feet!

@Furries I did exactly the same today, I’ll let them be outside but cannot stand them in the house, far too scared of them.

I desperately wanted to put duvets back on beds today instead of sheets, but next week looking hot with warm nights so think I’ll have to wait a bit

Poldark is my autumn tv choice. Film would be When Harry Met Sally.

I lit my new autumn cider apple candle yesterday, as I sorted through my wardrobe and packed the summer bits away.

Definitely a change in the air now, when the cat comes in from outside during the evening he 'smells of the night' which is that autumn outside kind of smell.

That candle sounds lovely @frugalkitty. We have a pecan pie and cream candle that I'm saving for when it gets a bit chillier.
Tomorrow we're going on a walk and making the ivy's frozen berries with melted white chocolate over the top when we get back home. 😍

The temperature is on the rise again, but I say warm weather be damned! I watched You've Got Mail last night and about to settle in now for Sleepless in Seattle.

Until it's cold enough for the wood burner I'll make do with beeswax candles. I can't bear scented candles but the very slight warm honey smell from beeswax is perfect.

I will also be out shopping tomorrow for new bedding. Hopefully brushed cotton.

We have a favourite bramble trail but I'm too heavily pregnant now to cope with the walk. I think I'll get my partner to pick some for us and make a crumble when the weather cools down some. When the brambles have all gone the same trail is perfect for clipping holly and berries which I make into a wreath for our door.

I adore this thread so much! So my plans are:

Raid tk maxx for autumnal scented candles (have bought two small ones already, currently have praline and vanilla going and tobacco on standby)
Buy paper lanterns and warm LED lights for the conservatory
Visit the arboretum when the leaves are changing
Drag out industrial sized slow cooker for pork shoulder and apple, stroganoff and all of the stews
I washed the dog's blanket and our blanket for evening snuggling
Going to do mulled wine in the slow cooker this year, made it on the hob at Christmas and was so nice I am going to make vats of the stuff this year
Bought welly warmers and downloaded a footpath app to try and discover some random walks for leaf crunching

I love this thread. It's getting me all excited for cosy things. Can I just mention winter Pimm's (no. 3) made with warm apple juice? My favourite winter warmer.

@Doghairismyglitter they're from Aldi and sadly not available at the moment, they get them in every year but Amazon also had lots of other brand tog rated socks that might be worth a try? These are the ones I have. www.aldi.co.uk/heat-for-your-feet-socks-purple-mix/p/019222325578705

If, like me, anyone has been looking into changing d3cor etc for the seasons (damn you lot again!), then thought these might be interesting. These are the Christmas covers, but they do loads more where colours could be chosen for Spring/summer and autumn/winter.

I’m seriously considering - an inexpensive way to change the look of my dining area.

cabrexa.co.uk/collections/chair-slipcovers/products/christmas-dining-chair-slipcovers

Got some lovely ideas from this thread and drinking a hot chocolate (velvetiser natch) whilst reading it.

Totally see Strike as good autumnal viewing/reading/listening.

I have the first Strike book ready to read. I’ll probably get out my ancient copy of “September” by Rosamund Pilcher to re-read, it’s been yonks since I read it. Does anyone have any other autumn reads recommendations?

Disappointingly it’s blooming roasting down here on the South Coast of England today. Feel a bit nauseous looking at the blanket I was gleefully under reading this thread last week.

Disappointingly it’s blooming roasting down here on the South Coast of England today.

Haha! I'm on the south coast too and thought exactly the same thing when I left the office this afternoon!