It's been a little while. The last couple of weeks have felt like an uphill struggle and I've neglected this little space as November began to take its toll. A combination of dark, damp days and various other trivial issues have left me feeling just a little disillusioned and low in spirits.
I'm happy to say there's nothing serious, and some of the issues which are troubling me don't even affect me personally - my tendency to overthink and dwell on things does nothing to help in this situation. I have been making sure to take more time for myself and focus on the positives, which has helped enormously. I've also managed to continue running several times a week and I am finally noticing some improvement.
I find that getting outdoors always has a calming and restorative affect, so with this in mind, at the weekend Lily and I went for a walk through the fields and into the woods. The trees are looking rather bare now and I'm sure the recent frosty weather will have since seen off many of the remaining leaves. Dampness hung in the air and I could feel the chill rising up through the earth. A brief pause for some chocolate and a decision was made to return straight home into the warm rather than visiting the nearby café for a hot drink.
In the afternoon we baked biscuits. At Lily's request - gingerbread, and definitely heart shaped. Simple, delicious and all gone now! I think I will use this recipe for our Christmas gingerbread house this year. Yes, I've allowed myself to start planning ahead for the big event and there is a gentle simmering of excitement here. This week I've been browsing magazines and I've sourced the ingredients for my Christmas cake. I might also have watched a cheesy Christmas film (or two).
Gingerbread Biscuits:
75g butter
60g light brown sugar
3 ½ tablespoons of golden syrup
175g plain flour
pinch of bicarbonate of soda
2 teaspoons of ground ginger
Put butter, sugar and syrup in a pan and heat gently until sugar is dissolved. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix well together to form a dough. Chill in the fridge for half an hour then roll out to around 4mm thickness between two sheets of greaseproof paper and cut into shapes.
Bake at 150° for approximately ten minutes. This makes around 18 biscuits.
J. X
The gloom and the cold won't bother me quite so much once the heating is mended and we have hot water again.....yes we are still waiting.
ReplyDeleteThe gingerbread biscuits look delicious. I'll make some of those when Ruby comes to decorate the Christmas tree at the end of the month.
Hugs-x-
I hope you get it sorted soon, Sheila. It's rotten when you can't get warmed through when it's cold outside. The biscuits are a quick and easy make, which is a good job as they don't last very long - in our house at least :) X
DeleteHi Jules I agree being outdoors really does have a calm and restorative effect.
ReplyDeleteYour biscuits look very good indeed. I am just thinking about the Christmas cake, will be with us now before we know it. xx
I'm trying to strike a balance between not starting my Christmas preparations too early and not leaving it until last minute. X
DeleteI love gingerbread; in fact anything ginger! My favourite biscuits are Lidl's Stem Ginger Cookies. I have to be very strict with myself, just one with my afternoon tea, or I'd trough the whole box!! The damp, dismal weather makes me feel meh as well. Being cooped up indoors is not good, but sometimes you just don't want to go out unless you really have to. Luckily Ranger loves walks and that's a real incentive to get out. Take care. Best, Jane x
ReplyDeleteChocolate covered ginger biscuits have always been a favourite of mine and ginger sponge and custard. I'm feeling hungry now :)
DeleteIt's good you're getting out with Ranger. I'm sure I will get another dog at some time in the future. X
Lovely photos, of your walks.....
ReplyDeleteSorry that the November weather blues are getting to you.
But you did the Hibernating Thing! Came home and had hot chocolate and baked cookies/biscuits!!!! -smile-
And getting a wee bit excited about the coming Yule and Christmas..
And thinking of watching some holiday films.
Allll wise!
And hope the over-thinking eases up too. I understand. I do it too. -sigh-
Think warm, cozy, coming Holiday thoughts!!!!
Gentle hugs...
⛄⛄⛄⛄
I did think about your mention of hibernating while I was writing this post :) and I'm definitely thinking warm, cosy thoughts now. Hugs received with thanks. Xx
DeleteGingerbread biscuits, hot chocolate with marshmallows, and warm candlelight are all very good antidotes to the gloomy November weather and troubled thoughts. I am glad to read that there are no serious issues, though. We have been lucky with some warm and sunny November days, but, the forecast calls for a weather change, tomorrow. We might even have some rain! I hope the rest of this month brings you peace and happier thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bless. The candlelight has been very welcome on these dark evenings, although I may soon need to limit my intake of gingerbread and marshmallows :) X
DeleteI have never liked November because of it’s grey days and cold. It is the front door of winter. Those things play on the mind in not a good way. There is joy, though, in the upcoming holidays with all its lights and celebration. Then January comes and the days slowly become longer and there is more time to bake.
ReplyDeleteThe front door of winter is the perfect description, Arleen. I'm looking forward to Christmas now, bringing with it some light and joy. X
DeleteI definitely suffer from SAD when we reach these shorter darker days. Like you my antidote is to get out but it's been hard with a puppy who still needs another vaccination. Thank you for the recipe, I feel some baking coming on.
ReplyDeleteIt can be tough at this time of year. The dark, cold days can grow wearisome after a while. It must be difficult for you not being able to walk far at the moment, although just think of the adventures you have to look forward to. X
DeleteThank you very much for the recipe. Gingerbread is so Christmassy and lovely for home made hampers. How long do they keep (assuming they're not eaten)?
ReplyDeleteNovember can be such a dull and dreary month, can't it? It starts with blight lights and ends with decorations going up but in between it's gloomy with increasingly short days and long nights and much dampness.
Well done with the running!
xx
I'm sorry, Joy, I have no idea how long the biscuits will keep. It's rare anything lasts for more than a couple of days in this house! :D X
DeleteI am sorry to hear that the November gloom has left you low in spirits. It is really hard to stay positive when the light is so grey and it is cold and damp too. I am glad to hear that you have been able to find a few chinks of positivity, that is so important at this time of year to carry us through these last few weeks of dark and gloom before the light begins to return. There is nothing like a home baked biscuit with hot chocolate when you have been out for a walk in November. Hope you are having a good week this week x
ReplyDeleteI am clinging on to that positivity (and hot chocolate :))The weather has been so dreary and miserable lately that I'm looking forward to being able to decorate for the festive season - not too soon, however. X
DeleteI always find November such a hard month, even more so this year as I've been stuck indoors with the lurgy. Being able to get out and about really does lift the spirits, especially on a crisp sunny day, not that there's been many of those about this year. Those gingerbread biscuits look like a good pick-me-up though, especially served with hot chocolate and marshmallows, yum!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you've been so unwell, Jo and I hope your dad continues to improve. I'm sure some bright sunny days would help enormously but until they arrive, I will make do with hot chocolate :) X
DeleteI know how you feel, I get that dull melancholic feel around this time of the year, walking and baking do help but I am still actively denying the impeding festive month for a couple more weeks - still in mourning for summer! Not helped by Maria Carie screeching 'all I want for Christmas' on the radio as I type this - sigh.....
ReplyDeleteI am getting ready for the light and sparkle of Christmas, although like you, I don't want it to start too soon. Summer feels like a distant memory. X
DeleteSometimes a lot of little things going on is worse than having to deal with one big one don't you think? I'm glad to hear it's nothing serious but these little niggles do have a way of burrowing deep under our skin.
ReplyDeleteThose gingerbread biscuits look delicious. I'm definitely not up to making gingerbread houses but I'm sure I could definitely manage some love hearts.
Hope your week is a good one. Take care of yourself. xx
I've been dwelling on a situation which involves some people, who should know better, being a little unkind. I know I must learn to stop overthinking things, but I can't help it.
DeleteThe gingerbread hearts (other shapes are available!) are really tasty, so it's maybe not such a good thing that they are so simple to make. X
I think I've been sharing some of your feelings. I've spent a few days walking through treacle this month.
ReplyDeleteGingerbread is one of my favourites, although I resolve to snack less so I'll just have to look for some when I'm out and about rather than make a batch for myself.
I'm sorry you're feeling this way too, although in a weird way it's a relief to know it's not just me. I hope you feel brighter soon.
DeleteSnacking is something I've been trying to cut back on too. Lets just say it's a work in progress. X
Sad to hear that you've been a little down in the dumps (do many people use that term these days?). November weather really does little to lift the spirits I have to say. I'll be off for my walk in the woods shortly but it's dark (at past 9am) and I'll have to put all my wet-weather gear on. But play the Glad Game - we can go for a walk in the woods. We are not stuck in a gloomy tenement or living under a bridge on the Thames Embankment. And best of all (sorry about all the sentences starting with a conjunction) we can come home, make gingerbread and have hot chocolate. I wish for you a happy heart for the rest of Gloomy November.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard that term in a while :) but yes, down in the dumps sums it up quite nicely. I am concentrating on the good and am always grateful for my surroundings and a decent pair of wellies! A walk in the woods or out on the fells never fails to lift me, especially when followed by hot chocolate and gingerbread at this time of year. On that note, I might just have taken some freshly baked flapjack from the oven :)
DeleteI wish you hadn't mentioned flapjack. I haven't had any for years. I used to love it. I rarely eat sweet things but I'm sorely tempted to make some flapjack. Hmmm.
DeleteI bake flapjack regularly, as it gets eaten on a daily basis here.
DeleteSorry you've been feeling a bit low Jules, this damp dreary weather doesn't help much does it - a shame we can't hibernate like animals do. I like your last photo, and the gingerbread biscuits look quite more-ish - I'm not surprised they were soon eaten :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eunice. I think I'd be quite good at hibernating :)
DeleteSorry you've been feeling a bit glum. I think the weather lately must have influenced you, as glum or grim would sum up perfectly.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos as always. Those gb biccies look so good! xx
Thank you, Sadie. I'm looking forward to some festive sparkle now. X
DeleteI think we all try to remain upbeat during November as the days shorten and its dull, damp and dreary. Taking time to slow down and have some comfy and cosy autumnal treats is certainly the way to warm up after a wander in the outdoors. Your walk looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to embrace the autumn weather but these dark days have proved wearisome. I feel lucky to have some lovely walks right from my doorstep. Some fresh air followed by a hot drink and something tasty to eat certainly helps to lift my spirits. X
DeleteA lot of people find it hard as we transition from summer to autumn and then into winter. I think its because we suddenly feel like a mole because we tend to leave the house in the dark and return home again in the dark. Your biscuits look lovely. I may have to have ago at your recipe and see how it compares to the tried and tested one I use to use when my children were small. I need to get practicing for when my grandson is old enough to want to help grandma in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteMx
Haha! I like your comparison. I even look a little mole like today, in my black sweater! :)
DeleteI like this biscuit recipe. Lily isn't keen on handling sticky dough so this is perfect for us. I hope you enjoy it. X
I am not keen either on what my mother always called 'the dark days before Christmas' - it is very cold up here in North Yorkshire, especially when like this morning it was also thick fog. I shall be pleased when February arrives and there just might be a suggestion that it is not too long before Spring is in the air.
ReplyDeleteNot only has the weather been cold this week, it has been damp as well. I'd much rather we had some snow than these grey gloomy days. I hope you're managing to keep warm, Pat. X
DeleteI'm with you on the November gloom, I'm the world's biggest optimist but I have to admit to struggling with these dark days and incessant rain. My solution? Book flights to India so I know I can eventually escape it and feel the sun on my back.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a sweet lover but don't mind a ginger biscuit, the Co-op's stem ginger cookies are my indulgence!
Hope hings get brighter for you soon. x
It's always a good idea to have something to look forward to. I haven't yet begun to look at holidays for next year, but you've got me thinking now. Until then I will enjoy your trip vicariously. X
DeleteI always think that focusing on the positives helps on days when we may be feeling a little down and gloomy.
ReplyDeleteGood for you that you've managed to continue running several times a week …
Your photographs are lovely and it's always good to get out and about for a walk.
We were out earlier today and the Autumn leaves were wonderful … both Eddie and I were big kids kicking them around! LOL!
Yum! The gingerbread biscuits look delicious :)
Take care and enjoy the rest of your week.
All the best Jan
We managed a bit of leaf kicking earlier in the week, when the frosty weather had dried them out. I never tire of it. X
DeleteI’m sorry to hear that you were not feeling well. It could be due to the gloomy weather. Sometimes I feel kind of lazy when it’s cold. 😊
ReplyDeleteThose biscuits look yummy.
I hope you are having a great week. 😊
Thank you, Nil. This gloomy weather and one or two niggling issues have been getting me down, but I'm OK. X
DeleteI am an over thinker too, so I really do sympathise. I'm quite an 'up and down' person and have to work at staying 'up'. I hope you will mange this too. Love the look of the heart shaped biscuits. I must get my biscuit cutters out of their hiding place at the back of the cupboard and get baking some.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eloise. Like you, I need to work at staying positive and thankfully I'm quite good at recognising when I need to put that bit more effort in.
DeleteDo get baking - the biscuits are delicious. X
I think the weather can really get you down, Jules. Where I live, we don't have the gloomy weather you do but sweltering heat that keeps me inside when I'd rather be outside. It's too hot to plant anything much in my veg patch and I find that dampens my spirit somewhat too. I'm glad you are doing things for yourself and looking at all the positives in life; it can be hard to do that sometimes but I think it really does help. MegXx
ReplyDeleteI am counting my blessings, Meg and am relieved the weather has only been getting me down. It must be terrible for those who have affected by floods or forest fires.
DeleteI hope you manage to get some respite form the sweltering heat. X
Love those photos of the trees . So atmospheric . Thanks for the biscuit recipe, can't wait to give them a try . Bx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Barbara. I always love to see a beautiful tree silhouette against the sky at this time of year. I suspect there are similar photographs in previous November posts. X
DeleteI've been feeling a bit like this, Jules. I don't normally, but I think it's because it's been so wet and dismal! I'm longing for at least two cold, sunny consecutive days. I'm definitely going to do some of those gingerbread biscuits, they look delicious!
ReplyDeleteI get the impression I'm far from alone in feeling like this, Ann and some brighter days would be much appreciated. X
DeleteHello Jules, sorry to hear that you have been down but it seems you also know and recognize the symptoms and are trying to work through it with what works for you. Outdoors definitely seems to help me, but it is sometimes a push to make myself get out there! Love the photos and the ginger biscuits, I thoroughly approve of them being heart shaped, as you know! So glad that you are thinking about Christmas, as you know it's my favourite time of the year. Sending hugs xxx PS will be blogging everyday in December again for you info xxx
ReplyDeleteYou've got it exactly right, Selma. I recognise the symptoms and work through them. Getting outdoors always helps, although it can be challenging, especially when it's cosy and warm indoors AND there are ginger biscuiits!
DeleteAs ever, I am very excited to read all your Christmas posts. Xx
It's been almost unrelentingly grey and gloomy here, too. So dismal, and although it's been very, very wet, at least we haven't been flooded. I'm sad to read that you've been feeling low and well done on working your way through it. Thanks for the gingerbread recipe, I love all things ginger so I'm going to give it a go. Take care. x
ReplyDeleteEverywhere looks so grey and the weather has been very wet. It must be miserable for those who have been flooded.
DeleteI hope you enjoy the gingerbread. X
I definitely think this is the season for hibernating and slowing down but the world seems to want to do more and more and stay busy, I am wondering how I am going to fit Christmas in this year - I love the gingerbread and will copy the recipe then hope I can make some - all I have done so far is buy the cutters! xx
ReplyDeleteYes, it's funny how what is often the busiest time of the year is when our bodies are telling us to slow down. We should remind ourselves to take the time to enjoy the season and not try to fit so much in.
DeleteI hope you enjoy the biscuits. X