Enjoying the Season

Or, at least, we are trying to in between the downpours. Autumn has arrived here in typical northern style. Wet and windy. Beautiful sunshine one minute, then dark and pouring with rain the next.

This week has felt long. I've been struggling with a hip problem and now I'm very aware of the beginnings of a cold. I suppose the weather should be the perfect excuse to cosy-in and rest up.

Mother Nature is doing her thing. The earth is preparing to slow down for the winter with a wonderful display, and at the weekend we walked through the woods, taking it all in. The leaves are falling fast and we had fun trying to catch them before they landed. Mum - 1. Lily - 0, although in fairness I've had a few more years of practice.

Our boots have taken up permanent position by the front door. I wouldn't consider anything less at his time of year - warm, dry toes are a priority for me. The ground is so muddy. Soggy leaves, beech nuts and conkers get everywhere. I try not to be too concerned on the occasions mud is trampled in the house, it's soon swept up.

The amount of conkers on the coffee table is increasing by the day. I collect them every autumn. It's something that immediately takes me back to childhood and I love that Lily enjoys it too. The gingerbread candle has been lit in an evening and it smells amazing and the knitted pumpkins have taken their seasonal place upon the mantel.

This week I've been particularly busy in the kitchen. Everything has been cooked from scratch - yes, even the post swimming class pizza! I've surprised myself. There's nothing I like better than comfort food at this time of year, especially if it's simple and delicious, and one of my favourites is a risotto.

Butternut squash and sage risotto:

1 small squash cut into chunks
50g butter
1 onion
2 teaspoons dried sage
300g arborio rice
Approximately 1.5 litres vegetable stock
50g hard cheese

Roast the squash in a medium oven for around 20 minutes. 
Gently cook the onions in the butter. Stir in rice, sage, adding the vegetable stock a little at a time, until cooked.
Mash up half the squash (I use a fork to do this) and stir through the rice along with the cheese.
Serve up in bowls with the rest of the squash scattered on top.

Thank you to everyone who left such kind words on my last post. I'm happy to report the school situation appears to have been resolved but it is something I will be keeping a close eye on.

J. X

Stepping into Autumn

The surrounding countryside has taken on an unmistakable autumn vibe, so I decided to treat the blog to a touch of seasonal colour. 🍁🍂🍃🍁🍂🍃🍁

It's been quite a week. I've finally completed my studies but whereas I should be feeling happy and relieved, following some miserable days of persistent rain and Lily experiencing some difficulties at school, instead I've hit a bit of a slump. I'm throwing myself into the new season, however, and intend to embrace all things autumn. On the coffee table there is a gingerbread scented candle, some conkers I gathered whilst out running during the week, and some knitting, which is currently a work in progress.

This morning the temperature has dropped noticeably and, although we've been wearing our thin waterproofs up until now, I suspect we will be changing to our warmer jackets later this week.

At the weekend, on the one fine day we've had for a while, Lily and I went for a walk in the woods. It is one of our favourite walks and one we enjoy on a regular basis. It only takes us an hour from start to finish, that's with us bimbling along and includes the obligatory stops for stick collecting, puddle splashing and, of course, chocolate! The recent heavy rain meant that many of the pathways were wet and muddy and I was glad I'd decided we should wear our wellies. Leaves have begun falling from the trees and it wont be long until the woodland floor is a carpet of orange and yellow.  

It is lovely and peaceful in the woods and more often than not we have it all to ourselves. This time, however, the ordinarily gently flowing stream was a noisy torrent of water but by sharp contrast, further into the woods where the sun shone through the canopy of the trees, it was quiet and still.

The change in the seasons is apparent now. The garden is looking a bit of a mess and I need to get out there on a fine day to clear it up. The raised bed needs turning over, sunflowers need pulling out and I should really get the garden furniture put away until the spring.

In the kitchen I'm cooking more wholesome, warming meals, which I love at this time of year. If I manage to get myself into more of a routine, I might even get back to baking my own bread.

J. X

Summer's End

The last of the sunflowers has opened up in the morning sun, I've just returned from a short run along the lanes, and there's a pan of leek and potato soup in the kitchen ready for my lunch.

I'm quite relieved to see the start of this new week.

Last week was a bit meh! Both Lily and I felt quite out of sorts. Nothing I could put my finger on but I was initially putting it down to being overtired - settling in to the new school year, trying my best to complete my studies (I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the end of this week), and pushing myself to get back into some form of exercise routine. Looking back now, I think it's clear we were suffering with some sort of virus. Several evenings I was so shivery, I was wrapped up in a blanket on the sofa. Now, I am aware I feel the cold very easily but this felt a little extreme, even for me, and I have since discovered it has been affecting quite a few people, a sort of primary school version of fresher's flu.

My original plans for the weekend involved a steep climb and the promise of some glorious views but, given how washed out I was feeling, this was definitely not a good idea. Any time I've been under the weather, as well as some early nights and making sure I'm eating properly, I always feel better for a good dose of sea air, so with this is mind, instead, we went to the beach. And I'm so glad we did. It was just the nicest way to say goodbye to our summer. The temperatures were unseasonably high and it was lovely to have this last opportunity to paddle in the sea, breathe in the fresh salty air, and feel the warm sunshine on our skin. 

I'm pleased to say we are both now feeling much better and, with the ending of our summer days,  I'm looking forward to what autumn holds in store.
J. X

A Quiet Day

We're  having a quiet day at home today. The bright morning sunshine has given way to a slightly overcast afternoon.  The washing is blowing on the line, I've made a batch of carrot and lentil soup and the stew I've prepared for dinner this evening is gently simmering away on the stove.

It's been a busy week, so I'm grateful for this opportunity to relax and wind down.

Last weekend we, once again, went for a walk in the Northern Lakes, high up some forest tracks to where the views opened out towards the sea in the west and the Skiddaw range of fells in the east. The heather is fading away now and there are subtle signs of autumn all around. We enjoyed a picnic overlooking Bassenthwaite Lake before our steep descent, which found us tentatively crossing some slippery stones over a narrow stream, before finding ourselves amongst the trees once more.

On Tuesday evening we took part in a bat walk down by the river. The light was just beginning to fade and it was the perfect time to catch sight of these fascinating little creatures. We saw some flying overhead, heard them in the trees, using bat detectors and spotted some darting out from beneath the bridge, skimming the surface of the river looking for flies. We were meant to end our evening with hot chocolate and cookies but, as Lily was tired from a long day, we returned home early.

Last night, just as we did last year, we went to Blackpool for fish and chips and to see the Illuminations and fireworks. It was such a lovely evening. The air was still and the harvest moon shone brightly in the beautifully clear night sky.  We watched the fireworks from the promenade, enjoyed the tableau displays, then returned home rather weary but very happy.

This week, we have begun to settle into a routine and, so far, everything is going well. Lily seems to have settled in at school, which is a relief, as although she has always enjoyed going, I can't help that initial feeling of concern at the beginning of each new school year. Our week ahead should be a little less busy, which I am quite thankful for. I've some loose ends to tie up and some plans to make.
Have a great weekend.

J. X