MAKING great fires in the log burner! Does that count?
COOKING warming veggie curries; pumpkin & chickpea and a peanutty aubergine recipe
BAKING Scottish Shortbread. Delicious!
SIPPING a few hot chocolates lately. Well, it’s cold. 3° yesterday, 2° today. Brrr!
READING Mad Blood Stirring by Simon Mayo (and listening to it on Spotify)
WAITING for snow. First snowfall nearby last night
LOOKING very wrapped up when out. All the woollies. Wearing my rainbow bobble cowl at the mo and wrapping my purple Hitchhiker scarf on top when I go back to the car
LISTENING to The Battersea Poltergeist and Uncanny podcasts by Danny Robins
WISHING Christmas presents magically bought and wrapped themselves
ENJOYING lights and sparkle when out and about
DISLIKING Christmas trees and decs up in early November. Soon it’s going to be Christmas from the day after Halloween…
APPRECIATING any sunny blue days
EATING toasted goats cheese, rocket & red onion chutney toastie in a favourite cafe today
LIKING the mocha that always accompanies it. Strange combo maybe…
South Kensington, London. What a beauty
LOVING heated car seat and stirring wheel. A car with gizmos
BUYING a Star Bar recently, then dropping the last bit in the gutter
MANAGING to forget about a third of all I need to remember
WATCHING Ant & Dec in Australia. They make me laugh
HOPING for a good December
LISTENING to be audiobook of Mad Blood Stirring by Simon Mayo (on Spotify)
WEARING black jeans, green top
VISITING The V&A: Gabrielle Chanel, Fashion Manifesto
NOTICING how one person with a (very) loud voice can dominate a space. Shoulders went down in the cafe when they left
FOLLOWING …it’s macabre, but so many death announcements today …Shane MacGowan, Alistair Darling, Henry Kissinger and Dean Sullivan (Jimmy Corkhill in Brookside, a particularly English soap opera)
SORTING photos. Where do you store your digital photos? Cloud? Lap top? External hard drive?
GETTING organised with lists, but not much action
COVETING I can’t think of anything. A chateau maybe? A castle?
FEELING relaxed
HEARING a buzz of conversation, South Oxfordshire accents
How are you? What are you up to at the moment? Tell me three things?
Cooking: fish chowder, some cream and dill at the end make it taste luxurious
Sipping: hot lemon, ginger & honey
Reading: I started another of Ann Cleeves Vera series, perfect winter reading – a country house at Christmas with a house party in full swing and … da-da-daaa! A body
Anticipating: my December gin box to be delivered at the beginning of next month
Breakfasting: porridge all the way!
Looking: at all the birds who suddenly appeared in the garden, when it became much colder
Listening: to The Green Planet TV series soundtrack on Spotify, it’s epic. I didn’t watch any of the series, but the soundtrack makes me want to!
Poppies in progress for the Remembrance Day postbox topper
Wishing: for some thermal gloves for when I walk
Enjoying: Sing 2. Purchased on Amazon, it’s a really good fun watch if you like music and silliness
A well-used and borrowed library book, I’ve made a note of the mint syrup recipe for summer cocktails
Appreciating: all the colours in the trees, it hadn’t been that windy in November, so there were lots and lots of beautiful autumn leaves still
Eating: chicken and leeks in blue cheese sauce with potatoes and green beans (leftovers with tagliatelle were delicious)
Liking: 1899 on Netflix, it’s creepy and intriguing
Loving: wearing my handmade woollies again
Those bronze ferns are stunning
Buying: a few presents, trying to get ahead of the game
The Christmas cabins were in place at Blenheim Palace by 18th November when I walked in the parkland
Watching: I’m a Celebrity as usual, it was really entertaining back in Australia. Wales did not work for us
Hoping: for a lovely family Christmas, looking forward to it
Wearing: my Edenvale cowl and some purple gloves while I walked
Noticing: Christmas trees going up in homes before the end of the month. In NOVEMBER #TooEarly
Still making a loaf of sourdough every week
Following: Made by Anita on Insta, see her page here. We’ve followed each other there for years. I recommend her account if you want to see lovely colour combos, plus loads and loads of crochet
Sorting: out some yarn oddments for the next yarn bombing project for my friend (orange for a nose!)
He sang his heart out for my cousin and me
Getting: Stollen and a tin of Twiglets for my Christmas store, in recent years I’ve realised if you snooze, you lose!
Coveting: A really good flask so that I can make a hot cup of tea back at my car, after long walks
Tempted to buy a Velvetiser, I made my own real hot chocolate instead; with a bar of Lindt dark, some whole milk and a whisk, in a pan. We loved it
Feeling: a bit tingly excited about Christmas as the month drew to a close
Hearing: the heating whirring away, I’m not taking it for granted
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It was a nice month, some exciting things happened; I met new people, went to new places, generally all felt pretty good. As I write this it’s the second of December now, I hope it’s as special a month.
How are you doing? I hope all is well in your world and you’re managing to stay warm. Or, cool and dry if you’re Down Under!
Making: (made) an epic tiramisu for seven, all of whom are greedy for dessert. It made lots of portions – enough for seconds for the greedy fans, plus some to take home!
Cooking: A recipe a week from the Green Roasting Tin book, yes, still. I’m enjoying them, apart from this week’s which was a little less than the sum of its parts. Might try it again, but make my own harissa. This weekly project has really revitalised the meatless meals that I make
Sipping: Earl Grey
Reading: The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller. Only just started, so this isn’t a recommendation, although it is a very successful best seller. But it’s good so far. I’ve read that if you liked the Crawdads book, this is for you. I did, so hopefully I’ll enjoy it
Waiting: for more rain, I collected lots several weeks ago, to the extent that I began to think I was crazy. But then it stopped raining after a few days and the water is now long gone, used in keeping the plants going
New violas, 6 for £3.50 from a local nursery. So much pleasure for a little cash
Looking: stylish as usual (ha!)
Listening: to the children playing outside, they’re just home from school
Wishing: for a long settled period for us all. Lots of continuing upheaval in the world
Enjoying: autumn
Appreciating: juicy blackberries, pausing to eat a few during walks
Gorgeously red haws (not to eat fresh, though apparently they can be used to make drinks, jams, jellies & syrups)
Eating: fish chowder later tonight, the first this autumn
Liking: cake and coffee with my friend yesterday, after a nice walk for a few hours. We talked and talked and talked
Loving: my aunt’s reaction to a potential menu for a light lunch next week, she said “No, I don’t think so, thank you” to my savoury suggestion. But when I offered to make scones and take over a cream tea she leaned forward, grinned and said: “Now you’re talking!”
Buying: bargains! I’ve got new tops from Seasalt, FatFace and a Craghoppers fleecy thing, which will be good for wearing on cooler autumn walks, all for around half to less than the full ticket price. WHOOP!
Greylag geese
Managing: to get the late payment and interest charges (circa £25!) taken off my credit card bill this morning. I’d uncharacteristically missed the payment deadline by ONE day. I was all ready and prepared to point out that I always pay off in full and have had the account for years, but didn’t have to at all
Watching: Wedding Season on Star, Disney+, so far so good and unexpected
Hoping: to go to London soon, at the beginning of the week I was waiting for the infrastructure from the Queen’s State Funeral to be cleared and things to settle down
Wondering: If you watched it? Jaw-dropping organisation, incredible sights. I loved the Scots Pipers and the Grenadier Guards and the Household Cavelry and …. It was such a spectacle. Along with over 28 million in this country, I was watching. This is the end of an era, so many of us have never known life without the Queen, just being ‘there’
The bees loved the sedum flowers at Buscot Park the other week
Noticing: it’s growing much cooler in the afternoons and evenings. Have you got the heating on, or a fire going yet? The fire has been on once so far, but I’ve wrapped up in my Tilted Squares blanket a few times
Getting: my preserving pan in action. So far I’ve made a batch of Chilli Jam. It’s v v pokey. I used a variety of homegrown tomatoes and hot, hot, hot homegrown birthday chillies
Prairie Fire chillies went into this, it’s definitely not for babies!
Following: what’s on at the V&A and considering Membership again
Heart, or bottom?
Sorting: apple recipes: jelly, chutney or jam?
A return visit to the Cotswold Sculpture Park, before it closes at the end of the month
Anticipating: the new series of Ghosts (BBC 1 tomorrow night, we’ll watch later on the iplayer)
Feeling: keen to see the next of River Cottage Reunited, such a shame there’s only 4 episodes, but wow it’s my kind of telly. Did you see it? Or watching now on catch up on All4?
Cerney House Garden
Hearing: Figure it Out by Royal Blood. Needs to be loud
Chilli Fest!
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What about you? Is all okay in your part of the world? Share three things?
Oh and a warm hello to you if you’ve recently found this blog through Facebook, my Facebook blog page has now reached 4.8K followers!
We went for a walk for a couple of hours this morning. The weather was mild and still, plenty of dog walkers were out and about. Lovely dogs and really friendly owners. Nearly everybody called them back to put on the lead. Very kind and completely unprompted. I’m glad though, because you always wonder how friendly a dog will be, not so much because of fear but because of exuberantly happy helloes and muddy paw-prints all over your clothes. As a cat person that happens to me often. The dog person walking with me will usually be ignored. How do dogs just know?
Can you see the birds? They were feasting on newly turned worms I expect, and pecking holes in potatoes missed by the harvester.One windy day and this will soon be bare. The weather is so mild and calm at the moment that the autumn colour is lingering. Loving it!Ivy vines growing up an oak tree, with clematis circling and climbing up them. Quite a dramatic sight which stopped me in my tracks. The tree is covered with glossy ivy leaves too. It’s being taken over. A rowan tree not far from home
The walk was carefully timed, so that we were back in plenty of time to go and buy snacks, pour some beer, then watch the rugby. Well, one of us anyway.
I’m upstairs escaping the crunching of pork scratchings and Big Hoops, comments and excited shouts at the TV. I meant to put on Spotify and listen to Tick Tick BOOM! soundtrack, but the P&Q is nice. Have you seen it yet? A brand new Netflix film. The best new musical I’ve seen in ages. Who knew Andrew Garfield could sing and dance? I liked him as Spider-Man, but this takes him into a completely new genre. It’s an impressive change of gear.
What makes a good musical? For me I want to sing along to a song after only a minute or two. Ditto dancing. I go away singing my own made up songs afterwards too. And dance a few steps on my way to bed. Tick tick BOOM!
I’ve been singing Boho Days since last night. Pretty much every hour. I hope you have Netflix and can watch it too!
I had forgotten that I knitted this dish cloth in February/March. I missed posting for a little while, so I’m pretty sure you haven’t seen it?
The Amour pattern is part of a series of a free dishcloth patterns. One a month, throughout this year by Garlene of The Kitchen Sink Shop. I’ve linked to the pattern there, if you fancy having a go at knitting one yourself? I stopped after the first two, because it now takes me so long to knit or crochet anything now with my dodgy hand. Plus I was using Rowan cotton, which frankly seems such a waste to use on a dish cloth. They’re too nice to use, so are still folded up in a little bag. I wonder about making backing for them and turning them into oven mitts. Any other ideas?
Time for a cheeky little Saturday afternoon drink for me too now! A grapefruit margarita is being made for me. I wonder if they won? And I’m going to add another round, or two, to my Coast blanket.
What have you been up to today? How are you feeling about life, the universe and everything?
I love autumn, I always have. I’m glad we have four distinct seasons here. Fancy a rather rambling read? You’ve come to the right place.
Cooking:
The drop in temperature has meant the food I cook has changed. Plus I definitely gravitate towards a glass of red wine more too. And why not? It warms the blood.
The change of weather and a bounty of homegrown and wild produce seems to have perked up friends lately too. Recently I’ve had WhatsApps about:
T and her pots of rhubarb and ginger jam
T and his apple crumble / beef and ale pie
S made a chicken and tarragon pie
E made a huge apple pie
P is delighted that Yorkshire tea have made biscuit flavoured tea bags and says her tea drinking times have just improved!
N has been looking up crabapple recipes
B dusted off her slow cooker and made a beef and ale stew
I adore messages like those!
I’ve made Dorset apple cakes to share with family, plus tried a new bread recipe for a ginger and sultana loaf from my WI Bread book. It’s a winner! Message me and I’ll send you the recipe.
I’ve taken a few comfort food cookbooks off the shelf to get more inspiration.
What are you cooking at the moment? Have you made anything new, or an old favourite?
Crafting:
We talked about a long walk and tackling some chores in the house and garden, but after a long call from a friend and a heavy downpour went into hibernation mode instead the other day. We listened to This is This Country and roared with laughter. (Best if you already know the tv series.)
Lately I’ve sat up in the early morning with a podcast or audio book and done a round or two of crochet. It is a nice lazy way to start the day. I recommend Lisa Jewell’s Invisable Girl audio book.
I’m sticking to my Close to You scarf and Big Granny Square blanket. I’m trying not to flit around with lots of different makes, but am committing to a few. Both are easy going and not too taxing for my iffy hands.
For the GSB I’m wondering about going off-piste and buying more Hayfield Spirit yarn in different colourways. It would be a multi-multi coloured blanket. Here’s the full selection of colours from the Sirdar website. What do you reckon?
Casper might be fun for a scarf.
Walking:
It’s gorgeous weather for walks. No sunscreen or multiple water bottles to lug around anymore as it’s now 10° less, or more, than this time a couple of weeks ago. Time to get the woollies out again! We all like an excuse to show off our homemades.
There’s an abundance of berries, a friend I met for lunch said she thinks it means we’re in for a hard winter. Is that right?
In the hedgerows in fields near home there are: crabapples, sloes, haws, the last blackberries, acorns, conkers, sycamore helicopters and ash keys. It’s fantastic.
‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ …full poem here.
Last weekend we drove home in the dark and AN OWL WAS SITTING ON THE WHITE LINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD! I think he’d just caught a little creature running across the road and was pinning it down. 
If the low light levels and gloomy days are feeling a little bit tricky, combined with everything else at the mo, here’s a tiny rather silly little thing you can do. I bought a really cheap set of glitter gel pens from The Works and now write lists using a different colour for each item. Someone told me it’s like I’m 13 years old, but I don’t care! My shopping and freezer lists are really pretty and colourful on the front of the fridge. They’re making me smile.
How are you finding autumn?
Maybe it’s Spring where you are? What are you up to?
I really love autumn! There’s so much colour still and we keep having bright blue skies and sunshine, which really makes for my favourite type of autumn days. Even when it’s grey and murky there’s always something comforting to do: soup to make, apple cake to bake and hot chocolate to turn to, or a brisk walk through crunchy leaves, pausing to pick up shiny conkers and special leaves.
The asters at Waterperry Gardens have been superb. We visited in September which was between the two ‘Aster Weekends’ when visitors are encouraged to go and see the glorious long-border full of autumn colour.
Asters are also known as Michaelmas daisies because they bloom around the same time as the Christian festival. ‘Michaelmas, or the Feast of Michael and All Angels, is celebrated on the 29th of September every year. As it falls near the equinox, the day is associated with the beginning of autumn and the shortening of days’ (according to Google.)
This year has been a bumper one for berries. Apparently it’s to do with the mild winter we had, followed by a dry spring and summer. They are everywhere in abundance, adding such a cheery splash of colour.
Upton House and Gardens looks after a National Collection of asters so it seemed a good plan to go and see them there too. The following pics were taken there last Tuesday. My Mum really loves asters, so she and I went to see them at both WPG and Upton. Looking back at my photos though, it’s not asters which dominate, it’s dahlias. I really like them. I have a vase-full of scarlet and peach asters downstairs, picked by her for our table. They are gorgeous. I should try to get a few photos of them in her garden to show you. I’ll try and remember to do that when I pop by later.
Waterperry have an annual apple weekend, celebrating the picking of their many varieties, you can sample and buy many varieties of apples, juice and cider. Unlike the supermarkets who offer the same scant half dozen varieties, if you’re lucky, WPG has many old varieties. Most of which I’ve never heard because 65 varieties of apple are grown there, although only about 25 of these are available commercially. The others are being trialled for juice, or preserved to ensure heritage varieties don’t die out. I bought bags of Egremont Russet and Ribston Pippin. Slices of both went very well with the cheese board we had at a family lunch on Sunday.
I also went to another type of autumn festival at the weekend: a Whisky Harvest Festival at Cotwolds Distillery. We went to pick up a pre-ordered (3 years ago) bottle of the first batch of 500 bottles of their whisky. Admittance to the festival gave everyone a free dram, so pretty soon most people were singing along and having a little dance to the live bands. A little measure of whisky is good for loosening people up. It has such a good flavour for a brand new whisky. You don’t have to take my word for it; Jim Murray writer of The Whisky Bible was there and pronounced it excellent. If you want to see his impromptu talk see here. He’s an entertaining soul. Prue Leith (she of the new Bake Off) also spoke and it seemed as if she’d enjoyed her dram rather a lot, ha ha.
The distillery also make a very tasty gin, a cream liqueur, similar to Baileys, and various other drinks. The cocktail tent was doing super business, though the gin cocktail bar was definitely favoured over that of the whisky. Personally if I’d been drinking, not driver for the day, I’d have chosen a whisky sour…
What are your favourite autumn things? What do you eat, drink and make? Do you also love it, or have flagging spirits at the end of summer? I really hope it’s the former.
The Little Room of Rachell 
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