On changing seasons.

Here we are again - as usual, time has flown and has brought us back to Autumn. Although it is my favourite time of year, it's hard to believe that we're sitting here again after another pandemic filled year. Until we had our holiday this year, I hadn't really appreciated how much change we have all faced and how much we have to process. I know I took that as a sign that I need to prioritise rest and allow myself time to deal with everything that has happened in the last (almost) 2 years.

I always do my best 'processing' by the sea.

For me, the transition to autumn brings permission to hibernate - to get cosy and enjoy being home. It's also a time to cook, bake and enjoy my favourite seasonal things; soups, stews, bread, pumpkin pie, parkin and hot chocolates. It's a reason to light all the candles, snuggle up in blankets, jumpers and wooly socks. To go on long walks in the crisp fresh air and take in all the autumn colours. I've also been sea-swimming regularly and in the colder months it is even more refreshing and awakening and I love getting wrapped up with a flask of something hot afterwards. This year I plan on swimming right through winter - wish me luck! 

Mount Stewart - my favourite place to walk in Autumn

I decided to mark the transition in our home this time and I love the decor I've managed to find, though the challenge is to stop adding to it! I made a very simple leaf garland and some Pumpkins from old jumpers that I got from our local Charity shop. They were a fun and easy make and are decorations I can use again! I plan on doing some foraging for pine cones and acorns to bring a bit more nature indoors. I have perhaps mentioned this before but a number of years ago I read The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking and it really changed my perspective on the autumn/winter months. I appreciate them so much more now! 

The shift in seasons for me is happening both literally and metaphorically. After a lot of hard work and the most stress I've ever experienced - I have recently changed from student to post-grad again. Although our graduation ceremony won't take place until spring 2022, I have officially passed my MA degree and my certificate and transcript is making its' way to me. I learnt so much through this degree, and so many life-changing things happened whilst I was trying to complete it. Job changes, house moves, country moves and new relationships to name a few. I enjoyed my final research piece and for once am proud of myself for achieving that milestone whilst the world was so influx. For those interested, my MA was in Theology, and studying it at this level totally changed my perspective on faith and religion, and although I won't go in to that here - I feel a greater sense of freedom on the other side of it than I did going into it - I had many, many questions and it was good to come across so many different perspectives. What I will say is that Church and I have a complicated relationship and I am taking a very deliberate break from it whilst I continue to explore my own spirituality and beliefs. I am happy to be in that place with it - for something like theology - there are of course no hard and fast answers, so I will see how it evolves for me. 

The next change on the very near horizon is my job. After just over 2.5 years, I am getting ready to move on from my first job in Northern Ireland. Whilst I do feel nervous about the transition, I know it will be a positive change for me. My head knows it is ready for a new challenge and to physically get back out into the world after working from home since March 2020. I hope to meet new people, try new things and find different opportunities. I have trusted my gut instinct for many of the big moves in my life and this one felt so right or "serendipitious" as a few people have called it. Everything fell into place to make my new role happen and I feel deeply grateful for it. 

It has been a difficult year for our family as we have navigated the loss of my Grandad and other challenges that are coming our way. Especially lately, I have been navigating feelings of guilt for not physically being there to support whilst also knowing that if I hadn't made the move, I wouldn't be in a position where I am truly living the life I'd always dreamed of. I am sure that some of us are just born with a "wanderlust" spirit and we feel compelled to carve out our own path in new places, but it always carries such sacrifice. Tom and I will soon be reaching our 2 year anniversary - he has been the best support I could ever have imagined. He has truly been a rock whilst I greived, met deadlines, agonised over big decisions and all that's in between. 

I'll conclude with this image, taken on our recent holiday to Donegal. A rainbow on Portnoo beach; a sign of hope. A reminder of the beauty we can find even when we're in the middle of a storm.

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Spring Forwards, Fall Back...

I'm finally excited about Autumn. I love seasons. As summer doesn't last very long in England, we tend to be forced into making the most of the other seasons i.e. winter and winter. It looks like the little bit of hope I was holding on to that we might just get a freak September heatwave again may have been shattered so it is time to accept that Autumn is upon us. Everyone is writing about it, Pintrest is full of it and my freezing cold toes and hands are proof of it. So this week I have felt inspired to do something to mark the turn of the season.

Soupa

Most of this came in the form of cooking. The first thing I did was to make soup. I hardly ever eat soup - it just never excites me but all I could think about one day this week was my burning desire to make an autumnal soup. I also got to use my blender attachement for my Kenwood mixer for the first time which of course, ended in absolute disaster. After I had prepared my butternut squash (which is not an enjoyable task, may I add) and sweet potato with my stock and various other spices and flavours, I had blended it to perfection and it tasted divine. As I unscrewed my blender to serve my piping hot soup whilst I was barefoot and apronless, instead of unscrewing the base of the blender, I opened the bit above which resulted in a sort of orange soup fountain that then covered the floor, walls, cupboards, unit, hob, my dress and my bare feet. I let out a yelp and used almost an entire roll of kitchen roll to clear it up but all was ok. I was more distressed that this soup, that I had tasted only minutes before, could not be enjoyed. I settled for a tin instead on that occassion. The next day, being the trooper that I am I decided to start again and this time used my hand blender. I added a little more chilli which gave it a kick and it made two nice lunches, which I enjoyed with fresh tiger bread:

Christmas

The second thing I did was start my Christmas Crafts. I tried out the salt dough and couldn't believe how easy it was. I am yet to paint them but for my first experiment, I thought they came out quite cute. I am going to finish them off with gingham ribbon and I was thinking of mixing gold glitter in with my paint to give them a bit of texture. As I am VERY traditional when it comes to Christmas - there are only three acceptable colours to use which are; red, gold and green. So that is what they shall be. I think if the gingerbread men come out nicely then I will make lots of these as gingerbread men make for my favourite type of decoration at Christmas time...they are just SO cute. I did a nice one that isn't on the picture that says 'Peace' - now I'm glad I bought all these cookie cutters! This is a really cheap and easy task to do with kids too - it probably cost me under £1 to make all these as I already had the cutters but I bought two packs of kiddie ones (the hearts and stars) which came 5 to a pack for £1 too and I've used them for biscuits as well.

Apples

A week or so ago, I made an apple, cinnamon and sultana cobbler and apple sauce. From that I had 3 apples left over. Another day this week, I couldn't get the apples out of my head and had to use them for something. So, apple crumble it was. One of my favourite hearty and easy peasy desserts ever. I liked this recipe though there did seem to be an excessive amount of crumble to fruit ratio but that was probably my fault. I used this recipe and would definitely recommend it :)

I also made this spiced Carrot cake which, for a cake is relatively low fat as it doesn't use butter but vegetable oil and low fat natural yoghurt. It smelt yummy. 

I do love the switching of clothes. I keep all my winter clothes in a separate place so that I can put away the summer dresses until next year, and switch them for winter woolies like woollen socks and oversized cardigans. I love fluffy warm tights and long boots. I also have an obsession with mittens, my favourite pair are my knitted ones with the long string which make me feel like a child. I have loads of massive winter scarves and cardigans. I love short nights where we can just shut ourselves in warmth and drink Christmassy drinks with good movies and blankets. The landscape (especially where I live) looks stunning when all the leaves are turning. I will get my camera out for that this year :) Sadly our coffee shops don't tend to brink out autumnal drinks but I love it when the Christmas ones get announced. I think Costa's were the best by FAR last year. I digress...

Soon, if not today I will be watching Elf. Every year I watch that movie over and over and over and as soon as I have watched it once it will mark the end of Autumn in my head and the start of Christmas. I will be thinking of cinnamon, mulling, jam making, spices, carols and gingerbread men. That will be my new focus. So autumn, if this is the last time I think of you this year - thank you for a great week. Alas, Christmas is around the corner (I tend to count Christmas as a season and not a holiday.)

Much Love xxx

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