Tuesday 18 September 2012

Autumn leaves


I think that we can well and truly say that summer has come and gone (and was barely noticed). Soon the leaves will turn their beautiful shades of russet and gold and the days will become shorter and the morning colder. Soon we will see our breath steaming and want to come running in to the cosy house to drink hot chocolate.

I love Autumn. I love all the seasons, but Autumn is when the world is at it's most picturesque and I feel most close to nature. The countryside begins to slow down and move towards hibernation, some plants are disappearing underground and the fields are empty. It is a time we are supposed to give thanks for the abundant crops and find ways to preserve them - sadly this year, there were no abundant crops to give thanks for and very little to preserve.

Autumn and winter are my favourite times of the year for eating. Over summer I eat a lot of salads, tend to snack on lighter meals more and often eat things that didn't really need any cooking or at least very little.

But in Autumn I can blow the dust off my casserole dishes and slow cooker and eat hearty stews and steaming pumpkin soups, cottage pies and lancashire hotpot. Drink hot chocolate with a dash of brandy in after a day clearing all the dying leaves from the garden into bin bags for future mulch. It is a time of warming, traditional food, made on a shoestring, with cheap cuts of meat or lots of pulses and beans. It is a time to sit in front of a roaring wood burning stove (oh, if only I had one already) with a good book, whilst being aware of the elements outdoors and being thankful for the warmth. It is a time to light candles and wrap up in throws on the sofa.


Yes, Autumn is a wonderful time of year.


32 comments:

  1. Ah, you old romantic you! Autumn is also my favourite time of year. I have a favourite book (which I'll note on my blog shortly), that I drool over every Autumn and start cooking from. At least your Christmas preparations will allow you to get going. Softly softly catchy monkey:-)

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    1. Can't wait to hear what your 'favoutite book' is....

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  2. I got married in Autumn because i love it so much! We have an Acer just outside the bedroom and I love the colours it goes through. Alas all too soon it is bare.

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    1. I love aver trees, such beautiful colours, like you say.

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  3. Autumn is also my favourite time of the years as the colours are a feast for the eyes. You are so poetic in your description of all the pleasures awaiting us that I was there already enjoying those pleasures. I don't live in the country, I wish I did, but we have lots of lovely trees glowing in their flaming colours.

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    1. I just hope that it is not too rainy an autumn...

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  4. If anyone has ever taken like a duck to water as you have to a country cottage it is you, Dan. Your summer gardens, your Fall enjoyment and your preparations for Christmas are just lovely to read. I'm so happy you took up the challenge to move from the city. Look how far you've come. Imagine how far you will go. Yay, you! :-D

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    1. When you put it like that I am thrilled that, yes, I really have done it and come so far in what is actually only about 9 months. It will get better and better now. You see, I was always right, I was destined to leave cities behind.

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    2. Ooooh. Another Brit has just chastised me for referring to this season as "Fall" instead of the more correct "Autumn". My bad.... but the term is utterly pervasive over here. *heh*

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  5. Could not agree more. The flowers left in the garden are so deep in color as well. And my horses are full of fire and spirit. Yes, it's grand in the US too!

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    1. Picture of Autumn in the US are always so beautiful. i think you do tree colours even better than us!

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  6. First log fire this (chilly) morning and first hot toddy last night.
    I love this hot toddy. 2fluid oz gin
    1 fluid oz lemon juice
    3/4 fluid oz maple syrup or honey
    top up with boiling water.
    Jane x

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    1. Now that sounds like my kind of night time drink. Someone gave me a bottle of dark liquid the other day that says 'Chritmas gin' on the side. Not tried it yet but assume that they have flavoured it with christmas spices. Would go very well in this toddy.

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  7. I like the crisp morning air and the thought of soup!

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    1. lovely warm pumpkin soup is my favourite. Or a really hearty chicken and vegetable soup. mmm

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  8. Shut out the outside world and enjoy pottering about in the interior of your home where it's warm and cosy.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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  9. I love the nip in the air when you open the front door in the morning - when you can almost smell Autumn. There's something very special about that for me - it used to happen at the time that the girls were going back to school when they were young, and I'll always associate it with seeing my beloved girls in their uniforms and shiny shoes,off to start another year at school. Now K is a teacher herself, and KL is making plans for uni next year. The changing of the seasons, and the passing of the years - it's all going too quickly.

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    1. It is, my nephew is starting his options year at school and it seems like yesterday he was born.

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  10. A propper autumn with trees in colours like the pic above would be lovely! Warming stews to come home to when finished with work, that`s what autumn is all about for me. Crisp sunny days, walking in fresh air, feeling the chill on your cheeks whilst wrapped in a scarf and some mittens. Watching the countryside slow down. Thats autumn for me!

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    1. autumn is......

      wet wellies
      damp kitchens
      dirty dog paws
      no eggs
      unhappy wet hens
      spiders inside the house (huge bloody hairy ones)

      oh and a bloody lovely wood burner burning away all the day!

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    2. I do like the wet wellies and dirty dog paws, John! The wood burner would be a trea to have, too!!

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    3. I have been dogsitting 2 dogs this weekend and there are dirty poor prints everywhere! I woke up with a dogs bum in my face and another one scratching himself over my mouth. Good morning!

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  11. You have hit the nail on the head - it is a beautiful season but I just wish we had had a little more summer first.

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    1. Yes, it is more enjoyable when it comes after a lovely warm summer.

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  12. I love autumn, although yeah, where did summer go??? At the start of every season I tend to think "this one's my favourite" but then at the end of it I get bored and the next one seems far more enticing! :)

    I like scarves though, so a nice bracing chill will be good. Not too cold though please - we don't want to have to put the heating on!

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    1. No, my wallet could do with keeping the heating off til hallowe'en really, but there have been some mornings already that it has been cold enough already.

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  13. Great minds think alike I just posted my Autumn thoughts as well. It's my favorite season. Glad to know I'm not the only one (John Gray not withstanding of course, ha). Autumn lovers unite!!

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    1. A lot of people seem to like Autumn don't they, except one.

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  14. Thank you for that post. I really likke summer best (maybe because I have a lot of time off work as I am a teacher:-)). You made me feel good about autumn. Thank you:-)

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  15. I've just been reading through your most recent posts and I have to agree how lovely Autumn is.
    It gives me a feeling of warmth and wanting to get the old crock pot on the go.
    I have just lit the log burner, made a nice cuppa and listening to an Irish radio channel that I like.
    I've got some bread in the breadmaker and all is well.
    Enjoy your Autumn Dan.

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