Whilst we were in the Borders at the weekend we talked a lot about seasonal living, and how we might enjoy the coming Autumn months, and get the most out of them. We chatted about books, food, places, theatre, music and films, walks and events.
This list seemed, to us, to cover all of our interests and, if we chose carefully, would help us to get the most enjoyment possible out of the Autumn.
Seasonal living seems to be very much in vogue at the moment, and whilst browsing round Topping and Company and Main Street Trading Company, I was delighted to spot lots of books about the subject.
As everything always has to have books associated with it, we picked up a couple! I particularly like Ebb and Flow by Tiffany Francis-Baker. It seemed particularly appropriate that we were discussing our plans for the Autumn on 21st September, or the Autumn Equinox.
I love reading seasonally appropriate books, and have a large selection of comforting and cosy books to read over the coming months. I have recently discovered the Scottish author O Douglas. This is the pseudonym for Anna Buchan, sister of John Buchan, and the author of gentle novels set in the Scottish Borders. I have just finished The Proper Place and have started reading The Day of Small Things. I'm loving these books so much, that I feel I might have to post separately about them.
Miss Read and Alexander McCall Smith are always close to the top of my reading pile at this time of year. I'm also planning a re-read of Barbara Pym's Quartet in Autumn. This might be the year I pluck up the courage to read Susan Hill's The Woman in Black, but if I don't I will definitely reread her The Magic Apple Tree, one of my favourite books ever. Also, on my to read again list is Anne of Green Gables, I just love the way that L M Montgomery describes the seasons.
We have also been thinking about food and cooking. There is something very enjoyable about cooking on a cold, wet Autumnal day. We're thinking of slaws, soups and casseroles, as well as home made bread and seasonal cakes.
We love walking in the cooler months, and it's wonderful to reclaim the Lake District from the tourists, so we're planning some longer walks, combined with delicious lunches and afternoon tea! We're thinking one of our first destinations might be Lingholm on Derwentwater, which makes both walking and eating a joy! The connection with Beatrix Potter is also very exciting. I don't know why but Hawkshead and Grizedale Forest are always closely associated with the cooler months, so this will be another of our destinations, possibly with a visit to Joey's at Wray Castle. Joey's is an all vegan café which serves delicious soups and snacks.
We're planning a couple of Apple Weekends, one at Beetham Nurseries and the other at Leighton Hall. It's so fabulous to explore all the different varieties of apples, and consider what we might cook and bake. We might manage a spot of blackberry picking, and then I can make a blackberry and apple crumble.
Ghost stories come into their own in the Autumn and we've booked a couple of Don't Go Into The Cellar and Nunkie performances in fabulous locations, including the Heron Theatre, the Portico Library and St Mary's Church in Kirkby Lonsdale. There's nothing like an M R James ghost story on a misty Autumnal evening,
There's so much more that we're planning to do, and places that we're planning to visit over the coming months. Let's hope we don't have too much rain!