This past week we seem to have well and truly left summer behind. It has been so much colder and so much wetter. The house has seemed darker and gloomier without the summer sun. I've accepted that summer is gone for another year and have got out my case of autumn/winter clothes and packed away the lighter ones. If we suddenly get some returning warm days I have t-shirts. I also have my blanket ready to snuggle on the sofa and new batteries for my fairy lights to cheer the house. Hot chocolate and chai latte mixes are being bought and I have begun to use my SAD lamp. My winter SAD hasn't kicked in yet but I think it's best to get ahead. I need to get out on some nature walks too now to soak up the vitamin D and remember to appreciate all that autumn has to offer. Sometimes it's easy to forget the beauty that's out there when the weather turns.
So how has this last week gone? Well, when the rain wasn't falling I managed to get the front garden tidied, more shrubs cut back and the beds weeded. It's generally looking a lot happier, There are still a few summer blooms out there and my cotoneaster (which some people use as a filler but I love) is at its autumnal best.
If you remember last week I was giving up on the tomatoes ripening but, if there is something I should have learned by now, gardening takes time and this week lots began to ripen. I had eight in a salad (my husband doesn't like them so more for me) and I'm looking forward to these ones being ready soon.
Elsewhere in the garden, Mrs Tufty has started coming more often, obviously stocking up for winter when she will slow down a little. Unfortunately the magpies have noticed where the monkey nuts go and are beginning to steal quite a few before she gets them. I may need to buy a squirrel feeder. The robin has obviously realised that it is autumn and is now a daily visitor for his lunch/dinner.
We have no other new visitors to the garden yet but I have heard the first of the overwintering geese flying above us to Martin Mere.
Plan for this coming week is to get out there and spend a little more time readying the garden for winter and planting some spring bulbs. I'm also hoping to gather the runner beans and some more tomatoes.
In the kitchen, the cold weather has set me baking and preparing for colder days. I made the first sourdough loaf of the year this week.
I also made a rosemary and raisin loaf, some apple & sultana scones, an apple & raisin loaf (a bit soggy in the middle, would never pass Bake Off!) and some Paddington Bear Marmalade cakes.
As it's getting colder the kitchen plans for this week are to bake another sourdough loaf, make a wholemeal loaf for sandwiches and start winter stews with dumplings. I'm going to try a new soup too - cauliflower and walnut cream. I may try some apple flapjacks if I have time, it all depends on the weather. If it's fine - I'll garden, if it rains - I'll bake.
Book news is that I finished Jenny Colgan's Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe. I absolutely loved it. A light hearted romance with lots of super cake recipes to try. I've now started Ian Rankin's The Falls. I really enjoy Rebus mysteries and am thoroughly enjoying this one
So that's this week's news. I hope some of it was interesting for you and I wish you all have a lovely new week xx
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