Over the past week or so I have found myself in a kind of limbo between Summer and Autumn. The weather has been chilly in the mornings and evenings but up to 22°C and sunny during the day. The children have gone back to school but just with half days this week, leaving us with holiday-like afternoons to enjoy the sun, play or have visitors.
But there is no denying that Autumn is coming, and swiftly. The evenings are definitely dark, the walnuts are starting to fall from our tree and the local vineyards have started selling Neue Wein (must, young wine).
To ease myself into Autumn, I have been making mental lists of things that are good about the season and that has led me to compile this list of ways to acclimatise and enjoy the shorter, darker days that are fast approaching.
- Have scented candles in jars around the place. Light them on dull days to cosy up the atmosphere
- Flick through some cookbooks for warm meal inspiration like stews, hearty soups, casseroles and warming desserts like poached pears in red wine or fruit compotes
- Plan days out with the children for those upcoming chilly weekends. Visit castles, forests and parks. Collect chestnuts for playing conkers, gather blackberries or mushrooms, jump in piles of dry leaves.
- Stock up on hot chocolate and marshmallows for rainy afternoons when the kids come in from school
- Put rosehips, chestnuts and other Autumn fruits into a glass bowl as an alternative decoration to bunches of flowers
- Root out your board games, playing cards and other rainy day activities and keep them somewhere handy so you remember to play them
- Start a hobby or project like making an advent calendar, taking up crochet, sewing new cushion covers or making homemade Christmas cards
How do you adapt to the changes in seasons? What are your favourite things to do in Autumn?
