hello October

hello October with all your 

blue skies, foggy walks, berries, wood stacks, cobwebbed gorse

sunrises, sunsets, woollen jumpers, 

smoke scented air, fires, 

books, 

pears, apples, pumpkins, soup, fruit cake, damson jam

& leaf swirling goodness!

hallowe'en

Last day of October. The leaves are turning and falling and the clocks have turned so the darkness falls faster than ever. The pumpkins are carved and later we'll light the fire outside and toast marshmallows. We'll eat lentil ragu and pecan tart. There'll be baked apples with fruit soaked in sloe gin and served with brown sugar and whipped cream. It's the night of ghouls and ghosts. There's a wolf boy in the sitting room and an un-dead cowboy playing Lego upstairs and a teenager (scary in its own right) and I've just spooked myself listening to Short Cuts on Radio 4 - the Witching Hour... happy Hallowe'en!

morning dazzle

Who knows why, maybe the hormones flooded my brain at the same time the world turned on its axis, the light in the sky and the mist rising from the land, the stillness of the air, maybe it was just the oxygen fizzing in my bloodstream as I walked up the hill but I felt, how I felt those words of Ted Hughes ~

That morning dazzle stamped every cell in my body 

With its melting edge, its lime-bitter brightness.

The Morning before Christmas, Ted Hughes, River

woodlandia

After a week of school, work and the usual stress of running to afternoon activities I decided that the woods were what was needed. I made hot chocolate and brownies, threw the wellies in the car and collected the boys from school. We went to our favourite spot where the river makes a gentle meander and there's a fallen tree for picnic-ing on. We gathered branches, leaves and ferns to make boats before unpacking the warm drinks and mugs. We decided to race our boats, whoever got under the bridge first was the winner. Mide crossed the water, hopping over slippery stones while Will crafted his sailing vessel. The river took our offerings and made easy work of my leaves and flimsy sticks. Will fared better - his boat didn't get caught on the rocks and made it to the finish line. We made a woodland sprite for others to find and we went on our way, back through those tall trees who have been here longer than us, past the sloping banks leading down to the water, past the mushrooms and the fallen leaves, up and out and back into our busy lives but so grateful for the woods, the waters and the wild.

autumn feelings

Autumn means darkening days, finding cosy spaces to curl up with a book, lights on, comforting food (cinnamon buns and porridge with maple syrup, flecked with mixed spice). Grey skies on my morning walk and that sudden sense of bleakness that comes when the leaves fall, although there is the occasional splash of berries to brighten the way. It's cold and windy and I'm thinking about the sloes up the lane. There's a good bounty this year, so that means gin, which bring me back to cosy spaces...

what it means

 

September. One of the most evocative words. It means nightsounds and darkness. Wood stacks and splitting timber. The heavy thud of the axe. It means blackberries, pies and jam. Tea, endless tea. Dark skies and shadowed fields. It means school. And hometime treats of bread and jam, hot chocolate and marshmallows and sitting outside while there's still light.

walking

Last weekend we went walking by the sea. We chose an easy 4km or so loop which brought us to the Cooley peninsula near Carlingford. We passed golden fields and oyster shell strewn beaches. The distant purple hued mountains kept a quiet eye on us. It was warm. And we only had one mutinous child about half way along. Our trail started and ended at Lily Finnegan's pub, which by the time we got back there was thankfully open... never had the packet of Tayto crisps and glass of Bulmers tasted so good!

the lightest touch

The lightest touch of autumn is upon us. In the morning, through the open bedroom window, it is the call of the crows that wake me, my feathered reminders of a season's shifting. Out walking I pass fog-catching cobwebs dangling glinting water droplets. I have already spied mushrooms in the grass verges. The hedges too are changing. The berries are beginning to ripen and leaves are already turning. However most days the fog clears and we are left with enough warmth to know it's not truly autumn, not just yet.

inside//outside

First of November
Inside: Table in the dining room with toys and book from William's birthday party on Friday, a nearly finished glass of wine, candles and flowers.
Outside: Fog creeping across the fields, through the garden, to the front door.

wash day

painting by Anji Allen

Oh my goodness the rain has been something shocking - it was dark and grey when we woke up and it rained solidly all day. This would normally be absolutely fine (it is Ireland after all) but my tumble drier has broken and drying anything outdoors is really a non-runner at this time of year. So the stoves were lit and the house ended up swathed in laundry in various stages of drying. I think Anji Allen's painting of sheets and towels and kettles and teacups sums up 'wash day' here very nicely!

rainy day biscuits

Just as I was lifting the last tray of biscuits out of the oven, the rain started. The kitchen was warm and spice scented, thanks to the extra shake of nutmeg I'd added to the biscuit dough. William was keen to help - rolling and cutting the dough and putting the biscuits carefully on the baking tray. He floured the table and re-rolled the dough, pressing down on the cutters (gingerbread men were his favourite, hence the army of them) and chatting, chatting the whole time and how nice it was to spend those few minutes listening to him, guiding him when the dough stuck or when a head fell off and watching those as yet little hands deftly working and wondering would he remember the damp autumn afternoon with the grey skies and twirling leaves when we baked together.

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Spice biscuits

125g softened butter

85g soft brown sugar

160g golden syrup

310g self raising flour, sifted

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon nutmeg/ cinnamon or both

Preheat the oven to 160C fan oven/ gas mark 4. Cream the soft butter and sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy. Add the golden syrup, flour and spices and mix to form a smooth dough. It will take a bit of mixing to bring it together into a ball. Then refrigerate the dough to firm up. Flour your work surface and roll out the dough to about 4mm thick and cut with your preferred cutters. Place onto baking trays lined with greaseproof paper and bake for about 8 minutes. Watch like a hawk - I got distracted and lit the fire, and some of mine were a little 'extra done' as a result!

october days

Today we have grey skies and a blustery scattering of rain. The weather so far this month has been amazing and so this more wintry offering has been something of a surprise. We are getting into the rhythm of slower days and darker evenings. This week we're trying something new - each day after school we do something fun together. Our list of things to try out includes:

* making Hallowe'en party invitations

* baking biscuits - ginger ones, perfect for autumn

* walking in our local forest

* planting bulbs - I'm thinking of paperwhites and I'm hoping it's not too late

* making papier-mache masks 

* going to the library

* watching a movie, with treats!

It's sometimes all too easy to fall into the school/homework/screen time trap and not actually spend some proper time together. I deliberately chose things that were not going to cost any or much money, ones that could be done within an hour, ones that involve some hands-on activity and some mess and ones that get us out of the house and into the air. We made the Hallowe'en invitations yesterday and it was great to open up the art box and dig out coloured card for bats and pumpkins and googly eyes and stickers and to see the boys' concentration and effort at making the cards for their friends. Today it's watching a movie (later, by the fire with popcorn!) and papier mache masks.... happy autumn!

pumpkins

Of course it's got to be pumpkins! These ones are at Strandfield where we enjoyed a sneaky (delicious) lunch while the boys were at school. We also had a quick potter in the shop/florists and then dashed home in time for collection from school. Sometimes these un-planned for but still very enjoyable trips are just what's needed.

forest walk

Yesterday after school the boys and I went for a walk in the forest. The day was bright and sunny but with that tinge of freshness that lets you know it's autumn and not summer. Within minutes we were deep among the trees with the river rushing past and, armed with sticks, Will and Mide played happily at a game of dinosaurs and Star Wars. As they poked their sticks into the mud, moss and tree crevices they chattered about their day. We spotted mushrooms and picked leaves and conkers. We stopped by the river for a snack and perched on a handily toppled~over tree. There are wooden animals in this forest ~ foxes, stoats, a huge hare, badgers and frogs ~ perfectly placed for climbing and imagining. And finally we made our slow way back. It's good for the human spirit to be outdoors, to feel small among the trees, to find pleasure in sticks and mud and water, to be free.

time

Oh dear, time seems to be slipping through my fingers like water. This new season has brought plenty of damp, cold and wet days and some nice ones too but each of them, regardless of what the weather brings, pass in the same flurry of domestic chores, work and general running around. Time is precious but it's hard to put the brakes on when there are three children, each with their own needs, and endless responsibilities. I can't believe it's the tail end of September already but the early darkening nights and the low light levels do not lie. Perhaps it's time to take stock a little and prepare for the colder months and spend our days wisely instead of in a spin.