Lùnastal Slow Living Tips
Morning everyone! A wee heads up that my regular newsletter will now be going out on Sunday mornings as part of a few wee changes (and hopefully upgrades!) you’ll be seeing round here - so make sure you’re subscribed so we can keep in touch and celebrate the seasons together.
This Lùnastal time of year – halfway between the Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox – is my favourite. I say that about every time of year, I know, but hear me out! There’s so much seasonal goodness to enjoy during this glorious in‑between time. Here are some things that I’m making, doing and celebrating, inspired by the seasons.
Blackberrying
The blackberries are beginning to ripen in the hedgerows – I’ve been monitoring my usual spots! When blackberrying you’ll need dedication, gardening gloves, maybe a ladder or tall person and a large box or basket to collect them in. For the best flavour of berries, pick at the end of a sunny afternoon, opting for fruit that is plump and sweet. Be sure to leave enough fruit for other foragers and wildlife. I can’t wait to make a batch of bramble and bay jam soon - my favourite.
Picnic by a Meadow
All around, the countryside is beginning to turn golden and the farmers have started to harvest their grains. Local green spaces and communal meadows are an idyllic spot for a picnic with seasonal produce. Pack simple fare: dips, crackers and fresh seasonal fruit will hit the spot. Engage all your senses to slow down and embrace the moment: watch the corn ripple like waves and listen to its gentle rustle in the wind. Smell the crispness of the air (tell me it’s not just me?) and watch house martins dancing in the breeze.
Enjoy Seasonal Produce
Late Summer goodness meets early Autumn produce at this trans‑seasonal time of year. The plums are ripe and ready for eating, while the first British corn is delicious cooked on the cob or simmered in a curry ‑ I love Anna Jones’ recipe in her latest book, One (pictured below). I recommend a trip to your local farmers’ market for the best of what’s in season where you live, to be kinder to the planet – and to your wallet.
Head to the Hills
August sees the heather in full bloom and hillsides transform with purple hues. If you’re lucky enough to have heather where you live, head to the hills to see the spectacle up close. I’m biased but it’s pretty special in the North of Scotland and I’m longing to go back to the Highlands where it was the best I’ve ever seen. We had the most idyllic stay at Inverlonan last year and passed breathtaking views along the way, a blur of forest green and dusky purple.
Make a Lavender Garland
You’ll need colourful string, a small bunch of lavender & miniature pegs to make this simple Summer garland that smells amazing too! Here’s a video if you’re a visual learner like me. Measure the length of string for your garland against the space you want it to hang. Make small bunches of 3 small stems of lavender, trimmed to around 3 cm. Cross the stems as you peg them to the string, evenly spaced along its length, make a loop at each end, knot and hang! The lavender will dry and curl a little as it hangs. Happy making!
How are you celebrating the shifting seasons?
I think this is my favourite time of year too (after autumn that is!) There’s something about the long stretches of dark yellow fields and all the dried long grass too. Conversely, it’s the flat lands of East Anglia I love at this time of year where the sunset never ends and you can see fields for miles and miles. It’s my ancestral home so I feel a real kinship there!
I love blackberries. This year, in my country, because of the lack of rain, there are few good blackberries, as they are very dry. But we've had lots of good cherries, great sweet cherries.