Samhain Slow Living Tips

And a bonus craft and recipe for paid subscribers.

Hello everyone! It’s the last Sunday of the month so time for my regular monthly newsletter. Rather than double up with two newsletters this weekend, for paid subscribers I’ve added bonus content at the end of this morning’s newsletter! If you love all things seasonal, slow and cosy then please do sign up to my paid list where we’re crafting a lovely wee community.

Here in the northern hemisphere, the days have been slowly creeping shorter. Last night the clocks went back, and as the daylight wanes I find myself seeking comfort, and embracing cosiness all the more. Time seems to speed up at this time of year, particularly as pumpkin pictures on Instagram give way to talk of Black Friday sales and Christmas shopping as soon as November 1st arrives. But there is so much more of Autumn still left to embrace and enjoy. Here are my seasonal slow living tips for making the most of the season we’re in.

Decorating for Samhain

Give thanks for Autumn’s bounty by hosting a celebration at home to see in Samhain – the official end of the harvest season and start of Winter in the Celtic Wheel of the Year. It’s the perfect excuse to set the table, light the candles, get out your best linens and gather together. Keep it simple and let seasonal produce sing: roast teeny munchkin pumpkins, tear some burrata and drizzle with dressing made from lemon juice and zest with olive oil. Hunks of freshly baked bread to mop up the juices make for a light but hearty Autumn meal, followed up with a pumpkin-themed bake. Snuggle up with a scary movie afterwards (old school is best if you ask me).

Fall Back

Today marks the start of daylight saving in the UK. This means more light in the morning – for a while at least – and we are treated to an extra hour (in bed, supposedly). I woke at the usual time so I’ve been writing this newsletter and I’m about to get some bonus painting time (the reno never ends) before getting out and about before the world has woken, today to Portobello for a vintage fair. This time of day is my favourite, especially on a Sunday when our surroundings seems all the sleepier. Why not enjoy an early morning walk too? Just you and nature.

Nesting

When these darker days arrive it feels like time to hibernate. At this time of year I have an almost instinctive drive to start nesting, preparing the house for Winter. Air knitwear and blankets ready for the season ahead and make sure your candle stash is fully supplied (I unpacked a whole drawer last week, an excellent find amidst all the moving boxes). It feels like time to switch up your bedding for cosier fabrics and a weightier duvet (I have two lighter summer ones I pin together for winter - extra cosy!) and I’m rarely seen at home without my hot water bottle. Enjoy the process of preparing for the colder months, a slow Autumn ritual that makes you cherish the seasonal shift all the more.

Embrace Autumn Crafts

There’s something about the cosiness of home at this time of year, a crafty activity paired with a pot of tea that’s unbeatable. On the sewing pile, tartans and tweeds are calling my name, and - after looking at curtain prices for our new flat - I’m starting to wonder if I could tackle such a huge project myself… Autumn garlands made from dried flowers and seed heads keep hands busy and the mind focussed – such small, mindful nature moments can make all the difference to your perspective. There’s a bonus craft and recipe below for paid subscribers with a DIY video - pumpkin napkins for your Halloween tablescape and a recipe for my mulled Autumn apple juice!