We’ve been getting more and more interested in seasonal living recently. There are so many books about the joys of seasonal living and these are inspiring us to think more about living life in tune with the seasons. In many ways we have always lived sesaonally: winter walks, hot coffee by a roaring fire and reading books which reflect the time of year, but we are now extending this into all aspects of everyday life.
It’s so lovely to think about the seasons when choosing food, books, music, clothes, candles, perfume and so much more.
Seasonal reading has always been a big part of my life, there are books which resonate with a particular season. I have books which I always read at Christmas, others which suit the warmer months of the summer. There are books and poems for the spring, and there are many for the autumn. Miss Read's novels about Fairacre and Thrush Green follow seasonal themes and her writing about autumn has always inspired and uplifted me. Susan Hill's novels are also wonderfully autumnal.
On our recent trip to Malton, in North Yorkshire, we were chatting about seasonal music, especially music for the autumn. We have lots of winter music; early December always finds us playing Tallis and his Renaissance counterparts. Summer music includes Vivaldi and Handel, joyous music for long summer evenings.
One of my favourite pieces of music for the autumn is Martin Peerson’s The Fall of the Leafe. Pearson was a Recusant who wrote this beautiful piece whilst languishing in Newgate Jail. I've played this piece for many, many years, and always love it.
Seasonal food is wonderful, too and Malton is a foodie place, so we made a number of interesting purchases. We’ve enjoyed a number of stuffed squash recently and bought a very small pumpkin this weekend. I’m planning to stuff it with a mixture of lentils and chestnuts.
I love choosing cosy autumn clothes and accessories - cashmere scarves, fairisle gloves and warm jackets. I have an ever growing collection of beautiful Indigowares jackets which I relish wearing in the cooler months. As well as seasonal choices I like making sustainable clothes choices, especially from sourced from local shops and makers.
So as the days get shorter and the evenings longer, there is so much to look forward to. Cosy is definitely the way forward!