Falling for Autumn
Ten small ways to fall in love with autumn
Summer has ended, the days have become shorter and the air has turned crisp. Many people feel a little sad when this happens. But autumn has its own kind of magic. To romanticise a season means to notice the small, beautiful moments and make ordinary days feel special. Here are ten ideas. How many have you already tried?
1. Build a pile of autumn books
Have you ever made a reading list just for autumn? Choose a few books you have wanted to read for a long time and stack them next to your bed. Mysteries and ghost stories feel just right when it gets dark at six o’clock.
2. Make a playlist for the season
Music changes with the seasons. Which songs remind you of autumn? Collect the slow, moody or slightly spooky ones, and the nostalgic songs you have loved for years. Play them on your walk to school or while you cook.
3. Fill your kitchen with cinnamon and apples
Few smells are as comforting as apples and cinnamon. If you have never made an apple crumble, now is the perfect time. Or just add a pinch of cinnamon to your porridge or hot chocolate.
4. Wrap up in a cosy jumper
Everyone loves a big, soft jumper in October. Have you found your favourite one yet? Wrap up in it, make a warm drink, and you are ready for any chilly evening.
5. Light up the dark evenings
The clocks go back at the end of October, so it gets dark very early. A candle or a string of fairy lights makes a room feel warm and calm instead of gloomy.
6. Go on a leaf walk
By now, many trees have turned gold, copper and deep red. Head to a park or a wood and kick through the crunchy leaves. Have you ever looked for shiny conkers under a horse chestnut tree? Children in Britain have played with them for generations.
7. Decorate your space
You don’t need to spend much money. A few pine cones, a small pumpkin on the windowsill or a jar of leaves you have collected can change the whole feel of a room.
8. Carve a pumpkin
Carving a pumpkin is messy, silly and great fun. Have you ever tried it? Many people throw the seeds away, but roasted with a little salt, they make a tasty snack.
9. Create an autumn bucket list
A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before a certain time. What haven’t you done yet this year? Write down everything you want to enjoy before winter arrives, like fireworks on Bonfire Night, a new soup recipe or a trip to a pumpkin patch.
10. Bake cinnamon buns or pumpkin pie
Nothing makes a home feel cosier than the smell of baking. Cinnamon buns are soft, sweet and sticky, and pumpkin pie is a favourite in America at Thanksgiving. Have you ever baked either of them? If you haven’t, start with a simple recipe. Then invite a friend round, share what you have made, and enjoy it with a cup of tea.
