October 2025 - A Seasonal Diary
A seasonal diary of nature spots and little moments
"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
-Lucy Maud Montgomery, Ann of Green Gables
Hello October
Well, we're truly knee deep in Autumn now, I hope you're up to your elbows in pumpkins and spooky stories! What a year we're having, the weather has been glorious, and the leaves are doing their fiery thing and I'm loving it. I am also very busy packing your Christmas card and calendar orders and for that I am so so grateful. THANK YOU!
I do really enjoy this time of year, it lights me up creatively, the fungi, the leaves, the wind, the cold walks and hot drinks and yet the cows are still out in the field, the hedges here are still green (we're a little later than the rest of the UK on this coast) but the sycamores are bright yellow, the wild cherry is the most magical red and the morning air is crisp. October is the bridge into winter, we get to stand on the brow for a while, a foot on either side and just enjoy the view.
Aside from daydreaming about metaphorical bridges, and typing waffle to you, I've also made a banging pumpkin soup if I do say so myself. There's an element of make it up as you go of course. I roasted 3 small pumpkins, sauteed 2 onions, threw some hot water in, 2 veggie stock cubes, some harissa spices, a bit of allspice, some salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar and honey shoved it in the bottom of the aga for 3 hours. It turned out to be SO TASTY. The farmer declared it the best soup he'd ever had - very proud of myself because despite being a farmer’s wife I cannot cook.
Oh, don't forget cream, I poured a good helping of double cream in when I whizzed it up.
5TH Ocotber -A wALK IN THE WOODS
The whole family, farmer included ventured out on a dog walk in our forgotten wood, a tree had fallen down, we all found great fun in moving it out the way. The Farmer picked sloes. Me and the boys fought with sticks and put war paint (mud) on our cheeks. The simple times turn out to to be the best sometimes don’t they?
11th - 12th october - burton agnes autumn faire
Wooohooo! I love a faire, I loaded Beryl up to the brim and carted way to much stuff into the big tent. Sold lots of things, spoke to people, painted a little and generally enjoyed being able to discuss my work and my passion with people face to face. You can’t beat a craft faire. Also a weekend childfree without housework? Who wouldn’t enjoy it?!
Half term
After a morning of packing your lovely orders with his help, I took my big man to RSPB Bempton Cliffs for a little me and him date whilst the youngest was at nursery. We hoped for lots of birds but pigeons seemed to be ruling the cliffs. still a lovely brisk walk and some much needed quality time with my big one. Nobody needs a day by day account of my half term but I can break it down into some key events…. Little Man pegged it out of the shop, I had to run full pelt after him leaving big man stood with the abandoned shopping. Big Man turned 5. Turned into an insomniac. Extroverted every day. Through a mini halloween party, put a pretend corpse on the dining table. Ironed the school uniform. Fell into bed Sunday night utterly cream crackered. A wholesome but too busy half term. Learnt my lesson not to overbook the school holidays next time.
Garden Days
Picked some pumpkins - FINALLY!
I have loved eating them and handing out them all to friends and family, the hostile pumpkin takeover of the summer was worth it, we have been absolutely swamped with them this October. Thank you to March me for planting so many.
I feel deep guilt about the lack of time I'm spending outdoors, this time of year seems to be all about work and I would love to find a few days to be getting on with the late autumn jobs, I swore this year would be the year of the mulch, so far it is not.
One day they won’t want me to take them on little adventures anymore and that sad day will be the time I become the gardener I would love to be. The garden will console me.
Nature Notes
Spotted what I think are shaggy ink caps
Made friends with a snail
Noticed the maple and sycamore leaves are bright yellow, the cherry deep red but the oak is still hanging on and mainly green.
The elders have been pretty much stripped, their bare stems poking out above the bright rose hips
Pink footed geese have still been flying over, also spotted lots of greylag in a field.
Drove home alongside a barn owl for a few hundred meters.
Deer in the forgotten wood, watched them gracefully running along the hill top, silhouetted by the October sky
October In Watercolour
Stories from the studio, a little glimpse into my watercolour creations from this month…
What has October been like for you? Have you seen anything out in nature that’s made you smile or just peeked your interest? I would love to know, tell me in the comments below...
