Reading · Words From The Hart

Hello there, and greetings from Scotland where the weather pendulum swings from sultry and cloudless one day, to fresh and showery the next. One morning I'm eyeing up my sheepskin boots, the day after I'm back into a wafty poplin dress and sandals. As Sylvia Plath put it so well in her personal diaries:

“August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.”

Hydrangeas also seems confused by the weather!

How is it at your end? Any respite? I’m aware I’m speaking to you of the weather in the UK. It has been so unusually dry, hot and challenging this summer. Forgive me if you’re in the Lands Down Under waiting for Spring to arrive.

I thought I'd send an extra Letter this week with some suggestions for you as the season shifts, as summer petulantly clings on with autumn hovering in the wings. Back on Wednesday, with my free Letter, and Words from the Hart.

When the light begins to mellow, my mood becomes more introspective, I know that before long, I will be forced away from the beach and the garden, and back indoors with the long dark winter looming on the horizon. This will be my first proper winter in Pilgrim Cottage, and whilst trepidatious, I have decided to embrace all things coorie and hygge and make my surroundings comfortable and welcoming, so I won’t hold back on the small, inexpensive luxuries that make everyday life at home feel like a contented hug.

Here are 10 wee suggestions to start us off, little gifts to us, that lift the spirit, and warm the soul:

For an Instant Pick You Up in the Kitchen:

1. Rich, single origin hot chocolate: Upgrade basic cocoa for dark, stoneground flakes from Knoops for a warming daily ritual. I have linked the starter collection for you, which includes a Dualit hot choc maker, milk frother and variety of flakes. Also this from Bullion.
2. A decent mug, adios harlequin hotch potch: I have a selection of old mismatched and rather unattractive mugs. It’s time they went to mug heaven. Drinking morning tea out of an elegant hand made mug from Astier de Villatte (priced at 8p per cup if you have 2 cuppas a day over 2 years, do you like my ‘Girl Maths’?!) Or some lovely ceramics here which are so reasonable at the White Company - and here at Folk Interiors

For the Laundry Room:

3. Scented wash & non-toxic detergent: Prep your woollies and linen for winter, and ditch the Persil! with this lovely range from Tallow and Ash makes laundry day feel like an indulgence.
4. To keep the pesky moths at bay: these sachets are fabulous.

For Body and Soul:

5. Organic, Romantic, Poetic: I just received the most wonderful gift, a selection of handmade, beautifully packaged soaps from a local company in Scotland, choose from Little Women, Persuasion, or Jane Eyre. Marvellous!

6. Targeted LED light therapy: Countering darker days with a red-light face mask from CurrentBody another fab gift, I shall report back, reviews are very positive. POSHPEDLAR at checkout for a 10% discount.
7. A must have autumnal signature perfume: Shifting to a warm, woody fragrance with notes of amber or cedar from SpaceNK marks the change in season instantly.

For the Desk & Garden

8. A classic fountain pen: Writing longhand morning journal pages with a brass-barrel pen from Kaweco makes putting pen to paper feel elegant and timeless, the words seem to flow more easily.
9. How to Live Happy the Scottish way: This lovely book for inspiration.
10. Spring-blooming bulbs ordered in advance: Buying heirloom tulip bulbs now from Sarah Raven is the ultimate investment in next year’s garden. Delivery in September, plant in October.

Some of my suggestions earn me a tiny commission if you click on them, at no expense to you, some I covet, and some were gifts. I have more treasure to come, which I will post from time to time including a selection of vintage jewellery for the party season ahead. xx

I have an Author page on Bookshop. org which I curate and update, (any suggestions welcome, I’d love to know what you’re reading, and I will add to my page), and a lovely edit on ShopMy

What are the small tweaks and changes you indulge in, the small investments you find yourself returning to as the seasons change?

Candles? Cashmere socks? A huge TBR pile? Cookery books?

Do share in the comments, restack, and browse at leisure.

10 Quiet Pleasures to Elevate the Every Day as the Seasons Shift

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