The place to be



I can feel it on the wind, I can inhale its scent underfoot. Autumn is in full swing and at last I am ready to embrace the new season, the one I privately think of as The Knitter's Season. The sun sinks lower in the sky almost daily and tinges the changing colours of the landscape with every shade of warm gold to russet.



My daily dog walks are such a joy at this time of year, the ground soft and mossy beneath our feet, the slight crispness in the air, the thought of warm coffee on arriving back home and the welcoming smell of a stew in the oven.



I browse Ravelry in the evenings, my appetite for knitting re-invigorated, my head full of sweaters, my hands busy.

And my kitchen. Oh how I love my kitchen in Autumn, surely the place to be. I have been baking and baking, perhaps a little inspired by the strangely compulsive viewing of The Great British Bake Off. Victoria Sponge, Lemon Drizzle, Chocolate Chip Cookies and a rather fancy sort of Raspberry Cake. I have loved every moment, the smell of a cake rising in the oven, mmmm.



And of course it is preserving season. I love to jam and pickle, seeing the filled jars line the pantry gives one such a very wonderful feeling of smug domesticity. This week Damsons are the order of each day, the tree has outshone itself once more and I cannot bear to waste the crop, I have been picking great bowlfuls and after admiring their deeply coloured beauty I stand stirring and simmering, skimming the stones, my frozen saucer to the side; anxiously waiting for the exact moment of the "set".



Thank you Autumn, I resisted your charms as long as I could but I am all ready for you now, bring it on.

Comments

Elizabeth said…
My favourite plums, the only ones worth eating!
cathleen said…
What a lovely cozy post. I can smell autumn by just reading all your nesting activities. Such a writing talent you have. And I would love to be in your kitchen right now!!!
A season to embrace and enjoy all that she throws at us - bring it on indeed.

take care,

Nina xxx
This post sounds so much like what I have been doing for the last week, knitting and baking, though nothing as lovely as your raspberry cake. YUM.
kristina said…
So impressed with your jam making, and that is one amazing cake! I've been completely addicted to the Great British Bake Off, too. I got back to the UK just in time to catch up on the iplayer--hooray!

K x
kristina said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
dottycookie said…
Psssst - if you have any left over, damson gin's a rather lovely way to use them up.

My damson jam set a bit hard - need to make some more!
Unknown said…
I really love your autumn posts - perhaps because I could be writing the same thing. Lovely lovely lovely.
Cybèle said…
You know what? I think autumn started too early this year. It was such a lovely summer and then it all changed in August and we never got those glorious days we sometimes get in late summer. No wonder it took you longer to embrace autumn.
Both Yarn Forward and The Knitter have some lovely autumn knits this month too.
Dawn said…
Definately a knitting and baking season! My dog has noticed the cooler evenings and slept on my lap yesterday evening - she never does that in the summer.
Jane said…
I wish I had the time to be appreciating the season too. but work is getting in the way! Jane x
Jane said…
I wish I had the time to be appreciating the season too. but work is getting in the way! Jane x
Jane said…
I so need to bake something, but I've been so busy playing catch-up. Hopefully, tomorrow. That cake looks delicious!
rachel said…
My sentiments exactly! I'm going off to collect crab apples today for herbed jelly. But I haven't seen damsons anywhere so far.

Such a fabulous time of year - the best for putting you in touch with nature!
Ali said…
The Knitter's Season indeed! What a lovely phrase.
Ali said…
Autumn is my favourite time of year...on a par with winter, I just love it, I am in my element in the colder months :)
That cake looks just amazing, how lucky the person who got to lick the spoon from the icing bowl was!
Ali
x
Anonymous said…
Thank you for drpping in to Planet Penny to say hello! I love this warm and cosy post and your cake sensational. I've had a chortle over the butter stealing dog. I know Higgins woukd be exactly the same if his legs were longer! Penny x
Planet Penny said…
Thank you for drpping in to Planet Penny to say hello! I love this warm and cosy post and your cake sensational. I've had a chortle over the butter stealing dog. I know Higgins woukd be exactly the same if his legs were longer! Penny x
silfert said…
Note to self: drooling on the keyboard is bad for the computer. Sit back when reading posts about jam and baking.
Helen Philipps said…
This is my first visit to your lovely blog and I've really enjoyed it. Such a cosy autumn post, I loved the blue plum pictures and the fabulous cake!
Helen x
raining sheep said…
You are making all excited about autumn. We have had a bit of snow already... it has been cold. Supposedly will be more tolerable this weekend. I too have picked up my granny square blanket again and feel pretty excited about finishing it.
MOONSTITCHES said…
What a beautiful posting, Rebecca.
I love autumn, too, and the temperatures here dropped exactly the first day of fall - perfect!
Do enjoy all the pickling and making jam!

Popular Posts