Category: autumn

autumn · crafts & knitting

autumn attire

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)42 Comments

Hello again. It’s been too long, how are things with you?

Here life has been meandering along full of the usual stuff, in fact it has been a bit more full than usual owing to the half term school break last week, which accounts for my absence. Amy was in a play at the local theatre which kept her busy for most of the week and I kept Toby occupied with lots of walks in the woods. I took my camera each time because the trees are at their most beautifully autumnal right now but Toby doesn’t like to stand still when out on a walk so I just ended up carrying it and not actually taking any pictures.

There was even some knitting, but there is no point in attempting complicated stitch patterns or fiddly shaping because all of that needs more concentration than Toby allows me and I end up making lots of mistakes, so when he’s around it has to be simple knitting. Over the half term break I mostly worked on the shalom jumper, which is a lovely straightforward project.

Although I truly dislike knitting in the round on small items like gloves etc I do quite like it on something as big as a jumper and because of the thick weight wool and 6mm needles this jumper grew at a pleasing rate. Finishing it off has come at the right time too because the temperature has now dropped and it’s definitely jumper wearing weather!

Now the children are back at school so I can concentrate on more complicated knitterly things. I’m sewing faces today and putting the finishing touches to the batch of autumn inspired animals. I’m also sticking pins in my little hedgehog pincushions and have made some autumn leaf toppers from shrinkle sheets to finish them off.

I’ll be back soon with some pictures of the animals and hopefully a picture of the finished misty afghan because I’m working on the final round of the border now – there’s lots of woolly play going on here! Thanks for stopping by x

autumn · crafts & knitting · garden stuff · general stuff

autumn in the air

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)45 Comments

Thanks so much for all of the birthday wishes for Toby. I think he enjoyed his day – he certainly enjoyed the party rings that I let him eat because it was his birthday!

There has been a definite coolness in the air when I’ve been opening up the chicken coop in the morning and the evenings are getting shorter. Autumn is arriving here and I am happy because it is my favourite season.

All around things are changing and preparing for the harshness of winter. The garden spiders are fat and busy with their spinning,

The leaves are gradually colouring and falling from the trees

The birds have been heading south. We’re in the Lea Valley and it must be a popular migration route because recently the evening skies over our house have been populated by v shaped flocks heading to warmer climes.

The sun is getting tired and going to bed noticeably earlier each day.

My thoughts are now definitely focused on indoor activities and it’s time to put the paddling pool and summer garden cushions away for another year.

The wood store is stocked and I have a feeling it may not be long before I’m thinking of lighting the fire of an evening and curling up with my knitting – I feel the urge to make yet another pair of mittens coming on! But first I’ll finish off the batch of autumny animals and hedgehogs that I’m currently working on.

autumn · crafts & knitting · food and Drink

Kitchen poetry 3

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)32 Comments

Well despite the lack of chill in the air these past few weeks the leaves have started changing colour and the clocks have gone back, so it feels that autumn is well and truly here again. Its arrival has made me want to get ready for winter and I’ve been making lots of soup for the freezer. Soaking split peas for split pea and ham soup (from River Cottage Everyday) and roasting butternut squash for Squash & Cumin soup (recipe from my mum)

To serve 6:

3 teaspoons of cumin seed

1 teaspoon of coriander seed

1 teaspoon of caraway seed

1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

olive oil

1 medium squash (either butternut or onion) around 1kg in weight

2 large onions

3 garlic cloves

50gms butter

750ml stock (vegetable or chicken)

220ml creme fraiche

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 190 degrees / gas mark 5. Cut the squash in half and remove all of the seeds, place in a roasting dish, drizzle over the olive oil and bake in the oven for up to an hour until soft. Toast all of the spice seeds in a dry pan and grind to a powder.

Finely chop the onions and garlic and sweat in the butter until they are soft and translucent. Set aside until the squash is done. Scrape the roasted squash flesh from the skin and put in a deep pan with the onions, ground spices and stock. Simmer for a few minutes. Add the creme fraiche and blend to a thick, smooth soup. Good to eat with warm crusty olive bread.

Even my knitting has been touched by autumnal colours – I’ve been working on a very soft and very decadent new scarf in gorgeous pure cashmere (Jade Sapphire 8ply cashmere in Chamomile). I’ve gone for a very simple garter stitch because when the yarn is this special I don’t think it needs fancy stitches.

These autumny pursuits have inspired Amy and I to write another bit of kitchen poetry…

When autumn comes a-knocking

Amy and I make soup,

We also kick through fallen leaves

and shop for yarn at Loop!

 Poem by Amy & Julie

 

Making preparations for winter is something lots of people are doing at the moment and there’s a wonderful project just started by Silverpebble and Thriftyhousehold called Making Winter which aims to celebrate all of the lovely things that winter brings. So if you fancy sharing some of your favourite wintery things pop over and join in x