Some people count down to Christmas, others to summer holidays. Me? I count down to autumn. From late August, I enter what I like to call Code Orange – that magical time when the first leaves start to curl at the edges, the evening air carries a whisper of chill, and I can practically hear my wellingtons calling to me from the porch. It’s the season of slowing down, snuggling up, and embracing all things warm, golden, and gloriously cosy.
The Beauty of the ‘Ber’ Months
There’s something about September, October, and November – the ‘ber’ months – that feels like home. The world shifts into a richer palette of deep reds, burnt oranges, and crisp yellows, and with it comes a sense of settling in. It’s a time for wrapping up in thick scarves, crunching through fallen leaves, and letting the pace of life slow just a little. The fields are quieter, the farm animals start growing their winter coats, and the sunsets? Oh, they turn into fiery masterpieces that make me stop in my tracks.
Pumpkin Everything, Please
There’s no hiding it – I am obsessed with pumpkins. The minute they appear in farm shops and markets, I’m there, loading up the boot of my car like I’m preparing for a pumpkin famine. Tiny ones, lumpy ones, the classic big round orange beauties – they all find a home on my porch, ready to transform my cabin into the autumnal haven I dream about all year.
And it’s not just for show – pumpkins mean it’s officially time to bring out the spicy soups, the hearty stews, and (of course) the pumpkin-spiced everything. There’s nothing quite like curling up by the fire, hands wrapped around a steaming mug, knowing that outside the world is slowly tucking itself in for the colder months ahead.
Once, I even pulled a muscle in my neck whilst reaching into the bottom of a box for that perfect pumpkin – it was a beauty and well worth the week-long course of painkillers. Oh, the lengths I will go to. True dedication needs to be documented.
Decorating the Porch: A Seasonal Ritual
Ever since we started building the cabin, my thoughts had always been for a decorated autumn porch. I have spent years squirreling away pumpkin-related stuff, collecting little treasures here and there, knowing that one day, I’d finally get to create my dream autumn setup. The actual excitement in late August 2024 when I could finally decorate the cabin porch? Well, I was ridiculously excited. Out came the hay bales, the lanterns, the gourds of all shapes and sizes. A wreath of dried leaves and berries found its way onto the door, and the soft glow of fairy lights made the early evenings feel like a warm embrace. Sitting out there with a blanket, bathed in orange breathing in the crisp, woodsmoke-scented air – it’s pure magic.
Fires, Frosty Mornings, and the Art of Slowing Down
Autumn is an invitation to pause. The days grow shorter, the evenings stretch longer, and life shifts into a softer gear. It’s the season of crackling fires, where the only thing better than watching the flames dance is feeling the warmth seep into your bones after a long day outside. The mornings bring the first frosts, the grass crunches underfoot, and the mist rolls across the hills like a scene from a storybook.
It’s also the season of curling up in front of the log burner with a book, a notebook full of lists (because there is always something to plan), and a head full of thoughts on how to keep warm while running a hill farm. There’s a certain charm in preparing for the colder months—stocking up on firewood, making sure the animals are ready for winter, and embracing the wild beauty of the landscape as it shifts towards the colder days ahead.
In the rush of modern life, autumn reminds us to take a breath. To savour the slow-cooked meals, the golden afternoons, the simple joy of a well-worn jumper. It’s a season that asks nothing of us but to appreciate it – and that, perhaps, is why I love it so much.
So here’s to Code Orange, to pumpkins on the porch, to fires that crackle and leaves that crunch. Here’s to the ‘ber’ months, to the warmth they bring despite the chill in the air. And here’s to autumn – the season that, more than any other, feels like home.