Leaves falling, pages turning

There are moments throughout the year when you can feel one season shifting into another. The first warm day in late winter when there is that smell of greenery unfurling; a chilly morning in September when you smell wood smoke in the air; the first hard frosts of late autumn when winter blows in. We had that last week: suddenly, a week of cold, cold weather and even a snow flurry. Even though it's technically autumn, the weather says winter. 

Pumpkins have either been eaten or packed away and replaced by berries, candles and clementines. Warm reds, whites and oranges.

The leaf colours have been glorious. I always think November has better colours than October. 

We finished decorating the hall. I love the green woodwork and metalwork on the stairs. We really wanted to wallpaper that wall with the mirror but had a disaster with some paper that would not pattern match, no matter how we tried. We returned it and will find another pattern at some point. Probably next year. 

Life has been all consuming these last weeks and I have been focusing on small pleasures. Nothing exciting, just everyday joys like clean bedding, warm soups and new books.

I have begun Christmas shopping. Small and local where I can, but not always.

A couple of weeks ago my mum, Bella, my niece and I went to the Winter Fair at Spring Gardens in Pulborough, West Sussex. It's an annual event and this is our fourth year going I think. It's delightful. A glasshouse by a farm shop filled with independent sellers selling all manner of vintage and handmade delights. I do a lot of Christmas shopping there. 

One of the reasons life has been so busy of late is this: the arrival of Bandit the retired greyhound a month ago.

He is settling in beautifully. We are loving his company and big walks at the weekends again (as well as lots of little ones throughout the week of course). He's starting to show a mischievous nature which is lovely to see. No drink is safe from him slurping. It's fun getting to know him. It took us a long time after losing Ziggy to feel ready for another dog - a year, in fact - but here we are, happily home to another four-legged friend.