Three Cozy Videos To Usher In Autumn

Cozy Days of September
A Cozy Rainy Day At Cinnamon Cottage
Welcoming Cozy Autumn Enjoy!

Delightful Autumn Reading - Brambley Hedge/Autumn Story

It's been some years since we homeschooled, even longer since my girls were young enough to truly appreciate picture books. But there are a few books that seem to transcend time and appeal to all ages, and Brambley Hedge is one. The illustration above is from Autumn Story, which is my favorite of the seasonal series.

Autumn Story finds the mice in Brambley Hedge working tirelessly to finish the harvesting aheaad of a storm. Primrose sincerely meant to help, but being a bit of a daydreamer, she somehow manages to find herself in Chestnut Woods, and to her dismay finds that she is lost. The story continues on with describing the heroic efforts of her friends and family as they search to find and bring her home. It's such a sweet story, as is every book in the series, but even more than the stories what makes these books truly special are the illustrations.

Jill Barklem is the author and illustrator of this delightful series, who sadly, passed away in November of 2017. But there is a lovely website where you can learn more about her as well as meet all the mice! There's even a lovely Autumn Story coloring page!

You can pick up a copy of the books for around $10.00, but way back when, we were first introduced to them through the library (although I almost immediately added them to our personal collection). So  if you don't want to purchase them you might check with your library, but to make it even easier there's also a lovely reading of Autumn Story on You Tube.

Also on You Tube is the television series which aired in the UK on BBC in 1997. I discovered these a few years ago, but the quality wasn't very good. So I was very delighted to find that someone else has posted them as well, and the picture is clear and crisp. I plan to watch it one day this week, with a nice cup of tea. 

I was also delighted to find that Cobble Hill Puzzle Company has released all four of the books in the seasonal series as 1000 piece puzzle. I purchased the Summer Story puzzle back in June, but it was such a busy season I never got around to piecing it together. And then just last week I purchased the Autumn Story Puzzle, and this time I plan to be very intentional about getting it done. Isn't it just lovely?

The Brambley Hedge books are truly delightful, and as I said, I still enjoy them today and read each book in it's season. If you've never read them I highly recommend them, and the video, and the puzzles! Personally, I can't get enough!

Until then! 

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Small Things - On The Cusp of Autumn Edition

"Life is not, for most of us, a pageant of splendor, but is made up of many small things, rather like an old fashioned piecework quilt. No two people have the same, but we all have our own, whether it be listening to Beethoven's fifth with a beloved friend, or seeing a neighbor at the back door with a basket of white dahlias. Or after a long, hard day, having the family say, "That was a good supper."

- GLADYS TABER

1. Keeping a Commonplace Book

I've been a collected or words for years now, and one of the things I loved about a Charlotte Mason Education was the keeping of a commonplace book.  I started a new one recently, and I'm really enjoying it. If you are not familar with a commonplace book, you might find these articles helpful, Keeping A Commonplace Book and How To Turn Any Notebook Into A Commonplace Book.

2. Apple Fritter Bites

I love a good apple fritter, but to be honest, very often I find the size of them just too much. So when I saw this recipe for apple fritter bites I thought this might just be the best of both worlds!

3. Early Autumn Diffuser Blends

And speaking of apples, here are some lovely diffuser blends as we look toward autumn!

Come, Fall

- 3 drops wild orange

- 3 drops cassia

- 2 drops of douglas fir

Apple Orchard

- 2 drops bergamot

- 3 drops wild orange

- 3 drops cedarwood

4. Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklists

To help better maintain our home, I've added a section in my home binder for seasonal tasks and found these lists from Better Homes and Gardens helpful.

5. On The Cusp of Autumn

I really enjoyed watching this video, On The Cusp of Autumn form Poetry of Slow Life

6. It's Your 20th Television Anniversary Charlie Brown

Most of you know I am a big Peanuts fan, so when I came across this never before seen video this week, I was pretty excited. It originally aired on May 14, 1985 and features highlights from specials over the previous twenty years.  Of course by now we're nearing 60 years of Charlie Brown specials, and I've loved every one!