I think Autumn is my favourite time of year (although I probably change my mind as each season comes around). It is a time for harvesting what has been sown. For looking back with gratitude and looking forward with hope. For celebrating abundance and cosying up with contentment.
Our walks have tempted us with glistening hedgerow jewels. His little hands deftly picking the juiciest of blackberries. His excitement at seeing the first Autumn Leaf of the year. Fallen hazelnuts nibbled by little creatures. A chill in the air. Hot chocolate on the beach. Autumn sunshine glinting on the river as flame-coloured leaf boats set sail.
As the nights drew in, we made a tissue paper leaf lantern to celebrate the Autumnal Equinox. It represents the equilibrium of the light and the coming darkness. To give thanks and to contemplate. We gathered our little Autumn treasures and set them out. Our seed ideas sown in the unconscious to manifest in Spring.
We went for a torch walk in the pitch black. He was so excited to be out at night. to see the world from this new perspective. The beetles that hurried away from the light. The silence. Watching for bats. Marvelling at a million stars and following his first satellite. Choosing a stick to take back home.
As I made our celebratory harvest dinner, he and his Granny decorated the stick with the colours of Autumn. We followed dinner with an apple and foraged blackberry crumble. We drank mulled cider and warm apple juice to toast the coming season and the people we hold dear. Those near, those not so near and those who are no longer here…
The earlier nightfall means I get to share sunsets with my son. There is something pretty special about an Autumnal sunset. And when the sky show is over, I pull the darkness over me like a comforting blanket. In the quiet of the evening, with the flickering of the flame, I give thanks for my abundance. For my sweet boy who amazes me each day. For the time I had with his brother. For the life we lead. And for our beautiful world.
Our planet is a remarkable place. I find it reassuring that nature carries on doing its own beautiful thing whether we are there to witness it or not. It is up to us to choose to see the joy or not. On the 28th of September we woke at 3am to see the spectacular lunar eclipse. I couldn’t capture the beauty of the harvest moon but I think the experience of sharing it with my boy will stay with me. Witnessing something like this always highlights the simultaneous significance and insignificance of life.
The coming of each season reminds us that the world moves on whether we want it to or not. We travel so many journeys in life. Maybe it matters which paths we choose to take. Maybe it doesn’t. But either way, I will try to live each step with a grateful heart.
Dancing in the Rain 
What a brilliant way to celebrate the coming of autumn, it’s fab that you got to spend the time with your son exploring and crafting together. It looks like your son really enjoyed the walk in the fresh air hunting for all those autumnal treasures. I love your autumn leaf lantern, the inspiration for it is fab, I’m sure that you’re both going to remember these moments. Thanks for linking up with me on Country Kids.
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Thanks again Fiona 🙂 nice to be out enjoying this Autumnal sunshine!
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Autumn is a beautiful season and a fun time for nature crafts and activities. Thanks so much for sharing with the parenting pin it party. Cheers, Helen
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Thank you for having us, Helen 🙂
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You have a beautiful way with words. This post is stunning and enchanting! I adore your tissue paper leaf lantern and all of the autumn activities you’ve been up to. Hot chocolate on the beach sounds wonderful, as does the foraged blackberry crumble and the mulled cider to warm you up on these much chillier days! Autumn is such an incredible season to celebrate. It always makes me slow down, appreciate what I hold dear and embrace the changing of the seasons. It must be so precious to get to watch the sunsets with your son, we’ve had some incredible sunsets with the lovely weather recently too. Thank you so, so much for linking to #whatevertheweather xx
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Oh thank you so much, Chloe ❤
Its been a rather lovely Autumn hasn't it? Thank you for having me! x
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I love this post, it’s a beautiful description of this season (and I completely agree with changing my mind at which season is my favourite). A walk out in the dark with little ones is definitely a fantastic idea so they can see the fauna that continues through the night and look up to the stars. We will definitely be making a few trips out in the dark now it’s not so light any more. Your son’s leaf jar and stick are lovely, prefect reminders of the beautiful autumn days and why we should be grateful for what we have.
Thank you so much for linking up to #Whatevertheweather 🙂 x
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Thank you Jenny! It’s such a lovely time of year isn’t it? Thank you for having us 🙂
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Such a beautifully written post with so much meaning, it made me cry! I am envious of all of things you have been getting up to, the amazing bits of nature you’ve seen and the beautiful crafts you’ve made. Stunning photos too. Autumn is my favourite season and you’ve definitely made the most of this time of year. Thanks also for the comment you left on my blog recently, I just replied 🙂 Polly xx
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Aw Polly! Thank you x
It has been such a beautiful Autumn x x
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