Autumnal Equinox: Day 5

Another day of celebrating the Autumn Equinox, and it was a bit fruit-and-veg-themed (in the morning at least). I'm not sure the Autumnal Equinox has been the most action-packed of our celebrations so far, and perhaps that's because it's hard not to look forward to the big ones that are on the horizon, but we're definitely still marking the season in our own special way.

A Trip to Bury Market

We went to Bury Market this morning with my mother-in-law. Got myself quite the Autumn Equinox cornucopia. Is that 3 figs for £1.50? Yes it is. And I also picked up a bit of market-themed reading at the book exchange stall while we were there.

Autumn Equinox Earrings

Today's Autumn Equinox earrings are little glass corn ears and pumpkins that I bought from a jewellery maker at the Crumpsall and Cheetham Model Allotments fun day at Midsummer. 

Ronald Hutton Lecture

Tonight I attended an online lecture by Ronald Hutton at Gresham College, entitled 'The Gods of Prehistoric Britain'. It was interesting, thought-provoking and entertaining (as I expected it would be!)

Midsummer: Day 8

It's the penultimate day of our Midsummer celebrations, and we had a lot planned for the day (not least our Midsummer Dinner, following our new traditions that we've invented this year). Tomorrow will be a quieter end to the seasonal celebrations, as we'll both be back at work the following day.

Bailey’s Wood Litter-Pick

Not specifically Midsummer-themed this time, but today was the monthly Friends of Bailey's Wood litter-pick so we got to spend the morning in the summery woods.

Allotments Celebration Day

I had a lovely afternoon at the Crumpsall and Cheetham Model Allotments, celebrating their fiftieth anniversary. I had a nice bit of carrot cake with a friend, learnt to write my name in Japanese, and then made an origami chopsticks holder. The stars of the show were definitely the early medieval reenactors, Óðr Hird and Storrada Hird, with battle scenes and village settlement!

Midsummer Tea

Today's Midsummer tea (another of the Whittard selection box) was Jasmine.

Midsummer Dinner

In the evening, Rob made us the (now) traditional Midsummer Dinner of gratinated cabbage, roast shallots and new potatoes.

Blod Mead

And we accompanied our dinner with an exceptionally (dangerously) moreish Midsummer tipple... Blod Mead from Lindisfarne Mead. Oh my god this is a nice drink.

Midsummer Gifts

We swapped our traditional Midsummer gifts tonight... more seasonal-themed whiskies to add to the tasting sets we'll have at Christmas.