31 Days of Halloween: Day 14

Still working on my manuscript today, but I did get out to run a writing workshop (with a special seasonal flavour). And we did have a nice autumnal tea as well, so I guess we did do a bit of celebrating after all!

ParkWrite Spooky Season

Really enjoyed running this seasonal writing workshop for Friends of Crumpsall Park. This was the final workshop in a series I ran in the park throughout summer and autumn this year. This one focused on the changing seasons, but with a bit of a spooky twist. Parks are such great places for inspiring creativity.

Uchiki Kuri Curry

We started on our Groobarbs Autumn Squash Box tonight... Uchiki Kuri Curry, made by Rob and absolutely delicious!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 11

Today I went on a road trip! What better way to celebrate Halloween than to go to the seaside!

A Trip to Blackpool

I went on a day trip to Blackpool today with the residents of Castlerea House care home, with a tram ride out to Fleetwood for chips. It was a bit bracing.

Halloween Headband

Got myself a new headband in Blackpool!

Blackcurrant and Liquorice Ice Cream

You can't go to the seaside without having an ice cream, can you? Blackcurrant and liquorice ice cream to be precise (it was the most Halloween-y flavour I could find).

Autumn Squash Box

We've decided to treat ourselves to the most autumnal thing we could find... an Autumn Squash Box from Groobarbs! It's got Crown Prince, Uchiki Kuri, Patty Pan, Harlequin, Little Gem and the most ENORMOUS Spaghetti Squash!

31 Halloween Films: The Wolf-Man

We watched another one from our list tonight... The Wolf Man.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 7

I spent most of today catching up on rest and working on the manuscript of my book (I have to get a draft to the publisher very soon). But it was a nicely festive day all the same.

Halloween Presents

In a rather cute and unexpected festive campaign, my mum keeps coming round with little Halloween presents for us. Today we've got M&S Halloween snacks and some teeny tiny pumpkin tea lights.

Halloween Donut

Mmmmm... Halloween donut.

Pumpkin Diffuser

New Halloween diffuser from Le Bon Candles... with pumpkin spice wax melts.

Harlequin Squash

Spooky/Squash season continues... tonight's tea was Gratinated Harlequin Squash (with the squash from our Groobarbs box), which was absolutely gorgeous.

31 Days of Halloween: Day 4

It's the fourth day of our Halloween month celebrations. So far, it's turning out to be a nice mix of Halloween activities and autumnal festivities. Today had a good balance of both, so I feel like we did the season proud.

Autumn Walk in the Woods

It was the fortnightly Friends of Bailey's Wood Walk and Talk today, which was a nice opportunity to see some of the seasonal changes in the woods. After photographing acorns from their teeniest tiniest first appearance this year, I was beginning to worry the squirrels weren't going to leave me any ripe ones. But look at this autumnal beauty I found! Plus... mushroom season has begun!

Toffee Whirls

Exceedingly good (Halloween edition).

Veg Box

Halloween season means squash season! And we got a Harlequin Squash in our Groobarbs box today! Plus a massive Savoy cabbage, leeks, potatoes and carrots, apples, pears and raspberries.

Halloween Presents

Awww... my mum came round today with a bag of Halloween presents for us!

31 Halloween Films: House on Haunted Hill

The next film on our list was House on Haunted Hill, and Rob decreed that meant the 1999 version (so no Vincent Price for us tonight).

Bakewell Pudding

I don't know if this is Halloween or just delicious, but my mum and dad went to Derbyshire and brought us back some proper Bakewell puddings!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 2

It's the second day of our Halloween month, but a bit quieter than yesterday as we were both at work. And Rob's on a night shift tonight, so no chance to enjoy any more films from our list. I've had quite an autumnal day, rather than a spooky one, but that's still very seasonal.

More Ghost Earrings!

More new Halloween earrings! These ones were from Kaly Designs, and they're very cute.

Last of the Summer Sweetcorn

Autumn has well and truly arrived, so I'm enjoying the last of the summer harvest - sweetcorn from Groobarbs Wild Farm!

Halloween Cooking

Speaking of veg... I've been cooking up something tonight that I'm hoping will be a Halloween-tastic lunch for us tomorrow.

Lammas: Day 7

It's the big day! The finale of our Lammas celebrations for this year, and one last chance to do the season proud...

Breadmas Calendar Day 7

And behind Bread Wrapper No. 7 today... it's a Sourdough Roll (from Asda)!

Courgette Bread

I used the courgettes from our Groobarbs box and some stone-milled white flour from Walk Mill in a Courgette and Cheese Bread (one loaf green, one loaf yellow). The bake was rubbish because I used way too many courgettes, but the taste was really moreish.

Lammas Dinner

Rob made us the traditional Lammas Dinner of Lammas Surprise, followed by Cherry Crumble (made with stone-milled malted flour from Walk Mill).

Lammas Gifts

We ended our Lammas festivities tonight by exchanging the traditional cards and gifts. Once again, we're saving these whiskies for our seasonal tasting set at Christmas.

Children of the Corn

And finally, we celebrated tonight with the traditional seasonal film... Children of the Corn.

And so the wheel of the year turns. We'll be celebrating again at the Autumn Equinox.

Imbolc: Day 1

The Wheel of the Year has turned full circle since we first started celebrating all the seasons. And that means it's time to celebrate Imbolc, and the last gasps of winter. We've got a week of celebrations planned again, including some of the traditions we started last year. Here's what we got up to on Friday...

Winter Cooking

I always try to make sure we don't waste the last few bits from our Groobarbs veg boxes before the next delivery, but I think I surpassed myself this time (if I do say so myself)... Leftover Veg Soup (with spring greens and red chilli), Cherry and Almond Banana Bread, and a sparkly Imbolc-themed Carrot Cake.

Imbolc Poetry at Castlerea

Today I ran an Imbolc-themed poetry and storytelling session at Castlerea care home. We talked about winter and shared our thoughts on the season. Plus we had poetry by Shakespeare and Shelley, music by Vivaldi and The Bangles, myths of Persephone, Blue Corn Maiden, Jack Frost and the Holly and Oak Kings!

Imbolc Gin Liqueur

I met up with a friend tonight for the traditional Imbolc libation of sparkly light-up sugar plum gin and iced gems!

Imbolc Lights

As is tradition (i.e. it's the second year we've done it), we're keeping some of our Christmas lights up till Imbolc... including the absolutely awesome pine forest snowstorm that Rob got us this year!

31 Days of Halloween: Day 20

I'm still a bit behind with my posts, but hopefully I'll catch up soon. Thursday was quite a busy day, so for once there's a bit more than just tea and stories! (But there is still tea and stories!)

Today's Tea

Thursday's tea was Full Moon Brew from Sybil's Tea Co. It's lemon balm, camomile, rose and lemon zest!

Today's Story

Thursday's classic tale of horror was 'The Succubus' by Honoré de Balzac.

Tonight's Halloween Look

A different look for Thursday night's Facebook Live video.

Ghost Story Readalong Live

I did the third (and penultimate) Facebook Live video for my Ghost Story Readalong (and it turns out I can't handle having a fringe). Next week, it's Part 3 and the Epilogue!

Groobarbs Veg Box

Our fortnightly veg box from Groobarbs came on Thursday. I wouldn't normally count this as a Halloween thing, but... we got a pumpkin! (Plus parsnips, leeks, carrots, potatoes, peppers, apples, raspberries and strawberries.)

Abominable Books

And my monthly Abominable Books Box also arrived on Thursday. As well as lots of other goodies, I got The House of Tongues by James Dashner and Black Lake Manor by Guy Morpuss this time.

Live and Spooky Campfire Stories (Lena Ng)

Thursday's Campfire Stories video from Flame Tree Press featured Lena Ng reading her story 'The Last Train Onwards', which features in their Asian Ghost Short Stories collection. I think this was one of my favourites so far.