Eight Ways To Increase The Light Through October's Windows

1. Display The Changing Light and Landscapes of 2018

What did you do on the first wet afternoon this autumn?  I hope that you didn't end up smelling like a wet sheep as I did! In Italy we mercifully have few of them! On a much brighter day,  my husband took this photo at the Villa Cimbrone at Ravello - the famous Amalfi getaway of the rich and famous. 

Now that we are three quarter way through the year  it's good time to start to collate and  display our memories of the year so far. If you have a large house then canvas prints and poster size photos can be stunning. If not, then there's still lots you can do. This web page gives you many design ideas: 

'25 Decorative Handmade Photo Crafts To Beautify Your Life'

Vanessa Beatty

If you are already thinking ahead for Christmas and are looking at giving a gift that captures a friend's memories then a mug with their holiday snaps is an interesting one; especially one that only reveals these when full of coffee or tea. Aldi photo have many ideas and offer these at very competitive rates.

2. Bounce The Light From Your Furniture

Autumn brings us indoors more often and attention again returns to improving our living space. Maybe you are doing more entertaining at home and feel your property is in the public eye?

Time then for a quick makeover.  A stunning new  walnut or mahogany table? A vintage piece for the hallway? Or just some fantastic citrus scented wood polish? Whatever the budget allows. If there's light on the wood, the rest looks good!

3. Enlighten and Frighten Yourself With Some Gothic Horror

 What better way to pass a dark stormy autumn evening than in front of a crackling fire with a glass of red wine and a good work of Gothic fiction. A genre of literature that combines fiction, death, horror and romance. It seems to have begun with Horace Walpole's 1764 'The Castle of Otranto', subtitled A Gothic Story'. It became popular by the 19th century as further great works were added. Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein',  Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'. Charles Dickens' 'A
Christmas Carol' and Wilkie Collins 'A Lady In White'. 

There's so many to choose from. Amongst the most popular are:

4. Brighten Your Autumn Wardrobe With Berry Shade

Before you get your credit cards out, I'd recommend the inspirational  talk on fashion and self -expression: 'Dressing For Confidence and Joy' by Stasia Sasasuk  (YouTube.) Then book yourself a session with a good colour analyst.

You may not have made it to the London or Paris Fashion weeks this autumn but a quick trip to the shops or quick look on the internet is all you need to get your wardrobe ready for the new season. Personally I like  Valentino's jewel colours and clever use of layering, using camis and coats. Send me yours ! 

5. Light Up Your Taste Buds With Some Healthy Roots

Roasted sweet potato & carrot soup

Ingredients BBC Food

• 500g sweet potatoes
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Sweet potato

  sweet po-tate-toe

  Sweet potatoes have a creamy texture and a sweet-spicy flavour that makes them ideal for savoury…

  
  
  , peeled and cut into chunks
• 300g carrots
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Carrot

  ka-rot

  The carrot, with its distinctive bright orange colour, is one of the most versatile root…

  
  
  , peeled and cut into chunks
• 3 tbsp olive oil
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Olive oil

  ol-iv oyl

  Probably the most widely-used oil in cooking, olive oil is pressed from fresh olives. It's…

  
  
• 2 onions
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Onion

  un-yun

  Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia…

  
  
  , finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1l vegetable stock
• 100ml crème fraîche, plus extra to serve

1. Method

   1. Roast veg for 25-30 mins
2. 2. Fry onions
3. 3. Add garlic
4. 4. Add stock
5. 5. Add roasted veg and process
6. 6. Serve with a good grinding of black pepper and a swirl of creme fraiche.

6. Celebrate the light and colours of the Autumn

For me this is the most glorious time of year to be alive!  Where are the best places to see the autumn tapestry at its best? If you live near an ancient forest  or local stately home you can maybe experience these colours on a daily basis but if not where do you go?

 The website 'Vagrants of The World' gives you some excellent destinations: Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Southern France, Transylvanian Romania, Budapest Hungary, Gdansk Poland, Wachau Valley Austria and Cesky Krumlov Czech Republic.

7. Refresh and Lighten Yourself With a Spa Weekend

If you holidayed in August,  chances are you're ready for a break by  half term in October! Somewhere quiet and fresh where you can enjoy a bit of pampering. From aching joints to mental stress a Spa weekend tackles many issues. So don't delay, book today. There's many online offers such as £200 of free treatments at Champneys to budget trips on Groupon and Voucher Codes. The money will be well spent! Tell me any great places you've found.

8. Light a Candle In a Turnip Lantern

Halloween is a contraction of the term Hallows' Evening. Sometimes called All Saints Day celebrated on the last day of October marks the end of autumn for many of us. 

Children enjoy guising; going from house to house in Halloween costumes, apple bobbing and biting sticky treacled scones on string. 

 

For us adults  it can be a much more sombre time, a time to remember departed loved ones and bring flowers to their graves.  Let's end the month on a bright note though by bringing some light into a dark October night by lighting some beautiful candles, remembering the good times we've enjoyed with absent friends and vowing to enjoy more in 2019!

 

So over to you now!

You can share your windows for   November or December with me below

or on Twitter- Sara Particco

I look forward to hearing from you

Bring on the light!

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