from my inglenook ♥ october's ponderings

Happy Thursday, friends! Today I'm sharing my October installment in my usual "From My Inglenook" monthly series. Usually, I only like to include a few photos, but since this is part of my October series, I thought I'd show you a few extra photos of my room and how I've made it into a cozy haven for myself...not only during autumn, but all year round. I hope you enjoy!

In the first photo above, you will see the left side of my room. That is sort of my creative space...my writing desk is there along with my comfy chair with my laptop where I do my blogging and writing. My tea cupboard is also in this space and if you're interested in seeing a tour of my teacup collection, I shared a video of that in the summer. You can check it out here. 

 

And in the photo directly above, you will see one of my bookshelves...I admit that my room is full of bookshelves that were built into the wall before we moved in. There is an extra white bookcase from IKEA that is in the other photo. I'm going to share a tour of these shelves sometime...do let me know if you prefer a video tour or just photos in a blog post. I'd love your thoughts!

Here is my other bookshelf...this is where my cookbooks and baking books live, along with my collections of various magazines that I enjoy. Last month, I made a paper bunting for my shelves with an autumnal theme. I was very pleased with how it turned out and am in love with the colors of the papers I was able to find at the craft shop. I simply used my cookie cutters in the shapes of an acorn, leaf and pumpkin to make the designs and then cut out a bunch of them, attached them to some twine and hung them up. Simple but so cute, in my opinion. {{smiles}}

Here's a peek at my writing desk...I tend to keep most of my supplies in the drawers as well in the cupboard next to the desk. But, of course, some lovely decorations and knick-knacks, and a couple mugs make any space all the more cozy and fun. I love changing the mugs on the hooks out each season...simple white and mustard or green floral designs for autumn, Christmas mugs for December, wintry scenes for January until March and pastel florals for spring and summer. This makes me so happy to look at!

One thing I've really enjoyed over the last couple of years is slowly building an art print collection. These are three of the four that I have so far...the other one is awaiting a frame still. It's so much fun discovering artists that just have that beautiful, cozy style that I love and having their art on my walls feels so special.

Twinkly fairy lights on my window just directly over my bed makes my room feel so cozy...I love it.

This shelf is directly next to my long bookshelf and is just a collection of some things I've collected over the years. The fabric bunting is from probably six years ago...one of my first bunting crafts, and I still love hanging it every year. I made a larger one for our mantle downstairs, too.

More paper bunting for autumn...

One of my most favorite places in the house...perfect for writing, reading, crafting, journaling, all the things.

And finally, one of the beds I have in my room for our kitties...cats just seem to know cozy the instant they see it and they absolutely love spending time here. How cute is their ducky, too?!?!

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 outside my window

Golden hues are sprinkled about the tree just outside my bedroom window. And our grass is almost completely covered with a carpet of leaves...mostly brown, which have fallen from the many trees that surround our home. We have been so enjoying some delightful autumn temperatures this week, with a few rainy days here and there. It's hard to believe that November is next week...that's when it truly feels like autumn is here where I live. October is sort of a mish-mash of summer and autumn, both fighting the other to see who wins out each day, really each hour.

musical treasures

My mom's birthday was on the first of October and for one of her gifts, we got her a collection of the Carpenter's music on CD. She loved listening to them when she was younger, and so I copied the music onto my computer and have been loving the songs as well. There are some fun melodies that make me dance and just feel happy. 

bookish ramblings

I haven't gotten to read as much as I hoped this month, but I did complete the first in the Fairacre Novels by Miss Read entitled Village School. I had read some of her Christmas stories before, but this was my first full-length novel of hers to read. I felt certain I would love it and like it would be my cup of tea, but I didn't know just how much I would love it. It was the sweetest story that took place in the most charming village in England. I fell in love with the array of characters and especially with Miss Read herself as she is the schoolteacher in the village. It was just my sort of story! Charming, gentle, quiet, heartwarming and plenty of moments where I literally laughed out loud. I highly recommend this novel! ♥

in the world of TV and movies

Seeing as how Halloween is on Sunday, my mom, sister and I have been watching Harry Potter off and on, going through the movie series, over the past couple of weeks. We still have several movies left, but they are perfect for this entire season and into Christmastime, too. Then, before bed, we've been watching all of the Halloween episodes of The Middle. There is one per season so it makes for a lovely evening ritual leading up to Halloween night. And on Friday nights, we always, always watch the latest episode of Blue Bloods, which is a real favorite in our home.

a grateful heart

I am grateful for finally getting some cooler weather and being able to turn the A/C off in the house. I'm grateful for cozy slippers, new tea flavors to enjoy, a delightful novel and revisiting an older favorite, baking bread with my mom and sister, and for fun plans for Halloween.

from my kitchen

Earlier this week, I tried a new-to-us recipe and it was absolutely scrumptious! It was a mushroom stew over mashed potatoes...a vegetarian meal that really went over well! There were mushrooms, carrots, green beans, peas and onions in a tasty gravy/sauce and you served it over mashed potatoes. Not only did it taste delicious but it made our entire house smell so amazing whilst it simmered on the stove. And it was the perfect meal for a cozy autumn evening...definitely one that I'm going to make again!

fashionable fun

I'm celebrating because I am finally able to wear autumn clothing...today it is black leggings and a striped tunic with teal, chocolatey brown, pumpkin orange, scarlet and grey for the stripes. I'm also wearing a new pair of brown ankle boots for the first time and it feels a bit like an autumnal party. {{smiles}} Oh, and I've got a gorgeous Flexi-clip holding my hair up in a bun sort of style. After I chopped my waist-length hair off up to right above my shoulders in August, my hair is finally long enough to put up all the way again. 

home and hearth

Our home is all decorated for autumn...some Halloween decorations, some for Thanksgiving and others that are "just" autumn. We've been giving our furniture a deep clean by washing all the covers and pillows and such, as well as just doing some other autumn cleaning. 

these are a few of my favorite things

♥ my new Katie Daisy planner and calendar for 2022...how it is possible that the new year is so close?

♥ new Christmas novels arriving in the post...I shall try not to read them before Thanksgiving week!

♥ still loving the recipe for Japanese Milk Bread that I found in the spring...this is our regular sandwich bread. I shared about it here.

♥ and I'm also loving a wonderful and oh-so-easy recipe for whole-grain bread. First time making it and it was a success...it took me so long to find a good sandwich bread recipe so I was glad it didn't take so long to find a good whole-grain bread recipe.

for the love of words

"Let's be cheerful! We have no more right to steal the brightness of the day for our own family than we have to steal the purse of a stranger. Let us be as careful that our homes are furnished with pleasant and happy thoughts as we are that the rugs are the right color and texture and the furniture comfortable and beautiful." (Laura Ingalls Wilder)

crafting and creating

The most recent crafting project I worked on was this embroidery hoop leaf project, which I shared about here...do check it out. I'm hoping to set to work on my winter version soon!

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Do share about your October days, dear friends! I'd love to hear from you, as always ♥