Life is full of goodness and the good sinks into me as I sink into it. Autumn makes me settle into my home, my simple needs and disorderly dailiness. It teaches me how to observe with passion, savour my thoughts, and live life in the slow lane. I am whole and full of gratitude. I taste like a pear tart. I smell like happiness.
-Sylvia Stefanova-
As autumn gently tiptoes in, with whispers in the breeze of frosty morns and crisp eves ahead...as the leaves gently begin to transition from a lush, vibrant green to rich colors of harvest time...as the daylight draws to a close earlier each day and night draws in sooner...as mugs are refilled with warming, comforting liquids and supper simmers on the stovetop all afternoon long...
I am reminded that this is a season of slowing down and gathering in.
A time of coziness and celebrating home and savouring her comforts and invest in homespun hobbies.
A time to come together with the ones I hold dear and cherish the beauty of the season.
Autumn is the beginning of the time of year when hibernation is the norm for many of earth's creatures. Human folks often don't consider that hibernating is good for us, too. Slowing down and gathering in is the human version of hibernation. At this time of year, as the earth spins and the seasons slowly fade into one another, we are invited to come alongside earth's natural rhythms and slow down and gather in. Home becomes the center of our world in these colder months. Because night comes sooner during these months, we are rightly tempted to come in earlier and settle ourselves within our cozy haven. Our homes are our safe places and comfortable spheres. And they should be; we should strive to make them so.
Autumn invites us into a slower pace. Taking a lesson from nature herself, nothing is hurried and yet everything gets done and is made beautiful in its perfect time. The same is true for us, and this time of year is for us to slow down. Reevaluating our schedules and lists and commitments and asking ourselves if they are really, truly necessary and lifegiving. Removing anything from our days that takes away from our peace. And doing our daily tasks with a joyful heart and happy steps makes them enjoyable...and yes, I am even talking about cleaning here. {{smiles}} Gentle homemaking rhythms and routines are one of the best ways to accomplish this. I'll be sharing more about these next week.
Gathering in with our family and dear ones, celebrating our homes and the beauty found in our ordinary days, for which there is so very much, make autumn magical and sweet and memorable. Cultivating traditions, even beyond the holidays, but rather seeking to make daily, everyday life special and magical and fun, brings a wonder to our days and sets days apart as something important. Even if it is just an ordinary Tuesday evening. Small things speak loudly to the hearts and souls of those gathered around you, not to mention you as well. Lighting candles at dinnertime. Serving hot chocolate or spiced tea in pretty mugs. Playing soft music whilst cooking or dance tunes whilst cleaning make what would normally be a regular task or day fun and magical. Adding squishy pillows and cozy throw blankets to your sofas invite your family to settle in and enjoy their home. Game nights and popcorn or ice cream are just plain fun and sure to end with a huge laughing session.
This month, during my October series, I desire to celebrate home and coziness and all the things that make ordinary life and everyday magical and beautiful. As a word lover, I found such fun in looking up the proper definition for the word cozy...
giving a feeling of comfort, warmth and relaxation.
homely, welcoming, safe, restful, comfy, secure, at ease, pleasant, snuggly.
That right there, those words, are exactly what I believe a home should be all about. It's why homemaking matters, for everyone. It's why the work of crafting, creating and cultivating a home and making a house into a home is so vitally important and such a high calling. It's what I wish to capture in the posts that I will be sharing this month. And it's the feeling that I hope you get when you come here this month, and always, as we seek to make a cozy life and home...both in autumn and the whole year round.
With that said, I am immensely delighted that autumn is finally here and I am so enjoying sharing this series with you so far. Your comments and messages have been bringing me much delight as well. So thank YOU for that! I hope you'll pour a mug of something warm and delicious, cuddle up in your comfiest blanket and settle in for a month of all things cozy and homey...
May your day be blessed, dear one!
And I hope you'll join me on this coziness adventure!
Fasten your seatbelts, light your candles and put the kettle on...
Onwards to more cozy posts...
♥