The nights are drawing in, there's a crisp chill in the air, and my arthritic bones are complaining in a way they weren't a month ago. It can only mean one thing: autumn is on the way! I couldn't be happier. I love autumn, and I can't wait to enjoy all the awesome things the season has to offer.
I know it's not officially autumn until the end of the month, but September 1st has always felt like the start of autumn for me- I guess because the new school term has always signified the start of a new season. It's been seventeen years since I left college (that's a scary realisation!), but even now, September still feels like a change in seasons, and a time for new beginnings; a time to work on my goals, and get stuff done before the year comes to an end.
When September arrives, I like to make a list of all the things I want or need to do before the end of the year, and do my best to achieve as many of those goals as possible. This year has been no different, and I've come up with twenty-five things I'd like to do this autumn, which I/m going to share with you today to make myself accountable and hopefully encourage myself to start ticking off some goals.
So, here are twenty-five things I want to do this autumn:
1. Visit the Cotswold Wildlife Park
Taking a visit to my local zoo is definitely at the top of my list of fun things I want to do this autumn. I like to fit in at least one visit a year, and haven't been since last summer so a visit is definitely over due. It should be easy to social distance there on a weekday now kids are back at school and measures are in place, so hopefully I'll be able to fit in a visit this side of Halloween.
2. Take a Walk in the Woods
I love to take walks during the autumn. I love feeling the crisp air on my face, walking through paths of fallen leaves, and taking in all the pretty foliage. I'm hoping to find the strength to take some gentle walks in the countryside this autumn, and maybe even visit the woods with my camera when the leaves start to fall. I've spent so long indoors this year that I'm in need of a nature fix.
3. Take a Drive in the Countryside
I live on the edge of The Cotswolds, surrounded by miles of countryside, and pretty Cotswold villages. It really is as beautiful as people say, but particularly in autumn when all the leaves start to change, and there's a backdrop of oranges, yellows, and browns wherever you look. I'm itching to go out for a drive and take it all in once the leaves change. I miss the countryside.
4. Go to the Bonfire and Watch the Fireworks
The RAF base near my hometown has always hosted the best fireworks display around on Bonfire Night. I went religiously every year until I developed chronic pain, but I haven't been well enough to go these last few years. I really want to go this year if it goes ahead (in all likelihood it won't because of Covid), so I'm hoping to find a way to make it there if it does so I can watch the fireworks.
5. Visit a Pumpkin Patch
I've never visited a pumpkin patch in my life, but I'd love to visit one to pick out a pumpkin or two and take a few autumn photos.
6. Buy Some Little Pumpkins
I would also like to buy some little munchkin pumpkins to decorate my home with, and to use as photo props this autumn. They're just so cute!
7. Paint Pumpkins
I've seen so many awesome painted pumpkins on blogs, Pinterest, and Instagram over the last few years, and I really want to have a go at painting some myself this year. I love the idea of painting a bunch of them in pastel colours instead of traditional autumn / Halloween colours.
8. Carve a Pumpkin
I never do much for Halloween, but I try to at least carve a Jack o' lantern every year, and I hope to keep up the tradition this year. Is it even Halloween if you don't carve a pumpkin??
9. Repair My Erstwilder Halloween Brooch
I accidentally dropped one of my Halloween brooches on the floor last year and broke the brooch back, and completely forgot about it until I was organising my brooch collection the other day. I still love the brooch and want to wear it over Halloween, so I need to get in contact with the brand for some advice, and see if I can fix it.
10. Go Fruit Picking
It's been years since I last went fruit-picking. It was something we did most years when I was growing up, and I actually miss it. If pick-your-own farms are open this autumn, I'd really like to go apple or blackberry picking, and then bake them in to delicious pies.
11. Make an Apple Pie
I'm not sure if I've ever made an apple pie, but I'd love to attempt my Mum's recipe this autumn. Her apple pie (with lashings of custard, naturally) is the ultimate autumn / winter comfort food, and you just can't beat it.
12. Make French Onion Soup
I make a mean bowl of French onion soup, or I should say, I used to. It's been ages since I last made a batch, so I think it's about time I made some to enjoy this autumn. It's soooo good with a slice of baguette topped with melted cheese.
14. Watch Lots of Autumn Movies
Is there anything better than curling up under a blanket on a chilly autumn day / evening, and having a movie marathon? Maybe there is, maybe there isn't, but either way, I want to do more of that this autumn. I want to watch all the seasonal films and pretend Covid doesn't exist.
13. Make My Animal Crossing Island Look Autumnal
I'm still addicted to Animal Crossing New Horizons, and have played it every day since it came out. The seasons and weather change in the game just like in real life, and the leaves are already beginning to turn. I want to make my island look as autumnal as possible, by adding in lots of seasonal furniture, paths, and foliage, and wearing lots of autumnal outfits. I can't wait to get all the mushroom and Halloween furniture and add toadstools and creepy furniture everywhere!
I'm still addicted to Animal Crossing New Horizons, and have played it every day since it came out. The seasons and weather change in the game just like in real life, and the leaves are already beginning to turn. I want to make my island look as autumnal as possible, by adding in lots of seasonal furniture, paths, and foliage, and wearing lots of autumnal outfits. I can't wait to get all the mushroom and Halloween furniture and add toadstools and creepy furniture everywhere!
Is there anything better than curling up under a blanket on a chilly autumn day / evening, and having a movie marathon? Maybe there is, maybe there isn't, but either way, I want to do more of that this autumn. I want to watch all the seasonal films and pretend Covid doesn't exist.
15. Read More
I haven't read as many books this year as I would have liked because Animal Crossing keeps distracting me (it's seriously addictive), so I want to do my best to read more from now until the end of the year. I originally hoped to read 52 books this year but there's no chance of that happening since I've only read 20 so far, so I'm aiming to read at least 30 books by New Year's Eve.
16. Reorganise My Book Shelves
I've been meaning to reorganise my book shelves all year, but I just haven't found the strength to dive in and tackle the mess. The tops of the cubes are overflowing with stacks of books, and the mess is stressing me out, so I want to prioritise sorting it out this autumn. I need to take everything off the shelves, and play a game of real life Tetris and hopefully I'll be able to fit everything back on in a tidier fashion. Hopefully I can do it without having to let some of my books go.
16. Reorganise My Book Shelves
I've been meaning to reorganise my book shelves all year, but I just haven't found the strength to dive in and tackle the mess. The tops of the cubes are overflowing with stacks of books, and the mess is stressing me out, so I want to prioritise sorting it out this autumn. I need to take everything off the shelves, and play a game of real life Tetris and hopefully I'll be able to fit everything back on in a tidier fashion. Hopefully I can do it without having to let some of my books go.
17. Cross Stitch Regularly
I started a Christmas cross stitch last year that I still haven't finished, so I want to try to cross stitch regularly this autumn to get it finished in time for Christmas. I haven't got loads left to stitch, so it should be easy to finish in time as long as I put in the effort.
18. Paint More
I really enjoy water colour painting, but I haven't done any so far this year, so I want to try to break out the paint supplies more this fall. I'll just have to do this soon before my arthritis flares up for the winter and makes it too painful to paint 'til spring.
19. Blog More Often
2020 hasn't been the most productive year for me in terms of blogging. I've blogged less this year than any year since I started blogging in 2012. It's not for lack of trying, but between Covid and chronic illness, I've been finding it difficult to concentrate, get words out, and stand long enough to take photos, so I just haven't been able to blog as much as I'd like. I want to try to blog more often this season, so I'm going to do my best to post more content as the year winds down.
20. Schedule Christmas Blog Posts
I also want to start preparing some Christmas blog posts ahead of time, so that I'm better organised during the festive season, and can have more time to enjoy the festivities with my family.
21. Take Blog Photos
Any blogger can tell you the winter daylight is terrible in England, and since I don't have studio lights, I want to try to take some blog photos in bulk, ahead of time, before we lose the good summer light for another year. It would be a big help to have some generic photos saved for those weeks when the weather is so crap we don't see sunshine for a fortnight, and it's too bleak to take decent photos indoors.
18. Paint More
I really enjoy water colour painting, but I haven't done any so far this year, so I want to try to break out the paint supplies more this fall. I'll just have to do this soon before my arthritis flares up for the winter and makes it too painful to paint 'til spring.
19. Blog More Often
2020 hasn't been the most productive year for me in terms of blogging. I've blogged less this year than any year since I started blogging in 2012. It's not for lack of trying, but between Covid and chronic illness, I've been finding it difficult to concentrate, get words out, and stand long enough to take photos, so I just haven't been able to blog as much as I'd like. I want to try to blog more often this season, so I'm going to do my best to post more content as the year winds down.
20. Schedule Christmas Blog Posts
I also want to start preparing some Christmas blog posts ahead of time, so that I'm better organised during the festive season, and can have more time to enjoy the festivities with my family.
21. Take Blog Photos
Any blogger can tell you the winter daylight is terrible in England, and since I don't have studio lights, I want to try to take some blog photos in bulk, ahead of time, before we lose the good summer light for another year. It would be a big help to have some generic photos saved for those weeks when the weather is so crap we don't see sunshine for a fortnight, and it's too bleak to take decent photos indoors.
22. Concentrate on Christmas Shopping
I've actually already started shopping for Christmas presents, as I like to spread the cost, but I want to actively concentrate on picking up presents from now on to try to get my shopping done early. It would be great not to be super stressed or skint come December.
23. Up My Survey-Answering Game to Pay for Christmas Presents
Over the last few months, I've only participated in online surveys now and then, but I want to try to get back in to them this autumn to earn some extra pennies for Christmas. You don't earn a fortune, but it's a helpful way to earn a little extra here and there to pay for presents or food for over the holidays. I was able to buy a Nintendo Switch Lite, Animal Crossing, and accessories with the earnings I made between January and March! If you'd like to know more about earning money from online surveys, I wrote a post about it here.
24. Have a Clear Out On eBay
I also want to have a good clear out to get rid of stuff I no longer need, and make some extra cash for Christmas. It's been a while since I last had a sort out and listed some stuff on eBay, so it's long over due.
25. Buy a New Pair of Ankle Boots
I really need to buy a new pair of flat black ankle boots to wear this autumn / winter. My last pair fell apart over a year ago, and left a big gap in my wardrobe. I wore them with everything. I haven't seen a pair I like yet, but hopefully the perfect pair will appear before too long.
And those are some of my goals for the upcoming months. I don't know if I'll be able to achieve them all, but I'm going to do my best to get through as many of them as possible.
Wish me luck!
Wish me luck!
What do you hope to achieve this autumn?
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