Sommaire pour October 2025 de The Simple Things

THINGS TO NOTE AND NOTICE OCTOBER BIRTH FLOWER MARIGOLD AND COSMOS With their autumnal shades, marigolds and cosmos really feel like an October birth flower. Once left at shrines to the Virgin Mary in place of coins, ‘marigolds’ is derived from ‘Mary’s Gold’. Cosmos originate from Mexico, where priests grew them for missionary gardens. They named them ‘cosmos’ meaning ‘order’ for the orderly way in which their petals sit. Folklore CALAN GAEAF If you find it harder to get to bed once the clocks have gone back, try a Calan Gaeaf festival (1 November). Part harvest celebration, part All Souls’ Day spookfest, from the 9th century Welsh farm workers marked the end of harvest by having a bit of a party while working out which animals should be slaughtered. At…

FAVOURITE RESTAURANT Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine A fine-dining restaurant that transports me back to Lima through dishes like ceviche, and great cocktails, including a Pisco Sour. raphaelperuviancuisine.ca FAVOURITE CAFÉ Little Victories Awesome coffee and gorgeous views of downtown through its big windows. lvcoffee.ca FAVOURITE SHOP La Bottega Nicastro Stocks imported products, cheese, oils, breads, jams… everything you need to treat yourself. labottega.ca FAVOURITE BOOKSHOP Black Squirrel Books & Espresso Bar A community vibe, a good selection of new and second-hand books and great coffee. blacksquirrelbooks.ca FAVOURITE GALLERY L. A. Pai Gallery Located in the ByWard Market area, it focuses on contemporary Canadian art and jewellery. lapaigallery.com FAVOURITE MARKET 613 Flea An institution in Ottawa – every other Saturday, over 150 vendors sell everything, from food and clothing, to antiques and vintage…

The kitchen isn’t always a place of calm and serenity, as we race to get dinner on the table. But if we try taking things a little slower now and again and lean into its sensory pleasures, we benefit from the kitchen’s inherently calming activities. The warmth of the oven, the scent of something on the stove and the soothing acts of stirring slowly or kneading and shaping are to be savoured, if we take the time to let them ground us. HEART OF THE HOME October marks the shift into autumn proper. With winter around the corner it is a slower month – a time to lean into the comfort of familiar routines. Food becomes richer. Cardamom knots fill the kitchen with spice on slow mornings, while baked pear…

The dog walker The story so far After quitting her job eight years ago in order to give rescue dog, Mabel, a better life, Franziska Hannemann (Fran) has created a business around walking and home boarding dogs on the north Cornish coast. It all started when I rescued an Irish setter named Mabel. She’d come from a puppy farm and had complex medical needs and next to no life skills, having never lived in a house or even seen a tree before. I ended up quitting my job as a receptionist in a veterinary practice, so I could be with her 24/7. I had to consider what I could do so that I could spend enough time with Mabel. Dog walking and home boarding evolved from there. I’m now licensed to…

“WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY -THERE’S ALWAYS A FRIENDLY FACE ON MY DOG WALKS” At the heart of the village, surrounded by local shops, yet just minutes away from the estuary and woodlands, Kate Williams, her husband Matt, and their children, Daisy and Joseph, know that in Mistley they have a very special place for them to call home. “We love living by the river and having great beaches and countryside walks on our doorstep,” smiles Kate. “We have so much great choice to shop and eat locally and also appreciate being within easy reach of London and Norwich on the train for city life when we want it. “We feel a close connection to nature living here, the river and its tides bring a natural rhythm to our day and…

There’s something sacred about this little corner of the kitchen – it holds the hum of ordinary life. It’s where I chop, stir, brew and prep meals, and where I pause with a mug of tea as the sun rises. I’m here morning till evening, from the first sleepy sip of coffee to the last wiped-down surface before bed. It reminds me that nourishment isn’t just about food, it’s how we love each other daily, too. Jenny Fitzgerald, Tecumseh, Michigan, USA @fitzgeraldlane There’s something truly special about sitting at my dining table. Bathed in light and surrounded by lush houseplants, it’s a retreat for enjoying meals, sharing coffee with friends, working on my laptop or diving into a sewing project. Anatolia Elamradi, London @my_dolce_casa The kitchen is the hub of…

THE BIRDIE SONG BY THE TWEETS To anyone who went to a British school disco in the 1980s, it’s The Birdie Song but – depending where you are the world – you may call it ‘the bird dance’, ‘the chicken song’, ‘the duck dance’, ‘Tchip Tchip’, ‘Vogerltanz’ or countless more twists on the avian idea. This isn’t just a song, it’s a global sensation. And, sorry to break it to you, this ridiculously catchy tune isn’t the original work of the band, The Tweets. Rather it’s a Swiss accordion player, Werner Thomas, who’s responsible. He was heard performing the tune in the 1950s by a Belgian producer and versions of the song started becoming hits from the early 1980s. Of the approximate 140 versions to date, it’s the British Birdie…

Hugely popular in South America and growing over here, futsal is a fast-moving indoor version of football, with teams of 5 players, played on a smaller pitch for 20 minutes each way. The ball is heavier and smaller than a football – designed for kicking and staying close to the ground (there are no throw-ins, for example). Wear flat soled shoes with your usual sports gear. Shin pads are useful, but gloves are less essential for goalies than in football. Find somewhere to play on playfinder.com/uk.…

PISTACHIO AND MATCHA LOAF CAKE Makes 1 x 450g loaf 150g plain flour 1 tsp baking powder 100g shelled pistachios 2 tsp matcha powder ½ tsp fine sea salt 150g golden caster sugar 150g plant-based milk 20ml olive oil For the icing: 30g cocoa butter (deodorised) – available from health food shops or online, or you could swap for normal cocoa butter or unsalted butter 20ml groundnut oil 100g icing sugar 1 tsp matcha powder, plus extra for dusting 1 Preheat the oven to 200C/ Fan 180C/Gas 6 and position a shelf in the middle of the oven. 2 Line a 450g loaf tin with baking paper, ensuring that the paper extends slightly over the edges. 3 Put the flour, baking powder, pistachios, matcha powder and salt into a food…

Makes 1 bottle 90ml vodka or rubbing alcohol 20-30 drops of essential oils (see suggested combinations below) 350ml distilled water Measuring jug Spray bottle (at least 500ml) Small funnel 1 Pour the vodka or rubbing alcohol into a measuring jug and carefully add your essential oil drops. If using a blend, rather than just a single scent, do it slowly so you can make sure you have a fragrance that you like. 2 Add the water and mix thoroughly. 3 Using a funnel, add the liquid to the spray bottle and screw the top on. Label the bottle and remember to shake thoroughly before using. Maker’s note: If you use rubbing alcohol rather than vodka it’ll have a stronger smell and requires a more thorough shaking to mix the ingredients…

As a child, I collected snippets of poetry and quotes into a green leather journal that was my absolute pride and joy. I remember copying the epigraph from Anne Of Green Gables – the Robert Browning poem below – using my best, laborious cursive, pleased as punch with my ‘grown up’ fountain pen and exquisite notebook: Those words – ‘spirit and fire and dew’ – captured my imagination. How beautifully they described vivid Anne Shirley, certainly a creature composed of fairy elements. How wonderful to be a girl made of spirit and fire and dew! Every reader knows the thrill of stumbling across words that transcend time and speak straight to your heart. Reading Browning’s lines as a child was my first experience of that sensation, and I knew I…

THIS MONTH WE READ 50 SENTENCES THAT MAKE LIFE EASIER BY KARIN KUSCHIK In a nutshell A book of ‘small sentences with big impact’ that will most probably change your life, says life coach and author Karin Kuschik. Why now? Because many of us struggle to say what we really mean. From the 50 sentences, you can choose those that speak to you, using them in conversations or as an inward message to yourself. Some will feel awkwardly honest, but if you’re someone who struggles with setting boundaries or communicating your needs, there could be a useful lesson or two in here. And who doesn’t want to make life easier? So what should I be saying? Here’s how a simple sentence can make a difference… ‘I’d rather not promise you…

Dopamine dressing, cortisol belly, everybody seems to be talking about hormones and ways to boost, balance or hack them. It can all feel a bit stressful (not good for cortisol levels) and confusing (there plummets serotonin). But are these key chemicals really within our control and what is it that they do exactly? THE SCIENCE BIT Hormones are chemical messengers in the endocrine system – our body’s messaging centre. Produced by glands, hormones travel through the bloodstream to different body parts regulating many functions, from growing new cells and processing food to our sleep, sex life and mood. Hormones naturally fluctuate through the day and at different stages of life but as with all bodily systems, the way we live, and our general wellbeing can impact their function, too. Stress,…

PROUDLY HOMEMADE BRAMBLE BASKET Harvest bramble between September and April. Not only does this cost nothing, it’s a chance to enjoy time in nature and a mindful day of weaving. You will need: 24 bramble stems, each 1m long, 5mm diameter Secateurs Heavy-duty gloves String Bucket Brick Hessian or old towel Small craft knife Tape measure This basket uses the Stake and Strand technique. The warp forms the skeleton of the basket: the stakes that remain rigid, while the strands are flexible weavers. 1 Cut long, straight bramble stems about 5mm in diameter, without side shoots, which are one year’s growth. Choose stems that don’t taper too much and are at least 1m long. 2 Wearing heavy-duty gloves, run your hand up and down the bramble stems to remove thorns and leaves. Roll the brambles into a loose ring,…

Hugs are shown to make us feel happier, calmer and more connected thanks to the release of oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine. They could even help us ward off colds. Of course, that’s only if the hug is appropriate – and everyone has their own personal preferences. But, to increase your hugging power, you may like to consider the following: Length: Not too long, not too short. One study suggests a hug of around 5 to 10 seconds is the ticket. In The Dose Effect (HQ), TJ Power suggests 3 to 5 seconds to release more oxytocin (known as the ‘love hormone’) – see our feature on p84 for more. Pressure: Again, it’s a happy medium. A study carried out with babies suggests a hug that’s not too tight, not too…

BODHI EXPLORER Recycled canvas in bold hues. Best for: Colour and size options, scale up according to your plans. From £140, fenellasmith.com MIKA SQUARE CROCHET Colourful crochet squares with cream handles. Best for: Bringing some granny chic. £60, oliverbonas.com ABSTRACT FLOWERS Pleasing patterns made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. Best for: Handy extras, like a sleeve for slotting it onto a trolley. £64.95, kindbag.co…

Acorn squash Named for their resemblance to the nut (with orange splodges). Native to North America and squirrelled away for eating since 4000BCE. Carnival squash Derived from Mexican varieties, this has brought the party since 1991. Admired for its stripy and splodgy good looks in green, orange and yellows. Sugar pumpkin A North American heirloom variety. Known for its sweet flavour so making a pumpkin pie with it is as, ahem, easy as pumpkin pie. Fairytale squash Grown for several hundred years in Provence, they have an almost fairytale property for a squash: they can be eaten raw. Delicata squash Resembles a more colourful marrow. So delicata that it was almost wiped out, until a more resilient variety was bred in the 2000s. Buttercup squash Green, rather than the yellow…

Parcel post Turn delivery dramas into playtime. Most dogs believe that every delivery is for them and them alone – though their lack of opposable thumbs and credit cards makes this optimistic. You can boost their enthusiasm by repurposing packaging materials into a quick treat hunt when an order arrives. Take the contents out of the box and shuffle a few treats through the shredded paper inside; alternatively, put a couple of treats in a cardboard tube and fold in the ends. Cardboard boxes, paper bags and packing paper or noodles can all hide treats in lots of different ways to keep the game fresh and your dog intrigued. Parcel for you, bonus for them. By keeping treats by the door, you can help your dog with deliverydriver suspicion, too…

Morning, what’s your first cuppa of the day? Hot water and lemon – the only habit I’ve successfully managed to stick with for years. I usually get up before the rest of the family to enjoy a few moments of quiet. We notice you’re eyeing up our tea bags… Yes, I’m a sustainable artist and paint on objects that would otherwise be discarded, such as used tea bags or preserved leaves. There’s something magical about taking an item that would normally be considered waste and transforming it into something beautiful. How did you end up doing that? I worked in childcare for nearly 20 years, but suffered burnout. Eventually, I made the difficult and scary decision to leave my job and follow my passion for art. Let’s drink to that.…

There’s no better way to get to the heart of a city than through the people who live there. This month we’ve asked journalist Carla Salazar (ottawaisnotboring.com; @ottawaisnotboring) to guide us around. You may feel inspired to visit, but for now just sit back and enjoy some armchair travel. How long have you lived in the city? Ottawa’s been home for the past seven and a half years. What brought you here and where are you from? I’m from Lima, Peru, but I married a Canadian guy who I met in my hometown. We started a family in Lima, however, he was homesick and asked me to give Canada a try. I was reluctant at first, but as soon as we moved here, I fell in love with it. Tell us…

It’s never too late to change your path. Ignore those fears and try, because what’s the worst that can happen? You can go back to your old life, but you’ll never know what could be if you don’t make the change. Try to savour the simple, small things that are precious, which we take for granted. These tiny, precious things are what help you detox from an emotionally challenging day. They’re also the things that make life worth living. Those collected moments are what you’ll think about on your deathbed. Allow other people to care for you, as you try to care for other people yourself. The giving and receiving of care is beautifully reciprocal, and it gives us something whether we are the giver or the receiver of care.…

My black and white cat with a cute pink nose has been with me for a long time. I first met her in the summer of 1984, poking her face out from behind a large spider plant on the top shelf in my boyfriend’s kitchen. She has been with me ever since, sometimes hidden, sometimes in pride of place, but always filling a big space in my heart, as she belonged to a very special person, the man who became my first husband, and sadly passed away far too soon. She has stayed loyal and true over all these years. Through marriage, the birth of two children, widowhood, re-marriage and five different house moves. Never demanding of my time, happy to sit quietly wherever she felt happy. Cheap and easy…

Makes 8 bags 8 muslin or voile bags (you can get these from Hobbycraft or Etsy) 40g rosemary 40g lavender 30g whole cloves 20g lemon balm 16 bay leaves 8 cinnamon sticks Lavender oil 1 Measure out your rosemary, lavender, cloves and lemon balm and put them in a bowl. 2 Add a few drops of lavender oil and give the contents a stir. 3 Add two bay leaves and a cinnamon stick to each bag, then divide the herbs between the 8 bags. 4 Tie the bags shut and place on hangers or in drawers. Don’t put them in direct contact with delicate fabrics as the oils could leave marks. Maker’s note: Over time, the strength of the bags’ scent will fade. Give them a good squeeze when this…

Spontaneous Me, Lines 1-7 Spontaneous me, Nature, The loving day, the mounting sun, the friend I am happy with, The arm of my friend hanging idly over my shoulder, The hill-side whiten’d with blossoms of the mountain ash, The same late in autumn, the hues of red, yellow, drab, purple, and light and dark green, The rich coverlet of the grass, animals and birds, the private untrimm’d bank, the primitive apples, the pebble-stones, Beautiful dripping fragments, the negligent list of one after another, as I happen to call them to me or think of them. There’s a free-wheeling ease to the opening stanza of Spontaneous Me by Walt Whitman (1819–92), as the poet and his companion saunter out into the loveliness of an autumnal landscape. There’s a beguiling sense of…

Visiting spectacular gardens is a pleasure, even in autumn as vistas open up between bare branches. But if the weather is truly against you – or when the sun has set – why not take a turn around a garden grown in someone’s imagination? There’s a strong tradition of setting novels, poems and plays in a garden. Right from the beginning, in fact: Eden was a garden, after all. And like that original, many gardens in literature are idylls and places of innocence. But they’re also places where magic can happen, where fairies are encountered, or children miraculously healed. They’re the habitat of tricksters, too – Eden’s serpent, perhaps, but also the characters of children’s tales and Shakespeare’s comedies. And, to cap it all, they’re always a setting for a…

Stress hormones are essential for survival and motivation but harmful in excess. Adrenaline makes the heart beat faster and increases blood pressure while cortisol is released more gradually in response to prolonged stress, raising blood sugar for energy and slowing non-essential functions like the digestive system and immune response. Constant stress means we get stuck in a state of arousal which can impact the body and mind in all kinds of ways, from increasing the risk of mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, to other symptoms we might not attribute to stress such as lack of energy, weight gain, headaches, sleep problems (feeling ‘tired but wired’), muscle tension, and poor concentration. So-called cortisol belly refers to weight gain that can occur in response to chronic stress. “A lack of…

Easiest collected from the ground. Take care not to confuse with horse chestnuts (conkers), which have rounded leaves and more rubbery cases with fewer spikes than sweet chestnuts. Tipple Soak chopped chestnuts in vodka, rum or brandy for a month then sweeten with unrefined sugar or maple syrup (raw and roasted nuts give different flavours). Tea Springharvested chestnut leaves and flowers can be made into fresh tea or dried to drink later in the year. Something warming Pair finely chopped roasted chestnuts with rooibos tea and add spices like cinnamon, ginger and vanilla to make warming chai drinks. Adapted from A Forager’s Guide To Wild Drinks by Liz Knight (Skittledog). Illustrations by Veronica Ballart Lilja…

GOLDFINCH Commonly seen as a fortuitous omen, particularly if it visits your home and garden, the goldfinch is praised for its sunshine brightness and enchanting song. The Celts associated this bird with the fey, believing the golden streak of light that danced amongst the trees had fairy origins, and its Irish name, lasair choille (flame of the forest), accentuates this idea. To the ancient Greeks the goldfinch was a symbol of joy and beauty associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and also Apollo, the vibrant sun god. The Native Americans believed this bird to be synonymous with celebration and positivity, seeing one as an omen of good things to come, making it a sign of hope. In Chinese mythology, this joyful finch was a symbol of protection and healing.…

MAKE INK FROM ACORN CAPS You will need: Approx 100g acorn caps Pestle and mortar (or rolling pin and tea towel) Saucepan Coffee filter or muslin Jar with lid Optional: Gum arabic, cloves or clove oil, vinegar Jar with lid Paintbrush or ink pen 1 Using your pestle and mortar break up the acorn caps into as small pieces as possible. Or you could cover them with a tea towel and smash with a rolling pin instead. 2 Put in a bowl of water and leave to soak overnight. 3 Drain, then transfer to a saucepan that you don’t use for food, covering with water. Leave to simmer for upwards of an hour. Top up as necessary. You can judge the colour of the ink by dipping a bit of paper into the water. 4 Once…

Serves 4 1 kg boneless lamb (a mix of leg, shoulder and shank), chopped into 5cm chunks 80g salt 1 tsp minced garlic 1 large agave leaf or banana leaf TO SERVE: 16 small tortillas ½ white onion, diced 1 bunch of coriander leaves, chopped 200g guacamole 300ml salsa Lime wedges, to serve 1 Place the lamb in a bowl and rub with 3 tablespoons of the salt and the garlic. 2 Pour 2 ltr water into a large saucepan and add the remaining salt. Place a steamer basket on top and bring to a simmer. 3 Cut the agave or banana leaf into four 15cm squares. Divide the meat between each leaf. Bring together the corners of each one and secure with kitchen string to create four pouches. 4 Place the pouches in the steamer and add…

FROSTED BERRIES REFRESHER Serves 1-2 1 tbsp dried rosehips 1 tbsp dried echinacea leaves or flowers 1 tbsp sliced fresh ginger root 75g mixed frozen berries, such as blackberries and raspberries, defrosted, plus some for garnish Maple syrup, to taste 2 or 3 dashes of Angostura bitters Ice cubes 1 In a small saucepan over a low heat, combine 480ml of water with the rosehips, echinacea and ginger. Bring to a gentle simmer for 15-20 mins. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before straining into a pitcher. 2 In a shaker or glass, muddle the berries, maple syrup and bitters. 3 Add the herbal mixture and a few ice cubes and stir well to cool. Strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with frozen berries. Bartenders note: You could also use foraged…

T here was a tiny tear at the corner of the man’s eye. Ready to begin its descent, like a drop of water on the lip of a glass. Teeny weeny, Keiran would call it. He’d just discovered rhyming; toddled around the house saying fat cat and new shoe and play day. “Sad dad,” he’d said over toast that morning. Touché, thought Rose. She had a stack of books for him under the desk: The Rhyming Rabbit; The Wonky Donkey; The Blue Sock. One perk of being a librarian, except it’s not really one perk at all: Rose witnessed books bring comfort and reprieve and variety to the lives of many. The man with the tear in the corner of his eye had a book in his hands and knuckles…