Innehållsförteckning för November 2024 från The Simple Things

All day I have watched the purple vine leaves Fall into the water. And now in the moonlight they still fall, But each leaf is fringed with silver. There's a gentle melancholy to Amy Lowell's elegantly quiet poem, which captures the changing seasons, and the slow drift of day towards evening, as the slowly darkening light transforms the shades and shape of a falling leaf. Things to ponder: How do the colours here make you feel about the mood of the poem? How does she capture a sense of stillness and slow movement? Autumn by Amy Lowell, from A Nature Poem For Every Autumn Evening by Jane McMorland Hunter is published by Batsford.…

“My grandfather always used to say you are never too old to try something new and he was absolutely right. If you're interested in learning something, just give it a go. Don't be afraid to try new things.” “You've just got to make the most of every bloody minute. That may be the biggest cliché, but it's true.” “Walking for me is something that I find incredibly therapeutic. It's really good headspace time. Recently, I really needed a bit of time, so I spent a week walking 160 miles and it was absolutely amazing. We all need space to think.” “Be silly. Sometimes you just need to be a bit silly and enjoy the joyfulness that it brings.”…

LOOKING BACK The gemstone is a glittering culmination of an extraordinary journey through time. That stone is a product of nature's extremes and expanses, its natural form forged at the meeting point of numerous chance happenings: violent geological events which brought together minerals that would never normally meet, enough heat and pressure for the crystals to form, and being raised from deep below the earth's surface to within the reach of human hands. Gemstones have been a consistent feature of human history, and the history of gems is ultimately a story of people: hands that have sought and found, cut and polished, treated and tested, bought and sold, owned and cherished. Here are a few of their stories. EMERALD One of the many reasons we prize emerald is because its…

I love this corner because of its simplicity, but also its functionality. I get a lot of compliments on how well organised it is. Old jars and vintage wooden crates work so well for storage but also give a homely, traditional feel. I put the healthy snacks in a lower drawer so it's easier access for the kids. And our dog Chester likes to hang out here, too. Annabelle Rogers, Newark, Nottinghamshire @designermumetc I grew up in a house that had a TARDIS-like food cupboard. We called it the pantry and it was full to the brim of food supplies. This set up feels like home to me, so being able to recreate a smaller version of it just felt right. Leila Talmadge, Glasgow @leilatalmadgeinteriors This is possibly the most…

Buy The Kilo The story so far: Jackie Sewell ran an interior design business for over 30 years before co-founding Buy The Kilo (buy-the-kilo.com) in Tynemouth Metro Station with her eldest daughter Rachael, a former barrister, in 2019. She also creates and curates artwork highlighting issues around plastic in the environment (jackiesewell-artist.com). I started on my plastic-free journey through art. In the final years of running an interior design business, I took a Fine Art degree. I make art that sparks conversations around plastic in the environment – drawing on found objects and a passion for fabrics – such as a quilt stitched from a lifetime of plastic bags. We're passionate about art in the shop. Over 50 artists have displayed their work on our one-wall gallery since we opened. Customers…

The Oxford Victorian Christmas Market Step into a Victorian winter wonderland with a street market packed with live music, artisan traders, delicious festive treats and entertainment. Taking place on Broad Street, 14-17 November, this'll get you feeling festive. lsdpromotions.com Suffolk County Christmas Fair Set in the beautiful grounds of Hintlesham Hall, in Ipswich, the annual festive fair sees over 120 stalls, an award-winning Father Christmas, performers and more. Taking place 22-24 November, advance booking is advised. suffolkcountychristmasfair.co.uk V&A Dundee Festive Design Market Pick up all your festive goodies under one roof while supporting Scotland's talented designers and makers at the same time. Held in the impressive surroundings of the V&A, the market runs 29 Nov–1 Dec, and entry is free. teagreen.co.uk Crafts In The Pen With over 230 makers selling…

GARDENS Just imagine wandering into a woodland. You pluck an apple and a handful of walnuts from the trees above, snaffle the last of the blackberries and pick a few sprigs of fragrant herbs for a tisane and for scattering over your supper. Now imagine that woodland is just outside your back door. Sounds idyllic, but unrealistic? Perhaps not. Creating an edible forest garden is easier than you think, and possible no matter the size of your plot – you can even grow one in pots. Forest gardening has been steadily growing in popularity as a planet-friendly way to grow food that's easy on the gardener, too. The idea in a nutshell (excuse the pun) is this: growing food crops in the structure of a young woodland, with layers (tiers)…

The jewel in the crown DOWN TO A TEA TOWEL Kindness comes in many forms, including offering to dry the dishes. What better way to mark such a moment than with this design by artist David Shrigley. £35, shop.balticmill.com RED HERRINGS Fill in the gaps with letters to find eight words that are capital cities. Two of them are red herrings. All the answers have eight letters. (answers on page 124) “A diamond is a piece of coal that stuck to the job” Thomas Edison The cross in green and white as a first aid symbol links back to the Crusades. Although not considered a religious symbol today, a green and white crescent symbol also exists. What to do with… OLD TOOTHBRUSHES PRACTICAL: Cleaning! Use old toothbrushes to clean small or…

DEADLY NIGHTSHADE This dangerously toxic species was originally a Mediterranean plant, but it has spread beyond its native area, its black fruit eaten by birds and dispersed further. Birds appear unaffected by its toxicity: other animals are not so lucky. Ingesting deadly nightshade results in a range of symptoms relating to the nervous system, the airways and the heart. In Roman times, it was used on the tips of arrows and spears and reportedly in the murder of several emperors. In the 1950s, plasters containing extract of deadly nightshade to dull pain could be purchased. Accidental poisonings have mostly been due to misidentifying the plant – with its shiny, sweet berries – as edible. In folklore, deadly nightshade berries were said to have properties that made communicating with other worlds…

Sadie left her phone chiming on the coffee table. How had she ended up with so many emails? Had she signed up for all of these? Posh flower bouquets, dresses on sale, home design suggestions for houses far bigger than her mid-terrace. In between were the important ones: her mum's hospital appointment had been moved; the school needed cake-sale volunteers – just in case little Amy forgot to mention it. Where was the email telling her that Derek could come into the shop early on Thursday, so she wouldn't have to run from her dentist's appointment? Hadn't she won some obscure giveaway set up by one of these detail-grabbing companies? The park was only ten minutes away. “Back soon,” she told the cactus by the door. Her strides were purposeful,…

REFLECTION LOSING YOURSELF Even the most familiar locations become disorientating in the fog. I recall a recent foggy morning when I set off walking in the woods near my home. Making my way along a narrow path through the trees, a sense of unease suddenly crept over me: I felt spun around and confused; I was inexplicably lost. The fog was thick, the trees were uniform and the path was not the waymarked track I expected. I froze on the spot, unsure whether to turn back and try to retrace my steps, or to forge ahead in hope of finding a landmark I recognised. Despite being within walking distance of home, I felt panicked – losing myself in the fog felt alarming. I had no choice but to follow my…

CARROT AND HORLICKS TRES LECHES CAKE Serves 6-8 270g plain flour 2 tbsp baking powder ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground ginger 1 tsp fine salt 4 eggs, separated 240g caster sugar 240ml vegetable oil 2 tsp vanilla extract 240g carrots, peeled and finely grated FOR THE MILK SOAK: 300ml whole milk 6 tbsp malted milk hot drink powder, such as Horlicks 340ml evaporated milk 397ml can of condensed milk TO DECORATE: 400ml double cream 2 tbsp whole milk 1 tbsp malted milk hot drink powder, such as Horlicks 40g icing sugar, sifted Rainbow sprinkles (optional) 1 Preheat the oven to 190C/Fan 170C/ Gas 5. Meanwhile, grease and line a 24cm x 33cm baking tin. 2 Combine the flour, baking powder, spices and salt in a bowl and set aside.…

MY CITY There's no better way to get to the heart of a city than through the people who live there. This month, graffiti artist, sommelier and tour guide, Al Ramirez (@alramirezchile), guides us around his home city. You may feel inspired to visit one day, but for now, just sit back and enjoy some armchair travel. How long have you lived in the city? Although I was born in Chile, I'd lived in New York since I was seven years old. In 2006, when I was 21, I decided to move back and chose Valparaíso as my new home. Tell us what makes your city unique The city was built in an unconventional manner, where decisions were made more on intuition than plan. If someone thought a house would fit…

Solar-power your mushrooms Mushrooms are like sun sponges. They contain a compound called ergosterol which, when exposed to sunlight, transforms into vitamin D. Any mushrooms can be exposed to sunlight at any point to enrich their vitamin D content, even dried mushrooms from the supermarket that have been grown indoors under artificial light. Put the mushrooms in sunlight for 6-8 hours at any point up to a month before consuming them and they'll experience the heightened levels of vitamin D. A good reason to incorporate more mushrooms into your diet in the winter, when sunlight is scarce and vitamin D levels are low. Boost brassicas The brassica family includes Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage and cauliflower, and most of their health benefits are reaped when eaten raw – however, if you…

Perhaps unsurprisingly for something so prized and valued by humans, jewels are also linked to some of our cruellest, most exploitative behaviour. In the 1990s, the trade in ‘blood diamonds’ – diamonds sold to fund conflicts in countries including Angola, Sierra Leone and Liberia – resulted in the introduction of the Kimberley Process, regulating the trade in rough diamonds. Today, when looking for more ethical jewellery, there are many factors to consider. Seeking out recycled metal and gemstones helps reduce environmental impact. However, there are also social factors with those dependent on the jewellery trade for their livelihood. Knowing where materials have come from and who mined them is a significant start in doing less harm. Look for ‘fair trade’ and ‘fair mined’ labeling. For more, visit naj.co.uk/advice/jewellery-ethics.…

WEEKEND PROJECT PROUDLY HOMEMADE SÁMI FELT MITTENS These felted wool mittens, with their vibrant embroidery and colourful pompoms, were inspired by the handicrafts of the nomadic Sámi people, who have inhabited the northern areas of Scandinavia since ancient times. For the Sámi, everyday items had to be functional but also beautiful, and items of clothing were traditionally embroidered with colourful pattern work. You will need: Paper and pencil to draw your template and motif* 56cm × 21cm felted wool Dressmaker's carbon paper Knitting or tapestry yarn Pins and tapestry needle 1 Take a piece of paper and draw around your hand with your fingers slightly apart, leaving at least 1cm space from the edge of your hand. Make sure the length is to midway down your wrist and then neaten…

WISHLIST Shopkeeper of the month Graphic designer Sidonie Warren's creative vision shines at Papersmiths, a stationery haven in Brighton's vibrant North Laine. Papersmiths is known for pushing the envelope thanks to its beautiful selection of paper goods. A thoughtful edit of products fills the shop alongside Sidonie's own bold notebooks and pens, which she designs in-house. She also enjoys sourcing unique finds from independent stationery designers worldwide. However, Sidonie admits it was serendipity that made her a shopkeeper. “There was a large window fronting our graphic design studio and people would pop in to ask if the space was a shop,” she explains. “It wasn't, but it planted a seed and we thought we'd give it a go.” Whether you're in need of an A4 planner, a dotted A5 journal, a…

GARDENS Top tier trees: Apple; Plum/Damson/Greengage; Cherry; Pear; Quince; Walnut; Hazelnut; Hawthorn; Mulberry; Crab apple; Almond (in southern UK) Middle tier coppiced or small trees: Medlar; Eucalyptus; Saskatoon (Amelanchier); Bay Climbers: Hops; Grape vine; Kiwi; Sweet potato Middle tier bushes: Blackcurrant; Redcurrant; Raspberry; Blueberry; Blackberry and hybrid berries; Gooseberry; Sloe (Prunus spinosa); Japanese wineberry; Jostaberry; Szechuan pepper; Roses (for petals and hips: Rosa rugosa) Lower tier perennials: Bilberry/Winberry (Vaccinium myrtillus); Mint; Chives; Comfrey; Sage; Chicory; Fuchsia (for edible berries); Good King Henry; Fennel; Daylily (Hemerocallis, for edible flowers); Horseradish; Babington's leek; Lemon balm; Oregano; Perennial brassicas; Rhubarb; Sea kale; Sorrel; Sweet cicely; Cranberry Lowest tier ground cover: Strawberries (alpine); wild garlic; sweet violets For more in-depth advice on forest gardening, read Creating A Forest Garden: Working With Nature To Grow…

CAUCASIAN SPINACH Caucasian spinach (Hablitzia tamnoides) is a hardy climbing plant, native to the Caucasus between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. It's perennial, so will grow year after year unlike regular spinach – but it has a similar earthy taste. The shoots and leaves are edible, and can be harvested from early spring. Baby leaves are great in salads, and larger leaves delicious sautéed in butter. How to do it To germinate successfully, Caucasian Spinach seeds need a period of cold. So, sow seeds in the autumn in a container and leave them outdoors over winter in a sheltered place or a cool greenhouse, until they germinate. Alternatively, you can expose them to cold by placing them in fine compost or sand in the fridge for 7–10 days.…

Morning, what's the first cuppa of the day? It's a green tea. While the kettle is boiling, I cuddle my dog, Alby. He's a 12-year-old cockapoo. How did you end up doing what you do now? My co-founder, Tiffany, and I started out as actresses and met at an audition. We decided to start Brush & Bubbles – ‘sip and paint’ classes – alongside our acting careers. We love bringing the joy of painting back into people's lives. Great stormy We're putting the kettle on, what do you fancy? I used to be a builder's tea gal but now I take a mix of herbal teas, and make a mean cacao hot chocolate with cinnamon, honey and almond milk. Do you have a favourite mug? A set of four handmade…

FAVOURITE SHOP La Dulcería candy shop Watch candy being made in front of you at this vegan-friendly spot. Facebook: La DulcerÍa FAVOURITE BOOKSHOP Qué Leo on Cochrane Street A must-visit for book lovers. queleochile.cl/valparaiso GALLERIES Galería ARTkinson Showcases the work of five local artists. @galeriaartkinson FAVOURITE CAFÉ María María Elegant and delicious food that's well worth the wait – it's especially busy Wednesday to Sunday. @mariamaria_valpo FAVOURITE RESTAURANT Moneda de Oro Authentic Chilean food, portions, and service. Facebook: Moneda de Oro FAVOURITE HOTEL Casa Higueras The best in the city, with stunning terrace views and excellent service. casahigueras.cl FAVOURITE WAY TO SPEND AN HOUR Exploring street art in the areas of Cerro Concepción and Cerro Alegre. PLACE TO SEE BY NIGHT Cerro Mariposa Explore this quarter of the city, and enjoy the views from…

Kate Humble is the most enthusiastic person you could hope to meet. Whether it's her passion for the countryside, her dogs, travel, learning, nature or the benefits of skinny dipping in a lake, Kate throws herself in to everything – quite literally when it comes to the water. It's that enthusiasm and her passion for sharing other people's stories, that have made her a small screen favourite and a best-selling author. In a TV career spanning more than 20 years, Kate's adventurous spirit is clear to see, but it wasn't always that way. “I always had that sense of wanderlust. I'm driven by curiosity and I'm bloody nosy. I love finding out about people and places,” she says. Growing up, her travel experiences were limited, mainly because she “was so…

WELLBEING Savour happy memories – recording your experiences by journalling, taking pictures, writing letters or creating a memory box will help you to connect with your emotions in the moment and when you look back on them, too. Be curious – simply paying more attention can help us to connect with more positive emotions, like feeling awe when seeing a rainbow or feeling affectionate when listening to somebody we care about. Practise gratitude – naming and writing down the smallest things that you feel grateful for will open your eyes to the little glimmers of joy and calm and warmth that can get missed in the day to day. Do this regularly and it will become a habit. Explore different emotions – write down some different ‘positive’ emotions on pieces…

Let's be honest, not many of us think fondly of our email inboxes. But they can become happier places if you sign up to some of the new breed of newsletters. In September 2018, we shared a selection of writers who were using emails in a fresh new way to share passions, personal writing and pieces of curios. Since then, the format has boomed – mainly thanks to the growth of the platform, Substack (see over the page) – and now there's really something for every enthusiasm, be that recipes, growing, wellbeing, creativity, or more, in a format that feels more intimate than a blog or Instagram post. You can even sign up to dispatches from the likes of Patti Smith (pattismith.substack.com) and Nick Hornby (nickhornby.substack.com). These are emails that…

Whenever I look at my powder boxes, I am transported back to sitting at my grandmother's dressing table as a little girl. Her bedroom had a beautiful view over the Derbyshire Dales and was light and spacious with many treasures and ornaments. At the dressing table, I was fascinated by all her powders, pots and perfumes. The large white table with gold trim had a three-fold mirror and a long, light pink velvet stool. I loved sitting there, it felt luxurious. We'd sit and talk while looking at all the fancy things, including her costume jewellery and collection of buttons. My grandmother, Stella, was an elegant and stylish woman and adored her treasures. Her stories of wartime, dances and parties always held a great fascination for me. I loved her…

HOME TOUR Sitting in the vibrant Edinburgh district of Stockbridge, Lisa Guest's family home was built in 1823 on land previously occupied by Scottish portrait artist Sir Henry Raeburn. This artistic connection is woven throughout the house, with pieces by Scottish painters adorning the walls of every room. Previously living in the sunny climes of California, Lisa met her husband Oliver, a Scot, in Stockbridge and fell for its creative community and buzzing streets filled with independent shops and the weekly market. “I'm passionate about hiking and nature, so I also love that we have riverside walks through our neighbourhood and mountains and coastline within easy reach,” she says. The couple did up a few houses in Edinburgh before they found their current home. Daughter Ivy had just been born,…

The author of the beautiful Braiding Sweetgrass returns with a rethink on cutthroat capitalism and how its values have upended our relationship to the planet and each other. In lyrical prose she states the case for an economy based on reciprocity and sharing, using the Serviceberry – a tiny, wild sugarplum – and the birds that feed on it and then spread its seeds as a glowing example of how this works in the natural world. A valuable lesson gleaned from her Native American heritage and reinforced by her work as a biologist. This is a rallying cry for the benefits of community and generosity. (Penguin)…

Historian Hetta Howes heads back to Medieval times in the company of four women whose vividly described experiences shed light on how ordinary women survived and thrived in the dark ages. Marie de France was a poet, who composed romances and fables; Julian of Norwich, a consoling mystic and anchoress; Christine de Pizan, a widow and court writer who advocated for equality; and Margery Kemp, a stroppy, very religious “bad wife” who bucked convention to travel the world. Weaving research, political insight and the women's own words, this is a brilliant portrait of four trailblazers. (Bloomsbury)…

A PLACE TO STAY Getting away with your dog can be a tricky business. Finding somewhere to stay (ideally with a bit of outside space) and places you're allowed to go while in town isn't always easy. But a dog-friendly beach lodge in Bournemouth proves to be just the thing. The accommodation is set literally on the shore at Boscombe, towards the eastern end of the resort's famous 9.5 mile stretch of sands – and from October to the end of April, dogs get the run of the beach. It's a short walk to the town centre through Victorian gardens, and there's a spacious promenade for strolling, too. Where we stayed The blueprint for Bournemouth Beach Lodges’ clever design was sketched out by someone enterprising on the council, which owns…

7-spot ladybird This bird is actually a beetle, and one you should be pleased to spot in your garden, chomping through about 5,000 aphids during its life. Common Sexton The undertakers of the beetles world, burying small carcasses underground to feed their larvae, vitally helping the nutrients cycle. Dead good. Tansy It's green up North (Yorkshire): today the only place these metallic beauties can be found. As the name suggests, feeds on tansy in wetland areas. Cockchafer A scarab beetle, also called doodlebug, snartlegog, spang beetle and, helpfully, maybug – the month they emerge from under the ground. Red-headed cardinal Here comes the sun, and like their musical homonyms, here comes these beetles – often spied lazing on flowers in the warmer months. Dor Also known as a dumbledore, what's…

About 100,000 English-language novels come out each year, so it's within the realms of possibility. Though quantity doesn't necessarily mean quality. Read: Readers are better writers. Work out why you enjoy the books that you do (or don't) and the mechanics of how they use plot, structures and characters. Write: A common bit of advice is to just get your first draft done. Set aside chunks of time, and somewhere to shut yourself off from distractions to do it. As author Monique Roffey says: “don't dilly dally, bash it out.” National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) helps people to write 50,000 words during November, with a tracker on their site (nanowrimo.org) and online cheer from other writers. Write around: Get to know your characters and setting by writing bits that won't…

CUT OUT AND KEEP Venison stew with marmalade and shallots A good stew will see you through and this brings the best ingredients of the season together as a comfort dinner for chilly evenings. Venison stew with marmalade and shallots Serves 4 1 onion, finely chopped 110g smoked bacon lardons 2 carrots, diced 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1kg lean shoulder of venison, cut into cubes 1 tbsp plain flour 250ml red wine 8 shallots, sliced 250ml beef or chicken stock 4 bay leaves 1 tbsp tomato purée 1 tbsp marmalade 1 tsp juniper berries, crushed 1 Preheat the oven to 150C/Fan 130C/Gas 2. Fry the onions gently in a little oil until they start to colour then add the lardons, carrots and garlic and continue to fry until they start to brown. Transfer to a deep casserole dish. 2 Heat a tablespoon of…