There is something about autumn that makes me wildly overestimate how much free time I have.
One minute I'm enjoying the last bits of summer and the next I'm mentally planning woodland walks, cosy pub lunches, pumpkin picking, craft workshops, entire days dedicated to reading and approximately seventeen different autumnal baking projects.
Do I have the time to do all of these things?
Absolutely not.
Am I going to attempt it anyway?
Obviously.
So, with that in mind, I've put together my slightly unrealistic autumn bucket list - a collection of things I'd love to do this autumn, ranging from genuinely achievable to I'm not entirely sure when I'm supposed to fit this in, but let's not worry about that right now.
Go on a Proper Autumn Walk
Not just walking around the block in a coat and calling it an autumn walk.
I'm talking crunchy leaves, ridiculously pretty trees, a woodland path, a slight chill in the air and the sort of scenery that makes you want to stop every five minutes to take another photograph.
I want one of those proper autumn walks where you come home with leaves stuck to your shoes and feel like you've actually made the most of the season.
Go Pumpkin Picking
I have reached the point in adulthood where buying a pumpkin from the supermarket no longer feels sufficient.
I want the full experience.
A pumpkin patch. Wellies. A slightly ridiculous number of photographs. Me carefully selecting the perfect pumpkin as though I'm choosing a new family member.
Will I then take it home and spend far too long deciding where to put it?
Almost certainly.
Find a Proper Cosy Pub
Autumn is essentially just an excuse to find pubs with fires.
I want somewhere with low ceilings, cosy corners, a roaring fire and a menu full of things that involve gravy, pastry or both.
Ideally somewhere that feels like the sort of place you could happily lose an entire afternoon.
Have a Full Reading Day
A whole day where the only real objective is to read.
No errands. No jobs around the house. No feeling guilty about sitting down.
Just a good book, snacks and somewhere comfortable enough that getting up becomes increasingly unnecessary.
This is probably the most realistic item on this entire list.
Do an Autumn Craft Workshop
I would quite like to emerge from autumn with something I have made myself.
A wreath. A candle. A piece of pottery. Something vaguely seasonal that I can proudly display at home while conveniently ignoring all evidence of how much assistance I probably received.
I'm particularly drawn to anything involving candles, pottery painting or making something that makes the house look like I've got my life together.
Channel My Inner Mary Berry
This one feels particularly appropriate after someone at work recently managed to spell my name Molly Berry instead of Bury (buh-ree).
Honestly, I couldn't even be offended.
If anything, it felt like fate.
So this autumn I think I need to fully embrace my inner OG MB and do some proper baking.
I'm talking something warm and autumnal that makes the entire house smell incredible. Apple crumble, cinnamon rolls, a loaf cake, something involving caramel - I'm not fussy.
I don't necessarily need to become the next Mary Berry.
I would, however, like to reach the stage where someone takes one bite of whatever I've made and says something along the lines of, “Molly, that's absolutely lovely.”
Ideally while I stand there pretending I haven't been waiting for them to say it.
Have a Proper Autumn Film Night
Not simply putting something on television while scrolling on our phones.
I'm talking full commitment.
Pyjamas. Snacks. Lights off. Phones abandoned.
And preferably something that feels appropriately autumnal.
The kind of evening where you realise you've been sitting in exactly the same position for four hours and decide that moving would be unnecessary.
Go to a Bonfire Night
I want the bonfire, the fireworks, the inevitable smell of smoke on my clothes afterwards and something warming to eat while standing around pretending I'm not freezing.
Preferably with a good view of the fireworks and enough layers on that I don't spend the entire evening questioning my life choices.
It's one of those very English autumn traditions that I always think I should make more effort to actually go to.
So this year, I'm adding it to the list.
Make the House Feel Like Autumn
This is less about completely redecorating the house and more about leaning into the season.
A few autumnal bits.
Cosy blankets.
Candles.
Warm lighting.
Maybe some little seasonal touches around the kitchen and living room.
Basically, I want to walk through the front door and immediately think:
Yep. Autumn lives here now.
And Finally… Start Getting Excited for Christmas
I'm not saying I'm going full Christmas in October.
I'm simply saying that by the end of autumn, I would like to be emotionally prepared.
Maybe a little Christmas shopping.
Maybe a festive workshop.
Maybe a few ideas for decorations.
Maybe quietly listening to one Christmas song when nobody is around to judge me.
Autumn is allowed to have its moment first, obviously.
But we all know where we're heading.
And that's that...
So that's my slightly unrealistic autumn bucket list.
Some of these will absolutely happen.
Some will probably get postponed because it's raining.
Some will be replaced by sitting on the sofa in pyjamas watching television.
And at least one will remain on this list until next autumn.
But honestly, that's half the fun.
I don't think a bucket list has to be a list of things you must accomplish. Sometimes it's just a list of things you want to make time for - little things that make an ordinary season feel a bit more special.
And if I manage even half of these before winter arrives, I'll consider it a success.
Now, if you'll excuse me, Molly "Berry" has some baking to do.
Molly
Post a Comment