Autumn in the French countryside

The cool air ushered in the feeling of the “rentrée” when school began in September. You could feel October edging it’s way in a little faster than usual. I love the cool morning air, a reason to pull out my favourite alpaca sweater and the first signs of chimney smoke. This is autumn in the French countryside and I love it. The low golden light has finally arrived, I wait on it every year and with it there’s always a buzz of creative energy.

I’ve been quiet lately, but only because I’ve been busy baking, writing, and getting back into the rhythm of the season. It feels great. Soon the last of the garden produce will be finished up, save for a couple dozen jars of salsa to carry us through the cold months ahead. Mexican fiesta anyone?

It’s been a joy preserving what we’ve harvested, I look forward to more in the future. The kids get a thrill gathering what they find too. I often use it as a way to get them to join me on a walk outside. “Let’s go see what kind of plants we can find! Maybe we could collect some chestnuts or hazelnuts?” We always come home with something, at very least a bouquet of colourful leaves. We ate chestnuts fresh out of the oven one evening for our apéro and the rest I prepared for canning so we can enjoy them in winter. The more we learn, the more fun it gets. In that spirit my daughter joined me on a mushroom foraging morning with our Anglophone friends. While we didn’t come home with much we both enjoyed learning about how to identify different mushrooms. It’s the thrill of the hunt!

Autumn always feels like an invitation to reconnect be it with nature, food, each other and especially my creative side. I’ve been loving the simple pleasures of it all and I’m already looking towards evenings by the fire, a glass of Mulled Wine in hand or inviting friends an apéro dinatoire with plenty of snacks including everyone’s favourite goat cheese and pistachio bites!

I’d love to know what you’re cooking or creating this season. Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram (@vineandtheolive) if you try one of these recipes.