From the Hearth #1
Introducing From the Hearth, a weekend diary-style blog post series covering life, joys and musings lately. A journal full of memories and thoughts to look back on in the future.
I missed the good old days of blogging just for me – documenting life lately, the joys, challenges and everyday musings. I missed writing online in a relaxed way, without feeling obliged to add SEO to every single post or getting caught in the views, likes and comments rabbit hole. Writing and blogging have always been passions of mine, but in recent times the light dimmed. This series is all about celebrating the beauty of writing for yourself.
(How did From the Hearth evolve? – Take a look)
Forget all the rules. Forget being published. Write for yourself and celebrate writing.
Melinda Rucker Haynes
Autumn joys
I love autumn. The cosy nights in. Candles. Bubble baths. Jumpers, ankle boots and loungewear – my fashion staples. The red and golden leaves. Everything that really speaks home comforts.
Putting wellbeing over work
Although my Crohn’s is currently stable (please let it stay this way), this week was a bit tougher. A couple of nausea spells and higher fatigue levels. I realised this was linked to some work stress and I was feeling a bit burnt out. I was going through the stages of onboarding another freelance client but realised that I didn’t have the capacity or energy to take on the work right now. I explained the situation honestly to the potential client and they were really understanding and happy I was doing the right thing for my health. As soon as I removed some of the weight from my shoulders, I felt a lot better and had space to rest and focus better on existing projects. The lesson? It’s ok to prioritise your wellbeing over your work.
First solo public transport trip since Covid
Before Covid, I loved travelling to different places and hopping on and off of trains and buses. Apart from one bus trip with my family, I hadn’t been on a solo public transport trip since the pandemic. This week though, I took myself off into town on the bus! This was a big step in terms of my anxiety around Covid. I’m proud that I did it and it was nice to do something that felt like old times.
On the watch list
When the evenings get darker, there is even more reason to enjoy those cosy nights in with candles, loungewear and some good TV viewing.
The series I’m currently watching include:
- Strictly Come Dancing – Everyone is incredible this year! My early favourites for the final are Rose, Tom, John and AJ, but it’s all to play (or dance) for!
- Great British Bake Off – Tuesday evenings are now taken once again.
- Only Murders in the Building – The end of season 1 is getting closer and I can’t wait to see what happens.
- All Creatures Great and Small – The perfect stress-free, gentle viewing.
- Sex Education – I recently finished binge-watching all 3 seasons and I’m kicking myself for not watching it sooner.
I had my first trip to the cinema since Covid to see the new James Bond film a couple of weeks ago. I realised how much I had missed that environment and how different the experience of seeing a film on the big screen is. A couple of other recent films watched are Pride and Cemetery Junction – both British films with great ensemble casts.
Comfort baking
As autumn well and truly rolls in, I have been craving comfort foods recently. What with GBBO in full swing, I fancied my own baking session, albeit without the fancy KitchenAid and marquee setting. This week I made a gluten-free apple crumble (adapted from my go-to recipe by the British Heart Foundation) and the One-Dish Baked Cookies from Eat Smart by Niomi Smart. I discovered this recipe after getting Eat Smart and it has quickly become a family favourite. I make it as a traybake but you can also create separate cookies too. The best part is that the recipe is already gluten-free, using ground almonds and oats instead of flour.
