Before Spring starts in full I am looking back on Autumn and Winter 2024.

There were harvests from the allotment and making and eating apple and pecan muffins made with some of the bounty.

There was a Procession Of Light.

I am part of local community group – Bearwood Action For Refugees and this year was our 8th annual procession of light held each year in October in Warley Woods. It was wonderful to see the community come together showing solidarity and support for refugees and asylum seekers, and we were blessed with fine weather!

There was a Pie Day.

This is a family tradition that goes back to when my mum was a child and that we revived it in 2012. You can read about some other pie days here and here.

It was a lovely way to celebrate with friends and family and remember my mum as we held it on what would have been her birthday. We usually have Pie Day earlier in the season but this was the time when we could all get together and as it’s our tradition we can have it when we like!

Some Autumn decorations. There’s a tutorial for my leaf bunting here.

Dusking.

Earlier in the year I took part in some hedge morris to celebrate May Day and at Halloween I took part in Dusking. This is another tradition created by Lucy Wright. Find out more here.

I made a headdress for my ‘performance’.

Made from various plants in my garden

And I wrote a piece of music. You can watch a video of me dusking here.

I always enjoy decorating for Christmas. Bringing light and colour to this dark time of year.

My daughter’s cat Stevie wondering if he should just tap one of the decorations.

And our old girl Haru enjoying the comfort of the sofa.

I had planned a New Year’s Eve ritual but had a lurgy and so spent it cuddled up on the sofa. I did do this picture however, Love sweeping away cruelty, brutality, intolerance and unkindness. I had been dealing with some very difficult things in 2024 and this was a message to myself and others to let love in.