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There is a smell and feel to Autumn.  This always lets me know that it has really arrived.  The longer evenings and less to do outdoors, give me the perfect excuse to catch up missed TV from over the summer when I rarely watch TV.  

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I love to get out the lovely candles and bring new smells into my home.  It is a time you are more likely to get me to bake you a apple pie or a crumble, and I am planning what I need to do outside and inside to prepare for Winter.  

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Here are a few things to consider doing this Autumn:

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• Freeze Summer fruits while  you still can.  I do this and bag them in portion sizes, perfect for smoothies, pies and crumbles, when the fruit is not available and if it is it does not taste like summer

• Change your hair colour!  Dare you, go for something warm and autumnal, I fancy an apricot not sure my lovely hairdresser Ms F will agree with me tho

• Find an author you like and plunge in, does not matter what it is, read something.  Reading is habit forming and you can explore new worlds, go on great adventures, try new experiences all from the comfort of your sofa!  If you drive to work or do not fancy a book, why not an audio book?  Let someone read to you

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• Get your gutters cleared out/repaired.  Blocked or leaking guttering can do untold damage to your home.  If you have good neighbours you can sometimes get a bit of a discount if trades people are doing more than one home next/near to each other

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• Put your garden/outside space to bed.  Clear old bedding plants (I usually wait for October), clear leaves (you may have to do this more than once).  It may be a good time to get trees and shrubs pruned and then they will be ready in Spring

• While I do not do the whole garden, I like to re plant my hanging baskets for Autumn/Winter.  I use Winter flowering pansies.  I like to choose Orange and Purple for Autumn, but whatever colours you like is what you choose.  When cold, dreary days are here it is cheering to look outside and see hanging baskets going strong

• While you are outside you may want to plant spring flowering bulbs.  I always forget where I have put them so it is a lovely surprise when they growing out of pots and containers in the Spring

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• Make use of the bright Autumn days to wash blankets, curtains and cushion covers ready for the colder months.  Freshening them up can make all the difference

• The days are getting shorter and the evenings longer, for goodness sake change lightbulbs which are broken!  

• Adding some solar powered lights in the garden can give it a Winter Wonderland look, although they may not last as long as they did in the Summer months, they can still be great

• Plan a trip, think about somewhere you would like to go next year or something you may wish to do.  Now is the time to do the research 

• Nothing looks as uninviting as a entrance space that is cluttered.  Remove debris and freshen up the area.  If you have space for display, why not move things around from other areas of the house and give it a new look, add a beautiful smelling candle and you are set

• Outside your home, also clear debris, at this time of the year leaves can collect. Sweep and wipe down front door and let your home be welcoming

• Enjoy binging on box sets or series you have not seen 

• Meet up with friends.  Does not have to be expensive or out. Choose a home and collectively bring refreshments

• Make a list.  This can be things you want to achieve, you need to do, or to remember.  Ms JF can not go anywhere without a list.  I think she makes a list about her list!  But we are talking about the person who airs out her suitcases!  However, I find lists really helpful.  They help you stay focused, you feel satisfaction when you tick stuff off and they stop you forgetting important stuff

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