Once Mother Nature’s summer abundance has softly whittled away, bicycle adventures will often take you past apple trees which stand with proudly poised branches ladened with clusters of fruit...
Offering a cycle pretty moment from people's front gardens whilst cutting through residential streets, hydrangea flowers endure and become the star of the show in #autumn #floristry as they fade into richer colours of deep purply pinks and mottled greens...
...While local grocery shops are stacked up with varieties of pumpkins and squashes, like here in the beautiful high street independent of South Manchester, Artisan Nutrition*. As outlets of individual creativity, the unique products and other curiosities found in local shops like this turns the everyday activity of #shoppinglocally as a cyclist into fun filled exercise that always lifts the spirits...
So is cycling really a joy in the month of November? Well we certainly think so! And here's a few ways to use the commutes of a #cyclepretty life to get the #Novembervibes...
Apple Foraging Bicycle Escapades…
Ready for the picking at the prospect of crumbles and pies, front wicker baskets come into their own during bicycle adventures when opportune moments for foraging arise- such as that when Roberta and I went on a bicycle adventure of our own recently...
Whether you chose to do this as a group, or whether you go exploring on your own, there's something to be said for taking the commercial chain of production out of the equation to come into direct contact with nature whilst harvesting your own.
In the setting of an allotment, orchard or embankment of wild apple trees often found in our cities, towns or villages, when you start looking for the places to do this, you'll be surprised by how many there are!
Use Your Harvest on Stir Up Sunday…
A very British tradition on the last Sunday in November, Stir Up Sunday is the day when the house is filled with the aromas of caramelising brown sugars and Christmas spices, whilst the oven is put to good work for hours on end...
It's the time when the pantry cupboard is emptied out for the day and everything from the cinnamon and star anise, to the apples, candied orange peel and various brown sugars are all combined into mixtures to make the joyful delights of #Christmas cake, mince pie filling and Christmas pudding. As a day used to prepare for the festivities that are all about everyone coming together, in itself it makes a lovely afternoon when it's used to arrange a 'baking get together' for a good catch up and maybe a few glasses of wine. Be sure to make an early start though! As both the preparations and the low temperature baking will find you finishing up well after sunset- especially if the wine has anything to do with it :-) On the up side though, there'll be no need to worry about paying for taxis if people cycle over. Although just remember bike lights and make sure the batteries have plenty of power before setting off...
In the Cycle Pretty Boutique…
Like the blush skies of an Autumnal sunrise, the iconic Fable England Alice Tote is back in this beautiful shade of pink. Giving 'high vis' a whole new meaning, this statement piece will definitely turn heads as you pedal by!
Designed by the iconic Catherine Rowe, who is famed for her designs created for the landmark Liberty of London, the autumnal illustrations printed on the fabric of this bag can be found on both the lining and silk twilly scarf- which is also removable for versatility and could be used as a hair accessory as much as a finishing touch on the bag...
From November’s Book Corner Club…
Another of our beautifully covered Word Cloud Canterbury Classics by author Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo, is a story which shines a light on how the human spirit will rise to the challenge when faced with brutally life changing events...
Set in 1815, lead character Edmond Dantes at 19 years of age is wrongfully imprisoned after being framed as a traitor by three jealous men, bitter of his quick advancement in life.
“He decided it was human hatred and not divine vengeance that had plunged him into this abyss. He doomed these unknown men to every torment that his inflamed imagination could devise…”
During 14 years of wrongful imprisonment-six of which were in solitary confinement, Dantes learns of a treasure hoard hidden on the Isle of Monte Christo. Determined to escape, he also becomes hell-bent on unearthing the treasure and using it to work his way back to his perpetrators to seek revenge...
"All human wisdom is contained in these two words - Wait and Hope."
After finally arriving back in Paris and embedding himself into high society, he works his way towards his offenders, who he has found have since prospered to live successful lives...
“ "Oh, God,” said Monte Cristo, “your vengeance may sometimes be slow in coming, but I think that then it is all the more complete..."
So as the days draw in and the skies become darker, whatever you're reading, we suggest cycling to your favourite coffee shop, finding the best arm chair in the house and curling up in the corner whilst passing the time reading a few chapters with a pumpkin spice latte... Because it's all about the November vibes :-)
* Please visit https://www.artisannutrition.co.uk/wpcontent/ for more information on all the wonderful goods Artisan Nutrition provides...