From The Pumpkin Patch

A love letter to October, my favourite month of all.

The last of the late-summer sunlight melting like butter on the ground, sinking into the leaves that now cover the paths. Cravings for root vegetables and soups, kitchen countertops cluttered with pumpkins and produce. Chilly nights and thick morning fog veiling the distant hills. The month my husband was born. October will always be part of me.

I look forward to pumpkin picking all year long. It’s a tradition my husband and I started eight years ago, and every part of it feels special. The drive to Hewitt’s Farm, down long roads lined with golden trees. Digging through huge wooden crates of kabocha squash, anticipating the taste of my famous kabocha soup. And of course, filling a wheelbarrow with the perfect collection of fat orange pumpkins.

This year was a little different, as Hewitt’s Farm has experienced some setbacks recently. They lost 90% of their pumpkin harvest due to inclement weather, a stolen tractor and the sad death of one of the farm’s most familiar faces.

Instead of picking our way through the pumpkin patch, navigating winding vines, we found the pumpkins laid out on a field to preserve their precious remaining patch from being trampled on. It wasn’t quite the same as previous years, but I was happy to support the farm and help them get back on their feet.

Speaking of pumpkin patches…

I’ve been wanting to make these Charlie Brown pumpkin patch brownies for years. This October, I made my chocolate-y dreams come true with a happy Halloween morning spent baking and decorating.

They turned out even better than I imagined, and I was so proud of myself!

I took the last week of October off work, and we squeezed in so many wholesome autumn activities. I made hot apple cider, watched The Craft (finally!) and made our way through all the old Nightmare on Elm Street films.

We also visited several old castles and manor houses including Knole Park, Hever Castle and Scotney Castle. Walking in the grounds was an autumn dream, surrounded by the most beautiful red, orange and yellow leaves. It felt a fairytale straight from an Enid Blyton book filled with mysteries and adventure. I have my husband to thank for these magical outings, as he planned and organised it all. Aren’t I lucky?

But it wasn’t all wholesome daytime activities. Being October, we had to squeeze in something spooky.

Ever since I moved to London (over a decade ago!) I’ve been promising myself that I’ll book a Jack the Ripper tour for a cold, spooky October night.

This year, I finally did it!

We had a wonderful two hours as part of a small group, walking the streets of Whitechapel at night and visiting the sites where Jack’s victims were found. I scoured the internet for a tour that didn’t sensationalise the murders too much, and I was really pleased with our guide. She took a more feminist approach to the case, placing the emphasis on the victims and speaking in detail about their lives.

Highlights included a Victorian workhouse with the original signage still hanging on the front of the building, and drinking an alcohol-free beer in the Ten Bells, a 17th century pub where all the victims drank regularly. It’s very likely that Jack the Ripper himself was also a frequent visitor.

It was so eerie to imagine him walking through the same doors, standing in the same spot, looking out of the same window. It was also surreal to put myself in the shoes of the victims, potentially during the final hours of their lives. I was entranced by the mystery and horror of it all.

Halloween fell on a Friday this year, which felt perfect. I baked brownies, carved pumpkins and prepared for trick-or-treaters. The best kind of day, in my opinion.

I also found time to read an old R.L. Stine Point Horror book set at Halloween, which has become a tradition. This year was Halloween Night II, and the nostalgic, 90s story was almost as good as this incredible cover.

If you haven’t seen my blog post on making Blair Witch stick figures, I highly recommend it for next Halloween. It was so fun to craft my own decorations, and they looked so spooky hanging outside our house on Halloween night. I even hung one on the front door and potentially cursed us, as my husband immediately lost his wallet…

Of course, I had to be the Blair Witch for Halloween. I dressed all in black, with creepy makeup and wild hair. And I crafted my very own Blair Witch necklace.

Looking back over the past month, I have so many things to be grateful for. There are the big things: my wonderful husband, my cosy home, a regular income, supportive friends and family. The little things: pumpkin candles, good books, warm blankets, thrifted sweaters. These are the stitches that knit together into a beautiful life, one that should be treasured.

And, as I wave goodbye to my favourite month for another year, I can’t forget the words of the inimitable Anne Shirley: ‘How lucky I am to live in a world where there are Octobers!’