Something I really love about this time of year is how it gets dark so early. There is something supremely cosy about closing the curtains and putting on sidelights and making the house feel warm and welcoming. I have my little rituals. The lights go on, the curtains are drawn, candles are lit, and if it's very chilly, I'll sneak hot water bottles into beds and add extra quilts.
This year I've added something extra to my evening rituals. I light a candle in the lamp that hangs from the fascia of the playhouse in the back garden.
I can't explain why I like to do this. It's a pointless thing to do really. I just like to see the warm glow coming from the lamp. Now I leave the curtains open at the back of the house, just so I can see the little candle flickering away. I suppose that in a way, it makes me feel that garden is all cosy for the night too.
