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I took the photo above at Storm King Art Center in the fall of 2020.
In the doldrums of February, I asked — “what are your favorite parts of winter?” The prompt was a thinly veiled self-rescue mission; I was done with winter. I remember thinking, while writing this post: “I’ve had enough winter for an entire lifetime at this point.” Five years in Chicago, where the winters stretch from October to May, will do that to you. I know my Midwestern Magpies are tsking at my lack of hardiness, but as a girl raised in the Mid-Atlantic, with four tidy and true seasons to mark the calendar, I found the Illinois winters punishing in length. But, wouldn’t you know it, you Magpies changed my tune. You helped me see the specific beauty of Mother Nature’s most austere office: citrus and agarics, weighted blankets, cashmere against skin, the unique seasonal appeal of a long novel, “a sneaky flash of Jameson,” an opportunity to purge and reset, weekly batches of granola, the sun peeking through bare branches, the scents with cosset away for the cold months, “flushed rosy cheeks and just feeling naturally lovely with very little effort.” Life is poetry, isn’t it?
It seems to me that fall’s merits suggest themselves more readily. William Cullen Bryant described autumn as “the year’s last, loveliest smile,” and Albert Camus called it “a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” Hard to disagree with either. What are your favorite parts of the season? Sharing a few specific favorites of my own below:
The petrichor of fallen, wet leaves
An applejack brandy cocktail Mr. Magpie makes
The benignly melancholy mood — Neitzsche one said: “I notice that Autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature”
The hum of football on a Sunday afternoon
The first few calls for a top layer to chase away the chill
Burning my Embers candle around the clock, and restarting our habit of burning Aesop incense in the evenings (we intuitively suspend the ritual in the warm months)
The tree in the center of our cul de sac, which displays the most dramatic, ostentatious turns of color: from marigold to pumpkin to cranberry
Glossy dark red manicures (OPI’s Malaga Wine is perfect)
Watching scary movies — I specifically love re-watching “Scream” every year — beneath a blanket (these are my favorite — a major RWI for me)
The bite of cold morning air on a dewy morning
Reading a thriller (if you’ve not yet read The Turn of the Key, it’s my absolute favorite) on a gray fall afternoon
Roast chicken seasoned with thyme on a wood cutting board
The smell of perfume lingering on a scarf or sweater you wore last week
The way the sun warms your nose even as you stamp your feet against the cold
Making my yearly batch of pumpkin cookies with brown butter frosting
First viewing of “You’ve Got Mail”
The reminder that things must end to begin again
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Please sound off in the comments!
Post-Scripts.
+The best cinnamon banana bread for fall.
+Great kitchen gear you might not have.
+What is the best hostess gift you’ve ever received? And, what do you keep in your guest bedroom? (Love the comments on both of these!)
Shopping Break.
TURTLENECK (LOOK FOR LESS) // POINTELLE PANTS // SLIPPERS // EMBERS CANDLE // CINNAMON TEA // COPPER MUG // CHAPPYWRAP BLANKET // MY FAV THRILLER // STAUB DUTCH OVEN // TORTOISE VOTIVES
G. LABEL CARDIGAN // AGOLDE DAME JEANS // PARACHUTE SLIPPERS // BEARABY WEIGHTED BLANKET // JENNI KAYNE ASPEN CHAIR (LOOK FOR LESS WITH THIS OR THIS) // FELLOW KETTLE // HAAND MUG // THE GOD OF THE WOODS (MY REVIEW HERE)
+In the market for hygge slippers for the season? Love the options from Sorel, Parachute, and Bombas.
+Dorsey’s Lucien earrings are now off pre-order and shipping immediately. These are my go-to everyday earrings. So lightweight and so chic. Trust me, these will be an instant wardrobe upgrade.
+Few Moda has some designer-influenced, affordably priced knitwear out — love this cropped gray crewneck (very Jenni Kayne with the wide cuffs), classic cashmere cardi (reminds me of La Ligne), and of course I can’t say no to a great stripe.
+This is a REALLY good jacket. I own it in black. She’s like a notch above a blazer — more like outerwear! — but can also work as a blazer in certain outfits. The way it skims the body and where it lands on the leg are VERY chic. Great silhouette and proportions.
+Obsessed with these copper mugs from Target. Perfect for fall cocktails — mules, mulled wined, etc! Love Target’s entire copper collection actually. How cute are these copper tasting spoons and this tea kettle?
+Speaking of kettles, last year, we upgraded to a Fellow electric kettle and I love her so much. Chic enough to leave out on the counter and hyper-precise. There’s also something delightful about pouring from the gooseneck spout. If you don’t yet have an electric kettle, you will delight in owning one. Fellow is also releasing a small number of their new coffee maker and I think I am going to pre-order one for Mr. Magpie — he’s got his eye on it.
+Tis the season for stews and braises. We own and love this 7 quart Staub Dutch Oven so much. She’s on sale right now!
+OBSESSED wit this $16 brow pencil. Use her daily!
+These cropped pants have a cult following, I’ve just learned. (Like a less expensive High Sport.) I’ve also had my eye on their iconic buckle suede flats for awhile…
+We have several sets of plates and bowls from pottery brand Haand, and I love the organic shape of their mugs.
+My sister owns and loves this weighted blanket.
+A girl can dream. Obsessing over these red chalcedony earrings. Also come in green nephrite jade and other fabulous materials.
+For your mini swiftie. For logo-less sweats, I just took my children to Gap and got a few pairs of these simple sweats in great colors.