The Simple Things

The Simple Things is a beautiful, useful, quirky and fun magazine about taking time to live well. We cover mindfulness and microadventures, eating and growing, forgotten wisdom, home life and slow moments. It's for people who love their lives but want to take the pressure off and remember what’s really important. We like tea & cake, learning stuff, being outside and the satisfaction of a job well done. Do you?

A could-do list November

Lisa

Stormy day stories & stew • HUNKER DOWN AT HOME WITH FRIENDS TO READ TOGETHER, SHARE GOOD COMPANY AND HEARTY FOOD

Gathering acorns • ON A RAINY WALK WITH HER MOTHER, ELLIE EVELYN ORRELL ENJOYS THE SLOW PLEASURE OF COLLECTING SEASONAL TREASURES FOR A HOME PROJECT

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • A topsy-turvy cake that makes the most of the season’s pears, turning them into a slice of afternoon joy.

My day in cups of tea • We head to Pembrokeshire and step inside Julie Budge’s writing hut to find out how she likes to spend her day in cuppas.

Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

A simple thing…

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF THE URBAN FOX

SANTIAGO • FROM MOUNTAIN PEAKS TO COBBLED STREETS, MARK JOHANSON SHOWS US AROUND THE CHILEAN CAPITAL

COULD-DO SANTIAGO • Mark’s favourite places in the city.

PAUSE • Take a moment with some well-chosen words

Life lessons from Pooh (& friends) • EAT THE HUNNY, FLOAT ON THE BALLOON AND HUNT THAT HEFFALUMP! LIVING A MORE ‘AA MILNE’ LIFE IS A SIMPLE (AND WHIMSICAL) WAY TO BOOST HEALTH, WEALTH AND WELLBEING

HOME ECONOMICS Stir-up Sunday • PLAN A DAY TO MAKE FESTIVE DELIGHTS, FROM PUDDINGS AND CHUTNEYS TO SYRUPS AND TIPPLES. RACHEL DE THAMPLE SHOWS US HOW TO CREATE TREATS TO SHARE AND STORE

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love FLEECES

“When you pick up a book you stop that endless noise. You can go anywhere; the whole of storytelling is in your hands” • Weaving her local landscape and her love of adventure stories into her writing, author Kate Mosse believes that every one of us is born a storyteller and the greatest joy is to share that with each other

A simple thing…

It’s brown because it’s greener • NAKED PAPER IS MAKING TOILET PAPER THAT’S TRUE TO ITS NATURAL COLOUR, AND YOU COULD WIN A YEAR’S SUPPLY

Good THINGS • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

OK Computer • AGREEABLE AND ALWAYS AVAILABLE, CHATTING TO AI CAN FEEL LIKE AN EASIER OPTION THAN TALKING TO A HUMAN BEING. BUT IS IT REALLY?

Nature’s FIREWORKS • FORESTS, HEDGEROWS AND GARDENS ARE PUTTING ON THEIR OWN EXPLOSIVE DISPLAYS, SAYS JENI BELL

The best thing since sliced bread • AFTER RELUCTANTLY GOING TO A MINDFUL BAKING CLASS, CHRIS MOODY HAS FOUND HERSELF PART OF ‘THE JOLLY GIRLS’, A GROUP OF FRIENDS WHO BAKE, GROW AND GIGGLE THEIR WAY THROUGH LEARNING TOGETHER…

Know a thing or two… Dogs • From Ice Age predator to pampered couch potato, we go fetch the facts on woman’s best friend

MOOR MADE • DARTMOOR IS HOME TO MANY ARTISANS KEEPING TRADITIONAL CRAFTS ALIVE - FROM A WILLOW WEAVER TO A HIDE TANNER AND THE SHEPHERDS WHO MAKE FROM WOOL

FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE • Bringing blooms indoors: it’s what every home needs

SOUTH MANCHESTER MY NEIGHBOURHOOD • INDEPENDENT SHOPS, CAFÉS, GREEN SPACES AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT DREW REBECCA ALEXANDER TO THE SOUTH MANCHESTER SUBURBS, WHERE SHE CREATED BOTH A FAMILY HOME AND BUDDING BUSINESS

THE kindest GARDEN • A FEW SIMPLE CHANGES CAN RESULT IN A PLOT THAT’S GOOD FOR SOIL, WATER AND WILDLIFE. MARIAN BOSWALL EXPLAINS HOW TO MAKE YOUR GARDEN WORK FOR YOU AND THE PLANET

WHAT I TREASURE • Grandad’s wallet

Things to want and wish for • Loving your home,...