Journey through the Seasons

Edited by: Adam Bailey Music Credit: Reiki Healing from Purple Planet Music ( https://www.purple-planet.com/home ) Podcast artwork: Karen Ingall Opening words: Sue reads Abundace by Louise Gluck Seasonal Living: Sue references to Lia Leendertz's The Almanac. You can read more about the Harvest moon here: https://bookishseasons.com/what-is-the-harvest-moon/ and about Michaelmas here: https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/st-michaels-day-and-michaelmas-traditions Recipe: Emma's Sourdough Apple Cake recipe is as follows. For the starter: 460g plain flour, 500ml milk, 230g caster sugar, 2tsps yeast (mix in a large bowl, cover with a tea towel). Feed on day 4 and day 9 - 120g plain flour, 225g caster sugar, 225ml milk. Stir daily. The starter is ready to bake with on day 10. For the cake: take 1/4 of your starter (gift or start again with any portions you don't use to make a cake) and add to a large bowl, add 150ml sunflower oil, 2 eggs, 2 tsps vanilla extract, stir well. Then add dry ingredients; 255g soft brown sugar, 240g plain flour, 2 heaped tsps baking powder, a little salt, a generous teaspoon of cinnamon and mix well. Add 2 cooking apples, peeled and diced into approx 1cm squares and stir in along with an optional 100-150g raisins or sultanas. Add to a lined tin (it'll fill a 20cm round tin), sprinkle with demerera sugar and put into an oven pre-heated to 170 degrees. The cakes take roughly 45 minutes to cook - check, it may need a little longer, and then allow to cool in the tin before truning out and eating or storing. Self-Care: To read more about gratitude practices and gratitude in general please visit: https://grateful.org Seasonal words: Sue reads poems this month: Warm Apple Crumble by Gervase Gordon (instagram @lit_service_dept ), Ted Hughes' Harvest Moon and On the Hill Late at Night by Wendell Berry What's On Our Bookshelf: Sue has read Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell and is currently reading Raising Hair by Chloe Dalton. She has enjoyed the poetry collection Earth Prayers, edited by Carol Ann Duffy. She's watching Ludwig on BBC iPlayer and has arranged a community screening of the National Emergency Briefing after attending a screening earlier in the summer. Emma recommends the Maggie O'Farrell's (again!) new book Land, Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hessian and A Year of Nothing by Emma Gannon. She has enjoyed the Netflix series' Little House on the Prairie and My Beautiful Career. She has been listening to the In Thin Air album from Spell Songs. Tasks: You can donate to the Macmillan coffee morning campaign here: https://donation.macmillan.org.uk Emma remebered the other person who has died: Gloria Steinham Timings: Opening words: 1.01 Abundance Chat: 08.44 Seasonal Living: 17.35 Recipe: 22.04 Self Care: 28.35 Seasonal words: 35.04 What's on our Bookshelf: 39.55 Tasks: 45.08 Farewell: 47.54

Edited by: Adam Bailey Music Credit: Reiki Healing from Purple Planet Music ( https://www.purple-planet.com/home ) Podcast artwork: Karen Ingall Opening words: Sue reads "May" by Donna Ash worth Blossoming chat: Sue mentions a change in the blossoming time of trees associated with climate change here- you can read about that here: https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/why-are-blossoms-early Seasonal Living: Sue references to Lia Leendertz's The Almanac and found her Shakespeare quotes here: https://nosweatshakespeare.com/quotes/categories/flowers/ Recipe: The spring shakshuka recipe is based on a recipe from the BBC website; https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/green_baked_eggs_with_98845 Self-Care: You can read more about the benefits of microsdosing mindfulness here: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2502370-too-busy-to-meditate-microdosing-mindfulness-has-big-health-benefits/ . Sue discovered the idea of microdosing mindfulness at a retreat run by OptimumYou Yoga at Kelmash Hall: https://www.facebook.com/KelmarshHall/videos/ground-grow-%EF%B8%8F-last-friday-optimumyouyogastudio-hosted-a-wonderful-wellbeing-expe/2248353469236792/ Seasonal words: Sue reads from Chasing Fog by Laura Pashby and from the Substack account @MidnightCrumbs on romantisising April: https://open.substack.com/pub/midnightcrumbs/p/your-pocket-guide-to-a-gentle-joyful?r=36rfh7&utm_medium=ios What's On Our Bookshelf: Sue is reading Laura Pashby's Chasing Fog and has finished The BBQ are No 9 by Jennie Godfrey, a book she really enjoyed but recommends with a trigger warning for domestic violence, she'll be reading Katie Hodgett's Act, Rest Reset, Repeat when it's released in May. Emma recommends the BBC iplayer adaptation of The Other Bennett Sister, the Bhutanese film Lunana (A Yak in the Classroom), the Podcast Why Women Grow ( https://www.alicevincent.co.uk/podcasts ) and The Names by Florence Knapp (with a trigger warning for domestic violence). Tasks: Sue recommeds a task borrowed from Kelly Louise Marshall: https://open.substack.com/pub/kellylouisemarshall/p/five-days-of-noticing-joy?r=36rfh7&utm_medium=ios Sue shares a card from the Sensory Herbal oracle card pack. Timings: Opening words: 0.58 Blossom Chat: 2.10 Seasonal Living: 17.46 Recipes: 22.47 Self Care: 28.02 Seasonal words: 37.52 What's on our Bookshelf: 43.28 Tasks: 50.59 Blessings Card: 56.02 Farewell: 57.02

Edited by: Adam Bailey Music Credit: Reiki Healing from Purple Planet Music ( https://www.purple-planet.com/home ) Podcast artwork: Karen Ingall Opening words: Sue reads words from LR Knost Seasonal Living: Sue references to Lia Leendertz's The Almanac Recipes: The spiced Easter biscuits recipe is from Honeywell Bake's book, *Planet Friendly Baking*. You can find the recipe here: https://honeywellbakes.com/spiced-easter-biscuit-recipe/ Emma also suggests using leftover egg whites from the biscuit recipe to make Riverford's Rhubarb Meringue Pie: https://www.riverford.co.uk/recipes/rhubarb-meringue-pie and experimenting with a wild garlic houmous: https://www.farmersgirlkitchen.co.uk/wild-garlic-hummus-wild-garlic-pesto/ Seasonal words: Emma shares the opening words from Kenneth Graeme's *Wind in the Willows* and an extract from the collection *The English Landscape* collated by Kathleen Conyngham Greene, The Beech Trees in Spring by Richard Jefferies, What's On Our Bookshelf: Sue is reading *The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding* by Holly Ringland and loving her poetry book, *Finding Joy*, from Dervla Miscal. She is enjoying *Cacophony of Bone* by Kerri ní Dochartaigh and for some light relief watching Married at First Sight Australia. She has enjoyed a village screening of *Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy* and listening to The Plodcast with Mandy Stark and Ellie Williams. Emma recommends *You be Mother* by Meg Mason and Mary Oliver's essay collection *Upstream*. She is working her way through the books of Thich Nhat Hanh and has enjoyed watching the films *Philomena* and *Little Miss Sunshine*. Tasks: Emma suggests copying passages from Thich Nhat Hanh's book, "How to Love," as recommended in a newsletter from Beanie Robinson: https://thehealth-space.com Sue suggests participating in the Big River Watch initiative: https://earthwatch.org.uk/greatukwaterblitz . Sue shares a card from the Sensory Herbal oracle card pack. Timings: Opening words: 1.00 Emerge Chat: 2.56 Seasonal Living: 17.01 Recipes: 22.52 Self Care: 32.54 Seasonal words: 41.15 What's on our Bookshelf: 47.38 Tasks: 58.18 Blessings Card: 1.02.30 Farewell: 1.03.50

Edited by: Adam Bailey (huge thanks!) Music Credit: Reiki Healing from Purple Planet Music ( https://www.purple-planet.com/home ) Opening words: Sue reads A Light Exists in Spring, by Emily Dickinson In their awaken chat, Sue mentions the writing course she's doing with Beth Kempton ( dowhatyouloveforlife.com ) and a walking tour of Oxford she enjoyed with her boys run by Mystery Guides ( https://www.mysteryguides.co.uk/products/oxford ) You can read Emma's blog about her panchakarma detox here: https://www.breathe4good.co.uk/panchakarma Seasonal Living: Sue refers to Lia Leendertz's The Almanac Recipes: Banana oatmeal bars - you can find the recipe here: https://cookidoo.com.au/recipes/recipe/en-AU/r154151 Emma's detox tea recipe, to make 1l: Roughly chop a thumb size piece of ginger and add to a saucepan with a teaspoon of fennel seeds (and some corainder seeds if you like). Add your water and bring to the boil. Boil for 3-4 minutes and decant into a thermos to sip through the day. Seasonal words: Sue reads an article titled Slowly Does It from the spring issue of the National Trust Magazine (read it here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/services/media/rembrandt-slow-looking-tour ), and she shares a poem by Adam Maxwell Martin Winter Hasn't Finished With Us Yet What's On Our Bookshelf: Sue is reading Tin Man by Sarah Winman and enjoyed The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex. She's looking forward to reading The BBQ at No 9 by Jenny Godfrey and The Names by Florence Knapp. Emma recommends the book Connie by Charotte Duckworth, and Marianne Williamson's Midlife Awakening. She has been enjoying enneogram quizzes, as recommended on the Postcards from Midlife podcast and bingeing Bridgerton series 4. Sue shares a card from the Sensory Herbal pack of oracle cards. Timings: Opening words: 0.58 Awaken Chat: 2.08 Seasonal Living: 14.54 Self-Care: 17.44 Recipes: 21.58 Seasonal words: 28.40 What's on our Bookshelf: 32.30 Tasks: 38.26 Blessings Card: 42.33 Farewell: 43.36

Edited by: Dan Lange (thanks Dan, it was a toughie!) Music Credit: Reiki Healing from Purple Planet Music ( https://www.purple-planet.com/home ) Opening words: Sue reads Mindful by Mary Oliver In their gratitude chat, Sue mentions Beth Kempton ( dowhatyouloveforlife.com ) as an inspiration Wassailing - Emma mentions Kate Rusby's song Cornish Wassailing Recipes: Emma's carrot cake porridge recipe: Mix 1/4 cup oats, heaped tsp chia seeds, 1/4tsp mixed spice, grated zest of a clementine, a small carrot - grated, a small handful of raisins, a generous cup of plant milk (I like cashew or almond) in a small saucepan and warm gently on the hob. When the liquid is absorbed and porridge is nice and hot, transfer to a bowl and top with a handful of walnuts and some maple syrup if you like. Emma's warm smoothie recipe: Add to a food processor a cooked sweet potato, dried ginger, cinnamon, a scoop of protein powder, a small handful of almonds, some warm plant milk. Blitz until smooth then enjoy. Seasonal Living - Sue refers to Lia Leendertz's The Almanac Seasonal words - Emma reads David Whyte's words from his book Consolations, on gratitude, which she found on the website Grateful.org What's On Our Bookshelf - Sue is watching Top Gear and Friends series 2 and reading When God was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman. She is listening to Small Ways to Live Well ( https://www.buzzsprout.com/2280335/follow ). Emma recommends the books Godmersham Park by Gill Hornby and Circle of Grace by Jan Stevens. She has watched the film Train Dreams and listened to Bill Nighy's podcast Ill Advised. Tasks - You can download a copy of the intention setting template that Emma uses here: https://calmchristmas.substack.com/p/the-calm-christmas-planner and she mentions her Riverford veg box Sue shares a card from Pippa Best's Sea Soul Blessings pack of oracle cards. Timings: Opening words: 0.57 Gratitude chat:2.09 Seasonal Living:13.50 Recipes: 21.46 Self-Care:26.37 Seasonal words: 34.53 What's on our Bookshelf:41.25 Tasks: 46.52 Blessings Card: 51.49 Farewell:52.41

Edited by Dan Lange Music - Reiki Healing from Purple Planet Music: https://www.purple-planet.com/home Opening words: Sue reads Winter's Cloak by Joyce Rupp Seasonal Living - you can find more info on Twelfth Night here: https://www.countrylife.co.uk/out-and-about/twelfth-night-what-it-is-when-it-falls-and-why-its-the-biggest-celebration-we-no-longer-enjoy-251278/ https://www.discoverbritain.com/history/traditions/british-twelfth-night-traditions/ Seasonal Recipes: To make mulled apple - simply heat some good cloudy apple juice in a heavy bottomed pan with some mulling spices - cinnamon sticks, cardamon pods, star anise and cloves, for example. Nigel's Slater's new year's lentil soup recipe: 175g red lentils/ 3 tbsps oil/ 1 tsp yellow mustard seeds/ 1 tsp cumin seeds/ 8 cardamom pods/ 35g ginger/ 3 cloves garlic/ 1tsp turmeric powder/ 2 small chillies/ 1 tbsp tomato puree/ 250g chopped tomatoes/ 3 tsp tamarind pastes/ 750ml water/ 1/2tsp salt. Make a start by rinsing lentils thoroughly. Use a pestle and mortar to grind the cumin seeds and the seeds from the cardamon pods. In a food processor, blitz the ginger and garlic (both peeled) with the turmeric and chillies and ground spices, plus 1 tbsp of the oil to make a smooth paste. Add the remaining oil to a heavy based pan and fry the mustard seeds for a minute or two, then add the spice paste and cook for a further minute until fragrant/ Stir in the tomato puree and the chopped tomatoes and cook for a few minutes to allow the tomatoes to soften and collapse a little. Then add the drained lentils, tamarind paste, water and salt, bring to a simmer and allow to simmer gently for 25 minutes before serving (ideally with Nigel Slater's treacle and rye bread!) Seasonal Words: Sue read The Year's Midnight from Gillian Clarke ( https://x.com/PoetryBookSoc/status/815278176196763648 ) and Surrounded by Treasure from Donna Ashworth's Wild Hope. What's on our Bookshelf ? - Sue is reading: Chill by Mark Harper, The Almanac by Lia Leendertz, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and Seas The Day by Rachael Boughton. She mentions Twelve Poems, a poetry collection from Martin Jones based on the seasons at Old Rectory in Quinton (and available to buy from Emma!) She'll be watching the film The Voice of Hind Rajab. Emma recommended the film The Ballad of Wallace Island and podcasts From the Oasthouse (Steve Coogan) and Human Intelligence, presented by Naomi Alderman. Over the festive period she watched Riot Women on BBC iPlayer. The blessing card was drawn from Pippa Best's Sea Soul Blessings cards. Thanks to Sue’s friend Alison for bank holiday babysitting so we could record this episode! Timings: Opening Words -0.55/ Appreciate Chat - 3.30 / Seasonal Living - 15.45/ Recipes - 22.12/ Seasonal Words - 27.45 / Seasonal Self Care - 31.15 What's on Our Bookshelf - 34.47 /Tasks - 39.50/ Blessing - 43.17/ Goodbyes - 44.09

Edited by Dan Lange Music Credit: Purple Planet Music: Reiki Healing - https://www.purple-planet.com/home Opening words - Sue reads words from Adam Maxwell Martin Immerse chat: Sue had been meditating at her local Buddhist centre: https://meditateinnorthants.com and Emma attended an Aga cooking demo at Aga Oundle: https://www.agaliving.com/store-locator/aga-oundle Seasonal Living: The moment of winter solstice 2025 is 3.03pm on 21 December. Sue shares words from The Almanac 2026, by Lia Leendertz Recipes: To make fire honey, mix a small (225ml) jar of honey with the the finely chopped peel from a lemon and an orange, a c5cm chunk of ginger, grated, one finely chopped red chilli, a teaspoon of turmeric and a teaspoon of cinnamon. You'll need one teaspoon of fire honey in one cup of hot water for an immune boosting drink. You can find the recipes for frangipane mincemeat squares here: http://www.daffodilkitchen.com/christmas-frangipane-mincemeat-squares/ Self-Care: you can read more about Jolabokaflod here: https://jolabokaflod.org/about/founding-story/ Seasonal words - Emma shares Robert Frost's Dust of Snow and reads words from Nina McLaughlin's Winter Solstice essay collection What's on our Bookshelves: Sue is reading The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club by Faith Hogan and This Way Up by Jay Forman and Mark Cooper Jones and watching videos by Ed Pratt, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuNy42Y5egf07cSiHbF23wg . Emma is reading Nancy Mitford's Christmas Pudding and about to read Freya North's Christmas at Flora's House. She has been to see Nuremburg and was recently interviewed for the podcast Gathering Garden Ghosts, hosted by Melanie Hicks: https://open.substack.com/pub/melaniehick?r=1l6l79&utm_medium=ios This month's blessing card was drawn from Pippa Best's Sea Soul Blessings pack. Timings: Opening Words -0.55/ Immerse Chat - 01.58 / Seasonal Living - 15.56/ Recipes - 21.06/ Self-Care - 27.54/ Seasonal Words - 30.43 / What's on Our Bookshelf - 35.36 /Tasks - 42.10/ Blessing - 46.07/ Goodbyes - 46.57

Edited by Dan Lange Music Credit - Purple Planet - Reiki Healing Opening poem - Sue reads Winter Dark by Lilian Moore You can read more about the micro-season of winter in Vermont here: https://www.boston.com/culture/wickedpedia/2023/12/01/noah-kahan-stick-season-vermont/ Sue's Wrap around earphone headphone was bought from Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/d9aDfW3 In Lunar Living, Sue references star gazing apps - both Stellarium and Star Walk 2 are favourites of hers. She talks about St Lucia’s Day - you can read more about it here: https://www.britannica.com/topic/St-Lucias-Day . Sue shares some words about the Leonids meteor shower taken from Enchantment by Katherine May. You can find out more about the Leonids meteor shower here: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/leonid-meteor-shower-when-and-where-see-it-uk Harriet Powers story of stitching quilts can be found in Stitching Stars : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/851725.Stitching_Stars In the Recipe section, Emma mentions Jolabokaflod which we will talk about in our next episode. For a sneak preview check out this website: https://jolabokaflod.org/about/founding-story/ This month's Quincemeat recipe is taken from Winter in the Highlands by Flora Shedden. Ingredients: 1kg quince/ zest and juice of a lemon/ 500ml cider/ 350g light soft brown sugar/ 200g suet/ 200g raisins/ 100g golden raisins/ 200g sultanas/ 100g pitted prunes/ 100g dried apricots/ 100g dried mixed peel/ 75g flaked almonds/ 1/2tsp ground mixed spice/ 1/2tsp ground cinnamon/ 1/2 tsp ground ginger// 1/2 nutmeg finely grated / 100ml brandy// Method: 1. Sterilise jars 2. Put grated quince, lemon zest and juice, cider, sugar and suet into a large pan and cook over medium heat until simmering. 3. Add fruit and nuts and simmer gently for 15-20 mins until the fruit is swollen and the mixture thickened. 4. Take off the heat. Stir in the brandy then spoon into jars In Seasonal Self Care, Emma talks about her daily morning practice based around A Course in Miracles: https://acim.org/acim/en . Sue mentions her Mindfulness calendar - Wellbeing, Mindfulness, Creativity - Escape, Breathe and Make Time for Yourself . In Seasonal Words, Sue shares Nikita Gill's With Love from Midnight from her new poetry collection Wild Embers and an extract from The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater In What's on our Bookshelves, Emma is reading cookery books - A Little Bit Brilliant by Na Hansell, Winter in the Highlands from Flora Shedden and Lucy Brazier's Christmas at River Cottage. She's been listening to Jilly Cooper's Riders and has now moved onto Rivals. Emma's been to see the Bruce Springsteen biopic Rescue Me from Nowhere. Finally, she recommends Beth Kemptons's podcast Calm Christmas ( Sue has signed up for Beth Kempton's free midwinter writing retreat, which you can find out more about here : https://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/?add-to-cart=184064 ) Sue has been listening to The Examiner by Janice Hallett and talks about the Jackson Brodie series of books by Kate Atkinson. She's been dipping into her copy of 800 Years of Women’s Letters , edited by Olga Kenyon. Sue will be venturing out to her Village Cinema to watch Thursday Murder Club . Sue also mentions refreshing poetry in her local park. You can follow Sue's adventures in poetry via the instagram account @findpoetryinplaces Sue will be stocking up on dried fruit from at her local refill centre Market Harborough Eco Village. Sue will be making candles using beeswax obtained from Ali from Clipston Hives and Waxworks Our card pick is taken from Pippa Best's Sea Soul Blessings oracle pack To finish a reel on kindness https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOq25OjjY67/?igsh=cTJ0eWl5bG9vdmQ= You can follow the show and access bonus content on Substack: https://journeythroughtheseasons.substack.com - where you can also buy a subscription to help support the podcast, or you can buy us a coffee - at https://buymeacoffee.com/journeythroughtheseasons Timings: Embrace Chat: 0.58/ Lunar Living: 14.28/ Recipe: 21.49/ Self Care: 27.07/ Seasonal Words: 31.24/ What's on our Bookshelf: 34.20/ Tasks: 43.37/ Blessing: 48.50/ Close: 49.55

Edited by: Dan Lange Music: Reiki Healing from Purple Planet Opening Words: Sue reads from Anne of Green Gables , by LM Montgomery Podcast Developments: You can now follow the show and access bonus content on Substack: https://journeythroughtheseasons.substack.com - where you can also buy a subscription to help support the podcast, or you can buy us a coffee - at https://buymeacoffee.com/journeythroughtheseasons Seasonal Living: Sue and Emma discuss the Pagan festival of Samhain Recipes: Emma's Butternut Squash Galette is adapted from a recipe by Lazy Cat Kitchen: https://www.lazycatkitchen.com/vegan-pumpkin-galette/ and the mulled cider recipe is taken from BBC Good Foods: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/mulled-cider Self-Care: You can find information on Pratyahara and the breathwork practices Sue suggests at: https://ekotexyoga.co.uk/blogs/yoga/what-is-pratyahara https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/yoga/pranayama/ujjayi-breathing Seasonal Words: Sue reads Rainbow Bridge by Donna Ashworth and Emma shares an article by Katherine May from the beginning October issue of the Ocado Magazine, Indoorphins Boost What's on Our Bookshelf: This month, Sue recommends poetry books The Works by Pam Ayres, Loss by Donna Ashworth and a collection of poetry from Radio 4's Poetry Please. Sue is watching Married at First Sight and has plans to watch Put your Soul on your Hand and Walk and Emma Thompson's new film The Dead of Winter . Emma mentions The Appeal by Janice Hallett, ( Sue mentions The Twyford Code by the same author), Ian McEwan's What We Can Know , Netflix series' Mrs Biggs and The Escape Artist and the podcast Strangers on a Bench Card: Sue draws a card from the Sea Soul Blessings pack by Pippa Best: https://seasoulblessings.com Timings: Prepare Chat: 0.55/ Lunar Living: 16.43/ Recipe: 21.10/ Self Care: 27.56/ Seasonal Words: 35.32/ What's on our Bookshelf: 42.44/ Tasks: 50.00/ Blessing: 55.16/ Close: 56.28

Edited by Dan Lange. Music credit: Purple Planet Music - Ambient (https://www.purple-planet.com) Opening Words: by Peggy Toney Horton Sue shares tree wisdom from the book The Hidden Life of Trees by Fred Bernard and Peter Wohlleben Cyclical Living: Sue quotes from Lia Leendertz's The Almanac Self Care: You can do a mini-quiz to identify your Ayurvedic dosha at: https://www.pukkaherbs.com/uk/en/dosha-quiz . The Pukka Herbs website also has general info about Ayurveda. If you fancy booking an Ayurvedic massage with Sue's friend Kate, you can contact her via her website : www.samawithkate.co.uk Emma's favourite Apple and cinnamon cake recipe is from Fit Waffle Kitchen: https://fitwafflekitchen.com/cinnamon-apple-cake/ Seasonal words: Sue shares the poem Gift of Presence Mary Anne Byrne (Spirit of a Hippy) On Our Bookshelves: Emma recommends Life in the Garden by Penelope Lively, Our Evenings from Alan Hollinghurst and Lucy Steed's The Artist as well as the BBC series Mixtape . Sue recommends Sarah Winman's Still Life , Robert McFarlane's Is a River Alive and is considering re-reading Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui. She will be binge listening to the latest Richard Osman Thursday Murder Clib mystery The Impossible Fortune. At the end of the podcast, Sue shares a card from the Sea Soul Blessings Oracle card pack, from Pippa Best: https://seasoulblessings.com Enjoy our Podcast? We'd be so grateful for your support in leaving us a review, following the show, recommending it to your friends or helping with a small contribution towards our production costs at buymeacoffee.com/journeythroughtheseasons Timings: 16.49 - Cyclical Living/ 21.25 - Seasonal Self Care/ 27.00 - Recipe/ 33.39 - Seasonal Words/ 36.12 - What’s on our Bookshelf/ 41.08 - Seasonal Tasks/ 44.06 - Sea Soul Blessing

Edited by Dan Lange Music Credit: Purple Planet Music - Ambient ( https://www.purple-planet.com ) Sue opens the episode with the poem Blossom from Mary Oliver Sue quotes from the book A Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh and from Lia Leendertz The Almanac In cyclical living Sue talks about the Lyrid meteor showers which will peak on 22nd April which stem from Comet Thatcher. At the same time the Eta Aquarius linked to Halley’s Comet begin their run from April 20 and continue into May. Emma's recipes: Rhubarb vodka, based on the recipe from Sarah Raven , Hazelnut and roasted asparagus recipe based on a recipe from Delicious Magazine and she mentions the recipe book Planet Friendly Baking from Honeywell Bakes, kindly gifted to Sue and Emma by the author Rebecca Honeywell. Emma shares poems from: Ogden Nash's Always Marry an April Girl , April by Laurie Lee, The Swimmer in the Glass by Paul Henry from Ten poems about Swimming selected and introduced by Samantha Wynne and William Carlos Williams' This is Just to Say Sue's Self Care, includes information from Kim Vopni’s The Buff Muff Method Emma's flower press was sourced from These Two Hands Sue enjoyed a Soundbath led by Joanna Maroun at Optimum You yoga studio in Market Harborough Sue's Instagram account for her guerilla poetry initiative is @findpoetryinplaces Sue draws a card from Louise Hay's wisdom cards Timings: Cyclical living: 17.21/ Recipes: 22.29/ Self Care: 30.01/ Seasonal Words 40.53/ Monthly Tasks: 48.52/ Wisdom Card: 56.37

Edited by Dan Lange Music credit: Ambient from Purple Planet: https://www.purple-planet.com Sue opens the episode with some words from The Tempest by William Shakespeare Here's a link to Emma's spring jacket: https://www.thewhitecompany.com/row/Linen-Cropped-Jacket/p/A15190?swatch=Alabaster Cyclical Living: Sue quotes from The Almanac by Lia Leendertz Recipes: Cleavers tea, add approx 2 tbsp cleavers, thoroughly washed, to a mug, top with boiling water and allow to steep for 15 minutes before drinking Wild Garlic Pesto: Ingredients/ 100g wild garlic/ 50g parmesan/ vegan parmesan grated (although I omit this due to my cheese aversion)/50g nuts or seeds /Olive oil (rapeseed works too) – you’ll need about 150ml/ lemon juice, to taste/ salt and pepper Method/ Add the washed wild garlic leaves to a food processor and blitz until fairly well broken up/ Add the Parmesan, if using, and process further/ Add the nuts or seeds, blitz again/ Slow down the processor and add the oil until you reach your desired consistency/ Add salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste. Sue mentions foraging with respect inspired by reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Seasonal Words: Emma reads words from The Pocket Encyclopedia of Garden Phenomena, by Thomas Furly Forster taken from the anthology Spring, An Anthology for the Changing Seasons edited by Melissa Harrison , Today by Billy Collins, and Be Like the Bird by Victor Hugo. Emma's breakfast smoothie includes: Spinach, tahini, seeds, avocado, berries, banana and almond milk Sue mentions a new collagen supplement by Feel: https://wearefeel.com In the Tasks section Sue quotes from Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui Sue reads a Sea soul Blessing by Pippa Best, from a deck of cards that can be ordered online at https://seasoulblessings.com Our monthly Wisdom card is drawn from Louise Hays Wisdom cards, a deck of 64 positive affirmations. Timings 17.49 Cyclical living / 23.40 Recipes / 32.20 Seasonal Self Care / 41.41 Spring words / 47.20 Tasks / 53.58 Wisdom card

Editing by Dan Lange Music Credit: Ambient , by Purple Planet: https://www.purple-planet.com Sue opens the podcast with the poem This Moment by Eavan Boland from Earth Songs , edited by Peter Abbs Cyclical Living: Sue refers to The Almanac by Lia Leendertz in reference to Astroarcheology. More information about the major lunar standstill we are experiencing this year can be found on many websites including https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/918481-2024-2025-major-lunar-standstill/ Tea recipes: Emma's fennel tea recipe - For each person, add 1tsp fennel seeds and one cup of water to a large pan. Bring to the boil, simmer gently for 5 minutes then ladle into mugs. Treats recipe: Lemon, Thyme and Ginger Shortbread recipe (taken from Emma Mitchell's Making Winter ). Ingredients: 1. Shortbread - 200g butter, softened/ 95g golden caster sugar/ 200g plain flour/ 60g cornflour/ 35g polenta and 2. Filling - 3 eggs/ 4 large lemons juiced and zested/ 180g golden caster sugar/ 25g plain flour/ 1tbsp grated ginger/ 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves Method: 1. Line a square baking tray (25cm*25cam) with baking parchment and heat oven to 180 degrees (fan) 2. Make the shortbread by beating together the butter and sugar then adding the remaining ingredients and mixing to a coherent dough. Press the shirtbread into the tin, leaving a lip around the edge to capture the filling which will be added later. 3. Pop into the oven for 15 mins until golden. 4. Meanwhile, beat the eggs and lemon juice in a small bowl. In a separate larger bowl, mix the lemon zest, sugar and flour then pour in the egg mixture, stirring continuously. Add the ginger and half the thyme and mix on gently. 4. Pour the mix into the shortbread tin, pop back into your warmed oven and bake for 15 minutes or so until lightly set. 5. Remove from oven, sprinkle over remaining thyme leaves and cut into squares. Springtime words; Sue shares The Moon by Sappho/ The Fawn (After Mary Oliver’s Wild Geese) by Nikita Gill/ The Waking by Theodore Roethke taken from Poems for Every Day of the Year edited by Karen McCosker & Nicholas Albery Self Care: Emma talks about the Ayurvedic practice of Abhyanga. You can read more about it here: https://www.ayurvedainstitute.co.uk/abhyanga-massage-for-each-dosha/ Competition: To enter this month's competition, please leave us a review on whatever platform you listen to the podcast. One entry per review, and the winner will be announced in next month's podcast! Cyclical Living - 8.30/ Recipes - 15.30/ Spring Words - 22.20/ Self Care - 26.29/ Tasks - 31.48/ 35.55 - Wisdom card/ 37.00 - Competition

Edited by Dan Lange Music Credit Purple Planet (Reiki Healing) Opening Poem: Sue reads Joy Chose You by Donna Ashworth from her Wild Hope collection Sue is making candles using this kit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0D8J6CTP2?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title Emma talks about Wassailing - you can find our more about the tradition here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/whats-on/join-in-with-the-annual-wassail Emma and Sue have loved listening to Kate's Rusby's Cornish Wassailling this January: https://open.spotify.com/track/0nCKoUiUAveyAJOy1t1ecB Lunar Living: Sue's moon wisdom is taken from Enchantment by Katherine May and Moonology by Yasmin Boland Recipes: Spiced apple (Wassail punch) - warm 1.5 litres of apple juice in a heavy based pan with a selection of warming spices (cinnamon sticks, cloves, peppercorns, cardamom pods, star anise...) and orange slices. Add a dash of liqueur if you like, and some sugar if needed. Serve in mugs and be sure to share some of your punch with the trees. Recipes: Twelfth Night Cake (serves 8, recipe taken from Lucy Brazier's A River Cottage Christmas ) - Ingredients - 150g unsalted butter, softened/ 150g caster sugar/ 1 orange zested and juiced/ 3 medium eggs/ 50g plain flour/ 200g ground almonds/ 150ml plain yoghurt Method - 1) Grease and line a 20cm round baking tin and put the oven on to warm at 160 degrees fan (180 degrees for non-fan oven) 2) Cream the butter and sugar (use electric mixer/ food processor) 3) add the orange zest, one egg and tablespoon of flour, mix. Then repeat with the other two eggs 4) add any remaining flour and the ground almonds and mix, gently 5) finally, fold in the orange juice and yoghurt 6) add the mix to the prepared tin and put in the oven for 25 mins or so until baked through 7) leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack 8) dust with icing sugar to serve, if you like Wintery Words: Sue reads extracts from Incandescence by Ted Walter, Night by John Haines and Dawn by Andrea Hollander Budy, all taken from the Earth Songs anthology Peter Abbs, and Dusk by Peter Meighan. Sue learnt about the three phases of dawn and dusk from the book The Outrun by Amy Liptrot. Poetry Task: Try Sue's poetry task by starting the day with a poem from A Poem for Every Winter's Day by Allie Esiri or later in the day try the Poems for A Winter Afternoon collection, edited by Peter Meighan Bulb task: Here's a link for those seeking snowdrops: https://www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk/seasonal/snowdrops.html Intention setting task: Emma downloaded her intention setting template from Beth Kempton's website: https://bethkempton.com/calmchristmas/templates/ Imbolc: you can read more about Imbolc here: https://glastonburyinformationcentre.co.uk/2024/01/29/what-is-imbolc/ Sue draws a card from Louise Hay's Wisdom Cards pack Podcast Timings: Lunar living 12.15/ Recipes 15.55/ Wintery Words 23.58/ Breathwork 28.45/ Tasks 36.15 / Wisdom Card 45.28

Show Notes: Editing by Dan Lange Music Credits: Purple Planet ( Reiki Healing ) Opening Poem: Sue reads the poem Good Hours by Robert Frost Sue is immersing herself in a Wintry Writing Retreat with Beth Kempton. You can sign up at https://dowhatyouloveforlife.com and she mentions reading The Almanac by Lia Leendertz Lunar Living - Sue quotes from Yasmin Boland's Moonology ( https://www.yasminboland.com ) Emma's Solstice Cacao Recipe - Per person, add: 1 cup of milk of your choice, 1 desert spoon of cacao powder and a pinch of your spices of choice (ginger/ cinnamon/ nutmeg for eg), plus a couple of cardamon pods and a star anise (you could add peppercorns and chilli flakes too if you like!) to a heavy bottomed pan. Heat to high temperature just short of boiling and allow to simmer, stirring occasionally for 15 mins or so by which stage you should have a beautifully blended festive cacao. Emma's Vegan Sausage roll recipe: Ingredients - 1 sheet pre-rolled jus-roll vegan puff pastry /1/3 pack Merchant Gourmet Glorious Grains/ ½ pack Merchant Gourmet vacuum packed chestnuts/ a large onion/ 2 cloves garlic/ Celeriac – about 1.5 * the quantity of onion/ 100g of mushrooms/ 30g pine nuts/ Thyme, rosemary and sage/ A tablespoon (or more) of quince/ redcurrant jelly/ Hoi-sin sauce/ Oil for frying/ A beaten egg (if eggs ok for consumer), or plant milk, to glaze. Method: 1. Begin by toasting the pine nuts in a dry frying pan for 2-3 minutes. Set them aside for later/ 2. Chop the onion, garlic, celeriac and mushrooms into very small pieces/ 3. Blitz the chestnuts very briefly in a food processor (or crumble very finely)/ 4. Chop the herbs finely/ 5. Heat your oil and add the onions and celeriac to the pan, fry gently for at least 15 minutes until both have softened./ 6. Add garlic, mushrooms and chopped herbs and continue to fry gently for a further 5 minutes or so, then add the crumbled chestnuts for 1 minute or so/ 7. Take the pan off the heat, stir in the grains, along with the pine nuts and jelly. Mix well to combine and season to taste/ 8. Divide your pastry sheet in two, lengthways/ 9. Spread the long edge of each rectangle with hoi-sin sauce / 10. About 1 cm in from the edge of the longside each rectangle, make a long “sausage” with your filling/ 11. Brush the 1cm edge with plant milk and fold over the pastry so the two long sides meet. Press the seam well/ 12. Cut the long rectangles into 12 (or so) pieces)/13. With a sharp knife, slash the tops of the rolls a couple of times, then brush the tops with egg/ plant milk/ 14. Pop on a lined baking sheet and cook in a pre-heated hot (220c) oven for about 20 minutes (keep an eye on them) until golden. Sue's Poetry Meditation is based on the poem Slip into Sleep by Mandy Coe Wintry Words are taken from Mary Oliver's essay Winter Hours from her book of the same name Festive Baking - Emma recommends frangipane and mincemeat squares: baking http://www.daffodilkitchen.com/christmas-frangipane-mincemeat-squares/recipes , festive tiffin: https://www.toa.st/blogs/magazine/christmas-at-river-cottage-with-lucy-brazier and recipes from Nigel Slater's Christmas Chronicles Candle meditation - Sue recommends https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OlrWyI0iSUo Winter Solstice yoga Nidra meditation - Sue recommends https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MrGQUwHeFR0 Sue picks a card from Louise Hay's Wisdom Cards Timings: 7.58 - Lunar Living/ 12.50 - Recipes/ 20.56 - Poetry Meditation/ 25.42 - Wintry Words/ 28.50 - This month's tasks/ 37.12 - Wisdom Card

In November’s podcast episode, Emma and Sue share some of the ways that they are embracing the arrival of winter, and offer seasonal inspiration and some gentle tasks to help you to connect more deeply with November

In their first full length podcast episode, Emma and Sue share some of the ways that they are preparing for the winter months, along with plenty of seasonal inspiration, and tasks to help you to begin your own journey through winter

Sue and Emma talk about what to expect from their monthly podcast series - and what encouraged them to start embark on their podcast journey. As Sue and Emma share some of their winter loves, get to know your hosts in this short but sweet trailer episode