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 October

Editorial

To the woods! • INSPIRED BY SCOUTING TRADITIONS, HEAD FOR YOUR NEAREST FOREST TO SHARE SNACKS, PLAY GAMES, FORAGE AND ENJOY BIG TREES AT THEIR MOST BEAUTIFUL

SEE GOLDFINCH EXTRACT TINY SEEDS FROM TEASELS • A timely reminder to stop, look and be amazed by the tiniest of things

How hard can it be… TO SKILL SHARE? • TIME IS MONEY, OR SO THE SAYING GOES. BUT WHAT IF, RATHER THAN MONEY, WE SWAP OUR TALENTS AND KNOWLEDGE INSTEAD? ELEANOR TUCKER TRIES TRADING HER COPYWRITING EXPERIENCE IN RETURN FOR A NEW SKILL… OR THREE

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • No dunking of heads in barrels necessary to enjoy your share of apples

My day in cups of tea • We sit down with artist Morag Myserscough to chat clowns, cuppas and her incredibly colourful installations

Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF AUTUMN MOTHS

PAUSE • Take a moment with some well-chosen words

CHARLESTON • SOUL FOOD AND HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE MEET CYPRESS SWAMP AND THE SEA IN THIS UNIQUE SOUTHERN US CITY

COULD-DO CHARLESTON • Kim's favourite places in the city

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love COLOURFUL TIGHTS

The honesty box • THROUGH HER OWN TINY BEACON OF TRUST AND GENEROSITY, LUCY BRAZIER AIMS TO HONOUR SEASONAL JOYS AND SIGNIFICANT DATES. WE JOIN HER AS SHE SAVOURS NATURE'S AUTUMN DISPLAY OF MUNIFICENCE

The autumn kitchen • RACHEL DE THAMPLE MAKES THE MOST OF PLENTIFUL VENISON AND HARVEST VEG WITH COMFORTING MEALS FOR THE WEEK – AND TO FILL YOUR PANTRY AND FREEZER, TOO

Letting go • JUST AS IN NATURE, SOMETIMES WE NEED TO RELEASE AND SHED IN ORDER NEED TO RELEASE AND SHED IN ORDER TO GROW AND BECOME STRONGER

“Like seedlings, children grow in their own unique way and will experience individual difficulties. Each child is different” • Award-winning teacher, author and MBE, Andria Zafirakou, believes that the arts can help nurture even the most challenging of pupils and change the course of their lives in education

A CLASS ACT • Andria's lessons for life

Good things • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

LOOK UP! • GAZING AT THE STARS, A CANOPY OF LEAVES OR THE LOFTY HEIGHTS OF A CATHEDRAL CAN OPEN OUR EYES TO NEW WAYS OF THINKING

IN PRAISE OF… • PEEK INTO A CHURCH PEW AND YOU MIGHT FIND SOME OF BRITAIN'S MOST IDIOSYNCRATIC FOLK ART: THE CHURCH KNEELER

WHAT I TREASURE • My cottage cup

A golden opportunity • VIVID COLOURS, LUMINOUS SUNSETS, A CLARITY TO THE LIGHT… THE SCIENCE OF AUTUMN HELPS CREATE A VISUAL SPECTACULAR THAT'S ALWAYS WORTHY OF OUR APPRECIATION

MODERN ECCENTRICS • The skate longboarders

GATHER, GROW & GIFT • SAVE THEN MAKE WITH THESE THRIFTY SEED IDEAS THAT ARE SATISFYING PROJECTS NOW BUT WILL REALLY COME INTO BLOOM NEXT YEAR

Once upon some times • THEY'RE SOME OF THE EARLIEST STORIES WE EVER HEAR, BUT FAIRY TALES SUCH AS LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD AND SLEEPING BEAUTY HAVE HISTORIES THAT ARE FAR FROM CHILD'S PLAY. WE OPEN OUR BOOKS TO FIND OUT MORE

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

BERMONDSEY, LONDON MY NEIGHBOURHOOD • JO WILLIAMS' HOME IS BOTH BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED AND WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE – NOT TO MENTION A STONE'S THROW FROM SOME...