It’s now distinctly autumnal and our family thourghts automatically turn to preparing for winter – we have set rituals which somehow seem to still be relevant – only in our household mind you.   At the very end of October we always have the swapping over of curtains, bedding and towels.  I’m not sure if my own family started this tradition or whether previous grandmother’s had this in full sway.  We have two large trunks up in the attic – they contain the pale cream and pastel summer weight items during the winter and in October these come down and we take out the darker hued set — for some reason it always seems appropriate to change the bedding from cream to blue, green or red patterned bedding, each set with co-ordinating curtains and towels.  It brings a comforting reassurance that whatever else is going on around us in the world,  our family stability and routine continues in safe hands.   We sew and knit much more during the quieter winter months too.  It’s another joy to decide what the new project is going to be for this year . . .