I’m late to the party, but I’ve just started the sourdough-making journey. And it’s not going well. I bought all the kit – Weck jars, bread proofing baskets and those special little cotton shower caps to protect my burgeoning starter. Only the starter is not burgeoning. It’s barely got the bubble of a flat glass of Champagne. And it smells. But maybe it’s supposed to?
Still, I’ve been encouraged by those in the know to soldier on and keep feeding my needy (certainly not yet kneady!) sourdough starter. And to think this is only the beginning – I’ve been reading up on all the baking techniques: the stretch-and-fold, cold-proofing, etc. It does all seem a bit of a faff, but I’m determined to yield a loaf. I’ll report back next month on the progress.
“I light candles most evenings in autumn and winter. Not the scented kind, but coloured dinner candles….”
Elle Lovelock
Light your candles, that’s what they’re for
I light candles most evenings in autumn and winter. Not the scented kind, but coloured dinner candles. I like a single one on the kitchen benchtop so I can romanticise my dinner prep, and then a pair of them on the dining table to make even the simplest meal of beans on toast feel elevated. Plus, it’s one of the easiest, fastest and most economical ways to change the feel of your decor to suit the time of year. In the evenings, I have deep aubergine-coloured candles to pick up the warm purple-y hues in the early autumn hydrangeas I’m attempting to dry and preserve.
But I also like to light candles in the morning on weekends, and butter yellow ticks that box. There are no rules that say pastels are only for the warmer months. Light what you like.
Another one for lighting candles is the inimitable Neale Whitaker, whom I recently chatted with on The Edit podcast about all things styling, art and how rituals such as lighting candles make for a truly beautiful home.
Listen to Neale Whitaker on The Edit podcast:
The quest for perfect dining furniture
June is when peak dinner party season begins for me. I love the cosiness of being huddled around a table, sharing a meal with loved ones. And on the topic of tables, size, shape and the number of chairs is important. Typically, you can fit more people at a round or oval table without anyone hanging off the edge. That said, my own table is rectangular, but I love that it extends to seat 12, offering versatility. To make people feel comfortable, I make it a rule to take away any unneeded chairs. For example, if you have a six-seater table but four people dining, take two chairs away. It will give everyone more room and
an empty seat can feel a bit sad. I have one exception to this rule: if you’re setting a table for two, there’s no need to remove the extra chairs. Instead, create symmetry by seating yourselves opposite each other at the centre of the table, leaving the remaining chairs in place. You can also create a more intimate atmosphere if you lay a tablecloth lengthways down the middle to define the space.
Shopaholic? Me?
I’ve bought another handbag. I couldn’t resist. And it’s Scottish, just like my husband, so in a way it’s an homage to him. (He rolled his eyes at that justification.) The brand is Strathberry, and alongside the French Polène, English DeMellier, and our own iconic Oroton, it’s a part of
a renaissance of gorgeous, premium handbags that don’t come with five-figure price tags. Don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of luxury as much as the next girl, but I love even more that the exact same quality, style and, in my opinion prestige, is also available at a more palatable access point.
I chose the ‘Mosaic’ bag in Oxblood. Crossbody, top-handle and roomy without being bulky, she works for every occasion.
And I’m obsessed.
Shop The Edit: From Elle
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