🌻Our Little Friday Letter (Friday 8th August 2025)

A weekly catch-up from Our Little House in the Country

🌞 A Warm Welcome

Hello friends,

How are you this week? I hope August has been kind to you so far. It’s been a funny in-between kind of week here — not quite full-on summer, not quite the start of autumn either — and yet the days keep moving on, steady as ever.

Here at Our Little House in the Country, I’ve been leaning into rhythm. Not perfect routines or elaborate systems — just those small daily habits that quietly keep things ticking over. The washing gets done (eventually), meals get made (sometimes last minute), and the dishwasher gets emptied again and again. Nothing fancy. Just the little things that help a home to run.

That’s our theme this week — the invisible, often underappreciated tasks that keep the wheels turning. I wrote a new blog post all about the five simple things I do every day to help our home feel calm and functional, even on the messiest, most chaotic days. It’s not a checklist — just a gentle look at what works for us, and maybe a reminder that the little things really do add up.

I’m so glad you’re here for this week’s little letter — grab a cup of tea and come catch up.

🏡 From Our Little House

It’s been a funny kind of week here at Our Little House — one of those in-between weeks where everything feels a little bit… liminal. A bank holiday on Monday threw me off completely (does anyone else lose all track of time when that happens?). The days have felt both slow and full, and I’ve had one foot in summer mode and the other starting to inch toward the new school year.

We’ve had such a long, lovely stretch of summer since the end of May when my two teens finished school, and it’s been a joy to let the days unfold gently. But now, with only two weeks to go until they’re back in the classroom, I can feel myself beginning to crave a little more structure again. Not rigid routines — that’s never really been my thing — but a softer sense of rhythm to anchor our days. I’m not quite ready to let go of summer just yet, but I can feel the shift beginning.

The weather’s played its part too — wild and windy since the start of the week, thanks to the tail-end of a storm. It’s been warm, not cold, but there’s a definite change in the air. The light is less intense now, a little more silvery, and the evenings are darker — properly dark by 10pm — which always surprises me after those long midsummer days where the sky stayed bright for hours.

We’ve been soaking up the quieter days in our own way: local walks, beach breezes, bits of pottering around the house. I’ve been busy behind the scenes on the blog — planning content for the rest of the year and drafting posts for autumn and winter. I’ve also been working away on my candle-making setup. I’ve ordered supplies, settled on some scents, and carved out a little nook in the utility room that’s now doubling as a candle studio. It feels exciting — like a new season is beginning to take shape, slowly.

Evenings have been cosier indoors this week, thanks to the wind. We’ve been watching The Summer I Turned Pretty (my daughter just finished the books, so we’re all in now!) and Clarkson’s Farm, which has become a surprising hit for the whole family. Funny, heartwarming, and eye-opening — it’s been lovely to watch something together and end the day with a few laughs.

It hasn’t been the most exciting week. But it’s been a real one. And that, I think, is enough.

✍️ On the Blog This Week

This week on the blog, I shared one of those quietly useful posts that really reflects how I try to move through my days:
Five Things I Do Every Day to Keep the House Ticking Over.

These aren’t big deep-cleans or perfect Pinterest-worthy routines — just five real-life, doable things I try to keep up with (even when life is chaotic) to help our home feel calm, functional, and a little more settled.

Think of them as small anchors — the kind of gentle habits that support the people and rhythm of a home without adding stress. I kept the tone honest and realistic — this isn’t about having it all together, just about noticing what works, most of the time, in the ebb and flow of ordinary family life.

Whether you’re still in summer mode, gently preparing for back-to-school, or somewhere in between, I hope it sparks a little thought about the rhythms that work best for you.

→ Read the blog post here

🌿 What’s Coming Up on the Blog

It’s been a quiet enough week on the blog with just one new post — partly because my co-writer (aka my teenage daughter) has been off enjoying herself at the Dublin Horse Show! So the next Equestrian Life update is on pause for now, but there’s plenty coming soon…

Here’s a little peek at what’s on the way:

🍂 How We Create Calm in the Chaos (and Bring a Little Wonder Back to the Everyday)
💫 Five Intentions I’m Carrying into Autumn for a Healthier Mind, Body & Soul
🐴 Equestrian Life: Our Days at the RDS Dublin Horse Show
🗓 Slow & Intentional September: Free Printable Calendar of Ideas

I’m really excited to share these upcoming posts — each one reflects that gentle turning of the season, and the way we try to move through it with care and intention.

🧺 Theme of the Week: The Little Things That Keep a Home Running

This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it really means to keep a home ticking over. Not in a Pinterest-perfect way — not spotless floors or matching baskets — but in the quiet, lived-in, comforting sense of the word.

Because the truth is, homemaking isn’t about creating a showroom. Most of us are juggling busy households, work, tired brains, teenage dramas, school prep, and the ever-growing laundry pile. So the idea of “keeping house” has to evolve — it has to meet us where we actually are.

For me, it’s not about elaborate routines or perfectly timed systems. It’s about rhythms — gentle, real-life habits that make the days flow a little more easily. Habits that help the house to work with me, not against me.

Here are five little things I try to do most days:

Start a load of laundry (often the night before)
I usually run the wash on our night-saver plan and hang it out first thing. It stops the pile from becoming overwhelming — and feels like a small win early in the day.
Reset the kitchen at night
I clear the counters, load the dishwasher, and set it to run overnight. Waking up to a clean kitchen makes the morning feel just a bit more manageable.
Tidy the living room before bed
It takes just a few minutes to fluff the cushions, fold the blankets, and reset the space. But it makes such a difference the next evening when we all pile in to watch TV.
Open the windows in the morning
Even just for a few minutes — fresh air transforms a room. It clears the air and my head.
Quick bathroom reset
Wipe the sink, straighten the towels, restock the toilet roll. It’s nothing fancy, but it keeps the bathroom feeling clean and calm.

These habits aren’t glamorous. They’re not revolutionary. They don’t always happen. But when they do, they soften the edges of the day. They make the house feel like it’s gently ticking over — not demanding attention, not falling apart.

Of course, there are other little things that help too — fresh flowers from the garden or Aldi, lighting a candle before dinner, tidying the hallway while the kettle boils. They’re small comforts. Rituals. Anchors. And together, they create a space that feels lived-in, loved, and just manageable enough.

I shared more in this week’s blog post — Five Things I Do Every Day to Keep the House Ticking Over — and it came from a real place. Not a curated one. These are the things that make our home feel like home, even in the midst of chaos.

Because your home doesn’t need to be spotless or Instagram-worthy. It just needs to work for you — to reflect the people who live there, to be a space that feels good to come back to.

So maybe this week, just notice what’s already working in your own home. What little things are keeping the wheels turning quietly in the background — and how can you honour them as enough?

🌸 This Week on Instagram

It’s been a quieter kind of week over on Instagram — just a few little shares here and there, and that’s felt about right.

I posted a sunrise photo on Wednesday morning that stopped me in my tracks. I’d just dropped my daughter to the train station at 6:30am and couldn’t resist pulling in at the beach to take it in. The sea was calm, the sky golden — one of those fleeting, grounding moments that reminds you to breathe.

I’ve also been sharing a few Slow August prompts here and there — though not every day. And that’s something I want to say out loud: when I create these prompt calendars, they’re never meant to be rigid checklists. I use them as a gentle guide, a menu of seasonal ideas — and I don’t expect anyone (myself included!) to do every single one. Some days I live them quietly without taking a photo, and some days I skip them altogether. That’s life. That’s slow living.

And finally, something a little bit surreal happened this week: our little corner of the internet passed 10,000 followers. I shared a small post yesterday called 10,000 Thank Yous — and truly, I meant every word. I never expected such growth this summer, and I’m still a little floored that what I share resonates with so many of you.

So whether you’ve been following along for years or you’re brand new, thank you. For every like, comment, message, tag, share, recipe saved, printable downloaded — thank you. This community means so much more to me than numbers ever could, and I’m so grateful you’re here.

You can find me on Instagram @ourlittlehouseinthecountry, where I’ll be continuing to share little moments, everyday magic, and the messy, beautiful rhythm of family life in the Irish countryside.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ciara Winters | Our Little House in the Country (@ourlittlehouseinthecountry)

🗂 From the Archives

As we explore the small rhythms that help keep a home running, I thought it would be fitting to revisit a post that’s about creating space in the everyday — without adding stress.

30 Gentle Habits That Create More Time to Slow Down is all about the little rituals that help life feel calmer and more manageable, even when things are busy. From wiping the mirror while waiting for the shower to laying out your outfit the night before, these habits are meant to be gentle — not perfect — and incredibly grounding.

I’m sharing it this week because it beautifully complements our theme: it’s all about noticing the small, simple actions we can weave into our day that keep everything moving more softly.

→ Read the post here

🌐 Things I’ve Loved from Around the Web

If you’re looking for delicious recipes, clever kitchen tips, or a warm dose of home-cooking inspiration, here are four of my favourite Irish food creators — each one sharing food, home, and simple joys in the most deliciously real way:

🍳 Suz O’Sullivan @suzyosull
Suz shares family-friendly recipes, easy food ideas, and warm tips that make me want to sink into the kitchen straight away. Her reels are always practical and inspiring — a perfect place to stop scrolling and start cooking. She brings fun, flavour, and a real-life kitchen vibe to Instagram.

🥘 Hannah Hamilton @hannahs_foodiestuff
Hannah creates clever, budget-savvy recipes that still feel hearty and good. From rescued roast potatoes to innovative salads, her reels are both inventive and grounded — just the kind of inspiration I love for real weeknight meals.

🪴 Sarah Butler @sarahbutlerathomeofficial
Sarah’s food styling and recipes bring the kind of home-cooking warmth I wish I could bottle. She blends beautiful photography with everyday fare — comforting yet elevated.

🍞 Nessa Robins @nessarobins
Nessa shares wholesome, heartfelt recipes rooted in home and family life. From nourishing meals to timeless bakes, her food feels like a big comforting hug — and her words often carry just as much warmth as her kitchen creations.

These four brilliant women remind me that food isn’t just about sustenance — it’s about connection, creativity, and the little rituals that tie our days together. Give them a follow if you’re not already!

🌟 P.S. — Each week, I share creators, bloggers, YouTubers, books, podcasts, and other lovely discoveries that align with the slow, seasonal, and intentional living we talk about here. If you think your work might be a good fit, or you know someone whose content deserves a little spotlight, don’t hesitate to reach out — I love to feature fellow creatives.

And if you’re new here, don’t forget to browse the newsletter archives for more brilliant creators I’ve shared in past weeks — from kids’ activities and upcycling projects to beautiful musings on motherhood, finances, homemaking, and everyday life.

🌿 Follow Along

If you’d like to keep in touch between letters, you’ll find me most days over on Instagram — sharing gentle reminders, snippets of everyday life, and chats over coffee in Stories.

Here’s where else you can find me:

📷 Instagram
📝 Substack
📌 Pinterest
🏡 Blog

💬 Share Your Thoughts

If there’s something you’d love to see in a future newsletter, blog post, or printable, or if you just want to say hello — I’d truly love to hear from you.

You can reach me any time by:

📩 Filling out the contact form
✉️ Emailing me at ourlittlehouseinthecountry@gmail.com
💬 Sending a DM over on Instagram

Comments on the blog or Instagram are always welcome too. I read every single one.

💌 Until Next Time

Thank you so much for being here and for reading this week’s little letter from our house in the country. I hope you’ve found a few gentle ideas, reflections, or reminders to carry with you into the weekend.

Wishing you a restful, light-filled few days ahead — may they be full of good meals, small wins, and moments that feel like home.

As always, I’m so glad to have you here, especially as we begin to turn slowly toward the new season. In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more autumn content — from slow and intentional living to cosy homemaking, nourishing food, and seasonal shifts in everyday family life.

But for now, let’s hold onto these soft, golden days of late summer just a little longer.

Until next Friday,
Ciara x

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– Here’s Your Slow August Calendar

📆 August Free Printable
I’m resharing our Slow August printable. It’s a gentle calendar with one small prompt for each day — little nudges toward slowing down, being present, and bringing intention into the everyday. There’s also a bonus journaling page included if you’d like to reflect as you go.

This isn’t a challenge — just a quiet offering. A way to bring a little calm to your days.
→download the printable here