Our Little Friday Letter (Friday, 21st November, 2025)
A weekly catch-up from Our Little House in the Country
🌿 Warm Welcome
Hello and happy Friday, friends.
I am so glad that you’re here again today. I hope your week has been a gentle one — or at least that there has been one small pocket of calm tucked somewhere inside it. Thank you, as always, for taking a few moments out of your day to sit with this little letter. Maybe pour yourself a lovely warm cup of something and settle somewhere cozy as we catch up.
🏡 From Our Little House
Well friends… our little house is still in disarray.
Last week I told you we had to completely empty the attic so it could be prepared for insulation. Well, it’s still empty, the old insulation has been removed, everything has been sprayed for woodworm, and now — just to make things that little bit more interesting — we’re going through an icy cold spell. The house isn’t freezing, but let’s just say the fire is working overtime and is being treated like a beloved elderly relative who must be tended to at all times.
There are still boxes everywhere… but honestly? It could be so much worse. If I hadn’t done that massive attic clear-out back in January, this would be an entirely different story.
And because the boxes of Christmas decorations have been sitting there staring at us for about ten days, we finally caved. Out came the tartan throws, the fleecy blankets, the red and white cushions — and suddenly the living room is feeling wonderfully cozy and festive. Yesterday we took out all of our Christmas pottery and glassware which, as you know, creates a domino effect: to put something out, something else has to go away. So it’s been a bit of subtle decorating, a bit of clearing, a bit of rearranging… and a lot of joy.
Today (yes — it’s Wednesday! I actually got this written early for once!) I’ve been clearing surfaces, tucking away anything we won’t need for the next six weeks, and swapping everyday dishes for Christmas ones. I hate layering clutter on clutter, so being able to “swap like for like” feels very satisfying.
Our favourite little Christmas village is out too — technically it’s my daughter’s Christmas village — and tonight we’ll figure out where it wants to live on the bookshelves. I love this stage of the season: the slow, gentle beginning. No pressure, just enjoyment.
It’s been a busy week all round. My eldest is on TY placement and absolutely loving it — they’re in my old school, working in a classroom, doing coding, guitar, comic strips, all sorts. It’s been lovely watching them enjoy it so much.
As for me, I feel like I’ve spent most of the week in the car, or running from one thing to the next. It’s all been good — genuinely good — but I won’t lie, I’m hoping for a quieter week soon.
All in all… we’re getting there. The house will be warm again soon. The attic will be finished. And little by little, Christmas is finding its way in.
✨ Theme of the Week — Permission to Take It Slowly
As we move deeper into November, there’s this quiet turning inward that seems to happen almost naturally. The light fades earlier, the temperature drops, and suddenly our bodies are whispering things like:
“Slow down a little.”
“Do you really need to rush?”
“Take a breath.”
This week, the theme that keeps returning to me is permission to take it slowly.
Not everything needs to be done immediately. Not every moment needs to be productive. And not every day needs to be busy or full.
When we loosen our grip a little, we make room for the small, unexpected joys: a spontaneous chat with someone we love… an idea that pops into our head when we finally sit down… a moment of clarity that arrives only when we pause long enough to hear it.
Slowness isn’t unproductive — it’s where creativity, connection, and peace tend to grow.
So if you need permission this week to do a little less… let this be it.
📝 On the Blog This Week: The Beauty of Doing Less
This week’s blog post was The Beauty of Doing Less.
It’s a short, gentle reminder that slowing down isn’t just a nice idea — it’s deeply valuable.
When we do less, we create space for:
• creativity
• meaningful connection
• spontaneity
• rest and pleasure
• noticing what’s right in front of us
It ties in with Episode 2 of Seasonal Notes, where I talk about why “doing less” can make December feel richer, calmer, and more joyful.
I’ll pop the link in here in the published version so you can have a little read or listen if you like.
Blog post: https://ourlittlehouseinthecountry.com/2025/11/18/the-beauty-of-doing-less/
Podcast: https://ourlittlehouseinthecountry.com/podcast/
🎄 Coming Up on the Blog Next Week
Next Tuesday, the 25th of November, my newest seasonal calendar goes live:
31 Days to Slow Down & Savour December
An Advent-and-Beyond Calendar
I absolutely loved creating this one. If you listened to the podcast, you’ll know the inspiration came from something we did as a family last year — creating our own Advent calendar full of experiences instead of things.
Simple, joyful, inexpensive moments like:
- movie nights
- hot chocolate drives
- Christmas walks
- a candlelight feast
- baking nights
- cosy at-home traditions
I took the heart of that idea and turned it into a gentle December calendar that runs from December 1st to New Year’s Eve.
It’s not a to-do list.
It’s not a bucket list.
It’s simply a list of possibilities — ways you might slow down, savour the moments, and celebrate in whatever way feels right for you.
I’ll also include the link to the Christmas Hub again, where all of this season’s posts live. And starting December 1st, I’ll be sharing one different festive blog post every evening in stories — everything from 25 festive drinks to Christmas movies for teens to simple rituals for a calmer season.
🎙️ Podcast: Seasonal Notes
Last week, when I wrote the newsletter, I already knew the podcast was happening — but it didn’t feel quite ready to mention. There were still things to fix, tweak, polish.
But now?
It’s live.
It’s real.
And I’m so excited to share it with you.
I love podcasts. I love audiobooks. I love talk radio. I love the feeling of listening to someone’s voice as they chat away about something meaningful or comforting. And honestly… it just feels like the right format for the kind of conversations we have here.
So Seasonal Notes was born — a little weekly podcast, eight to ten minutes long, where I talk about slow living, seasonal rhythms, and the gentle joy of everyday life.
There will be four “seasons” each year, matching the four seasons of the year.
We are now in Season 1: Winter, running until the end of January.
Episode 1 and Episode 2 are now live.
Episode 3 goes live this Sunday morning at 7 a.m.
Episode 3 is a little more personal — I talk about why Our Little House in the Country exists, how it came to be, and why I write and speak about these things.
You’ll find the podcast on Substack, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
🕯️ Candle Shop Update
A huge, heartfelt thank you to everyone who has ordered candles recently.
Every time an order pops up on my phone, I genuinely light up. Packing them, tying the ribbons, wrapping them in tissue and honeycomb paper, adding the little stickers — it brings me such joy.
It’s been a quiet enough week in the shop (which honestly was good, as I needed to restock!), but the next few weekends are going to be wonderfully busy.
I’ll be at:
- Ardgillan Castle Christmas Market
- The Cottage Market, Scotch Hall Shopping Centre
- The Sonairte Christmas Fair
From the 29th of November through the 14th of December — three weekends in a row of festive markets.
Autumn scents are nearly sold out (which delights me no end), and the full Christmas collection is now live.
Coming very soon: my signature year-round collection — starting with three scents and growing to six.
If you’d like to browse, you can use the code THANKYOU10 for 10% off.
Never any pressure — only ever gratitude. Visit the candle shop.
🌿 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:
💬 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 hello@ourlittlehouseinthecountry.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
That’s it for this week, my friends.
Thank you, truly, for being here. I love writing these newsletters, and your messages each Friday mean more than you know. Your kindness, your feedback, your presence — it all means the world to me.
A quick note: this newsletter is now being sent through a new mailing system, which should mean smoother delivery. If you prefer the old format, you can always read each edition directly on the blog as usual.
By the time we chat again next Friday…
I’ll have a newly-turned-fourteen-year-old.
The Christmas trees will (hopefully!) be up.
The attic will (hopefully!!) be insulated.
And I’ll be prepping for two full days of Christmas markets in Ardgillan Castle.
Whatever your weekend holds — plans or no plans — I hope it brings you what you need most.
A spark of joy, a little steadiness, a moment of peace, or simply space to breathe.
Take good care, and I’ll talk to you next Friday.
Ciara 💛
Our Little House in the Country
Hi, I’m Ciara — writer, homemaker, and the heart behind Our Little House in the Country. I share slow, seasonal living from our cozy corner of the Irish countryside, where life is a little messy, a little magical, and deeply real. Whether it’s a teen-friendly recipe, a lived-in home moment, or a reminder to let go of perfection, this space is about embracing the everyday and finding joy in what’s already here. Come in, kick off your shoes, and stay a while — the kettle’s always on.
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