An autumn day with the Hunter-Smyth Family

Dear Readers,

"Welcome Autumn" was the theme for Challenge#18 in the Sylvanian Families Collector Community . Even though real life is keeping me quite busy lately, I really wanted to join this challenge as autumn is my favourite season.

Autumn is also Camilla Hunter-Smyth´s favourite time of the year.As you can see, her kitchen wallpaper is proof of that.She absolutely adores the colours of autumn and she does everyhing she can to incorporate those colours into her fall decorating inside her home 

and also outside. Camila feels very proud of the autumnal wreath on the front door. She made it herself with the help of Rebecca Dingle, the village florist, who organized a workshop at her flower shop to show how to make autumnal wreaths and flower arrengements.

Here, Camila is decorating a huge pinecone she and her kids found on one of their walks in the forest.

The idea of the pumpkins was inspired by her three triplets. Autumn is also their favourite season. Playing in the leaves and Halloween is a lot of fun for them.

By the way, I can only spot two of them.Where is the other one? I´m afraid Georgina must be under that pile of leaves!

"What are you up to, kids?" Camila went to keep an eye on her youngest children. They get on quite well and have fun together but they are prone to get into mischief too.

"Just playing with the leaves,mum".

When you think of autumn,I´m sure most of you think of leaves falling from the trees. Leaves turning to set the wold ablaze with colour, leaves crunching under your feet, leaves to play with and leaves to be raked into piles. That´s exactly what Charles and his son Hector are doing. Truth to be told,Hector would rather be stomping on those crunchy leaves instead of raking them.

You have already met all the members of the Hunter-Smyth family except for Isabella, who is having a glass of milk in the kitchen.
"I´m going to the market, Isa. Would you like to come with me?"
"Yes, of course,mum!I´m just going to put on my cardigan and I´ll be right back."
The weather is still nice and mild but the air is a bit crisp and breezy in the morning and Isabella is a bit sensitive to cold.

"We´re going to the market. Kids, behave yourselves! Be good,ok?"
"Sure, mum!" (Look at those cute little faces!) 

When Camilla and Isabella came back from the Farmers´Market the triplets were surprisingly quiet and busy making an autumn craft that Charles suggested.
"Look, daddy!" Georgina said showing her leaf to her father.
"That´s lovely,sweetheart! Good job!" Charles praised her little daughter´s craft.

One by one, the tree of them  showed their leaves to their mum who was happy to see her youngest ones had behaved very well while she went shopping.

She liked her triplet´s leaf crafts so much that she put them on the fridge door. They were perfect as autumn decoration.Meanwhile, Charles took out the fruit and vegetables from the basket.
Georgina and Gerard, who were a bit hungry,couldn´t keep their eyes off those tasty apples.

Charles cut an apple into pieces and gave them to their kids.

They love apples especially in their mum´s apple pie, but they also enjoy them fresh as long as they are crisp and juicy.

"Some more? Yes,please!"

Camila started preparing lunch.She was going to make her delicious pumpkin soup which is one of her family´s favourite dishes at this time of the year.

While Camilla was preparing lunch, Charles and the children went for a walk in the forest.
Autumn is all about nature and nothing beats a walk through the forest in a beautiful autumn day.Leaves changing colours is one of natures´s finest moments for the Hunter-Smyths.

As the pumpking soup was cooking slowly, the kitchen was filling with a lovely scent that Camilla always associated with autumn.Inspired by the gorgeous outdoors and the sweet spicy flavours of the season,Camila felt like baking some biscuits. 

Autumn leaf biscuits! Her kids were going to love them!

"Into the oven!"

Meanwhile in the forest,Charles was trying to teach the triplets the difference between poisonous and edible mushrooms.

Come here everyone! Isabella shouted. These mushrooms are safe to eat! Let´s pick them up!

Back at the Hunter-Smyths´home, the soup was already cooked and Camilla placed it into a large ceramic serving pot. She tasted it and it was perfect!

There was a lovely smell of cinnamon and nutmeg in the kitchen. The biscuits were ready to be taken out of the oven.

Then, she put them on a lovely plate just perfect for the season.

Charles and the children should be home soon so Camilla set the table. She knew her kids were going to be starving after their walk.

When she finished setting the table she headed into the forest. Her family must be on their way back home and she went to meet up with them.

The triplets were specially excited to see their mum.
"Mum,we saw bad mushrooms, the ones that make your tummy sick and we saw a squirrel but not like the Walnuts, mum! This one had four legs and run very fast and dad has a basket full of good mushrooms and....and..... we are very hungry!"

Thomas was very tired and his brother Hector gave him a piggyback ride.Gerard,didn´t leave his flag for a second. He said he was the forest guide. Anytime they go for a walk into Acorn Forest he takes his flag with him. "Follow me everyone! This way!"
Even though he is still very young, he already has what it takes to be a little bit of a leader.

It was lovely to be back home.The wonderful aroma from the kitchen greeted them as they walked in the door. There´s  nothing  quite like a bowl of homemade soup with bread after a walk in the forest in an autumn day.
Her husband and her children thanked Camilla for such a tasty meal.
"A big clap for mum!" Isabella and Hector cheered  and the triplets clapped their little hands energetically.

Mmmm! Yummy warming soup!

They all enjoyed it!

As for the biscuits, they were all gone in the blink of an eye.Just some crumbs were left on the plate. 
Atumn leaves are great not only to play with but also to eat!

"Mum, will you bake some more,please!"
"Of course, I will" Who can say no to these three cute babies?

One of the reasons I like autumn is because I love the array of colours that you get outside. I love the bright colours of yellow, gold, orange and red that ushers the season. 

That´s why Charles and Camilla´s oufits inspired me to chose The Hunter-Smyth Chocolate Labrador family to feature this story.Besides, it was a good opportunity to unbox the baby triplets (they are truly adorable),the kitchen play set and the dining room set.

For this challenge I made some crafts, such as autumn leaves, the wreath on the door, Isabella´s cardigan and a little basket.

I made the leaves out of real leaves. I used two different leaf punches.

I used the small leaf punch for some of the leaf biscuits. I punched them on foam. The other shaped biscuits belong to the Village Cake Shop.As you can see, each side has a different colour.

Before baking

After baking

The plate were I put the biscuits it is just a plain plate but I put a sticker (for fabric) on top of it to match the autumn decoration.

As for the wreath,I made the base using very thin branches of a this kind of bush.

I shaped the branches into a round shape.

Then, I painted it brown using acrylic paint but actually there was no need for it. I stuck so many leaves that the base can´t be seen. I was so entertained sticking leaves on the wreath that I completely forgot to take  pictures of the process. It turned out too big.I was meant for a different house but it was too big for its door.

I also used faked moss,plastic flowers and orange ribbon.

Isabella´s cardigan is a piece of an old(but  clean)sock that I was going to throw away.I cut a little piece of fabric and made two holes.Not perfect but it will keep her warm.

For the little basket and the pot at the front door I used the cupule of an acorn.

The funny pumpkins and the big orange leaves were a gift from Nina,an on-line friend from Germany that I met through her blog "At the Periwinkle´s"
I also made the door mat pasting a printed picture on brown foam.

Hope you all enjoy the autumn season!(or spring if you are in the southern part of the globe)
Hugs!

Ilustration by Susan Wheeler