The Simple Things

The Simple Things is a beautiful, useful, quirky and fun magazine about taking time to live well. We cover mindfulness and microadventures, eating and growing, forgotten wisdom, home life and slow moments. It's for people who love their lives but want to take the pressure off and remember what’s really important. We like tea & cake, learning stuff, being outside and the satisfaction of a job well done. Do you?

A could-do list Taste

Editor

Morning has broken • A DIP WITH FRIENDS AND AN ALFRESCO BREAKFAST IS A FINE WAY TO START THE DAY

Blue space thinking • FROM BABBLING BROOKS TO BIG SEAS, WE’RE INSTINCTIVELY DRAWN TO WATER FOR THE POWERFUL EFFECT IT HAS ON THE MIND AND BODY

Water, water everywhere • On days where you can’t get to the water, here are some ways to bring it to you

Magical creatmres • AN APPRECIATION OF THE WATER SHREW

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • They may have a hard centre, but summer stone fruits make soft, sweet and sticky cakes that are all heart, says Benjamina Ebuehi.

Stone me!

My day in cups of tea • We asked herbalist Abi Jackson to tell us all about her day in cuppas – and some of her suggestions for brilliant blends.

July Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

A simple thing...

MY CITY* PALERMO • LINDA SARRIS INTRODUCES US TO THE BLUE SKIES, BEACHES AND AL FRESCO BARS OF SICILY’S CAPITAL CITY

LINDA’S PERSONAL TOUR

A POETIC PAUSE • July

Pick & Mix • GROWING AND EATING FLOWERS AND HERBS IS A TREASURED TRADITION. LOTTIE STOREY HARVESTS PETALS AND LEAVES FOR THE SUMMER KITCHEN. THIS MONTH: LAVENDER AND BASIL

Tales of the city • THE SHIFTS OF THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE MADE MANY OF US REASSESS OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH WHERE WE LIVE. THROUGH EATING, GROWING AND OBSERVING, THESE WOMEN HAVE DISCOVERED THEIR OWN WAY TO CONNECT WITH AND FIND THEIR PLACE IN THE CITY

FREEZE DRIED • ADD ICE TO YOUR DYE TO MAKE COOL WATERCOLOUR PATTERNS. IT’S SIMPLE SUMMER FUN – AND SLIGHTLY ADDICTIVE

INSIDE TRACK • WHETHER FAST OR SLOW, STEAM OR ELECTRIC, A JOURNEY BY TRAIN SPARKS A SPECIAL KIND OF ROMANCE. ALL ABOARD FOR A WHISTLE-STOP TOUR OF THE WORLD

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love PLIMSOLLS

LIFE AFTER DEATH • IN CHURCHYARDS AND CEMETERIES YOU’LL FIND A PEACEFUL ESCAPE THAT’S ALSO A HAVEN FOR WILDLIFE

Tours, teas and tombs • Things to do in a graveyard

Yew never knew…

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Friends for… a reason • SOMETIMES SUMMER CAN FEEL LIKE EVERYONE BUT YOU IS AT A PARTY IN THE SUN WITH A CROWD OF GOOD PALS. BUT BY HONESTLY REFLECTING ON WHAT FRIENDSHIP OFFERS US, SAYS THE SCHOOL OF LIFE, WE CAN LEARN TO FOCUS ON THE FRIENDSHIPS WE REALLY NEED

TINY HAPPY PEOPLE • WE NEVER GET TOO GROWN UP TO ENJOY MINIATURES. JOIN US IN A CELEBRATION OF SOME OF THE GRANDEST MINISCULE DESIGNS, AND THE PEOPLE WHO’VE BEEN TINKERING AWAY TO MAKE THEM

SHORT STOREYS

LITTLE HORRORS

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KNOW A THING OR TWO... BUTTERFLIES • A flit through the colourful world of everyone’s favourite insect

Words for the butterfly’s world

Butterflies vs. moths • Butterflies are poster children among insects. In contrast, moths are routinely vilified. Yet moths and butterflies are essentially the same

Britain’s brilliant butterflies • Nine special butterflies, all flying in July and August, to look for on your Big Butterfly Count

THE BIG IDEA • So many wellbeing books, so little time. Our deconstruction of someone’s fresh thinking could send you in a new direction.

WHAT I TREASURE • My grandpa’s war notebook

GOOD THINGS • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

An end to the stalemate •...