Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep - Autumn Sun (Encore)

Episode Date: November 6, 2025

Originally presented as Season 14, Episode 45, November 4, 2024 Our story tonight is called Autumn Sun, and it’s a story about a day at Weathervane Farm, treating the animals to autumnal enrichment. It’s also about light shifting through orange and red leaves, the pillowy soil of a well tilled garden, the last pumpkins picked from their vines, and the simple joy of watching kids play. Join Kathryn and friends for a one-night-only live virtual event on Wednesday, November 19th filled with calming bedtime stories, live music, guided journaling, and a few thoughtful surprises. You can tune in from anywhere! Tickets available now: https://www.pave.live/nothingmuchhappens 🎟️ Subscribe to our ⁠⁠Premium channel.⁠⁠ The first month is on us. 💙 Cured CBN Night Caps: Visit ⁠curednutrition.com/NOTHINGMUCH⁠ and use code NOTHINGMUCH at checkout to receive 20% off your order. ⁠NMH merch, autographed books and more!⁠ ⁠Pay it forward subscription⁠  Listen to our daytime show ⁠Stories from the Village of Nothing Much⁠.  ⁠First This, Kathryn’s guided mediation podcast. ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get more Nothing Much Happens with bonus episodes, extra long stories, and ad-free listening, all while supporting the show you love. Subscribe now. Have you ever wished you could visit the Village of Nothing Much? Well, this is your invitation. Join me, Catherine Nicolai, for a live virtual event on Wednesday, November 19th, at 6 p.m. Pacific, 9 p.m. Eastern. It will be a cozy night of storytelling, me. music and calm. I'll share three handpicked bedtime stories, including one you've never heard on the podcast, brought to life with healing music from Aya Ayal, and sound designed by Bob.

We'll pause between stories for guided journaling and creative moments to help you slow down, reconnect, and rest. And you'll receive exclusive extras created just for this event, including a brand new illustration from the village, thoughtful journaling prompts, and a few playful surprises to enjoy at home. If you join The Dreamers Inner Circle, you can stay for a cozy after party where I'll answer your questions, share character updates, and reveal some behind-the-scenes stories that never made it into the podcast. You can tune in from anywhere, but it's one night only, so don't miss it. Go to pave. Live to get your ticket. That's pave.e.live.L.I.E. If you've listened to me for a while, you know I'm a big believer instead of

backing habits that actually support the nervous system. Not just more sleep, but real restorative sleep. And that's why I started using CBN nightcaps from cured nutrition. They're formulated with 30 milligrams of CBD and 5 milligrams of CBN, two cannabinoids that work together in a really specific way. CBD helps calm the mind down and downshift stress, while CBN supports the body's natural sleep cycles, especially the deeper stages of sleep where recovery actually happens. And what I've noticed, it's measurable. I fall asleep fast, I stay asleep longer, and my sleep and readiness scores look completely different the next morning. And what's important is that there's no psychoactive effect and no next day groginess. I just wake up clear,

rested and regulated. I take one about an hour before bed, right before I make tea and cue up a bedtime story. A story helps my mind settle. The nightcap helps my body follow. If you've tried melatonin or OTC sleep aids and felt groggy or kind of chemically knocked out,

this is a different experience. It works with your natural rhythms, not against them. Cured nutrition is offering my listeners 20% off, so you can try nightcaps for yourself. Just go to curednutrition.com slash nothing much and use code nothing much at checkout.

That's C-U-R-E-D-nutrition.com slash nothing much. Coupon code, nothing much. Welcome to bedtime stories for everyone, in which nothing much happens. You feel good. And then you fall asleep. I'm Catherine Nikolai. I write and read all the stories you hear on Nothing Much Happens.

Audio Engineering is by Bob Wittersheim. We are bringing you an encore episode tonight, meaning that this story originally aired at some point in the past. It could have been recorded with different equipment in a different location. And since I'm a person and not a computer, I sometimes sound just slightly different. But the stories are always soothing and family-friendly,

and our wishes for you are always deep rest and sweet dreams. Now, I have a tried and true method for helping you sleep better tonight and also build consistently better sleep over time. We need to engage your brain just enough. We want it to stay in one place to quit its wandering ways for a bit. And the story is the way to do that.

Just by listening, we'll shift your brain into its task-positive mode and that will make falling asleep easier and probably instant. Be patient if you are new to this. It is a form of brain training and will improve with regular use. I'll tell the story twice

and I'll go a little slower the second time through. If you wake later in the night turn a story on, and you'll drop right back off. Our story tonight is called Autumn Sun, and it's a story about a day at Weathervane Farm, trading the animals to autumnal enrichment. It's also about light shifting through orange and red leaves,

the pillowy soil of a well-tilled garden, the last pumpkins picked from their vines and the simple joy of watching kids play. Now, slide down into your sheets, switch off your light, and take a moment to feel your whole body relaxing into the bed. The day is done.

Whatever you did with it, it was enough. Truly, you did enough today. All is well. Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose. And sigh from your mouth. Again, breathe in. and release. Good.

Autumn sun. The autumn was lovely and lasting this year. So many trees were still full of bright leaves. And many others had to be. only begun to turn. I hoped it would mean we would have a month or more yet to enjoy it. When the skies were so blue, it felt like Mother Nature was clearing away the clouds to let the sun shine brightly on the leaves, reminding us to look and to marvel. I certainly did, the way the sun filtered through the branches.

It reminded me of the sparkle of light on a lake, on a clear day. It dazzled me, and I looked to be dazzled at least once a day. With all this sunlight, Even the days that started off chilly, warmed in the afternoon. And when I was working out in the barn or in the meadow, I was often down to my t-shirt and overalls after lunch. The animals were enjoying this fall as much, if not more, than I was. The ducks and geese splashed and floated in the pond all day

or slept in rows on the grassy banks. Did you know ducks can snore? I sure knew it. The cows, we had a small herd of rescues now, sun bathed and chewed the gold. golden days away, watching the goats in the next paddock over as they jumped off the donated kids' playground equipment, and occasionally got their heads stuck in bales of hay or fence posts. The goats were voted most likely to cause trouble when no one is looking, though,

they still caused plenty when we were. We also had a few pigs, a stable full of the sweetest donkeys you've ever met, and a few odds and ends, a lone llama, two emus who gave the goats a run for their money, sometimes literally. A miniature horse, barn cats, three turkeys, and slightly more dogs than strictly made sense. But everyone got food and fresh water, saw the doctor regularly, had clean stalls or beds to settle in at night,

and got a lot of love and affection. We'd not set out to be an animal sanctuary. It had sort of crept up on us, but we wouldn't have it any other way. We had a small army of volunteers who helped us care for the critter crew every day, and they were as much our family now as the animals were. In fact, some came here for Thanksgiving. We would add all the leaves to the dining room table

and have a big potluck and share some special treats with the animals. Today, I was preparing some of those treats, in fact, or picking them, rather. I'd grown a giant pumpkin patch on the far side of the barn behind the farmhouse, and we still had a few dozen sitting on their vines. I took my trusty whalebarrow and rolled it through the dry grass. gosh it smelled so good out today that sweet hay scent of the grass at the end of its life the leaves baking in the sun

I filled my lungs with it as I turned toward the patch and parked my barrow by the edge of the garden it is a specific sense memory that I have that kicks in each time I step onto the well-tilled soil of walking through my grandfather's garden as a child his garden's soil was almost pillowy, and each step held a moment of sinking and a moment of bounce as my foot lifted for the next.

I smiled, proud to have inherited his green thumb and soil aeration skills. I took some snippers from the roomy chest pocket on my overalls and began to snip away pumpkins from their prickly stems. I balanced them as best as I could in the wagon, the biggest on the bottom and the smaller ones on the top. till it was about as full as I thought I could manage on the uneven ground. As I wheeled it back across the barnyard toward the goat's play area, I noticed the shadow the weather vein made on the bare earth.

there was almost no wind today so it was still and the shape of the crane and arrows that sat up on the roof ridge was repeated in a slight blur at my feet one of our dogs was stretched out in the shadow He was a husky And I could tell he was eager For the first snow to come For colder days to set in

Frigo was his name And he was the kind of dog That would lay on the last patch of ice in the yard As spring came on By now, he'd had enough of the warm weather and was taking refuge in this one shady spot in the open yard. I stopped to give him a pat and promise him that the winter weather would come soon. Like most huskies, he liked to talk, and even more, to talk back.

So he had a few things to say about that. Oh, Frigo, I said with sympathy, as I reached for the handles of the barrow, and started off again. His whiny howls were setting off George the donkey, who bruce, who bruce, rayed back from his yard. Oh, please, I chuckled invitingly. Let's all express ourselves. Where's the rooster? Sunny?

I spotted him packing around the side of the coop. He was an older gentleman, who I think could barely see, but he knew his name. and let out a squeaky crow. Need some oil on those gears, my friend. I mumbled as I maneuvered my load of pumpkins around to the gate of the goat's yard. I needed to get in without all of them getting out. So I picked up one of the smaller pumpkins

and held it up to get their attention. They watched me, several of them still chewing on hay or grass, and I called out to them about the many virtues of pumpkins, how delicious they were, how fun they were to step on and headbut. I did a couple fake-out throws, pretending to toss it into one corner or another, and they did not react like the dogs who would have been running back and forth trying to find the disappearing pumpkins the goats just watched me

and I started to lose confidence that my plan was going to work here goes nothing I mumbled as I tossed the gourd for real now, as far out to the back of their yard as I could manage. It somehow landed on top of one of their play structures. They watched it wobble at the top edge of a slide, turning their heads as if looking first with one eye

and then with the other. Finally, it toppled and slid squeakily down the slant, and as it hit the ground below, lovely and overripe as it was, it broke open. The goats lost their minds at this. They ran over some of the younger ones. ran through the seeds and pumpkin flesh. Others climbed up to slide down over it. It was my cue to open their gate

and rush in with the rest, quickly closing it behind me. I started tossing the pumpkins in all different directions. Some cracked as they came down, and others bounced and I knew the kids would be playing all afternoon with these new toys. I backed out as I'd come in,

careful not to step on a passing cat or trip over the llama asleep in the sun. My life was a little silly here on Weathervane Farm. But I loved it, and I think they all did too. Autumn Sun The autumn was lovely and lasting this year. So many trees were still full of bright leaves. and many others had only begun to turn.

I hoped it would mean we would have a month or more yet to enjoy it. When the skies were so blue, it felt like Mother Nature was clearing away the clouds, to let the sun shine brightly on the leaves, reminding us to look and to marvel. I certainly did. The way the sun filtered through the branches reminded me of the sparkle of light on a lake, on a clear day. It dazzled me, and I looked to be dazzled, at least once a day.

With all this sunlight, even the days that started off chilly, warmed in the afternoon. and when I was working out in the barn or in the meadow, I was often down to my t-shirt and overalls after lunch. The animals were enjoying this fall as much, if not more, than I was. The ducks and geese splashed and floated in the pond all day or slept in rows on the grassy banks. Did you know ducks can snore?

I sure knew it. The cows We had a small herd of rescues now, sun-bathed, and chewed the golden days away, watching the goats in the next paddock over as they jumped off the donated kids' playground equipment, and occasionally got their heads stuck in bales of hay or fence posts. They were voted most likely to cause trouble when no one is looking, though they also caused plenty when we were. We also had a few pigs, a stable, full of the sweetest donkeys you've ever met.

And a few odds and ends, the lone llama, two emus who gave the goats a run for their money, sometimes, literally, A miniature horse, barn cats, three turkeys, and slightly more dogs than strictly made sense. But everyone got food and fresh water, saw the doctor regularly, had clean stall, had clean stall, or beds to settle in at night, and a lot of love and affection. We'd not set out to be an animal sanctuary. It had sort of crept up on us, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

We had a small army of volunteers who helped us care for the critter crew every day. And they were as much our family now as the animals were. In fact, some came here for Thanksgiving. We would add all the leaves to the dining room table and have a big potluck and share some special treats with the animals. Today I was preparing some of those treats, in fact, or picking them rather. I'd grown a giant pumpkin patch. on the far side of the barn, behind the farmhouse.

And we still had a few dozen sitting on their vines. I took my trusty whalebarrow and rolled it through the dry grass. Gosh, it smelled so good out today. A sweet hay scent of the grass at the end of its life. The leaves baking in the sun. I filled my lungs with it as I turned toward the patch, parked my barrow by the edge of the garden. It is a specific sense.

memory I have that still kicks in each time I step onto the well-tilled soil of walking through my grandfather's garden as a child. His garden's soil was almost pillowy. And On each step held a moment of sinking and a moment of bounce as my foot lifted for the next. I smiled, proud to have inherited his green thumb and soil aeration skills. I took some snippers from the roomy chest pocket on my overalls and began to snip away pumpkins from their prickly stems. I balanced them as best I could in the wagon,

the biggest on the bottom, and the smaller ones on the top, till it was about as full as I thought I could manage on the uneven ground. As I wheeled it back across the barnyard, toward the goat's play area, I noticed the shadow the weather vein made on the bare earth. There was almost no wind today, so it was still.

And the shape of the crane and arrows that sat up on the roof ridge was repeated in a slight blur at my feet. One of our dogs was stretched out in the shadow. He was a husky, and I could tell he was eager for the first snow to come, for colder days to set in. Freego was his name, and he was the kind of dog

that would lay on the last patch of ice in the yard as spring came on. By now, he'd had enough of the warm weather and was taking refuge in this one shady spot in the open yard. I stopped to give him a pat. and promise him that the winter would come soon. Like most huskies, he liked to talk, and even more, to talk back. So he had a few things to say about that. Oh, Frigo.

I said with sympathy as I reached for the handles of the wheelbarrow and started off again. His whiny howls were setting off George the donkey who brayed back from his yard. Oh, please, I chuckled invitingly. Let's all express ourselves. Where's the rooster? Sunny.

I spotted him pecking around the side of the coop. He was an older gentleman, who I think could barely see. But he knew his name and let out. a squeaky crow. Need some oil on those gears, my friend. I mumbled as I maneuvered my load of pumpkins around to the gate of the goat's yard. I needed to get in without all of them getting out. So I picked up another one of the smaller pumpkins and held it up to get their attention.

They watched me. Several of them still chewing on hay and grass. And I called out to them, about the many virtues of pumpkins. How delicious they were, how fun they were to step on and headbut. I did a couple fake-out throws, pretending to toss it into one corner or another.

and they did not react like the dogs would have who would have been running back and forth trying to find disappearing pumpkins. The goats just watched me and I started to lose confidence that my plan was going to work. Here goes nothing, I mumbled, as I tossed the gourd for real now,

as far out to the back of their yard as I could manage. It somehow landed on the top of one of their place They watched it wobble at the edge of a slide, turning their heads as if looking first with one eye, then with the other. Finally, it toppled and slid, and slid squeakily down the slant. And as it hit the ground, lovely and overripe as it was, it broke open. The goats lost their minds at this. They ran over. Some of the younger ones ran through the seeds and pumpkin flesh.

Others climbed up to slide down over it. It was my cue to open their gate and rush in with the rest, quickly closing it behind me. I started tossing the pumpkins in all different directions. some cracked as they came down and others bounced and I knew the kids would be playing all afternoon with these new toys I backed out as I'd come in

careful not to step on a passing cat or trip over the llama asleep in the sun. My life was a little silly here on Weather Vane Farm, but I loved it, and I think they all did too. Thank you.