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Sally Ann's avatar

Went for what should of been a short walk with my daughter. We ended up finishing our walk along a footpath well hidden from the roads and farms in the dark, noticing the different sounds and shapes of the trees made it seem like a different place completely, not the path we had walked earlier in the daylight.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Oh that sounds so eerie and beautiful. What a great thing to do to make the most of the dark x

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Karen Hendrix's avatar

Amazing bonfire and fireworks by the sea at Alnmouth this year. The bonfire glow made my daughter’s curls look like wavy rivers of gold. I’ve been noticing Jupiter hanging out with the moon too.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

This is the most beautiful image, and all wrapped up in your loving gaze at your daughter too. Poetry!

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Alix's avatar

I saw the full moon from my kitchen window at 7am over the roof tops, it was beautiful.

I live in Paris and all the florists and supermarkets are full of big pots of chrysanthemums in the run up to Toussaint (all saints day). It’s a gorgeous sight as they put them out on the pavements so there are bursts of colour everywhere.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Ah I would love to be in France at this time of the year to see this. Such a special and so very French thing. Thank you for sharing.

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Anne's avatar

Years ago, as an ‘assistante’ at a French school, I was invited for a meal by a colleague and went to get flowers to take along as a thank you. Fortunately, the florist checked what they were for and advised me to choose something else. The chrysanthemums I had chosen were ‘funeral flowers’. I was very glad she checked!

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Ah interesting! When I worked in the florist we were told never to combine white a red flowers for older customers, because of an association with funerals. I think that might have died out now (it was 20 years ago), but maybe a British equivalent?

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Anne's avatar

My grandmother, who worked in a hospital when she was young, couldn’t cope with red and white flowers together. She told me it was unlucky, because they represented blood and bandages. I’ve never heard anyone else say this, but I still don’t like to see red and white flowers together and have never been able to put those colours together myself.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Yes, this is actually what I was told in the florists but I was disbelieving my memory. And no, I never do either!

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Corinna Mazzotta's avatar

Yes Chrysanthemums are only funeral or grave flowers in Italy too.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Interesting. I wonder if this is why people resist them here too, some long ago traces of a memory of this.

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Lucy's avatar

I teach French and we've been teaching about Toussaint this week. Thank you for decribing it so vividly.

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Rachel Goddard's avatar

Beautiful things. I'm not getting out of the house much at the moment, but a short walk to a fence nearby which has a beautiful creeper with red maple like leaves always brings joy at this time of year. As the sun had finally appeared the leaves cast delicate shadows on the fence.

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Nov 11, 2022
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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Gorgeous, thank you both. Maybe as the leaves thin out we are getting stronger shadows from the ones that are left behind.

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Rachel Goddard's avatar

Oh yes, that's what I was thinking but didn't want to write a long message!

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Tom & Kathy's avatar

Loved the description of the Narnia-esque lampposts!

We couldn’t resist nipping out to collect a few windfall apples from amongst the orchard grass and fallen leaves this week to make a spiced apple jelly (a spoonful spread on salty, buttered toast certainly cheered up a rainy afternoon).

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

I bet your kitchen smelt amazing too!

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lisa longmore's avatar

The larch has turned an amazing golden colour. They will soon lose all their needles and be laid bare for the winter.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Yes, what a colour they turn. Enjoying it while it lasts…

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Lee Roberts's avatar

It's been a funny autumn so far: it was so mild in the last week of October that we had a few daffodils blooming! At the same time the trees are becoming more naked, and i can see my breath in the air early and late in the day. Quite a few squirrels chasing each other around the garden. The blackbirds are back with their cheerful songs.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Ah the blackbirds! How excellent. I haven’t heard that yet. That’s something to listen out for. Boo about the daffodils though…

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Jill Fuller's avatar

Driving home the other day, huge flocks of Canada geese were circling over stubbly cornfields. They're migrating south (I live in Wisconsin) and their honks are always a sign of fall ending and winter coming. It's bittersweet, a comfort and a sadness.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

This is so evocative! I’m right there. Thank you Jill.

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Sam Gamblin's avatar

I have had hearing aids fitted this week and so have been enjoying hearing almost everything! The dogs toenails clacking on the laminate floor, the bathroom clock ticking, the clarity of people's voices, but best of all MORE BIRDS! I walked through the park with the wind in the trees, the leaves rustling and birds sounding like they were next to me, including the beautiful song of a blackcap. It's been a long and gradual decline, but I hadn't realised how muffled the world has become - it's been a joyous experience and a much needed boost!

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

This is wonderful! Congratulations! How fabulous to have got your hearing but also renewed your appreciation of it at the same time.

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Anne's avatar

Here in Sheffield, some of the large lime trees have lost most of their leaves. I can see one from my living room window, through a gap in the houses opposite, that I enjoy watching through the seasons. I noticed this week that from this distance the branches looked bare for the first time and were showing up beautifully against the pale evening sky. Blue with a hint of pink.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Interesting to note the difference between Sheffield and Bristol where most still have plenty of leaves (as you can see) but it is looking gauzy. And yes, winter skies! That is a thing to look forward to.

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Shannon Morgan's avatar

The past two days have been windy in Belfast. I really feel for anyone flying in or out -- I've been on one of those bumpy flights into City Airport. But yesterday's walk to the meadows southwest of town was beautiful, all the trees showing off their resilience in the wind. Some are mostly bare, some still mostly green.

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

There is still so much green isn’t there! So many leaves hanging in late this year. Maybe it is a cold snap they need, as you’re right they are getting plenty of wind.

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Mark Diacono's avatar

I’m with you on the dog causing the demise of firework joy. It’s a shame but also the little buggers are ok I guess. Chrysanthemums - I admire their enthusiasm but they are a little too Russ Abbot ‘Atmosphere’/over-cheery uncle for me. The sort of flower that says ‘not three bad’ when you ask them how they are

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

My vase of gently autumn hued flowers would *never* say ‘not three bad’… I know what you mean, but at the same time, you’re wrong. They are dead classy.

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Vanessa's avatar

I've been shopping & treated myself to your wonderful Almanac🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

Ah wonderful! Very seasonal! x

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Vanessa's avatar

Yes .. going to wrap it up for myself under the tree

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Nov 11, 2022
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Lia Leendertz's avatar

I am so delighted to hear from so far afield as California! Thank you for your beautiful observations. And helping give us a sense of the whole earth shifting through the seasons. You make me appreciate our (many!) rainy days.

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Nov 11, 2022
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Lia Leendertz's avatar

They are always the last and the most glorious aren’t they, but yes, extra late. I find it hard to remember year on year but am hoping keeping this going will act as a good annual comparison.

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