I live in central Florida in the US and we don’t have the traditional 4 seasons. Instead, we just passed what is usually the peak of one of our seasons - hurricane season. To date, we have had no tropical weather, not even the threat of any. Now we are keeping a bit of a watch on a system that is likely to become at least a tropical storm but pass us by while potentially hitting the Carolina coast and moving inland. There is the possibility of heavy rains, even flooding, in areas devastated by Hurricane Helene a year ago this week. My friends and family there have barely made a start on recovery from that. 😢
The Druid festival of the equinox would be a much better way to recognize this turning of the earth toward the dark days of winter.
Shortening days, and returning seasonal visitors transforming the streets - freshers, the awe-inspiring thousands of football fans on match night. More dark means more stars, the Plough clear above the city streets astonishingly bright and definite even here.
My grands were just saying that me. They are excited that we will be seeing more stars now. Being in the land of the midnight sun we miss our stars in the summer months.
Visiting Nottinghamshire for the week. Lots of lovely autumn walks and wildlife. Our hosts lent us a thermal monocular, and I was most amazed by how hot the trees were!
Vs of geese, singing robins, a great spotted woodpecker (heard but not spotted). A small flock of sheep gathered under a tree, perhaps they were having a meeting.
So much delicious food enjoyed, and lots of lovely time to read and just sit. A kind of hibernation 🙂
This week has been spent in Somerset - I have been noticing the sun casting longer shadows as it hovers lower in the sky. Also acorns falling in an almost continuous pop and crack as they hit the road in this mast year.
After 12 weeks recovering from surgery i'm.back at work, and that has meant early starts. Some lovely clear pre-dawn skies, Orion and the winter constellations, Venus blazing bright, Jupiter too. Streetlights glowing through the turning leaves like little orange and yellow lanterns. A hint of mist. My favourite time of year.
I love the look of that equinox celebration cloth. Seeing all the good things laid out makes it much more natural to understand how much we have.
This week's stand-out image is the way conkers have become old news -- a couple of weeks ago, I couldn't resist the split shells and the oily feel of the fresh conkers, and the smell of them. I was always turning my walk to pass a good conker tree so I could stop and put a few in my pockets. Now, I can't even bring myself to bend down for them. Maybe it's just that we have enough now.
Morning! Hope you’re rid of that cold soon Lia. I bought my new Almanac at Kemp Books in Malton last Friday on our way to Whitby. It’s a really gorgeous shop. This week has been about gardening for me, moving round to catch the patches of sunshine and enjoying the gentle warmth on my back. There were very vocal pink footed geese (thank you Merlin app) above a couple of times too.
A real week of transition as we spent the equinox driving to rain soaked Sheffield to take our youngest daughter to uni. Feeling quite bereft, taking comfort in sunrise dog walks and candlelight.
Morning Lia, I'm recovering from Covid which seems to be taking a while this time around. I'll be glad to be getting back to normal and having some energy again. My only connection with nature these past couple of weeks has been my garden and I'm still collecting apples from a laden tree. Yesterday a fox was also enjoying a few windfalls, the first time I've seen this and such a surprise.
The first of the autumn mists a couple of days ago seemed to herald the change in the weather. From my hillside home I can watch the sun setting as I’m finishing my tea. In the garden the mushrooms are popping up in the lawn and my thoughts are drawn down into the earth and the network beneath my feet.
I live in central Florida in the US and we don’t have the traditional 4 seasons. Instead, we just passed what is usually the peak of one of our seasons - hurricane season. To date, we have had no tropical weather, not even the threat of any. Now we are keeping a bit of a watch on a system that is likely to become at least a tropical storm but pass us by while potentially hitting the Carolina coast and moving inland. There is the possibility of heavy rains, even flooding, in areas devastated by Hurricane Helene a year ago this week. My friends and family there have barely made a start on recovery from that. 😢
The Druid festival of the equinox would be a much better way to recognize this turning of the earth toward the dark days of winter.
Autumn comes on brisk winds and a golden hue to the evening light…
Watching Saturn through the telescope, hovering in the dark, the rings a line across a distant world 🪐
Rose hips glowing like rubies on thorny bushes in the late afternoon
I love your description of the ruby rosehips. They are one of my favorites in the fall.
And delicious once they get soft, if you can avoid the hairy seeds inside…
Two deer in the farmers field in the early morning light, spotted as I travelled by on the bus. A secret fleeting treat as no one else noticed.
Translucent fungus blooming in the liverwort
Shortening days, and returning seasonal visitors transforming the streets - freshers, the awe-inspiring thousands of football fans on match night. More dark means more stars, the Plough clear above the city streets astonishingly bright and definite even here.
My grands were just saying that me. They are excited that we will be seeing more stars now. Being in the land of the midnight sun we miss our stars in the summer months.
Fallen leaves dancing in circles in the wind
It has been beautifully sunny. The trees have revived with last week’s showers and everything looks lush.
Equinox celebrations sounds great. Feel better soon.
Visiting Nottinghamshire for the week. Lots of lovely autumn walks and wildlife. Our hosts lent us a thermal monocular, and I was most amazed by how hot the trees were!
Vs of geese, singing robins, a great spotted woodpecker (heard but not spotted). A small flock of sheep gathered under a tree, perhaps they were having a meeting.
So much delicious food enjoyed, and lots of lovely time to read and just sit. A kind of hibernation 🙂
what is a thermal monocular
A single binocular that picks up the heat signature of wildlife in the dark so you can still see it.
thankyou how interesting
and it can also pick up the heat in trees
I hope you are feeling better soon Lia.
This week has been spent in Somerset - I have been noticing the sun casting longer shadows as it hovers lower in the sky. Also acorns falling in an almost continuous pop and crack as they hit the road in this mast year.
After 12 weeks recovering from surgery i'm.back at work, and that has meant early starts. Some lovely clear pre-dawn skies, Orion and the winter constellations, Venus blazing bright, Jupiter too. Streetlights glowing through the turning leaves like little orange and yellow lanterns. A hint of mist. My favourite time of year.
Get well soon Lia. This week has been about catching every generous autumnal sunbeam - to drink a cuppa in, read in, dig the soil in. Treasure.
I love the look of that equinox celebration cloth. Seeing all the good things laid out makes it much more natural to understand how much we have.
This week's stand-out image is the way conkers have become old news -- a couple of weeks ago, I couldn't resist the split shells and the oily feel of the fresh conkers, and the smell of them. I was always turning my walk to pass a good conker tree so I could stop and put a few in my pockets. Now, I can't even bring myself to bend down for them. Maybe it's just that we have enough now.
Morning! Hope you’re rid of that cold soon Lia. I bought my new Almanac at Kemp Books in Malton last Friday on our way to Whitby. It’s a really gorgeous shop. This week has been about gardening for me, moving round to catch the patches of sunshine and enjoying the gentle warmth on my back. There were very vocal pink footed geese (thank you Merlin app) above a couple of times too.
A real week of transition as we spent the equinox driving to rain soaked Sheffield to take our youngest daughter to uni. Feeling quite bereft, taking comfort in sunrise dog walks and candlelight.
Great choice of city! 😀
It is beautiful
Hope she’s very happy here x
Morning Lia, I'm recovering from Covid which seems to be taking a while this time around. I'll be glad to be getting back to normal and having some energy again. My only connection with nature these past couple of weeks has been my garden and I'm still collecting apples from a laden tree. Yesterday a fox was also enjoying a few windfalls, the first time I've seen this and such a surprise.
The first of the autumn mists a couple of days ago seemed to herald the change in the weather. From my hillside home I can watch the sun setting as I’m finishing my tea. In the garden the mushrooms are popping up in the lawn and my thoughts are drawn down into the earth and the network beneath my feet.