We had a visit to one our favourite places - RSPB Leighton Moss in North Lancashire. Lots of geese, cormorants and egrets, plus three beautiful otters. Apparently a group of otters is called a romp - how fabulous! And plenty of fungus and mushrooms, which I spend far too long photographing and get shouted at to hurry up by the teenagers.
I was away for the weekend and came back to find my partner has decorated the flat with pumpkins, and refilled the bird feeder. Have been enjoying the parade of tits blue, great and coal. The temperature has dropped abruptly, and we're heading up to the Highlands today where it's even colder. Looking forward to seeing some dramatic autumn landscapes. Also... we are having apple crumble for breakfast!!! The comment from last week about parkin has reminded me a) I should make parkin soon b) I should make Christmas cake soon!
Lia your blanket is beautiful- a handmade rainbow you should be proud of ! 🌈
This week - Finally refilling my bird feeders after the ‘summer break’ & finding joy in the bluetits, bossy robin & starlings finding their way back to me
The bite of cold returning here in the north meaning the low hum of the gas heating has returned in the dark mornings
Listening to Octobers ‘As the season turns’ podcast in a patch of sunlight with eyes closed but feeling chilled with the Welsh ghostly music ( sound a bit like teachers pet here I know ) 👻
Searching out fallen hazelnuts underfoot with my 2 year old granddaughter - feeling the hard bumps in the grass, then cracking them open between a frying pan base and a saucepan - the only hard things I had!
The brown mud of the woodland path is now sprinkled with golden beech leaves - each one's outline clearly visible (until more start to fall).
The holly berries have suddenly appeared! (well actually they have started to turn red, I just didn't notice them when they were green)
We’ve been in Hereford this week and I’ve been remembering and reflecting on a very different season of my life when we lived here for a few years 30 years ago (I’m 58 now). It has felt like the perfect moment to visit. The green grocers are full of local apples and walnuts still in their shells and we have had amazing food from autumn menus (Ponte Vecchio, the Garden cafe and cafe no. 10 if you’re passing...) I bought some lovely autumnal looking wool at the market. I’ll figure out what to do with it when I get home... Love that blanket Lia! And really looking forward to the new subscriber features on here.
QLD, Aus: enjoying the fine layer of sea salt which dries on my skin & in my hair after my weekly dip at the beach. My freckles are getting more noticeable (despite being very Sun safe!)
Can I also add that I am totally gutted and devastated by Australia’s majority No vote in the referendum. Feeling incredibly ashamed of my country at the moment :(
Ugh I was heartbroken to read about that. I'm so sorry. What an opportunity missed. Hopefully it will come around again in the not too distant future and find minds and hearts more open x
So much to love here today Lia! The “ poetry of last week’s comments is just about the most lyrical ever - layers of wonderful autumnal images involving all the senses, and all the feels. Gorgeous! Love your waves blanket too - seriously impressive ! You’ll be so cosy and comfy wrapped in that. Gosh- we’ve gone from the golden glow of an Indian summer to soggy, grey chills in just a few days this week. What a change! My three - pumpkins everywhere! And a proper array of varieties too. I just adore this pumpkin season. The graceful swaying dance of the tall clumps of white Japanese anemones in my garden. And the glorious maple trees in the car park of our local Waitrose just starting to turn crimson - soon the ground will be carpeted with these beautiful leaves.
The unusual sight of the summer’s last butterflies fluttering past the window alongside the first appearance of our winter robin on the garden bird feeder 🩷
Been a while since I’ve been here, have missed this community. My three things this week; The joy on my daughter’s face when we saw the elusive water rail at our local nature reserve. Eating homemade sticky ginger cake in the woods with my son and grandchildren amongst the fallen leaves and amazing fungi, finally feels like autumn . Trying
to be creative making an autumn display, that so far the cats have not dismantled! 🍁🍂
I find this thread works as a barometer for how much I have been outside - sadly not enough in the past couple of weeks! This week has been such a contrast, starting off with 26 degree sunshine but ending with a proper blustery, rainy autumn day! My 3 things - hearing an evening tawny owl duet in the fields behind our house; a small flock of lapwings bursting over the hedge and skimming down to dance over the quarry pond; finding the path covered with fallen chestnut cases, the shiny brown fruit peeking out ready for roasting.
Autumn sort of snuck in overnight here in the south of England. Woke in the morning and it was suddenly much darker than the day before, no sun, drizzly rain and blustery wind, the children suddenly noticed the trees were losing leaves and my daughter demanded school tights rather than socks!
I am watching everyone’s comments on the dropping temps with a close eye. My partner and I are visiting the UK for the whole month of December and I’ve quite forgotten how to dress for the cold!
Love your rainbow blanket - I really want to get more into crochet this winter. I have moved to Germany this week for my year abroad. So I am reporting to you from Freiburg, in the Black Forest! My three things start with yellow crispy five point leaves on the ground, holding it in my palm felt like holding an earth bound star. Second huge red vines covering all the old buildings in Freiburg like draped autumn decoration, a brilliant colour match the yellow, whites and blues of the shutter and buildings here. And finally, everyday now I pass pink spindle berries next to the peachy roses (still blooming!) on the way to my deeply unattractive student accommodation. It’s helps a little to have this beauty before all the concrete buildings!
Thank you for your report from Freiburg Ella - so vividly observed as usual. Enjoy your year abroad - hope it’s going well and you aren’t too homesick. How is your injured ankle? Hope it’s not holding you back in your new place. Take care! X
So kind of you to remember Sue about my foot. Yes actually I am on crutches so I am finding it a bit difficult but I am determined to explore so I’m really testing the limits of what my foot can do. I am quite a homey person as well so I am a little homesick, but it’s helped by the fact that I have German family and so German culture feels a bit familiar to me. Thank you for asking 🧡
Amazing blanket!! Surprise roses in bloom and blossom-esque buds on trees, alongside mulchy leaves and mushrooms in the cracks in the steps at the bottom of the garden xx
Slowing down and sharing the cat’s armchair; apple purée, apple scones and grated apple in my porridge; searching for gloves, hat and scarf.
We had a visit to one our favourite places - RSPB Leighton Moss in North Lancashire. Lots of geese, cormorants and egrets, plus three beautiful otters. Apparently a group of otters is called a romp - how fabulous! And plenty of fungus and mushrooms, which I spend far too long photographing and get shouted at to hurry up by the teenagers.
A romp of otters - that has made my day!
We spent a few days at Leighton Moss, my first otters and osprey hunting . 😊
What a totally perfect collective noun - a romp!
I was away for the weekend and came back to find my partner has decorated the flat with pumpkins, and refilled the bird feeder. Have been enjoying the parade of tits blue, great and coal. The temperature has dropped abruptly, and we're heading up to the Highlands today where it's even colder. Looking forward to seeing some dramatic autumn landscapes. Also... we are having apple crumble for breakfast!!! The comment from last week about parkin has reminded me a) I should make parkin soon b) I should make Christmas cake soon!
I could just go for some apple crumble for breakfast, I see no issue with that!
Lia your blanket is beautiful- a handmade rainbow you should be proud of ! 🌈
This week - Finally refilling my bird feeders after the ‘summer break’ & finding joy in the bluetits, bossy robin & starlings finding their way back to me
The bite of cold returning here in the north meaning the low hum of the gas heating has returned in the dark mornings
Listening to Octobers ‘As the season turns’ podcast in a patch of sunlight with eyes closed but feeling chilled with the Welsh ghostly music ( sound a bit like teachers pet here I know ) 👻
Ha ha V good Emma! 10/10 ✔️
I absolutely loved that music too Emma
Searching out fallen hazelnuts underfoot with my 2 year old granddaughter - feeling the hard bumps in the grass, then cracking them open between a frying pan base and a saucepan - the only hard things I had!
The brown mud of the woodland path is now sprinkled with golden beech leaves - each one's outline clearly visible (until more start to fall).
The holly berries have suddenly appeared! (well actually they have started to turn red, I just didn't notice them when they were green)
Chickens heading to the coop to roost early now. Beeswax candles out of the cupboard and onto the windowsill.
We’ve been in Hereford this week and I’ve been remembering and reflecting on a very different season of my life when we lived here for a few years 30 years ago (I’m 58 now). It has felt like the perfect moment to visit. The green grocers are full of local apples and walnuts still in their shells and we have had amazing food from autumn menus (Ponte Vecchio, the Garden cafe and cafe no. 10 if you’re passing...) I bought some lovely autumnal looking wool at the market. I’ll figure out what to do with it when I get home... Love that blanket Lia! And really looking forward to the new subscriber features on here.
Thank you anne, and thank you for subscribing! x
QLD, Aus: enjoying the fine layer of sea salt which dries on my skin & in my hair after my weekly dip at the beach. My freckles are getting more noticeable (despite being very Sun safe!)
Can I also add that I am totally gutted and devastated by Australia’s majority No vote in the referendum. Feeling incredibly ashamed of my country at the moment :(
Ugh I was heartbroken to read about that. I'm so sorry. What an opportunity missed. Hopefully it will come around again in the not too distant future and find minds and hearts more open x
So much to love here today Lia! The “ poetry of last week’s comments is just about the most lyrical ever - layers of wonderful autumnal images involving all the senses, and all the feels. Gorgeous! Love your waves blanket too - seriously impressive ! You’ll be so cosy and comfy wrapped in that. Gosh- we’ve gone from the golden glow of an Indian summer to soggy, grey chills in just a few days this week. What a change! My three - pumpkins everywhere! And a proper array of varieties too. I just adore this pumpkin season. The graceful swaying dance of the tall clumps of white Japanese anemones in my garden. And the glorious maple trees in the car park of our local Waitrose just starting to turn crimson - soon the ground will be carpeted with these beautiful leaves.
Thanks Sue and yes I agree about the poetry of last week's - they just seem to get more glorious! x
The unusual sight of the summer’s last butterflies fluttering past the window alongside the first appearance of our winter robin on the garden bird feeder 🩷
Been a while since I’ve been here, have missed this community. My three things this week; The joy on my daughter’s face when we saw the elusive water rail at our local nature reserve. Eating homemade sticky ginger cake in the woods with my son and grandchildren amongst the fallen leaves and amazing fungi, finally feels like autumn . Trying
to be creative making an autumn display, that so far the cats have not dismantled! 🍁🍂
Welcome back! x
Thank you 😊
I find this thread works as a barometer for how much I have been outside - sadly not enough in the past couple of weeks! This week has been such a contrast, starting off with 26 degree sunshine but ending with a proper blustery, rainy autumn day! My 3 things - hearing an evening tawny owl duet in the fields behind our house; a small flock of lapwings bursting over the hedge and skimming down to dance over the quarry pond; finding the path covered with fallen chestnut cases, the shiny brown fruit peeking out ready for roasting.
A riverside cafe in the autumn sunshine whilst tiny leaves fall on me like a sprinkling of yellow confetti
Autumn sort of snuck in overnight here in the south of England. Woke in the morning and it was suddenly much darker than the day before, no sun, drizzly rain and blustery wind, the children suddenly noticed the trees were losing leaves and my daughter demanded school tights rather than socks!
I am watching everyone’s comments on the dropping temps with a close eye. My partner and I are visiting the UK for the whole month of December and I’ve quite forgotten how to dress for the cold!
Love your rainbow blanket - I really want to get more into crochet this winter. I have moved to Germany this week for my year abroad. So I am reporting to you from Freiburg, in the Black Forest! My three things start with yellow crispy five point leaves on the ground, holding it in my palm felt like holding an earth bound star. Second huge red vines covering all the old buildings in Freiburg like draped autumn decoration, a brilliant colour match the yellow, whites and blues of the shutter and buildings here. And finally, everyday now I pass pink spindle berries next to the peachy roses (still blooming!) on the way to my deeply unattractive student accommodation. It’s helps a little to have this beauty before all the concrete buildings!
Thank you for your report from Freiburg Ella - so vividly observed as usual. Enjoy your year abroad - hope it’s going well and you aren’t too homesick. How is your injured ankle? Hope it’s not holding you back in your new place. Take care! X
So kind of you to remember Sue about my foot. Yes actually I am on crutches so I am finding it a bit difficult but I am determined to explore so I’m really testing the limits of what my foot can do. I am quite a homey person as well so I am a little homesick, but it’s helped by the fact that I have German family and so German culture feels a bit familiar to me. Thank you for asking 🧡
How lovely that we are going to have dispatches from Freiburg! Hope you are settling in well.
What a beautiful image of gorgeous bright colours Ella! Hope you have a brilliant time on your year abroad. You’re certainly in a fantastic place.
Thank you Anne 😊 Yes Freiburg is a really special place - I didn’t realise before coming quite how beautiful it was! I feel lucky
Amazing blanket!! Surprise roses in bloom and blossom-esque buds on trees, alongside mulchy leaves and mushrooms in the cracks in the steps at the bottom of the garden xx