Absolutely, definitely peek Beech this week....in fact I think I could pin point it to November 21st precisely in my patch of East Sussex.
The air changed this week. The chill came not from the wind but from the air. The sky had a kind of glassy grey vibe which only happens in Winter. It always seems to me that the sky is numb in that state. The Rooks are mermurating as well as any Starlings, and hundreds of Gulls have been flocking in land each afternoon.
I think it is 'peak every tree' this week, the colours are glorious and we have been lucky to have had beautiful golden sunshine in which they really glow - it draws attention to how many trees are in the town too, which normally just merge into the background of familiarity.
My 3 things - a walk on a local beach on a sunny, blustery day which blew the cobwebs away, then home to my first mince pie of the year (not homemade I'm afraid!); a flying visit home by my daughter so lots of chatting, gossip and laughter and a plan to visit her in London to see the Christmas lights; and dispatches from my son in Laos where it's not quite as autumnal - tales of mountain hikes and scuba-diving with turtles - and admittedly a few tears afterwards because we do miss him :(
Drawing around huge plane tree leaves, cutting out of felt, then using miniature clothes pegs to hang the felt leaves from a ribbon to make a string of Autumn bunting for Delilah’s bedroom 🍁
We’ve spent the week in Vermont in the northeast part of the U.S. The period between the gorgeous foliage season and snowy ski season is called “stick season,” because the trees are bare. I love it! You can see mountain ridges that are usually hidden by leaves. Of course, we also saw some snow when a storm dumped about 4 inches--but rain and warmer weather have taken most of it away.
Started my recent November ritual of listening to Nigel Slater reading his Christmas book. Soothing tones and beautiful writing to describe the sounds, smells and sights of winter, interspersed with delicious recipes.
Lia! That bus photo! It looks like a perfectly composed painting. The person wearing the red pants was in exactly the right place at the right time.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving here in the US so my week was all cooking and cleaning for one big feast with family. The recipes are the same every year and are like old friends at this point. All of the food turned out perfectly (which is not always true). I’m thankful for that.
Oh that London bus picture Lia - it’s a beauty! So painterly - reminds me of a northern artist who painted street scenes in the rain with all the haloes of light reflecting off wet pavements. So this time of year too! Well, yes - peak beech time is definitely here! Officially designated November 21st ( my birthday) What has been “ this week” - pheasants in the garden again......The glorious russet/ gold of the beech hedge around our garden - now fully turned- looking stunning in the low autumn sunlight. Driving up the Ingram valley in the Cheviots we passed so many stands of stately red gold beeches - a pop of autumn colour against the duller bracken and brown grass. The particular skyscapes of late autumn/ early winter - pale silvery blues, palest peach and creamy grey clouds which make such a tender backdrop to the autumn colours below.
I love that London bus photo, Lia. This week I’ve been feeling the shift towards winter. The annual hedge cut, rained off a few weeks ago, happened yesterday. It’s the time in the garden when the clean sharp lines start emerging again. With colder weather on the way, I’m happy to know that all the tender plants have been lifted from the pots and safely in the greenhouse. And the small birds are constantly at the bird feeders.
Yesterday's morning sky was a sweep of coral red across the silhouettes of the poplar trees, showing their balls of mistletoe that have been hidden all summer.
The sun goes down behind my neighbour's roof at 2.20pm.
Garden joys - those rainbow chard plants that I randomly put in the flower beds months ago have appeared in all their shinyness after the things round them have died back.
Leaving the light of Marrakech and returning to a damp dark UK but candlight and fires seem to open up the heart at this time of year .Noticing the leaves delicately floating down into drifts and a final autumnal blaze of oranges and reds in the countryside. The city lights at night and the first mulled wine , a time for music , gigs , gatherings and smiles in a time when we need to celebrate peace and spread hope for the coming year for all 🙏
Lovely crafted comment poem, and beautiful pictures Lia - thankyou. I think everyone needs to have 'my tree.' I currently have 'my horse chestnut,' and 'my sycamore.' I'm getting to know a particularly grand oak, though he's slightly further away in the woods, and I don't get to see him so often, so I'm overcoming my shyness and hoping soon to add him to my family with encouraging touches!
Three things: Trying to find texture in those days when the sky feels particularly monochrome; Hearing the robin wear himself out bossing everybody else around in the garden; feeling once again the looming household pressure of mock exams.
We’ve had beautiful dawns this week - cirrus clouds in pink skies. Mostly turning to rain by mid morning but lovely nonetheless. Next door’s Japanese maple was a stunning red - then losing its leaves this week as the season shifts. It has felt truly autumnal this week, I’m trying not to race into Christmas (too much).
Ooh yes peak beech, it could well be!! I went for a walk around the Botanics last Friday and was noticing it. They also had their Christmas illuminations trail all set up, but it was 2pm so I didn't get the full effect 😉 We had pals round for dinner last night for an accidentally-Thanksgiving dinner: lamb curry, biryani cooked in a pumpkin with cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Very cosy, very festive!
Love that round up of late November things. All lovely. This week I’ve noticed the sudden drop in temperature alongside a beautifully clear cold moon quietly shining in the sky.
Absolutely, definitely peek Beech this week....in fact I think I could pin point it to November 21st precisely in my patch of East Sussex.
The air changed this week. The chill came not from the wind but from the air. The sky had a kind of glassy grey vibe which only happens in Winter. It always seems to me that the sky is numb in that state. The Rooks are mermurating as well as any Starlings, and hundreds of Gulls have been flocking in land each afternoon.
Do see Sue's comment, below - also Nov 21st birthday which she also designates peak beech day!
I think it is 'peak every tree' this week, the colours are glorious and we have been lucky to have had beautiful golden sunshine in which they really glow - it draws attention to how many trees are in the town too, which normally just merge into the background of familiarity.
My 3 things - a walk on a local beach on a sunny, blustery day which blew the cobwebs away, then home to my first mince pie of the year (not homemade I'm afraid!); a flying visit home by my daughter so lots of chatting, gossip and laughter and a plan to visit her in London to see the Christmas lights; and dispatches from my son in Laos where it's not quite as autumnal - tales of mountain hikes and scuba-diving with turtles - and admittedly a few tears afterwards because we do miss him :(
Drawing around huge plane tree leaves, cutting out of felt, then using miniature clothes pegs to hang the felt leaves from a ribbon to make a string of Autumn bunting for Delilah’s bedroom 🍁
We’ve spent the week in Vermont in the northeast part of the U.S. The period between the gorgeous foliage season and snowy ski season is called “stick season,” because the trees are bare. I love it! You can see mountain ridges that are usually hidden by leaves. Of course, we also saw some snow when a storm dumped about 4 inches--but rain and warmer weather have taken most of it away.
Started my recent November ritual of listening to Nigel Slater reading his Christmas book. Soothing tones and beautiful writing to describe the sounds, smells and sights of winter, interspersed with delicious recipes.
I’m reading it at the minute as I do each November too. The audiobook idea sounds great. It’s the most Christmassy of Christmas cook books.
Oh Rachel, that’s my yearly ritual too - and my daughters! And his Christmas is full of ritual too!
The London Bus glowy red tinted reflections are lovely & warming
This week
Dry, papery leaves scraping & swirling over city centre pavements - & nearly losing my scarf to the wind !
A roast chicken, fragrant with garlic & rosemary & the crispiest skin
A procession of packages arriving and being duly squirrelled away as the festive shopping begins in earnest
Lia! That bus photo! It looks like a perfectly composed painting. The person wearing the red pants was in exactly the right place at the right time.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving here in the US so my week was all cooking and cleaning for one big feast with family. The recipes are the same every year and are like old friends at this point. All of the food turned out perfectly (which is not always true). I’m thankful for that.
Love the idea of recipes as old friends
Me too - that’s how I feel about some of my Christmas ones- stuffing recipes from both our mother’s old handwritten recipe notebooks especially!
Oh that London bus picture Lia - it’s a beauty! So painterly - reminds me of a northern artist who painted street scenes in the rain with all the haloes of light reflecting off wet pavements. So this time of year too! Well, yes - peak beech time is definitely here! Officially designated November 21st ( my birthday) What has been “ this week” - pheasants in the garden again......The glorious russet/ gold of the beech hedge around our garden - now fully turned- looking stunning in the low autumn sunlight. Driving up the Ingram valley in the Cheviots we passed so many stands of stately red gold beeches - a pop of autumn colour against the duller bracken and brown grass. The particular skyscapes of late autumn/ early winter - pale silvery blues, palest peach and creamy grey clouds which make such a tender backdrop to the autumn colours below.
Do see Vicky's comment, above - also Nov 21st birthday which she also designates peak beech day!
Love your description of the colours of the sky.. dreamy x
I love that London bus photo, Lia. This week I’ve been feeling the shift towards winter. The annual hedge cut, rained off a few weeks ago, happened yesterday. It’s the time in the garden when the clean sharp lines start emerging again. With colder weather on the way, I’m happy to know that all the tender plants have been lifted from the pots and safely in the greenhouse. And the small birds are constantly at the bird feeders.
I love your golden crab apple and matching oak. With ‘peak beech’ all shades of gold through russet out on the heath.
Yesterday's morning sky was a sweep of coral red across the silhouettes of the poplar trees, showing their balls of mistletoe that have been hidden all summer.
The sun goes down behind my neighbour's roof at 2.20pm.
Garden joys - those rainbow chard plants that I randomly put in the flower beds months ago have appeared in all their shinyness after the things round them have died back.
Leaving the light of Marrakech and returning to a damp dark UK but candlight and fires seem to open up the heart at this time of year .Noticing the leaves delicately floating down into drifts and a final autumnal blaze of oranges and reds in the countryside. The city lights at night and the first mulled wine , a time for music , gigs , gatherings and smiles in a time when we need to celebrate peace and spread hope for the coming year for all 🙏
Oh I love that Su!
Lovely crafted comment poem, and beautiful pictures Lia - thankyou. I think everyone needs to have 'my tree.' I currently have 'my horse chestnut,' and 'my sycamore.' I'm getting to know a particularly grand oak, though he's slightly further away in the woods, and I don't get to see him so often, so I'm overcoming my shyness and hoping soon to add him to my family with encouraging touches!
Three things: Trying to find texture in those days when the sky feels particularly monochrome; Hearing the robin wear himself out bossing everybody else around in the garden; feeling once again the looming household pressure of mock exams.
Have a good week everyone. X
Oh we are in the throes of mock GCSEs here so I feel this v much .. love the idea of seeking texture at this time of day too x
It's mock A levels here. My heart hurts for her - not finished until Dec 23rd! Just mean!
Oh that’s not good - sending strength !
*year
Love that idea of seeking texture - and I’m a specific tree lover too, and toucher !
We’ve had beautiful dawns this week - cirrus clouds in pink skies. Mostly turning to rain by mid morning but lovely nonetheless. Next door’s Japanese maple was a stunning red - then losing its leaves this week as the season shifts. It has felt truly autumnal this week, I’m trying not to race into Christmas (too much).
Ooh yes peak beech, it could well be!! I went for a walk around the Botanics last Friday and was noticing it. They also had their Christmas illuminations trail all set up, but it was 2pm so I didn't get the full effect 😉 We had pals round for dinner last night for an accidentally-Thanksgiving dinner: lamb curry, biryani cooked in a pumpkin with cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Very cosy, very festive!
Love that round up of late November things. All lovely. This week I’ve noticed the sudden drop in temperature alongside a beautifully clear cold moon quietly shining in the sky.