In a moment of stillness, a thin film of ice forms even though the sun’s rays are present.  There is beauty in the crystallization of the surface waters.  The moment is one of relaxation, one of tranquil acceptance of the coming winter.  Yes, there will be cold and ice.  But for now, it is time to sit in the sunshine and to drink in what remains of the sun’s warmth.

Life on the reserve was in tune with nature.  During moments when the weather stormed, the community was extremely agitated.  When moments such as this appeared, the community breathed a sigh of relief and found a way to smile.

Why is it that every autumn seems to be more brilliant than the last?  Or is the intensity I’m seeing in colours this year thanks to an effort to look at the world at a slower pace?

Taking off for a weekend just the two of us to a spot in the middle of a beech forest might have something to do with it.  We boarded an ICE train in Hamburg late Friday afternoon bound for a weekend in Kaiserslautern, arriving at our hotel close to midnight after a short taxi ride.  If the journey was merely a black tunnel slashed with fleeting smudges of white and grey as the train fled south through the German countryside, the sight which greeted us from our first-floor window the next morning made up for it:  A woman walking four draught horses across a field, their breath puffing in the morning mist, splashes of yellow in the wet grass.

Out the door and down a path after breakfast, within minutes we were surrounded in the intense yellow of the beech forest.

The forest near Kaiserslautern is part of the Naturpark Pfälzer Wald, and forms the largest area of continuous forest in Germany.  Though we were only minutes from the border of a small city and from the lookout tower could see a German Premier League and 2006 World Cup soccer stadium, we walked as if the still of the path had been reserved in advance for us alone.

Though every corner brought a new combination of colour as the beech gave way to larch, European and American oak and evergreen pine, what struck me the most was its clear floor and general uniformity.  On the west coast of Canada the underbrush is so thick you can’t see  to either side of the path, while in Eastern Canada the greens, yellows, browns and reds of the dying maple leaves turns the forest into a jumble of hue.  Here the forest floor is a flat carpet of brown beech leaves, the sky above yellow.

We had to go into the city only once, and were glad we did, because its surprisingly unattractive, charmless streets  made us want to return to the beauty of the forest that much sooner.   We’d never have gone to Kaiserlautern had we not been invited to a friend’s birthday party, and it’s lucky for us she chose to hold it at Bremerhof,  where we stayed.  I can’t stay right now whether we’ll go there next fall to enjoy the forest all over over again, but it would sure be worth it.

I had the good fortune of paying a fleeting visit to this amazing city today.   As I wandered through the streets, along the lanes and stepped through ancient college doors into courtyards filled with history, I marvelled at the exuberance of the ivy-clad architecture, the fine detail of gargoyles and kings, and the marvellous atmosphere of a scholarly city.   I even contemplated the possibility of applying to study English or History .   I could not imagine anything more sublime than living in a University town and studying two of my favourite subjects.   I wonder what the lovely lithe young things would make of a ‘granny’ in their midst.   Oxford is a bicycle town and the students look quite relaxed as they dash about town, visiting friends, the library or the local pub.   As I meandered through the streets passing first the world famous  ‘Radcliffe Camera’, then under the Bridge of Sighs, into the Bodleian Library Quad and stepped inside beautiful churches ablaze with magnificent stained-glass windows, I enjoyed the sun on my face and the cosmopolitan mix of residents, tourists, a South American Pipe band, students and an eclectic mix of the strange and wonderful.

I stopped by the Carfax Tower to watch and listen to the Bell Chimes.

As always I am fascinated by the ancient graveyards and today they were dressed in their autumn finery, the leaves in colours of red, gold, yellow and orange littered the ancient paths and covered the final resting places of famous and forgotten.

The city is a fascinating mix of architecture, the college’s glow gold in the afternoon sun, the spires and domes lit up as the suns rays bathe them in a soft yellow light.   Most of the older buildings and colleges appear to have been built from the same lovely soft yellow stone that lends the city a golden colour.   Secret corners blackened with age and ravaged by the passing seasons withstand the tests of time.

I found a great site which offers a Virtual Tour of Oxford…fabulous!  Be sure to click on the various sites for a close up almost ‘right there’ feel of the city behind closed doors.

To tickle your fancy and give you a little bit of history I sourced a fantastic site on the internet (hooray for google).

a bit of a taster follows, for more info if you want to know more…visit the site

Oxford, The City of Dreaming Spires, is famous the world over for its University and place in history. For over 800 years, it has been a home to royalty and scholars, and since the 9th century an established town, although people are known to have lived in the area for thousands of years.

Nowadays, the city is a bustling cosmopolitan town. Still with its ancient University, but home also to a growing hi-tech community.

Oxford is home to a world famous university, and most of the colleges and university buildings are located in the centre of Oxford, within easy walking distance of each other.

Don’t miss the Bodleian Library,  and the nearby Radcliffe Camera, which is not open to the public, but is well worth a view from the outside.

Nearby, in Broad Street, is the Sheldonian Theatre, a venue for official university functions as well as a variety of concerts.

The University also owns the Ashmolean Museum on Beaumont Street (opposite The Playhouse), Britain’s oldest public museum.

The centre of Oxford is dominated by the University colleges, the most famous being Christ Church, Trinity, and Balliol (from a total of thirty six).

The origins of Oxford are not actually known with any certainty, being as they are, shrouded in the mists of time, but various ideas have been submitted (and disputed) regarding its genealogy.

Medieval historian, John Rous wrote in his 1490 work, ‘Historium Regum Angliae’, that Oxford was originally King Mempricius’ city, Caer-Memre, built on the River Thames somewhere between 1400 and 1500 BC.    However, other historians from Rous’ time were more inclined to support the popular legend that Oxford was in fact founded by the Trojans, after they landed on British soil in around 1100 BC.

Archaeological Evidence
Whilst there may be no definite historical basis for John Rous’ claims or for the Trojan story, there is some evidence of a settlement in Oxford possibly as early as 4000 BC.

Archaeological finds of Neolithic arrowheads and other remains from that period have been discovered in the city, and although no specific or more detailed evidence exists of an actual settlement at this time, it is known that a large Neolithic population once resided in Oxford.

In addition, a more permanent settlement between 2000 and 700 BC is suggested by evidence of Bronze Age barrows in the area.

Roman Times

Oxford in the time of the British Roman invasion appears to have been largely ignored by its conquerers. In fact, records show (or rather they don’t) that there was no town of  ‘Oxford’ in Roman times, although evidence of villas in the surrounding countryside does exist, together with a temple at nearby Woodeaton.

Instead, Brittania’s new leaders favoured Colchester, London (Londinium) and Chester, making Colchester their first capital of the new province, swiftly followed by London (once they realised the strategic importance of the River Thames).

Whilst Oxford has certainly not been recorded as being the centre of any importance during Roman times, evidence does exist of pottery kilns in the city and surrounding areas which may have supplied earthenware vessels to the new rulers of the realm. This is further supported by number of probable kiln sites unearthed in the region – at Woodperry, south of Stow Wood, Marston, Iffley, Littlemore, Kennington, and Headington (Churchill Hospital) – no doubt taking full advantage of the city’s rich clay beds.

Add to this the fact that Oxford was (and is) of course very close to the important trading highway of the River Thames, plus the fuel readily available from the Headington and Cowley woodlands, and you can see how the city would have made an ideal location for Roman industry.

Although there was no large-scale settlement in ‘Oxford’ at this time pottery making appears to have been widespread and prolific in the area. In fact, this industry is one of the earliest recorded in Oxford.

The Saxons

Although Oxford (or Ohsnafordia, as it was known in Saxon times) wasn’t really recognised by the Romans, in the Saxon age it began to assume a much greater importance within Britain. In the late Saxon period particularly, when it was positioned on a major trade route between the two powerful kingdoms of Mercia and King Alfred’s Wessex, growth was high.

St. Frideswide
According to legend, St. Frideswide was born in around 650, daughter of Mercian King Didan, and was brought up to holiness by Algiva. When proffered (and refusing) the hand of King Algar (also a Mercian) she fled her homeland to settle in Oxford and there she built an abbey (where Christ Church stands today) – reportedly to preserve her virginity.

And preserve her it did, for when King Algar followed her there and attempted to take both her and the abbey by force he was struck blind. Only St. Frideswide’s later forgiveness restoring his lost vision.

Long after her death in 735 and during the reign of Ethelred the Unready, the abbey was razed to the ground (in 1002) with Oxford’s Danish population being blamed for the burning, and a large number of them were massacred (as part of the then King’s desire to remove all Danes from England). It was later rebuilt as an Augustinian Priory, the cemetary of which has been excavated in Christ Church Meadow.

St. Frideswide is now the patron Saint of Oxford City.

Alfred the Great
King of Wessex (871 – 899) and leader of the Saxon resistance to the onslaught of Danish Viking invaders, but probably better remembered by many for the legend of his lack of culinary skills. Legend also records King Alfred as responsible for founding Oxford University, not as unlikely as it may first appear.

The Danes Revenge
During the uncertain reign of Ethelred the Unready, in 1009, the Danes sacked Oxford in retribution for the massacre of 1002 and just four years later the city, having increased in importance, was again forced to submit to Danish invasion by Swein Forkbeard and his armies. In fact, Oxford was viewed as so important during this period that Cannute (later to become king) chose the city for his coronation in 1018.

Medieval Age

After recovering from the Danish invasions it suffered in the latter part of the Saxon period, Oxford continued it’s growth and importance right into what is now known as the Medieval age. Not all ran smoothly however, as in 1138 the city suffered a huge fire which effectively burnt it to the ground.

Oxford Castle
From the Medieval age, and still very visible is Oxford Castle, originally built by Norman lord, Robert D’Oily in 1071.

In the winter of 1142, Oxford Castle became the scene of a seige when it was home to Queen Maud (Matilda), during her struggle with King Stephen. The queen only escaped the castle after her guards lowered her over the walls and, in a white dress which effectively camoflauged her against the backdrop of winter snow, she crept through enemy lines and across the Castle Mill stream to freedom.

The Black Death
Oxford was hit hard by the plague (1348 – 1350) and during this time the local colleges kept country houses outside of the city where scholars could flee, no such opportunities for the ordinary resident, however.  As a result, Oxford’s population dropped dramatically during this period, and the colleges took full and grisly advantage of the fact by buying up vacant property and greatly expanding their holdings within Oxford.

Tudor Oxford

Famous Tudor king, Henry VIII, founder of the Anglican Church left his mark on Oxford, taking control of Christ Church from Cardinal Wolsey and abolishing the study of canon law.   He instituted University chairs for medicine, civil law, Greek, theology, and Hebrew instead, marking a fundamental shift in emphasis for the University, away from its monastic beginnings.

The University

The exact origins of Oxford University are not known. Certainly many theories on how it came into being have been expounded, but none have been proved beyond a shadow of a doubt.

King Alfred
It has been said for example, that the Saxon King of Wessex, Alfred the Great could have founded the University during his reign (871 and 899), due to his very un-Saxon penchant for scholarly pursuits, and although this is not as unlikely as it might sound, no cast-iron evidence supports it.

Long after Alfred however, during the late 11th or early 12th century, it is known that Oxford became a centre of learning for clerics, from which a school or university could have sprung or evolved.

Academic Centre
Firmly established as an academic centre by the 13th century, Oxford was drawing students from across Europe for studies focused on houses established by the Dominicans (1221), Fransiscans (1224), Carmelites (1256), and Augustinians (1267). end of excerpts.

and so today in 2009, as I walked the streets of this magnificent city, I met, listened to and observed the students of today.  I wonder of they appreciate the history that surrounds them on a daily basis.

This is the kind of post that calls for a photograph, but the fact is that we drove from Dunbar to Elgin last weekend and didn’t stop for photography – it was too wet in any case. But the autumn colours this year were more brilliant than I can ever recall seeing them. Of course, Scotland isn’t New England, so we didn’t have the reds of the maples, but we had so many other colours that at times my eyes felt drunk. And not just the colours, but the textures, so varied and so characteristic. The brilliant golds of two kinds of birch – the pendulous one that looks like Japan feels, and the more compact form of the other species (hirsuta), flamed in stands by the roadside. The bronzy notes of beeches, reaching out branches like fingers, making a warm tunnel of the road, or standing majestically in the Beech Hedge at Meikleour. And I remember, in the section of road just before Braemar, seeing the gold pillars of larch shining out in the depths of the surrounding dark pines. Utterly beautiful; superlatives just couldn’t do it justice.

Then, on our last day, before the journey home, we went to Findhorn, and found the wonderful little garden outside the cafe. It had all four of the elements you expect to find in a Chinese garden – rocks, plants, buildings and water. The rocks were big, bold and hard – mostly Cullen Quartzite. The cafe building is wood and glass, light and airy. The plants too seemed chosen for their sculptural qualities rather than colour – very few flowers, but small pines, shrubs - horizontals and verticals. I spent some time in contemplation there, ignoring the noise of a Nimrod taking off from the Kinloss neighbours. So much beauty.

PS: The poem’s now written, and later I’ll post some of the Moray photos, but none of them are of Autumn colours.

Has there ever been such a vibrant, lasting blaze of Autumn colour? Here, in the East Anglia the Oaks and Poplars, Maples and Malus are showing off the very best colours of stirring autumn hues imaginable. And with every passing day of this mild Autumn the show becomes even more breathtaking.

In the garden, the abundant crops of apples still abound, and the blackberries (brambles) are nearly over, the final few pinched off by the birds. For cultivated blackberries, when the fruit has been gleaned off the bushes, cut out the old fruited canes at the base and tie in the fresh new canes to supports. With Loganberries, cut back the old and tie the new in place. Leave a gap in the centre and fill it next season with new stems, tied temporarily in a bundle.

Clean up Lavender hedges, removing the straw-like heads with secateurs, but trim rather than prune. Do this in Spring. Likewise with privet hedges where a trim will keep them tidy and orderly over the winter months.

And finally, as bonfire night approaches before the leaves get burnt, an Autumnal ditty:

Pretty leaves are falling down,
Green, orange, yellow and brown.
Here comes one coloured red,
It landed on my head.

Enjoy the season,
James

Arkansas has finally come up trumps with its autumnal weather, if a little belatedly, and today we hiked in sun and clear skies under blazing scarlet and burnt sienna foliage. If we do every manage to leave this place (more on that later if blood pressures allows), today will be one of those days to remember. For the good reasons.

NO!, not me – TIME.

The resurrection of Step By Step is taking quite a bit of my time at present.  Each photograph needs finding on my hard-drive, uploading to WordPress, editing when necessary and finally publishing.   Some of you may notice that there are no captions with the photographs.  The old ones will probably stay like this.  New ones, when I get some will be captioned.

This morning I took a short walk, doesn’t matter where, but it was beautiful.  It was one of those clear, crisp and windless mornings that occur occasionally, or at least we notice them occasionally is probably more to the point.

Today I was in no rush to get anywhere, I was simply bimbling along minding my own business when into view loomed a stand of mixed trees.  Not just any trees, but trees wearing all the different shades of Autumn – and AGAIN I didn’t have my camera!   The colours ranged from a deep and withered looking green through light yellow, darker yellow, light orange, darker orange, burnt umber, light brown, dark brown and finally scarlet – the latter some Maple type tree.

Offsetting this beauty, and by way of a contrast, the trees had all lost some leaves and gaunt, black gnarled, skeletal arms thrust through the remaining foliage as a reminder that Winter and naked skeletons of trees would soon be our daily lot.  At least until Spring.

Somehow the scene was not depressing, in it’s own way it was rather beautiful and energising.

Stryzhavka is a small quiet village in Ukraine on the border of Kiev and Cherkass regions. We spend two days there last week. Originally we planned to stay there for three days but we couldn’t make it out.

Let’s see:

• no heating in a damp house, the only method to heat a little was to fire a furnace
• toilet is outside, without a door
• wash stand is outside
• water can be taken from a well only, no taps

It wasn’t too cold anyway and we spent really good time there.

Konstantin’s grandmother lived there and now it’s just a summer house for his cousins.

The first thing that you have to do in a such place is to fire a furnace. There were also two “grubas” (sorry couldn’t find a translation). Gruba is a built-in chimney of a wall width with an orifice in it to put there wood for firing up. Couldn’t find a picture of it. But both grubas didn’t work. One had cracks in it and fumes penetrated inside and another one didn’t have draught. So, only the furnace left to us to heat the house. And it didn’t help much. But it was fun to watch Konstantin working on the problem

Furnace

So we were wearing the same outfit inside as outside.

Here’s a well from which we took water to wash, make tea, brush teeth, etc. It’s the only source of water there.

Well

What is a vacation without shashliks? *one of the recipes is under the link* It was funny! Fire didn’t want to flame up. And we thought that we will end making a steak of the meat with a pan. But we found some diesel fuel and made that fire! Modern people couldn’t lit a fire without fuel How our grannies dealt with it?!

Fire for shashliks

What else? Harvesting! that that were not harvested before

Look what I’ve found:

Super small watermelon

It wasn't tasty, but very beautiful! So reddish!

Our watermelon harvesting. Pepper is hiding behind

A lot of apples. The most delicious I've tasted as far as I remember!

Another thing we found was an abandoned boat with the grass in it.

Boat

Made photos of ourselves with the boat as background.

Me

Konstantin

As the boat wasn’t tied up we found it drifting another day. It was foggy then.

Drifting boat

Just a view from the place we washed our hands, faces, brushed our teeth. You know there is something special when you watch the river brushing your teeth. It’s so romantic! It’s so marvelous having a house standing on a river bank

Gloomy morning

Just photos of surroundings without comments.

What is the point? It’s good spend a few days with nature

Take care!

Look at some of the wonderful berries I spotted recently……

How I wished that a big ship with sails would have sailed past this scene. On a regular day that would have been wishful thinking but thanks to Tervasaaren tynnyri sailing event there were lots of them in the area.

I waited but it was always the wrong kind of ships that sailed here. Just when I was about to leave, a big white ship was doing exactly what I was waiting for. But it did a U-turn only some seconds before it was in the perfect spot.

I have done two previous posts about Bodnant garden this year, in spring and summer. This post is mainly about the autumn colours so the pictures will do most of the talking.

There are still some colourful borders and some of the roses are still in bloom, but although today was a bright autumn day we’d had torrential rain (almost 2 inches) yesterday and the flowers had taken a battering.

An autumn border, 7 October 2009

Autumn roses, 7 October 2009

There is still a lot of greenery, but this serves to show up the beautiful yellows, oranges and reds.

Shades of autumn, 7 October 2009

Shades of autumn, 7 October 2009

Autumn leaves, 7 October 2009

Autumn leaves and berries, 7 October 2009

Berries (Cornus kousa), 7 October2009

Shades of autumn, 7 October 2009

Shades of autumn, 7 October 2009

Autumn colours around the lily pond, 7 October 2009

Autumn around the lily pond, 7 October 2009

Autumn sun glinting through an old Cedar, 7 October 2009

There are still a few water lilies, 7 October 2009

Shades of autumn, 7 October 2009

What are these strange things? 7 October 2009

Splashes of autumn colour, 7 October 2009

A splash of autumn colour, 7 October 2009

Shades of autumn, 7 October 2009

Shades of autumn, 7 October 2009

Shades of autumn, 7 October 2009

Shades of autumn, 7 October 2009

Shades of autumn, 7 October 2009

Shades of autumn, 7 October 2009

Shades of autumn, 7 October 2009

Shades of autumn, 7 October 2009

Autumn leaves, 7 October 2009

Shades of autumn, 7 October 2009

To round off this colourful walk around Bodnant garden here are some photos of the wonderful Sequoiadendron giganteun. These great trees are in the Dell and have grown to over 145 feet high.

A Sequoiandrendron giganteun, 7 October 2009

Sequoiadendron giganteun over 146 feet high. 7 October 2009

Bodnant garden is a wonderful place to visit at any time of the year, constantly changing but always a great day out.

More details about Bodnant garden can be found here: http://www.bodnantgarden.co.uk/

Oscar is our working golden retriever. He comes into his own during the autumn.

His coat of fur the smell of fresh frost and the colour of crackling autumn leaves.

A blazing sunset coat of colour that matches the floor of a silent, leafy forest path.

A glowing jewel – a ruby perhaps? – to brighten up the dusk.

For more furry pets, please visit: Pet Pride.

I see quite often people coming to this blog after they have searched for Siiri Nordin so here’s another photo of her from the same gig as the original photo.

The concert was part of last year’s car-free day and tomorrow on Tuesday Helsinkians have a chance to leave their cars home and use the good public transportation network that we have here.

The fading of the leaves and a change in the light of a morning and evening.
The brilliance of the sunsets, such vivid colours seem as if a child had painted the sky with their impressions of a sunset.
The balance that appears more noticeable at this turn of the wheel. Fading glory but ripe luscious fruit on all the boughs.

It is sometimes hard to accept the move towards winter, the short , short days but balanced by longer nights. The colder spells.
Look at it another way. cold helps to kill off all the germs my nanny always said. Nature’s way of spring cleaning.
I never understood it for a long while but it is true. Her spring cleaning starts early. By cleansing she makes room for new growth.

The longer nights are a nurturing healing time after all the energy we use during the long days of summer.
In these modern times we aren’t able to live as the old ones did. After all we have electric lighting when it goes dark.

But we can spiritually and mentally. We can turn inward, have quiet times to recharge our spiritual bodies and our batteries.

It is also a good time to reflect on the things we have achieved. What is our harvest?
What dreams have we made real?

Dreams = seeds into fruit.

I woke this morning with the knowledge that my harvest doesn’t have to be a huge crop.
Look at nature, one fruit is to be celebrated.
It can be something as simple as a realisation of my place on the wheel of life.
It can be a real “thing” such as learning to spin or knitting a large item that actually fits me perfectly. Made to measure in fact.

All our triumphs are to be honoured and given thanks for.
Not just major achievements.


Autumn always affects me strongly. The beauty of the colours strikes deep within my soul. A chord of recognition that we are all part of that same marvellous journey around this wheel of life.




The symbol of which, the tree, is prevalent in many faiths.


And what grows on trees? Fruit of course:)

I woke up this morning with the thought of woods and being amongst trees. As I wasn’t able to go walking in woods we did the next best thing and visited our local arboretum and agricultural college. It was wet, there had been a very heavy dew and it made for soggy feet but it was well worth it.
The colours in the morning sunshine were so vivid and we had what can only be described as a magical moment.
These following few pictures are just a few of the dozens of butterflies that we saw on the sedum. It was the most incredible sight, every time we moved clouds of butterflies rose from the flowers.
I think this part of the garden was most aptly named don’t you?
It was extremely hard to get pictures of the butterflies as they were enjoying the nectar in the sunshine.

We managed a few pictures though:)


We saw at least 5 different varieties of butterfly in just a small section of the gardens.

The college also has many varieties of apple and pear. Sadly the same as last year they don’t appear to be picking the ripe apples. We saw many left to rot on the ground.
The evening primrose were in full flower.

These apples were just such a vivid red, I wonder if this was the variety used in Snow White?
I love the clematis seed heads.
The only good side of the rotting fruit is that it feeds the creatures in the grounds.
I’m wondering if they also grow other dyeing plants apart from Madder? Must ask next time we visit. It would be nice to suggest a dyeing corner perhaps?
Aren’t these flowers perfect for Autumn colours?

This is one of the entrances to the kitchen garden.
So many varieties of tree to be seen. Your eye is drawn down this path to see what lies at the other end.
The fungi have started to appear.

They have several Sequoia around.
They pull you in to explore further.

Lots of paths leading to other places.
A living seat and table that were extremely wet.There were still water lilies coming into flower on the pond.

More fungi that had been nibbled, possibly rabbits as there were droppings everywhere.

This one reminds me of a Cobra, waiting to strike.

Leaves are just starting to turn here.


Such a stunning silvery grey

Can you see the moon?
Fallen leaves everywhere.
and the other sign of autumn, spider webs by the dozen.


I hope you enjoyed your visit to the arboretum with us.

Last night had the first of the stunning autumnal sunsets. Just look at these untouched pictures.
Don’t they just inspire you to create? Well they do me:)
You only really get a glimpse in these photos, to actually be outside watching the transformation of the sky was an experience not to be missed.


The best sunset I’ve seen for quite a while.
Part of me wishes we had gone up to the prom to watch the sunset, but by the time we got there it would have been waning.
Best to seize the moment and the pictures at home.
Don’t you agree?
Who would want to miss the glory of this?

I’ve started another Elsewhere jacket. The colours were supposed to reflect the leaves and trees at this time of year before autumn turned them to her reds and oranges.
Methinks the Goddess had other ideas as these are more towards spring into summer colours.
No matter, I love them anyway.
They don’t look too bad knit up do they?
Then Tilly our new Ashford Traveller wheel decided to have a trip up to Cumbria to see a friend of ours. While there Cae showed me how she spins and drafts fibre. I’m very pleased so far with progress. It is getting finer:)
I took up the blue purple mix I’d first spun on the Ashford Traditional and Cae taught me how to Andean ply. Mr Mog took a tracing of the plyer in order to make me one. Andean plying works if you only have one bobbin of yarn or small bits on bobbins left apparently.You can use your hand but if you are less than dexterous or have hand problems like I do then a piece of equipment made to measure is ideal.
So I started with this bobbin of hand dyed BFL

and ended up with this gorgeous skein:) I am so proud of it:)

Next post has lots of pictures to celebrate the return of autumn, you have been warned;)

All of this within just a short stretch of canal









there were dozens of wasps around this nest but I didn’t seem to capture any in the picture






Notice the rubbish, sadly a big part of our inland waterways now:(







These pictures were taken at Ellesmere Port last weekend on a very small section of the canal towpath. It is amazing what beauty can be seen

While out this past few days I’ve noticed quite a few trees with turning leaves, most especially the chestnuts. There has also been a different smell to the air. A mix of damp leaves, soil and stuff for lack of a better word. A smell that to me spells Autumn. Autumn my favourite time of year. A season that tugs at me and says “come outside and enjoy my bounty”.
A time of fruiting trees where elderberries dance on the stem and blackberries drop to stain the ground below. Where damsons pucker your mouth when you taste them and their relatives the sloes start to change colour. Sloes, sloe gin – yummy. Although they need frost to make them ready to use.
Apples too are now fattening on the bough, I had my first discovery apple yesterday and it was gorgeous. Then too there are plums, I love plum crumble. In fact I love all the fruits as crumbles it just seems right for Autumn puddings.
Elderberry makes a great rob. A cordial that is perfect for sore throats, colds and as a general pick me up.
I love Keats poem To Autumn and thought you might like to be reminded of it.

1.

SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.

2.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap’d furrow sound asleep,
Drows’d with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

3.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,—
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

The Autumn Elsewhere jacket is finished and I love it. I love the richness of the colours and the way they have knit up.
I love the fact that no one will have anything like this because the colours are ones I dyed up.
I like the mismatched yet toned colourway
I love that it fits me, well it would as I knit it to my size but still

I just love it:)

This is the first card that I have made since I moved into my cardmaking workshop at the top of the garden…

I have used a few autumn colours .. inspired by some of the leaves on the trees that I saw yesterday that were starting to turn.

Supplies used : -

• Basic cream cardstock for the card
• Metallic Chocolate Cardstock from The Paper Mill Shop
• Basic Grey Lemonade Paper Pad
• Memories Ink – Washed Tan & Coffee
• Inssentials blending tool
• My Minds Eye Bloom and grow Stamp Set (leaves)
• My Minds Eye brown button and ribbon
• My Minds Eye Wild Asparagus gem
• Hero Arts Vintage Bloom
• Velvet flower from stash (possibly heidi swapp)
• Hero Arts Everyday Sayings Stamp Set “just a note…”

Lammas is barely over when Autumn starts knocking on the door. The fruit is ripening and the leaves are starting to change colour
The pheasant berry or Chinese nutmeg has berries showing now alongside the flowers. Soon they will be ripe and leaving purple splashes on the paths.
The elder flowers are gone but the berries are on their way
There are splashes of deep reds in quiet corners of the park
flowers and trees glowing in the sunlight
You can see the start of the autumn colour on these leaves
The conkers or horse chestnuts will soon be the target of eager children wanting to play with them. These are almost big enough already.
Don’t they look good enough to start battling with now?
The keys await the winds call to fly
The park is splendidly red for the Lammas festivities.
I wish I could capture these shades of red in my dyeing.
Brambles are ripening nicely, we will soon be able to make crumbles, fools and pies with them.
Going on from my last post on possessions, specifically books.
During my childhood I spent very long periods in hospital and in bed when at home. Books were my escape from this painful reality. They took me to places that were safe. Alice in wonderland, the Faraway Tree, all a place of safety and imagination. Books were and are old friends. They don’t just tell a story they take you out of yourself and into some other when and where. Old favourites await your joining them once more, they aren’t going anywhere and they would welcome you no matter how long it was between visits. At the age of 10 I graduated to the adult library as I had read everything in the junior one. My nan used to bring half a dozen books at a time to the hospital when visiting. I read all day and all night, there wasn’t much else to do when you were bed bound. Schooling in hospital was only a couple of hours a day, the rest I read and read. My nan introduced me to historical fiction and fact at 10 years of age, Jean Plaidy, Howard Spring and of course my (still) favourite Georgette Heyer. Historical novels reminded me of the children’s books of fantasy as they weren’t here and now but then and there. When not in hospital I visited the library most days of the week, it was a safe haven and the librarians were my friends. They used to recommend books and keep them for me. They didn’t think me a nuisance when I followed them round the library asking for more books to read. They used to ask me what I thought of each one and I did a review of what I liked or disliked about them.
Libraries and the copse behind our house were my places. A tree that I could get into to read and dream.
When I grew up I still needed to read whenever I could, my taste widened although fantasy and children’s fiction still remain my favourites. books helped me through 2 terrible marriages and kept me sane when I needed an anchor.
I read to my children and encouraged them to read. It is something I am passionate about as you can probably guess:)

STEVEN L. LAYNE Read to them

   Before the time is gone and stillness fills the room again           Read to them                                                      

   What if it were meant to be that you were the one, the only one      Who could unlock the doors and share the magic with them?            What if others have been daunted by scheduling demands,              District objectives, or one hundred other obstacles?              

   Read to them                                                         Be confident Charlotte has been able to teach them about friendship,                                                                      And Horton about self-worth;                                         Be sure the Skin Horse has been able to deliver his message.      

   Read to them                                                         Let them meet Tigger, Homer Price, Aslan, and Corduroy;              Take them to Oz, Prydain, and Camazotz;                           

   Show them a Truffula Tree.                                        

   Read to them                                                         Laugh with them at Soup and Rob,                                     And cry with them when the Queen of Terabithia is forever lost;   

   Allow the Meeker Family to turn loyalty, injustice, and war          Into something much more than a vocabulary lesson.                

   What if you are the one, the only one, with the chance to do it?     What if this is the critical year for even one child?             

   Read to them                                                         Before the time, before the chance, is gone.