Sunday 27 September 2015

A World Where There Are Autumns

Gentle Reader ~~~ I am an Autumn girl through and through. I love everything there is about Autumn ~~~ the cooler days, the lowering sun, the gentle breezes, and all the jewelled colours of the slowing year ~~~ I even love the wild storms that lash the coast as they pound in from the Atlantic Ocean turning everything grey and salt kissed ~~~ and

~~~ I love the fun things to do ~~~

~stomping through fallen leaves~

~watching the colours of the land, sea, and sky turn with the changing year~

~wrapping up with my favourite fingerless mittens and scarves~

~sipping mugs of steaming hot chocolate~

~toasting crumpets, thickly slathered with butter and jam~

~decorating the cottage with Autumnal flavours~

~cooking and eating the warmer, richer, soups and stews of Autumn~

 ~gathering berries and nuts~

~walking in the woods~

~Hallowe'en~

~Thanksgiving~

~Pumpkins ~

~~~ and so much more ~~~

Oh! and Downton Abbey ~~~ but worry not, my lips are sealed ~~~ it is on as I write ~~~ and I can keep a secret {or ten} ~~~

~~~but most of all I love that Autumn gives us hope for the following year in the form of seeds that slumber through Winter and burst forth in the rebirth of Spring to the full blown beauty of flowers that follow in Summer~~~

For me, Awe~tumn is truly the most Awesome season of them all, and to misquote one of my favourite authors,

"I'm so glad I was born in a world where there are Autumns"

Earlier this week we had the Autumn Equinox ~~~ one of just two days each year {the other being the Spring Equinox} when the day and night are of equal length. From now until the Winter Solstice the days shorten and nights lengthen and the world of the Northern Hemisphere is slowly winding down and preparing to sleep ~~~

In The Shire, we are blessed by some truly lovely Autumn weather. After a Spring that failed to spring, and a Summer that was more like a damp squib, Autumn is bringing very pleasant temperatures with little or no rain, and quite a bit of sun.  The days are comfortably warm, with cooler evenings for snuggling under warm quilts and blankets ~~~ the projected forecast for the next ten days seems agreeable and there should be good opportunity to do any necessary tidying up and preparing the garden for Winter ~~~

Here is a little poem from one of my favourite childhood books, "A Child's Garden of Verses"

Autumn Fires 
by Robert Louis Stevenson 

In the other gardens
  And all up the vale,
From the autumn bonfires
  See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over
  And all the summer flowers,
The red fire blazes,
  The gray smoke towers.

Sing a song of seasons!
  Something bright in all!
Flowers in the summer,
  Fires in the fall!
~~~~~


The colours are changing, the leaves are falling, and the last fruits of the year ripen on the boughs.  Here are a few images from around the Garden to capture those last magical moments, the jewelled colours of the year before all is touched by Winter's frosty kisses ~~~

Jewelled Lusciously Juicy Jewels of Black, and Red Ripening, Blackberries

Turning Leaves

Red Turning Leaves


Glossy Red Apples Ripening on the Boughs
A Cascade of Apples

Purple, Velvety~covered Clematis

Clematis with Wind Flower

Clematis

Autumn Fruiting Raspberries ~ Yum!

The colours of the evening skies are changing too, being more muted, subtle shades of the scorching colours of a Summer sky ~~~ the world turns, and everything changes ~~~


A final note of birdsong in the Autumn Garden ~~~



Until next time
Sincerely yours
Deborah






23 comments:

  1. Dear Deb, you described my favorite time of year beautifully! I'm an October baby and I seem to recall you are also? Maybe that's in our makeup from birth in autumn! Your photos of the beautiful jewels hanging on until frost or human or birds enjoy, are so juicy looking! Some of my favorite childhood memories involve picking blackberries alongside the roads. I do love Anne's thoughts about autumn as well--one of my favorite books of all time. And of course A Child's Garden of Verses is lovely as well--particularly if you have Tasha Tudor illustrated version. Your last photo appears to be looking out to the sea---I love it! Let's enjoy every moment of this beautiful time of year! xoxo ♥

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    1. I've often wondered, Martha Ellen, if being an October baby has a bearing on my intense passion for October, yet I know many who are born in Spring who feel the same way about this time of year. The Anne books are amongst my favourites too, even as an adult I still visit Avonlea and The Island. I do not own the Tasha Tudor copy of A Child's Garden of Verses, maybe one day? Yes, it is looking out to sea, it is about a mile as the crow flies. Thank you for your kind words, and I hope you are going to enjoy some of my upcoming entries which I'm working on! xoxo

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  2. Deborah I love your list of fun things to do, I love all those things, the only thing I don't enjoy is my bones tend to ache more in the cold, but I guess that comes with getting older . I enjoyed the bird song xx

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    1. Ah, I am aching in the knees from kneeling to weed yesterday afternoon, but when the bones are aching, the mind is revelling in all the good and fun things to enjoy at this time of year. I'd hoped the birdsong would be as I was hearing it, but each time I hit record it is as if they knew and became quiet. xoxo

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  3. Oh, Deb! So sweet to hear the birdsong near your apple tree! I love your long list of fun Fall activities! Thank you for saying that Autumn holds hope for the future in its seeds. I will cherish those words. Autumn has always felt like a sad ending to gardening days for me. I am truly a Springtime girl ~ always excited about fresh, new beginnings!

    The beautiful colors of Autumn are a special treat! I love the Autumn holidays, the nesting, soups, and cozy quilts. Our late afternoon skies over Chicagoland have just cleared, so we are all excited to watch the Super Blood Moon Total Eclipse tonight! It should be so lovely! I will be waving under the full moon, Deb! Another wonderful post, sweet friend! ♡

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    1. Your kind words touch my heart. Thank you, my friend. Each season has a reason and purpose, and one cannot be without the other three {oops, did that just rhyme?}
      I have just been out to peek at the moon, but it looks about the same size as usual, so maybe it will appear larger later. It is now just approaching eleven and the decision must be made to stay up or set an alarm for two in the morning {ugh} Our tides will have a massive range of about 26 feet, so surges expected, thankfully no storms accompanying! ~~~Deb xoxo

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  4. I will admit it freely, I love Autumn because I am an October baby! The smells and scents...the colors and hues...ah, the foods! Thanks for the lovely photos and the poem is perfect. The birdsong is bittersweet for me. I have had to take down my birdfeeder and am missing the birds terribly. I am glad your Autumn is so nice for you weather-wise. After your Spring and Summer you deserve it.

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    1. I know you do, my October Baby Friend! I'm with you all the way.
      I am so sad about your bird feeders, for I know how much you enjoy them. Hoping that your weather calms down and soon your days will be cooler and more comfortable. ~~~Deb xoxo

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  5. Delightful, as always. Love all your berries and fruits. So much to harvest. Wonderful. Our moon is huge and red and eerily eclipsed. Wonderful view of it tonight! Jane xo

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    1. Thank you Jane. Yes, there is so much to harvest and our storec upboards are quickly filled! Deb xo

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  6. Hello, Autumn-loving friend! Such a lovely time of year you are enjoying...A true and proper Fall! I love your list of favorite Autumn things. And, oh, your little video...Love it! Such beautiful apples and sweet bird songs. Thank you for sharing a little of your beautiful shire with us! Hugs from across the sea ~ Donna E.

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    1. Oh, I hope your temperatures start to cool for you too, from one Autumn loving friend to another. So happy you enjoyed your visit ~~~Deb xoxo

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  7. A full-of-wonder post about Awe-tumn (a wonderful term!). I love your list. I would add to it our yearly get-away into the mountains to enjoy the autumn colors. I have wonder-filled memories of packing my family into the car and spiriting them away for this time away together--hiking the trails, especially when we knew we'd find a waterfall or two. Thanks for the memories your post has brought back.

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    1. Thank you Cathy ~ I could have made that list much, much longer and I know you could help! I love waterfalls found on hikes ~ why I loved Iceland so much, it could easily have been called Waterfall~land! Deb xoxo

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  8. I am a child of Autumn. My birthday is next week. I am hoping to take a drive up North. Fall doesn't show up so well near the beaches. I have made some apple treats, but I surely would like a taste of your red raspberries. Are these a different variety than what we get in July??
    I too like the children's book you mentioned. I have my copy and the copy I bought when my son's were wee ones. Someday I would like to ride the bouncing bus in London. (Do you know that poem?) I have the Tasha Tudor book Martha Ellen mentioned also.
    You have inspired me to go walking this morning.
    ~~~xx (waving while throwing kisses)
    Margot

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    1. Hello Margot ~ I've missed you! I hope all is well. Yes, the raspberries are Autumn fruiting ones, very different to my July and August varieties. Penblwydd Hapus {in advance} Happiest of Birthday Days for next week! ~~~Deb xoxo

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  9. Lovely pictures, as always. I am an autumnal man, as you know, I adore autumn. I did not know this poem by Stevenson, so thank you for sharing.

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    1. thank you Guillaume ~ yes, I am enjoying reading all your posts on the run up to Hallowe'en! I am always searching for poetry, and any literary snippets, about Autumn. So many books to scour, but someone has to do it! Deb

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  10. Wonderful post! I too absolutely love autumn, such a wonderful time of year, definitely my favorite season! :) All of your pictures are beautiful, and that video of birds singing and the beautiful red apples was very pretty! I love Robert Louis Stevenson, I hadn't heard that poem before, now I need to go and see if I have it in one of my poetry books, I grew up reading his poetry. Happy Autumn!! :)

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    1. Thank you April ~~~ the RLS poem is from A Child's Garden of Verse {if memory serves me correctly} I still have my childhood copy, now many decades old. Autumn Blessings! Deb xo

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  11. Great post! I absolutely adore Autumn and feel so blessed to be living in Montreal, Canada, where we have the four seasons. I would be so bored living in a country that has just one season, to be honest. Your photos are beautiful and captivating! Interesting, I added a poll on my blog just a couple of days ago asking people what their favourite season is and so many, like myself, love Autumn! :)

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  12. Just love this time of year with all the richness around.
    Fondly Michelle

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  13. Hello, I just discovered your lovely blog via Morning Musings. I am so envious of the beautiful fall pictures you have shared. It's my favorite time of year too but since moving to southern California it's taken on a different look. I love the fall colors and cooler weather. Wishing you a wonderful day. Pat xx

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