Scarlet

For me, this autumn's colour is scarlet red. Of course, golds, oranges and browns prevail, but I am struck by the beautiful and varied shades of red that abound in the garden and the hedgerows around where I live. Has anyone else noticed the huge abundance of berries this year? If the old wives tails are true regarding heavy crops of them, then we look to be in for a very harsh winter indeed.

We woke to our first heavy frost of the year yesterday, the pale watery sunlight doing little to warm us up. The garden has suffered and those annual plants that were clinging on to life have sadly taken a turn for the worst and have gone brown overnight.

The end of year clear up has begun. Beautiful, sweet apples have been harvested, ready to be made into pies and crumbles.

The crab apples have done really well this year and I may have a go at turning them into jelly for cold meats and cheese. I haven't made it before, so if anyone can recommend a good recipe I could try?

We have also had a huge crop of grapes this year. Some have been juicy and delicious and other varieties have been tart and inedible. Ideal for wine actually, but something that has gone by the board in recent years. So many other things take up man person's time. Such a rare commodity living as we do. Chickens, bee keeping, 4 acres of garden and woodland to manage, a puppy, chopping logs, general maintenance and school runs and a part time job...did I mention a puppy?

A couple of reasons not to get a puppy.......The slippers were originally a size 9, made of leather and perfect for man person to go about his daily business. Now they would fit littlest fairy who is a size 3!

This was once a snuggly, soft, warm bed for a snuggly, warm dog...not anymore. I have lost count of the number of times that I have had to sew the stuffing back inside, and every time I do...well see for yourselves!


So, back to scarlet then, beautiful, gorgeous, vibrant scarlet..

Happy, Autumn everyone!!!!

Dev x

Time

It has rained almost steadily for 4 days out of 5 now, not that I am complaining you understand. I love the rain. I love the sound of it, I love the smell of the earth when it is wet, I love the way it cleans away the summer dust and freshens the tired foliage in the garden. It all looks lush again doesn't it?

However, slowly but surely it's time for the autumn foliage to take over from the summer flowers and shrubs. Everything is jewel coloured here at the Fairyglade, Amber, ruby, emerald, citrine ...

It’s the time of year to check on the wood supplies, is there enough to get us through the coming cold months? I think this little lot might last us a while!

It’s time to go through the wardrobe, pull out jumpers and cardigans, find hot water bottles at the back of the kitchen cupboards. Pull out an extra blanket from the airing cupboard, (how I wish I had an airing cupboard).

It’s time for dressing gowns and slippers.

So cute and sold in aid of breast cancer

It’s time to get on with Christmas crafts and make lists. Who had what last year, who will get what this year?

It’s time to use words like snuggle, cosy, crunchy, crisp in our blogs.

It’s time to get on with winter crafting, knitting and crochet with soft wool which is too warm to handle in the heat of summer.

It’s time to eat stews and casseroles again, with winter vegetables from the garden, leeks, parsnips, late potatoes, carrots. Sticky toffee pudding and custard. Porridge for breakfast.

It’s time to close the curtains at tea time, light the lamps and candles, put a log or two on the fire.

Time for reading by the fireside with mugs of hot tea from a teapot with it's own blanket...

from this......................

To this.....though it still needs a bit of work and different flowers I think.

Essentially, it is time to slow down, take stock, prepare, anticipate and appreciate all that is beautiful and comforting at this time of year.

Dev x

Giants

There is a definite nip in the air lately, has anyone else felt it? The nights are drawing in and the early mornings are damp with dew. The birds are quieter, the corn is being cut and harvested, there are subtle changes in the garden.

A slight fading of the foliage, not necessarily noticable in the heat of the day.


Berries in the hedgerows, seed heads, fields empty of their crop. And the smell in the air, hard to define, but earthly and damp.




The days are still warm though, the weekend for us was a scorcher and so there was nothing else for it, but to head to the beach and swim, and swim and collect pretties.


We are always on the lookout for stones with holes in them, and if we are really lucky, find ones that have crystals formed inside them. Sparkly and glittery, like diamonds, but hard to photograph.


Then there is this delightful place, set high on the cliffs, one of the areas best kept secrets. So much so, that I have lived in the area for 12 years and only discovered it's whereabouts last year.

As you sit with your ice cream in the summer sun, this is the view from your seat. A small paved area and a ricketty fence is all that stops you from falling down a very long way.
Not much time for crafting this week, but lots of sun and sand and fun and swimming and walking on the beach as the sun falls towards the horizon.

Not such a little fairy after all!

As I say, not much crafting, except that I did manage to put together my swap goodies and get them in the post to my secret partner, I in turn await my parcel from an unknown destination. A great twist to the swapping game. None of us know who we are to receive our goodies from, we only know who we are making things for. Alas, I cannot show the photos, because in my haste to get them posted, I forgot!

Have a couple of WIP that I will be listing in the Fairydell shortly.

Enjoy your week everyone.

Dev x