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

Hector

I would like to introduce you all to Hector the whippet.

He is the sweetest little things you could ever wish for...or at least he was when we brought him home all the way from Suffolk. A warm, cuddly, shy, sweet smelling pup. Now 2 weeks on he has found his feet and his teeth and my slippers, shoes, toilet rolls, cables, remote controls, teddys, knitting, door frames and anything that basically moves or looks as if it might!

Can you see the glint in his eyes, he is watching and waiting and ready to pounce. He loves the garden, and eating the flowers and the leaves and the shrubs and the bulbs, not to mention the wheelbarrow and spade, the broom, the fence posts, oh and the washing on the line!

He is the naughtiest dog in the whole wide world and we love him to bits already. He in no way replaces Hamish, how could he? Hamish was part of our family for nearly 15 years, but he does fill that huge gap that was left in our lives.

The house is a mess, the garden has had to be fenced off in parts to protect delicate new plants, we are absolutely exhausted as he thinks that 5 am is playtime and we have spent an absolute fortune in Petsmart!

Oh dear, bad puppy!!

He is just so darn cute and wiggly and cuddly and bitey and chewy and mischevious but he has enriched our lives and made us happy again.