October is marching on, and although I've settled into a 'sort of' routine I haven't managed to post as much as I would like. I think it has just taken me a little longer to adjust than I originally anticipated.
Life is very good, however, and with weekdays now being filled with work and school it has been even more important for us to make the most of our precious time together at the weekends. Therefore, when Lily came home from school last week with a little note requesting we go out and search for signs of Autumn, it didn't take much persuading for us to gather together our warm socks and boots and head off into the woods.
We ambled through the fields, which have become incredibly muddy over the last couple of weeks. Being careful of my footing I was very glad of my new 'sorry I forgot your birthday' field boots. The hedgerows are full of berries with bursts of red everywhere and there were still plenty of Rosehips for the picking, the birds having seen off the last of the elderberries. Although the sky was grey, the air was warm and still and it didn't take long for jackets to be removed.
Since our last walk the woodland floor had become covered with leaves. On the pathway beneath the now scant canopy of the trees they had turned brown and squelchy, but in the clearings where the track opened up there was a great variety of colour, the russet, yellow and orange underfoot in sharp contrast to looking upward at the black silhouette of the tree branches against the murky sky.
At this time of year my inner child never tires of kicking through the leaves, so when Lily is around I make the most of every opportunity, along with trying to catch some as they fluttered down on us from above. We gathered leaves of each colour to take into school along with a handful of conkers.
J. X
Oh, I'd definitely say you've found autumn! What a lovely school assignment! Autumn is still a long way away for us, over here. It was 100F yesterday! :D
ReplyDeleteIts was a lovely way to spend our morning Bless. The weather has become much cooler here during the last week. X
DeleteI think this is the best of autumn, while the leaves are still crisp and not so mushy underfoot, and there's still a little warmth left in the sun. Half term will soon be here and they you'll, hopefully, be able to get out together a little more.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful time of year. There have been so many more leaves on the ground this week following the stormy weather. Plans have already been made for the half term week :-) X
DeleteSuch lovely warm colours - I used to love our nature walks at school. The leaves have really dropped now after the windy weather from the hurricane.
ReplyDeleteI was wading through the leaves this week following the bad weather! X
DeleteI think you definitely did, loving all the colourful, scrunch you leaves and what a good display of pumpkins xx
ReplyDeleteThe pumpkins give such a gorgeous splash of colour. X
DeleteOh yes, that is ~definitely~ autumn. 🎃🎃
ReplyDeleteBut you’re right about the mud, our favourite walk down by the river is a complete no-go at present.
I just know I will be falling in the mud one of these days! I am very happy to have my new boots. X
DeleteNothing like a beautiful walk to stir the senses. x
ReplyDeleteIt manages to stimulate all the senses at this time of year. X
DeleteBeautiful, beautiful Autumn.
ReplyDeleteI love that we have an October 31st family birthday that can be hijacked for a Halloween themed party and a November 5th wedding anniversary that can double as a barbecue and fireworks party.
I don't know if we will be doing an of them this year though due to work and all that stuff that gets in the way.
Maybe I will get my fix of Autumn colour by going up to the woods at the weekend.
Hugs-x-
It's a busy time of year Sheila. It's such a shame when work gets in the way of the fun stuff. Enjoy your walk in the woods. X
DeleteYou certainly did find autumn and such a beautifully written post and wonderful photographs. The inner child never leaves us, who doesn't like scrunching those autumn leaves underfoot, although you did say squelchy didn't you :) I hope Lily is enjoying school and what a wonderful homework task for you to enjoy together.
ReplyDeleteThank you Eileen. The leaves were squishy in the more dense part of the woods but there were plenty for the kicking in the clearings. It would be wonderful if all schoolwork was like this. X
Deleteyou found a nice array of autumn bits :)
ReplyDeletedid you buy a pumpkin?
I didn't want to buy one too soon, as when I have done before they have always gone a bit mouldy. I would love to know the best way of keeping them at their best. X
Deleteusually, a cold, dark place works well. I've kept them a few weeks before chopping them up and freezing them. A garage, maybe? x
DeleteThank you CT. I've tried that before but there's always part that's gone soft. Maybe I've just been unlucky. I'll get one this week. 🎃
DeleteYou certainly did Jules, what a beautiful walk. The inner child in me wouldn't have been able to resist having a ball in the leaves either.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I love to kick about in the leaves. X
DeleteI think you found autumn too, beautiful. There is something about the emerging colours that help soften the goodbyes to summer.
ReplyDeleteThe colours of the leaves are beautiful aren't they? I understand they are affected by the preceding weather. X
DeleteBeautiful photos. I love autumn, though where I live we don't see the change in colors.
ReplyDeleteThank you Nil. I love to see the changing colours at this time of year. We are fortunate that the countryside around here shows them off to their best. X
DeleteYou certainly did find autumn. What a lovely piece of homework. Wish it was all like that :) xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Suzanne. Not bad homework to have at all. X
DeleteSo beautiful. This time of year is just so pretty, mud and all! x
ReplyDeleteIt is so pretty Sadie. I'm not sure about the mud, however.X
DeleteI think you definitely found it! Our weather in Denver has been so warm (not hot, but very Indian summery) so because we had a day of snow a week ago my fall-o-meter is kind of confused! Lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteThank you Pom Pom. Snow! How wonderful. I do hope we get some this Winter, although I'm not surprised it's confused you. X
DeleteLovely post, I still can't resist coming hope without gathering a pocket full of finds, from leaves to pine cones. The storm had blown all the Sycamore seeds along the side of the road, I spent a very few happy moments throwing them up in the air to watch them "spin" in the wind. When the children were little, you could make a wish if you caught a leaf.
ReplyDeleteAmanda xx
Thank you Amanda. Now you're just giving me ideas with the Sycamore seeds :-) It's a great time of year for children (and adults) to be outdoors. X
Deletelove the pictures of the leaves and pumpkins
ReplyDeleteThank you sol. The display was lovely, especially with the leafy backdrop. X
DeleteSuch an evocative post, a lovely record of autumn. Hope your cold has gone by now x
ReplyDeleteThank you CT. I enjoy making a record of days like this. Unfortunately the cold hasn't gone yet and is still lingering on. X
DeleteI've recently moved from coast and countryside to the town. Having read your post - I must go in search of some woods!
ReplyDeleteOh yes! Do find some woods Lucy. They are such a delight at this time of year aren't they? It must have been quite a shock to move to unfamiliar surroundings. I'm sure you'll find there's lots to discover. X
DeleteOh Jules, you have such a lovely way of writing.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy my visits to your blog reading and seeing what has been happening.
I too have an inner child which seems to come out at this time of year. I love to kick through the leaves, especially so when out and about with the grandchildren.
Your Autumn Bounty looks a very good mix to take into school.
Enjoy your weekend and half term too.
My good wishes.
All the best Jan
Thank you Jan. Your kind words mean a lot as writing does not come naturally to me. Following the strong winds there have been even more leaves to kick through. I consider it obligatory. It's good to read you've been enjoying the same with your grandchildren. X
DeleteThanks for taking me along on your walk, lots of lovely sights you saw.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Julie. I hope you enjoyed it. X
DeleteBeautiful! We have sunshine today and the leaves on the trees at the bottom of the garden are golden in the sunlight.
ReplyDeleteWe've enjoyed some beautiful sunny days of late which have shown off the colours of the trees at their best. X
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