So no more denial, Autumn has landed and I have made my peace with the change of seasons. I have, honestly! Can't say I'm embracing it fully and utterly, but I am certainly enjoying what is on offer in the way of beautiful light and colourful foliage.
The season of damp, misty mornings is once again making us late for school as we stop and marvel at my neighbours bush of spider web hammocks....
...I loved the lace effect going on here, and imagined this whole bush must be full of very industrious, talented spinning spiders.
There is a very fulsome bramble at the end of our street, the result of a very elderly neighbour with a very overgrown garden. The brambles tumble over a high wall right above the pavement, and we've enjoyed a few surreptitious harvests in recent weeks. A lovely, seasonal taste which reminds me of childhood.
Autumn leaves always make me happy, and this year the trees in my neighbourhood are putting on a really marvellous show. I just can't get enough of these colours blowing about my feet as I walk.
We've enjoyed plenty of sunshine just lately, which makes me think that Autumn can be pretty lovely really if I just give it a chance....look how beautiful the light is....
.....everything looking so bright and clear, but with the unmistakable golden tinge of Autumn.
There have been wet days in October too, it hasn't all been about sunshiny jaunts and pretty blowy leaves. Last week we had a good bout of the wet stuff, it came as a bit of a shock to tell the truth and for the first time this season I dug out my red boots for the school run. That was quite a good moment actually, I am really still madly in love with those boots. {trying to find a current link to the aforementioned boots but they aren't to be found any more....however I did do a bit of a crazy dance over these petrol boots!
On Sunday we lit the fire for the first time since the Spring, what a complete joy. This ritual is something I very much look forward to every year, I think our humble house is made super-special by the ability to set fire to stuff inside it. I'm looking forward to many happy evenings pushing J out of the way and getting myself right there where he is, with crochet in hand.
On Monday it was my Birthday, forty seven years of age which seems comical and absurd to me. How can I possibly have clocked up that many years? How? Age does not bother me one bit, just numbers to dance around as far as I'm concerned, but I do like to celebrate Birthday-days. This year J had booked a couple days off work so we had the luxury of taking off after the school run on Monday to go walk in the woods.
Bolton Abbey is just such an easy peasy place to park up and stroll, and during a weekday morning it was deliciously unpopulated. We had whole stretches of the high path to ourselves so I could gather pretty leaves and take photographs of my hands without feeling like an eejit.
These heart shaped yellow leaves always capture my attention every year, I love the way they look as if they are made of something else other than leaf. Such glorious, undiluted colour.
There is still a lovely amount of greenery in the woodland, both in the treetops and all across the rocks. What is it about a mossy rock (or a whole collection of mossy rocks) that is so pleasing to look at? I do enjoy a good bit of mossy landscape.
Moss and rocks and water pools and copper coloured leaves, it was all very uplifting and put me in a fabulous mood for a Birthday coffee at the café afterwards. I had a really lovely day.....
....in fact I was a bit like Royalty and managed to make my Birthday celebrations stretch across FOUR whole days this year, oh yeah! Starting out last Friday when J and I drove across to the Yorkshire coast. Can you see me smiling broadly in the above shadow? We had such a wonderful, wonderful time away, my man and I, enjoying a two night stay in a teeny tiny cottage at my most favourite place Robin Hoods Bay. It was bloomin' great. Happy October Autumn days..............
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I found your blog through a Crochet Addicts share on fb with a link to your holly leaf pattern. Then followed some of your links. I love the pics and your writings about your adventures. I love the outdoors as well. I live in the mountains of PA, USA and love it. Seeing England someday is a dream of mine. Thanks for sharing a bit of your life. God bless.
Posted by: Nan | December 07, 2015 at 01:20 AM
Where are your shoes from?
Posted by: Angela | October 21, 2015 at 09:51 PM
First a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! to one of my favorite online "friends"! So happy you and your man were able to get away and enjoy some "you" time together! How wonderful.
Your photos are so beautiful. I can, after looking at them for a few seconds, close my eyes and imagine myself there on the edge of the water - one of my very favorite place to be. and can feel my body relaxing so nicely! thank you, Lucy, for taking us along on your lovely walks...since we don't have a lot of color change here in Southern California, enjoying yours along with you brings back memories of childhood days in the Northeast US with fall colors and cooler temps. So nice after a long, hot summer!
Bless you, Lucy. For all you do for all of us! I hope you have some idea of how much inspiration you provide for so many around the world! And how much so many of us enjoy "walking along with you" on your jaunts - whether it be at the shore or just in the fields are areas around your neighborhood - they call come alive for us as we join you.
Blessings to you and your lovely family!
Posted by: Carol | October 20, 2015 at 08:39 PM
So much joy to be found! I LOVE the photo of the leaves and your feet - your shoes look like beautiful, shiny conkers!
Posted by: Miriam | October 19, 2015 at 09:49 PM
Belated Happy Birthday, the boots are....HOW MUCH???!!!
Posted by: mags | October 19, 2015 at 05:08 PM
Happy Birthday, Lucy. I too celebrated a birthday on Friday. I turned 72. I also had a wonderful day spending it with family.
Thank you for sharing your life with us. Love your postings. I so look forward to reading them.
And your pictures are very professional like.
XOXOXO
Posted by: Penny | October 19, 2015 at 03:01 PM
I know what you mean Lucy, where do the years go? I think the more years that pass the better we get at getting the best out of them.......Hope you had a lovely 4 days ! of celebrations with your family x
Posted by: Melanie Almond | October 19, 2015 at 01:11 PM
happy birthday to you!!! but... tell J he'll get chilblains!!!
Posted by: jo | October 19, 2015 at 12:08 PM
Happy Belated Birthday Lucy. Autumn and Winter are my 2 favourite seasons love nothing more than been cozy at home xx
Posted by: Michelle Gladwish | October 19, 2015 at 07:29 AM
Happy Birthday, dear Lucy! What a lovely celebration you enjoyed. Autumn is a beautiful season, full of colorful activity before the quiet winter season. Then along comes spring and rebirth. It's all good!
Posted by: Madeleine | October 19, 2015 at 03:24 AM
Gotta love a four day birthday! I am writing this from beside the heater, with a blanket on my lap and one dog and one cat snuggled on either side of me. Today I saw our first snowflakes. I am not ready for winter but there is an undeniable beauty in the season change that I for one relish along with you. I miss being able to go blackberry picking from English hedgerows! Your blog post made me nostalgic for another life x
Posted by: Holly | October 18, 2015 at 11:58 PM
Color is such a gift given to us by our Creator for us to enjoy! Thank you for photographing His gifts and sharing them with us. Could you post your source for the beautiful red Mary Janes again?
Cathy and Girls
Posted by: Cathy | October 18, 2015 at 02:47 PM
Happy birthday Lucy!!
I am a Libra , too. My birthday is on the 21st.
I also love birthday days and all the lovely memories they bring to my mind.
I wish you the very best!
Tina :)
Posted by: TINA | October 18, 2015 at 02:46 PM
Oh yeahhh you are a Libra too...:) Happy birthday to you,a bit delayed, long life and that this year will be peaceful and happy for both of us and the whole world too...
Today is my birthday too, so we are both celebrating
a new year of life, and life itself.
Cheers to us, and to life.
Kisses and hugs.
Gena
Posted by: Gena Resende | October 18, 2015 at 04:06 AM
Happy b-day to you, happy b-day to you. You have many years of hooking to look forward to. I am so glad I found you as your blog makes my day. Do what you want today and again, many happy returns.
Posted by: Faye Faraldo | October 18, 2015 at 12:56 AM
Well first Happy Birthday. After looking at your fall leaves, did you know you can melt bees wax and dip your fall leaf collection in it and then string them up to make a garland? Then you can view fall right in your own home!
Here in Washington State, we are so waiting for rain....it is horribly dry. Bad fires this year and our land is parched. Please send some of yours over to us, hee hee. Have a great day
Posted by: Rebecca | October 17, 2015 at 05:25 PM
Happy birthday to you! Glad you had a lovely weekend, our fire has been back in use for a few weeks now and we love that "snuggled in" feeling we get from it being on! xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | October 16, 2015 at 10:14 PM
Thanks so much for the relaxing images and read you shared with us. Your style of posts allows us to feel as if we are there in spirit as you ramble along in both your walking and writing. Inspirational and 'wanderful' ! Happy Birthday, regards, dee
Posted by: Dee | October 16, 2015 at 04:50 PM
Hope you had a wonderful birthday Lucy, greetings from Canada. It seems the older we get the years just fly by.
Posted by: laydilyke | October 16, 2015 at 04:32 PM
My birthday was also this week; I turned 36 on Tuesday. Happy Birthday!
I am new to reading your blog and am really liking it. I am starting a fall colored cosy stripe blanket today.
Posted by: Lianne | October 16, 2015 at 02:10 PM
Happy birthday! Fabulous post, fabulous pics, as ever. I so enjoy your blog Lucy, thank you!
Posted by: Annie | October 16, 2015 at 01:10 PM
Happy Birthday, and thank you for inspiring me with your posts. Have a fabulous year.
Cheers, Carol
Posted by: Carol Brocklebank-Kerwin | October 16, 2015 at 11:43 AM
Happy birthday to you! What a beautiful post. The photograph of the mossy rocks with the leaves is pretty much all of my favourite colours in one place - gorgeous!
Posted by: Fee | October 16, 2015 at 10:11 AM
Belated happy birthday lucy, pleased you had such lovely time over several days. Im well ahead of you, but also think numbers dont matter, just love trying lots of new crafty ideas and love your blog and hearing about you and you family and all that you do. Cheers carolyn.
Posted by: carolyn jackson | October 16, 2015 at 05:08 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY GIRL! And a great way to spend a birthday...thx for sharing the pictures. Autumn is my favorite time of year...all the different reds, golds, yellows mixed with the dark green of evergreen fir trees. Sunny but cool...just the bestest weather for crochet! :)MO
Posted by: Marylin Ollivier | October 16, 2015 at 04:25 AM