Autumn Afternoon

After a week of very dubious grey, wet weather when often it felt like we were existing in perpetual twilight, today felt like the most blessed gift. All day long we were treated to the bluest of skies filled with bright, energising sunlight and it was so so so so good. Oh, SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I realise I'm pretty obsessed with light, and crave it almost as much as I crave colour. This seems to be an all year round thing, but I am aware that my obsession ratchets up a notch at this time of year as we approach the end of British Summer Time. On Sunday our clocks go back, and our hours of daylight shrink for a while - I'm counting down the days until Winter Solstice (7 weeks and 6 days) when I shall be celebrating the shortest day. I'll be lighting all the candles and illuminating all the strings of fairy lights and rejoicing in the fact that our days will be lengthening again little by little.

Anyhow, gosh sorry, I had in no way meant to go on (and on) about the light, but I had meant to expand on how utterly glorious it was out there this afternoon. We walked at Bolton Abbey, taking a long circular route all through the woodland on both sides of the river. The Little People were in fine fettle and despite the crowds (it's half term here, and there's always a very popular Halloween Trail at Bolton Abbey) we enjoyed a fabulous few hours tramping along the woodland pathways. 

My eyes were overjoyed by the Autumnal colours, and I feel hugely inspired for all the creative possibilities that these colours promise to deliver in the coming months. My next blanket is called "Woodland" and I'll be able to tell you more about that and show you my chosen colour palette in a couple of weeks.....I am beyond excited, to the point where I am obsessing about it. No bad thing I guess, as a lot of my obsessing does happen internally and doesn't really interrupt normal daily life too much. You might walk past me in the street and have no idea that my head is totally filled with leaves and acorns.

Talking of acorns, I've not forgotten I promised you a tutorial for my crochet oak leaves and acorns, I'm hoping (if the light stays good) to photograph that tomorrow.

At the end of our walk, we sat outside one of my favourite cafes (second to last photo above, it's the Strid Wood Tea Rooms) in the sunshine and enjoyed a most delicious late afternoon treat. There were tall, chilled glasses of pink strawberry milkshake and a caramel and marshmallow "Spider's Nest" for the Little People, and a cappuccino and a shared slice of the most fantabulous Toffee Apple Cake for J and I. The cake was incredible, and I can't stop thinking about it. I've been searching online to try and find a recipe, but I can't find anything that looks quite like what we had. I will have to make sure we head back there again very soon so I can conduct some more extensive research rather than simply inhaling the aforementioned cake whilst mmmm-MmMMmm-nomnom-ing. Sounds like a plan.

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Comments

[Karen]

This toffee apple cake looks rather splendid: http://thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.uk/kates-sticky-toffee-apple-caramel-cake/

[Ellen Preston]

I really enjoy reading your blogs, and seeing where you go and love your photos. Thank you for being kind and sharing. God Bless you. From Western Australia, where we have endless sun and sometimes too much heat for my liking.
I am drawn to your beautiful colour bright and happy. Thank you again.
Hugs from me. 😊🌻🕊🌹🇦🇺☕️

[Margaret Simpson]

As always your photo's are superb Lucy. The light and colours are a feast for the soul. Bless you. 😊🇦🇺