Foghorns and fireworks

We began the week being serenaded by fog-horns, and have ended it to the sound of fireworks, as Guy Fawkes Night was traditionally celebrated yesterday.  There was plenty to see and hear without having to leave the house!  It's been typical November weather, damp (pouring with rain, actually) and dreary, with very persistent low cloud shrouding everything.  Not the sort of weather conducive to drying clothes!  

We spotted a few long-tailed tits flying over the garden earlier in the week, the first we've seen this year.  The green woodpecker was busy digging for worms on the back lawn yesterday, and on my one and only walk into town this week (I got wet!) I was delighted to see a red squirrel scamper across the road right in front of me, dash up a nearby tree and then stare me out from his vantage point.  It's always a treat to see these little creatures up close, it never fails to lift my spirits for the day.  I'm really hoping there's a bit of a break in the weather soon as I dislike being cooped up for so long.  A good brisk walk is required.  

There's something in the water . . .

A foggy day for the beginning of November.  Very little wind; the dampness just hung around.  However, this weather does make for some atmospheric photo opportunities, and we were out in the garden early to capture a few autumnal images.

The last few days have been damp and grey and dismal and we've not found much motivation to do a great deal.  Today, despite the fog, it was actually not too cold so we wrapped up and took ourselves off for a walk.  It was good to get out and about.

Very atmospheric ruins

We ended up at the ferry terminal, and watched the car ferry coming in.  As we watched, a movement in the water caught our attention.  It disappeared, then reappeared shortly after.  We looked at each other, fairly certain, but pretty surprised, at what we were seeing, and made our way along the shoreline in the hope of getting a better look.  And soon after, we did.  To our amazement, there was a seal bobbing around off-shore.  We have seen enough seals in Orkney to be very sure of this sighting.  It was an unexpected but delightful surprise.

We're looking at the 'blob' in the middle!

With the clocks going back last week, the mornings are lighter again and consequently we're waking up earlier.  The temperatures drop off quickly during the afternoons, though, and it's dark before we have dinner.  Winter is just around the corner.

Rewind the clocks

The clocks went back at the weekend (end of British Summer Time, and an extra hour in bed) and the weather seems to have changed too - it's got cold.  We had the first hint of a frost Sunday morning, the windows were streaming inside, and as the temperature dropped to 11 degrees yesterday afternoon - that's inside the house - we sensibly decided the heating could be switched on for a couple of hours in the evening.  

The leaves are falling very quickly, it seems.  I keep meaning to get out for a walk to capture the autumn colour before it disappears; maybe tomorrow.  We've not been out much recently, we've been trying to catch up on a few bits and pieces at home, including some of those annoying little jobs that keep being put off.  I've had to remind myself of that mantra - 'Doing it gets it done' - and once I'd decided to, of course the work got done far quicker than I thought it would.  It's always the way.

I have worked my way through the pile of mending and sewing alterations that had accumulated (sometimes I think it would be far quicker to start from scratch rather than trying to alter shop-bought clothing) so I now have a clear conscience about spending some time sewing clothes for myself.  Having had such a thorough decluttering of my wardrobe at the start of the year, I am now in need of one or two extra layers for winter so I shall be giving this some attention in the coming days and weeks.  There's also a quilt to design and make, and I'd like to make one or two gifts for Christmas this year.  

Good intentions as ever, just running out of time, as usual!!

Winter preparations

With rain forecast on and off for the rest of the week, we took advantage of some sunshine yesterday to do some more tidying up in the garden.  This season we had a good number of pots in production (tomatoes, peppers etc) and now the veg has all been cropped, all those pots needed to be emptied and cleaned.  The compost is good to use again but needed to be put through a riddle to eliminate roots, stones and such like.  It's good exercise for the stomach muscles!  The sieved soil is now bagged up and will probably be used when we come to plant the garlic for next year.   Today N is in the greenhouse cleaning pots. 

The carrots planted in the summer have now been pulled - a really good crop to tide us through autumn and into winter:

When we returned from our break we were a bit alarmed to see the cabbage plants sporting a rather holey look, reminiscent of lace doilies ;( .   Despite netting the bed some time ago, the cabbage white butterflies have found a way in and the caterpillars have been munching away.  That is not the idea at all!  We are now having a daily caterpillar patrol in the hopes of stemming the onslaught of little green marauders!  Those cabbages are destined for our Christmas dinner table.

Having reacclimatised ourselves to English temperatures again, the heating has been firmly switched off and hopefully will stay that way until the end of the month at least.  The mornings are getting darker, and it always surprises me how our bodies readjust to that; we're waking much later than during the summer.  We've rearranged a couple of rooms, as we tend not to use the big lounge during the winter, preferring the cosiness of the dining-room; it also means we're not heating the entire house unecessarily.  The quit is now in use on the bed (and it keeps us lovely and cosy at night), and winter woollies are being dug out of cupboards.  Keeping busy and active through the colder months helps too, and we have more than enough projects lined up to keep us occupied.  The summer days of salad are now at an end, although there are just a handful of cherry tomatoes left on the kitchen window sill together with a couple of rather skinny cucumbers, and we are looking forward to warming casseroles and home-made soups.  I have promised myself a new pair of 'proper' slippers by the end of the month and I shall then be all set for winter.  

Maintaining a positive outlook helps too ;))

Sunshine and jumpers

We climbed this set of steps every morning - 130 steps in total!

A few days away in the sun; Thursday morning we left temperatures of 25 degrees C and returned to a chilly English autumn afternoon of barely 12 degrees!  We had to put the heating on to thaw out  :(

It was, as always, a lovely relaxing break.  Lots of walking in the sun, good food and drink, friendly locals and a lifestyle we find very agreeable.  Everything looks somehow better in sunshine!

Back home again and we are reminded that winter is not so far away.  The summer clothes are washed and put away for the year; jumpers and extra layers are reached for to stave off the definite drop in temperatures.  It's taken a couple of days to get ourselves back into our routines again (or perhaps we're just taking time adjusting to the drop in temperature!) but I'll be back baking tomorrow, and tackling some of the pile of mending and alterations that seems to have manifested itself recently.  And I've been reminded that Christmas is not so very far away (surely not?) so I guess a bit of thought in that direction would not go amiss.  Obviously time for another list .....

September gratitude

A few pictures to remind me of the garden in autumn; there's still so much to enjoy out there.

Palest pink cyclamen

The cotoneaster is smothered with berries

Yellow peppers!  A first

Under the netting the winter carrots are growing strongly

Our squash harvest!  Not quite enough for a pie ...

October began as September ended, with glorious sunshine, but today it has poured all day.  We made the most of the good weather knowing that it couldn't last and the garden is pretty much tidied up for the winter.  Thoughts are very much turning indoors and we both have plenty of projects ready for the winter months.  

September has been a highlight of the year with the birth of a little grandson, a very precious and welcome addition to the family, and we look forward to our role in his life as he grows.  At the moment, that means lots of cuddles ;))

I've not really given October too much thought, to be honest.  I think I'll take a bit of a breather and simply enjoy what we have.  Our life is full of good things and for that I am very grateful.

Through the woods and across the fields

Another lovely autumn day to be taken full advantage of.  We know that all too soon it will be cold, wet and grey so we get out whenever we can.  The warmth of the sun today was wonderful.

Checking us out as we crossed their field

We paid a visit to the pigs; they came running over to see us, squealing and grunting

As we walked along the track through the woods, we came across a fresh molehill, and as we looked, to our amazement, it moved - a little mound of earth was pushed to the surface.  The making of a molehill as we watched!  It was quite extraordinary and kept us glued to the spot for several minutes in the hope (ultimately unfulfilled) of actually seeing the little mole doing all the hard work underground.  

Granted, the photos do look a bit unremarkable, but neither of us had ever seen a molehill being built before, and we were quite mesmerised by it.  Nature is full of surprises, if you take the time to look.