Celebrating an autumnal glow

I have mentioned recently how I am finding the ending of this year a little harder than usual, so after a severe talking to myself, I am trying hard to feel positivity and joy at the seasonal downturn. It does certainly help that the sun is shining and it is still warm and bright.

So, in celebration of autumn, I would like to share my 'alter' to autumn and my walk to collect my little treasures.

 

 The brilliant red haws against the blue sky, leaves of autumnal hues, mushrooms and the unexpected and delightful last flowers from the achillea and honeysuckle. The crunch of dried leaves, the slip of damp wooden footbridges.

Then, home again for tea and the last pieces of Devon apple cake.

Good.

Falling out the back door

The beauty of living in a rural village is the easy access we have to local walks from our home. We literally fall out of our back door and can, within a few short paces, follow any number of pathways on to the hills. Yesterday we did one such walk. I snapped a few photos as we went along.

 The decorative flower pots, full of cheery begonias, around the village cenotaph - still blooming happily away in the autumnal sunshine.

 The wonky gate to the 'rec' (recreation grounds)  with its rusty squeak.

 My view down into the village as we step through the wonky squeaky gate.

 Our local footie league looking like bright spots of colour on the vast landscape.

 Pendle hill looming on the horizon beneath an expansive sky.

 The small wooden gate out of the 'rec'. It has a strong spring making the gate snap back with a mighty 'clack' as it closes. This usually alerts the cows in the next field to your presence with mixed results.......

 Boulsworth - our hill. A huge and spreading sponge like hill that 

even in the driest of dry summers squelches under foot.

 Stone gate. This style of closure is now out of use, instead of  the usual hinged wooden gate, the hole would be filled with stone which could be knocked down and used as an entrance then closed again with stone.

 H.W? or M.H? - I will never know. 

This stone lingers quietly in an  old sunken pathway alongside a cemetery.

At the end of the old pathway, it drops suddenly even deeper down into the church yard.

The neighbouring village's original water source, now an attractive feature in a small park.

 Heading back towards home, high above another small village.

 Youngest reading a 'quirkily' written and 'interestingly' spelt sign. Over the years the author has written new and equally rambling grievances and sites them along his wall. 

 Another well used stile

 Looking back towards Weets Hill - another damp lump. Weets years and years ago was known as 'Wet Hill'

Almost home, just a quick meander by part of the local grow-it scheme in the village. 

There are several sites where planters over the last few years have sprung up 

and are filled with herbs and vegetables for every one to use.

Thanks for meandering around with me :) I know I mentioned I would add some knitting news, but I've neglected to take any pictures and I've frogged back my work several times... sharing and showing will have to wait!

Well, end of the weekend, once again it has flashed by but I have really enjoyed it. Hope you did too :)

Walking like a tin soldier*

Before I start chatting away I thought I must really thank you for all your lovely comments recently, it always amazes me that some one actually reads my waffle - thank you =^.^=

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Yesterday was Himself's birthday and as part of the celebrations we went to folky concert where the band was billed as Gypsy Folk n Roll and they were! We saw Holy Moly and the Crackers. We must have danced for most of their gig - oophff, my crook knee hasn't forgiven me and going up and down stairs has been, well let me put it this way, a bit of a trial - however, it was worth it!

We had a brilliant time! I danced like a demon** and loved loved loved it! It was just what we needed. Today has been a lot quieter.....

Today was sort of a recovery day - Youngest and I pottered in the kitchen. He made a Devon Apple cake - very successfully and I peeled and chopped a box load of windfalls. Our freezer is full to bursting now with apples ready for fruit pies over winter. There is a good lot of self satisfaction when we use 'food for free'.

There was an abundance of peeling, chopping and weighing which Youngest tackled happily and I have to say the sampling of it afterwards was rather good :)

*walking like a tin soldier? Well, after succumbing to the delights of the cake we felt the need for a walk and my knee would not bend comfortably so I ended up with a jerky gait that felt quite choppy and stilted - made me think of those old tin soldiers that you could wind up and they would totter off on stiff unyielding legs.

****Dancing like a demon? Well... I love dancing and when given a chance will 'bop like a gud 'un' which, when the boys were younger they didn't mind and would often join in....however, now they are teenagers, the thought of their mother whirling and jigging on the dance floor to folk music was bordering on embarrassing. Hey ho.


Any hoo, enough waffle for now.  I'll share my latest knitting news with you tomorrow as well as the pictures of our walk today.

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Estuary

I am in love with my latest project. The Estuary shawl by Tincanknits.

It can not be rushed so the act of slow knitting helps quieten my busy mind.

I have to check and count and watch each stitch as I go along.

As it grows,  I can see the rivulets and runnels forming. Swirls and rindles in the mud as the sea retreats.

And if I try really hard, can even smell that salty tang that lingers at the estuary's edge.

                       
:)              

Boy and dog becoming man and dog.

Same view, same two, several years apart. Summer 2009, Winter 2010 and Autumn 2014.

The boy is so much taller, the dog very very much older. Will I get another photo next year? Hope so.

Random knitting/crochet wafflings

Random waffle number 1 - crochet shrug

A little while ago I crocheted a marbled green shrug in a silky cotton thread. I'd made it to wear to a celebration and as there was lots of dancing (and I mean lots) I soon threw it aside as I was far too warm.  Fast forward some years and I realised that since that evening, I'd only worn it once or twice at most. What a waste.

Rip rip rip,

Now I have 300gms of cotton yarn ready to be transformed into something else. How exciting :)


Random waffle 2 - knit/crochet mitts

Something I knitted last winter (you can see that they have been well used) are my favourite mitts. However, my fingers and thumbs would freeze! So I came up with a plan. It was in my early knitting days and did not have the confidence to knit 'fingers' so I crocheted mittens.

I still needed to get my fingers out so I could take photos, drink tea, knit so I left an opening on the palm.

 

 Happy warm fingers? You betcha!

A load of Huh and a lot of knitty-related inspiration :)

I was bumbling around the tinternet this lunch time. I had rushed out quickly in my lunch hour to do a few chores, rushed back into work, rushed my lunch and then realising I still had 30 minutes I sat back and escaped into a world of knitty-related insipration.

I learnt something new. Really interesting too.

I have been imbibing - with some envy - the Shetland Wool Week blog and came across something I'd never heard of before - the Foula Froke. Huh? Then I read further and then Dutch traditional ganseys were mentioned. Double huh?  My curiosity piqued, I researched more.

I found some gorgeous old black and white photographs on the Shetland Museum  Archives website with both ganseys and the Shetland froke being proudly worn. I was fascinated by the intricate patterning of the knitted garments. Each fishing family wearing their foula froke patterns with dignity and gravity.

  

Just look at their serious faces :)

A few days ago Amjaylou suggested I go and look at the Shwook hat (Huh? - again) and I am so very glad she did - look at this!

Picture from Hazel Tindall's website

Hazel Tindall has designed the Shwook, a lovely fairisle hat to coincide with Shetland Wool Week and she has released it as a free download! Even better :)

Then, this evening I stumbled across this - Trig by Mary Lou Egan -  Love it.

I think I have found my inspiration for autumn. Now just need to finish my existing project - Tincanknits' - Estuary Shawl. I am in love with it. I am using the hand spun wool from Jennie Howes and when I saw her at Yarndale she kindly offered to spin me another hank so I could finish my shawl - how lovely is that!?  At the end of October I am off to the St Abbs Wool Festival to make my purchases and visit my guillemot  - I can't wait!

I love the knitting community spirit of creativity and encouragement. Hopefully I've passed on some of that today and you find some inspiration for your autumnal knits and festivals.