Autumn's Gold

As soon as the leaves on our Cornus (Dogwood tree) turn red/orange/and yellow, it also signals the start of our local beech tree forest beginning it's coppery autumn journey.

Many of last years leaves still remain crisp and crunchie underfoot. Walking through them conjures up lots of nostalgic childhood memories of times past.

"I was drinking in the surroundings: air so crisp you could snap it with your fingers and greens in every lush shade imaginable offset by autumnal flashes of red and yellow."

Wendy Delsol, Stork 

It is no wonder that these tall, elegant, noble trees are known as "the Queen of trees." 

 "Shall we take the higher path or the low one?" 

Autumn so far has been unseasonably warm. Something that has been very confusing for the plantlife, and for many animals, especially those that hibernate.

Soon we are having a short break in an old country pub. Hoping to take some good walks, enjoy delicious food, and visit interesting places.........................

'Croeso i Gymru'

Autumn has Almost Finished

.....many leaves have now finished tumbling to the ground. Don't be sad, it is Mother Nature's way of protecting her trees, and making sure that they survive the coming winter and beyond. If the leaves stayed on the trees during the winter months, and new ones didn't appear in the Spring, then our lovely trees would have no way of processing food for themselves. 

Autumn Fires

In the other gardens

And all up in the vale,

From the Autumn bonfires

See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over,

And all the summer flowers,

The red fire blazes,

The grey smoke  towers.

Sing a son of seasons!

Something bright in all!

Flowers in the summer,

Fires in the fall!

Robert Louis Stevenson

Autumn's Splendour

If you have been a follower of WFVM for some time you already know that I love the fine Beech woodland that grows tall and stately along the steep sides of the Cotswold escarpment just below where I live. 

I do miss travelling, and all the excitement it affords of new sights and places to explore, but this familiar little haven of nature always makes for a delightful visit. Whether it is Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter, this area of woodland offers peace of mind and helps to put the world's problems in perspective.

Newly unfurling beech leaves in the Spring are a rich luminous shade of chartreuse which have a fluffy downy edging to them.

An oasis of calm and tranquility on a hot Summer's day.

Currently the woodland is decked out in Autumn's golden splendour. Shuffling through the fallen leaves recalls memories of childhood days.

But during winter it's the trees elegant silhouettes with their lofty trunks and branches that hold centre stage.

Another place of refuge is our garden, and at the moment the trees are showing a riot of colourful leaves which resemble fiery beacons in the bright Autumn sunlight. 

Autumn is a second Spring when every leaf is a flower

Albert Camus

Autumn

has been slow to show her face this year, but now she is turning golden. 

I want autumn colour from the food cupboard too, so what could be better than a bowl of golden soup? 

Ingredients

2½ pints of vegetable stock

1 large butternut squash

2 large red onions

crushed garlic

3/4 carrots

2 sweet potatoes,

Cumin, turmeric, coriander, chilli flakes & natural sea salt, season to your own taste.

2 tbspns Tahini & 

a tin of Coconut Milk

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Cut the butternut squash in half, deseed, and roast until soft. The flesh is then easily scooped out of the skin for the soup.

Par boil the chopped sweet potatoes & carrots.

Cook the onions & garlic in your preferred oil until it begins to turn brown.

Add the veg stock to the onions, then the par boiled root veg, finally add the squash, along with seasonings and the tahini. I put my mine in the Slow Cooker and leave it for several hours, but it will take about 30mins on top of the cooker. If you have a stick blender, blend smooth when finished, and then add the tin of creamy coconut milk at the very end.

A bowl of steaming golden soup, topped with chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.

Thank you for the lovely comments on my previous post - they cheered me up. I am pleased to say that my wrist & hand are now slowly making progress. I always read & appreciate every message received from you all. 

Along the Towpath

Making the most of this late September warmth we have continued to explore various walks along the canal towpaths,

and are now more aware that autumns colours are slowly appearing.

Shall we go under, over, or around?

The Grey Heron and a Moorhen completely ignore us.

Clematis vitalba - Old Man's Beard

It is very peaceful, it feels good,

timeless,

but is it? This wretched virus is on the rise again in several European countries.

This year there is a very strong recommendation from WHO and our own NHS that we should all have a winter Flu vaccination. Have you booked yours? My husband has already had his, and mine is due next week.

Late Autumn

Now Autumn's fires burn slowly o'er hills and dales.

Day by day leaves change colour.

Bright skies beckon, 



come quick, come see,

as the leaves drift earthwards, 

in glittering flurries of gold;

They're covering the sleeping flowers,

in a warm embrace,

and spreading leafy carpets,

throughout our woods.

And as we walk through them,

they chatter and crunch beneath our feet.

It was a Peaceful Autumn Day

 "The gilding of the Indian summer mellowed the pastures far and wide

The russet woods stood ripe to be stripped, but were yet full of leaf.

The purple of heath-bloom, faded but not withered, tinged the hills....

Fieldhead gardens bore the seal of gentle decay;

....its time of flowers and even of fruit was over."

from Shirley ~ Charlotte Brontë