First frost of October.

This morning the roofs were white with frost as I woke after an extremely enjoyable evening the night before. Our friends once more joined us for supper. As they came through the door, so did  their lovely generosity! We dined on pork, that had been cooked by Rosie, in a slow cooker during the day, containing amongst it's ingredients, lots of cider. It was so tender. We ate it warm, in bread rolls. That was accompanied by homemade stufffing, apple sauce and crackling. A huge bowl of chopped salad, and another of chopped fresh fruits. Tiramisu, trifle, wine, and soft drinks. 

After which we all played a game called "Sequences"    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequence_(game)        
Apparently, according to the rules, there must be NO table talk between members, and NO coaching!  NO chance with the 10 of us gathered round the table! I have to say that our little team won, even though one member would not have had a clue as to how!  And as to how we won? My lips are sealed!
My dear hubby called it a "riotous bear garden free for all!" which about says it all!

A sycamore seed frozen to the patio table. 

8.36am. Sun catching the maple colours, 

8,29am October 14th Frost on the roofs,

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.

There was an early morning  mist on the 7th October, which to me at least finally signified the reality of autumn, and now, with shortening daylight hours, the trees have begun to prepare for the  beginning of winter. As I look out of  the windows each morning I see colours changing to golds and reds and brilliant yellows. The light is so sharp, and the sun lower down on the horizon. 

And to quote my favourite poet, Edward Thomas. 

" There is nothing like the sun as the year dies."

Ocober 7th  7.29am

October 7th 7.31am

October 12th  10.08am

October 12th  10.13am

October 12th 10.15am

October 12th 10.16am

October 12th 10.16am

October 12th 10.17am. 

October 12th 10.18am

October 13th 8.00am. 

October 1st 2012

October 1st started out as a glorious morning, so we went for a walk, passing Moor Hall Hotel and  Golf Course along the way. Autumn colours now in evidence. I loved the leaves on this tree we passed on our route. Of course it was also the morning after the amazing come back by the Europe  

Ryder Cup Team, who won the prestigious golfing tournament against the Americans, in a thrilling 

roller-coaster ending!   

    

Moor Hall Hotel. http://www.moorhallhotel.co.uk/

September arrived and now is on the point of leaving.....

14th September 16.33. 

I cannot quite believe that September has almost disappeared and I have not written anything in this blogspot this month.
Something to do with the fact that we were in France from the beginning for just over two weeks.
We started off in Calais and worked our way south, via Grenoble, and then Nyons, in Drôme province.
Finally spending 6 nights near Avignon, where we visited the beautiful villages of the Parc Naturel du Luberon, Provence.

When we arrived home on the 14th, I immediately toured around the garden, as I always do. And what a colourful display greeted us for our return! So here are a few photos, and as October approaches fast, so the autumn colours are beginning to appear........      

Hosta flowers 14th 16.42

Gladioli flower. 14th September. 17.03.

September light. Monday 17th. 9.42am. 

Morning. 9.43am. 17th.  

Gordes. Luberon. Provence. France.

Rousillon. Luberon. Provence. France 

Nyons. Drôme. France.

Avignon. Provence. France. 

Ingrid Bergman roses flowering on what would have been my dad's birthday.
17th September. 11.08. 

18th September 

18th September 

More pictures of France here on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lancs-lass/sets/72157631416335732/

"It's gonna be a beautiful day" ..........maybe! August 19th 2012

Supper with friends. 
Saturday 18th August.

















It was a beautiful evening  (August 18th). Warm, balmy and with a glorious sunset. For the first time in a long while, we were all able to sit outside in the garden till it was approaching midnight. The stars were out in the inky sky. Candles on the patio table.  As our friends arrived they brought with them a variety of food. Having suggested they bring "Nibbles" or "Salad" and a "Savoury",  because we had also been shopping for the al fresco meal.

But our friends do not do things by halves!
So the "Salad" (pictured above) was a work of art in itself, not to mention the one who commandeered the oven and made cocktail blinis, with Crême Fraiche, and smoked salmon! Yum!
Alongside this was a beautifully presented tray of titbits, like olives and parma ham. Complete with cocktail sticks.
The "Savoury" came on a tray. Warm puff pastry rectangles fresh from the oven, filled with delicious bites  like asparagus in sauce, and roasted mushrooms. The list could go go, tomatoes stuffed with cream cheese, bramley apple and sausage pie, and freshly made, by my hubby, two baked farmhouse cider and strong cheese baguettes. Needless to say, the evening was pleasant to say the least!
Wine was consumed, and a fiercely competitive card game was undertaken by some of  the group, sitting in the back lounge with the patio door wide open.Those of us sitting outside at the patio table could hear the trio playing the game, as none of them wanted to lose! It became rather noisy!!
That is not to say that the "outsiders" were sedate!
A phone App was produced to show us the names of the starry constellations, and we marvelled at the Great Bear, (or Plough as I like to call it), which is easy to spot. Phone App pointing to sky, hey presto, the Great Bear appeared, along with a picture of a bear.........(which incidentally does not appear in the sky as well!  ;-))
But the funniest thing (which had us all roaring with laughter) was pronounced by the person holding said phone App in hand and telling the assembled company that the International Space Station was situated underneath the patio table!
A good time was had by all.!                    
     
 

Catching the light. Evening August 18th

Sweet peas from a friend

 The Making of the Cocktail Blinis.  

 

Morning August 19th 2012 

So, this morning, waking later than usual, there was already the promise of a beautiful day, and by and large, inspite of a couple of heavy showers, and a cloudy period, it has been lovely, with warm sunshine.    

Promise of a beautiful day.

Sunday August 19th 2012

From the ridiculous.....to the sublime!!!

 Our cat, Tiger, has a favourite place to sit.......goodness knows why!
It is the old bird-table which was consigned to the end of the  garden by the 3 compost bins, affectionately known as the "Tardises" . I actually think they are more like  Daleks with the nozzles cut off!
If you are not a Dr Who fan, you won't have a clue what I'm talking about, but there again, you might not anyway......
Tiger somehow manages not only jump into it without it collapsing but he can turn round in it as well.
So, that being ridiculous, what is the sublime of today?

The 5,000m final with Mo Farah this evening...........!!  Like Wow, Wow, and Wow!!

 GO MO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Going for Gold, Got it!
Number 2!!!!!

Barbecue weather........ August 10th 2012.

A

View through the summer house window. 7.15pm.  

Evening in the summer house.   

After another beautiful day, his nibs and I are in the summer house enjoying the balmy evening, and the quiet calm. There is hardly a breath of wind. 

There are apples appearing on the tree once again, much smaller than last year, owing to the vagaries of our weather this time.

This afternoon, I watched a buzzard lazily circling over head, and then two seagulls began to call raucously and dive bomb him, but he was unperturbed and circled on his way. 

The 10th August always has poignant overtones for me, as I know in 4 weeks time there will be another 10th. September. The 6th anniversary of the death of our son Matthew, aged 30. So, it tugs at my heart strings, and as we inevitably go towards that date, it has its ups and  downs. 

My blog about Matt is found at 

  http://agriefremembered.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/yesterday-i-sobbed-in-arms-of-your.html             

We remember him, and the times he spent in this garden in earlier years.    

 8.00pm

So, gardening has been a great solace and therapy for the last 6 years, and although I plant sun flowers to bloom in September, the slugs munched their way through most of them, but there are 3 still standing, with the large flower centres forming. Last year was an amazing one for my favourite blooms, it had been dry meaning there were fewer slugs!
Never mind, there may yet be one that will open in a few weeks!  
Ah well, time for a brew, as someone used to say.................................................