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Saturday 27 September 2014

Autumn 2014

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~ Albert Camus

I've moaned a lot recently about how I don't want to let summer go, but the other day I took a walk through woodlands that were starting to show their autumn colours against a clear, blue sky. It was … well, it was simply sublime, and I started to appreciate exactly what Albert Camus had been on about.

Down in Devon there are ploughed fields aplenty as the farmers plant their winter crops. The wonderful, red soil looks as though it were designed that way to showcase the glorious reds and ochres of the season.




Emi and I are feasting on hazel nuts foraged from the hedgerows.  He’s very keen, and it’s carries a resonance from my own childhood, out roaming around in nature’s larder. 



I’ve been making chutney and jam, and I’ve even started knitting a scarf for Emi. 


There’s something about the evenings drawing in, and the mellow light of September that always gets me back to my knitting. Maybe it’s another resonance from my childhood; a precious memory of sitting round the open fireside in the evenings with my mum, my grandma and their friends as everyone told stories and worked with their needles. 



My grandma’s stories were always the best; she had an endless store of tales. She claimed that every one of them was true, but I've long suspected that she was accomplished in the art of fiction. Although, to be fair, whenever we'd ask her to tell us the story about whatever-it-was again, she always managed to re-tell it exactly the same each time. 


I miss her now she's gone, and as the year moves through another season it underlines how nothing ever stays the same. We too have seasons in our lives, and with every passing summer I can't help but pause and consider how the sands of time are moving in my own mortal plain. 

And, on a less maudlin note, it's a year to the day since a certain fluffy, little fellow joined our family circle.

And this morning, in a fit of glee, he celebrated his anniversary by digging up all my daffodil bulbs! 

All the best, 

Bonny x




10 comments:

  1. I used to love Autumn before moving to Scotland, but in the past few years I have had an hard time enjoying it, as you don't see many clear blue skies up here and with all the gloominess and rain I tend to turn into a sloth. ;) I am making an effort in liking Autumn again this year, let's hope it works. :)
    Autumn looks quite lovely where you are, Bonny! :)
    Thank you for sharing your childhood memories. Maxi is adorable, btw! :)

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Kia. Yes, the autumn's been quite balmy down here. We've had warm weather with typical September light: lots of mist and some morning fog; very challenging for the sort of street photography that I enjoy. We seem to have the best light every afternoon at about 4 p.m. when I need to pick Emi up from school and get stuck into the homework ... grrr. I struggle a bit with autumn too. I just hate letting go of summer. Wishing you some clear weather, blue skies and sunshine up in lovely Scotland, Bonny

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    2. I love misty mornings and sunny afternoons. :) The light (when the sun is out, and it's not often here) in September and October can be just magical, you are right! Have a lovely last day of September.

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    3. Thank you, Kia. Hope you did too. All the best, Bonny

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  2. Oh you do have lovely rich red soil, it looks great there. - Sweet little boy and dog. - I love the start of Autumn but not what follows. I agree changes in life tend to come quicker as we age.

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    1. Yes, I agree, Ida: autumn starts well, but then we have all that cold, grey winter weather. At least over here we're having a mild autumn, which is a plus. All the best and thanks for stopping by, Bonny

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  3. Your grandma sounds like my grandpa who also had an endless supply of wonderful tales. When my brother and I were little we couldn't get enough of his stories.

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    1. He sounds lovely, Carola. All the best and thanks for stopping by, Bonny

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  4. Hi Bonny, I just realized you have the same birthday as my husband. It's a wonderful time a year for a birthday. Thank you for visiting my niece's blog and for your kind encouragement. It's a great way to remember your grandma. As I child, I spent a lot of time with my grandma because my parents had to work. We didn't do much but I loved being with her. Have a lovely weekend, Bonny.

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    1. Thank you, Christa. Your niece's blog www.youngwritersworld.weebly.com is very impressive. She's clearly been working really hard. All the best and thanks for stopping by, Bonny

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