Monday 27 September 2010

These are a few of my favourite things...........

Before I begin this post, I need to say a huge 'Thankyou' to everyone for the wonderful response to the Birthday Barter idea. I have been overwhelmed by amazing offers from lovely people, and am so excited about working on some special 'trade' pieces.
Thankyou xx

And then I need to apologise and grovel a little for my terrible lack of posting recently. It has been partly because my computer is having another 'funny turn', and running painfully slowly - loading any page with images takes hours and hours. Mainly, though, it is just that 'September' thing. I have stained and wrinkled fingers from hours and hours of picking and preserving, of blanching and bottling, jamming and jellying. The garden needs care and attention, the abundance of fruit and vegetables needs harvesting and storing, logs need splitting and stacking, and I have barely had time to switch on the computer, let alone pick up a paint brush!


But despite all this, I think it is still my favourite time of year. A time of cool evenings and apples roasted in campfires.

Of early morning awakenings to find the village wreathed in mist.


Of new pastures for the ponies, and the thrill of a fresh crop of mushrooms found during the early morning walk.

Of a little foal, growing bolder daily.


And the Ginger Ninja, hiding in the grape vine, jealously guarding Autumn's bounty, biting hands that come too close.

We managed to gather masses of grapes, despite the curmudgeonly cat, and a morning of stirring and boiling and straining resulted in eight jars of the most heavenly purple jelly ever tasted!



15 comments:

Kath said...

I love all those photos, especially that little foal nose. We have been having low mists like that here, when it rolls in off the levels which are cross crossed with rhynes. Very autumnal, my favourite time of year.

A mermaid in the attic said...

Beautiful...Autumn is my favourite time of year too, but it's all a bit different here, it's like the world is waking up. I've been a bit lax with the blog lately too, it's Spring here so much to do on the garden. Try toffee apples in the campfire, they are the best thing. An apple on a stick, poked all over with a knife, hold it over the fire till the juice starts to run, then roll it in sugar. The hold it over the fire again till the sugar turns to toffee. Repeat until you can't stand the wait any longer and there's a danger your apple will fall off. MMM...roast apple covered in apple flavoured toffee!

Valerianna said...

Some great photos - love the village in the mists... how I DO love mist! The goofy pony nose and the grumpy kitty in the grapevine both had me smiling for different reasons. Happy canning!

Oh, funny, the word verification word is "appled".... I guess that's when in autumn, one eats way too many apples!

Windsongs and Wordhoards said...

I love the camp fire photo looking out across the deepening twilight, it transports me there with the sharp night air and the fragrant woodsmoke...

A Veracious Hank said...

great post. the photo of a misty village and the vineyard cat are my favourites.

Karen M said...

So much work, but so rewarding. And what a beautiful setting to be doing it in! There really is something special about autumn.

Anonymous said...

I know I'm visiting the right places when autumn features as the favorite time of year. Yes, it is glorious – and so nice how you've captured it in your photos. Beautiful ginger tabby too, we have one called Simba who's a little sweet terror.

Gail H. Ragsdale said...

You live in such a beautiful area! Loved the ginger ninja!

Fall is my favorite time of the year also, such beauty.

Leola - Southshoreartist said...

You are blessed to live in such a beautiful place....love the campfire...not easy to photograph!

Dan said...

Beautiful photos Danielle, especially the Ginger Ninja! Love the slideshow at the top of your blog too.
Dan
-x-

Dartford Warbler said...

Lovely autumnal photos. Your ponies are looking happy and it`s good to see the foal doing so well. Our two most recent foals are three years old this summer, but what a pleasure it has been to watch them grow up.

I`m another one with stained and wrinkled fingers from hours of preserving. I`m off to look at your grape jelly recipe.

Theres just life said...

What beautiful pictures. Fall is one of my favorite seasons as well. I love the first sign of a nip in the air after a long hot summer. The colors are always my favorites and of course the food...

Theres just life said...

Hi I got a little something over at my blog for you. Hope you like it...

Chris & Stephanie said...

Your work is divine! I'm just visiting from There just life after Pamela Jo's shout out! Keep up the good work!

Chris & Stephanie said...

PS - I'm your 500th follower! YAY!

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails