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!