Tuesday 6 November 2018

Kicking Through the Leaves



It doesn't feel like it's been a whole week since I last posted. As usual, time escapes me and with Hallowe'en, family visitors and Bonfire Night all within the last seven days, I've been scurrying around trying to keep on top of it all.
Our Hallowe'en was quiet. We didn't receive as many visitors as we thought we might, so there was a substantial amount of chocolates and sweets left over. Although, having been stored in an easily accessible position on the kitchen worktop, there are not many remaining now :) 





Last Saturday was very wet and windy and we did something we haven't done for a while, we stayed home......all day! It was unusual for us, but if we had ventured out, we would have ended up cold, wet and miserable. It was a good excuse to spend some time in the kitchen, however, and it resulted in some delicious butternut squash and sweet potato soup, garnished with  toasted pumpkin seeds and the obligatory ginger cake was made in time for Bonfire Night. The soup was hearty and delicious and really warmed us through. The ginger cake was tasty, light and just the right amount of sticky that is necessary at this time of year. It  just has to stick to your fingers. The recipe can be found here.

The following day, we went for a short walk through the fields and into the woods. I'm enjoying the colour of the leaves just now, as in no time at all the trees will be bare, and until the festive decorations appear, we will be left with the sudden greyness of days which is November. The woodland floor is a carpet of golden leaves and I'd defy anyone to walk along without kicking them. I don't think I will ever tire of it. In the afternoon I went for a short run and on leaving the village, the sides of the lane held  drifts of leaves at least two feet deep. Very tempting, but at the time I was concentrating hard on just being able to run. It has been far too long since I did any kind of exercise and it is telling on me.



This tree overlooks the back of our house and is the most gorgeous shade of burnt orange. It's not the best photograph but you get the idea.



Monday was Bonfire Night and we went to a bonfire and firework display a short walk away, up the hill from our house. The pathway was really dark and at times it was almost impossible  to see where we were walking, not helped by the amount of leaves beneath our feet. And yes, there was some more leaf kicking going on. It was a great evening and very well supported by the local community. Back home we lit our sparklers and our last remaining pumpkin in the garden.
J. X

52 comments:

  1. Looks like you live in the most wondrous place. All those beautiful trees. The ginger cake looks scrummy

    Julie xxxxxxxx

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    1. We are so very fortunate to have the countryside on our doorstep. X

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  2. I enjoy seeing your walks Jules, I don't walk half as much as I should because my husband is not keen, but then I shouldn't let that stop me.xx

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    1. Thank you, Marlene. It makes me happy that you enjoy them. I love walking but don't get out half as much as when I had a dog. X

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  3. that ginger cakes looks absolutely gorgeous. Could really do with a slab of that with a cup of tea right now. It's grey and rainy.
    Time is whizzing by. I want to hold on to every autumn leaf, but they'll soon be gone. xx

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    1. The cake was tasty, Sadie and oddly enough it's all gone now :) I must make some more. I can't think how fast this year has gone. It wont be long before I'm eagerly checking the weather forecast for snow! X

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  4. I find it comforting to sometimes spend a weekend day indoors, although one of us finds it easier than the other! We did have a small walk to the beach on Sunday (something we rarely do together) but we spent most of the day at home making soup, bread and doing other small household tasks. It was productive yet relaxing.

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    1. A day pootling around at home was quite nice TD, but by the following day I was desperate to get out for some fresh air. Mmmm! Home made bread. I've got out of making my own recently. X

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  5. I love those stepping stones through the leaves. What fun! As for the ginger cake - it looks so, so good!
    xx

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    1. The tree trunk 'stones' are great, Joy, just a little bit dangerous when they're wet. They make for a more eventful walk though. X

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  6. It's nice to be able to get out and about when the weather holds at this time of year but equally nice to have the odd day at home just pottering. The ginger cake looks delicious, we always have parkin around bonfire night. The festivities have been ongoing since the organised display on Friday, poor Archie is a nervous wreck with all the loud bangs.

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    1. Pottering is good, Jo, but I'm desperate to get out after a while. I'm just not used to being cooped up indoors for a length of time. I love ginger cake, especially at this time of year, and sometimes with custard! Do you make your parkin with oats in?
      I hope Archie has settled now. We're lucky in that the fireworks only go on for a few nights around here and they don't appear to bother Mog. X

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  7. It certainly is a busy week of the year. I love that tree trunk pathway through the woods, what fun. It looks lovely with the beautiful, scrunchy, golden fallen leaves. We had a quiet Halloween night and our tub of sweets is intact thanks to a non-working doorbell. I only heard one little knock on the door and sadly the little ones had gone before I got to open the door. Your ginger cake looks delicious. I'm glad you enjoyed your bonfire display, organised events are the best :)

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    1. The colour of the leaves is just stunning at the moment. A final flourish I suspect. With the damp weather it won't be long before they are turning to mush beneath our feet.
      The bonfire was great. It was really well organised and well attended. X

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  8. Lovely to catch up with your news Jules. I've been absent from blogland for ages. The strange bloglovin' followers have put me off.
    QT has had problems for a while, fast heart rate & high blood pressure. He has tablets for the high bp and we'll return to the vets next week for results on his heart bloods check. In himself he is ok, at 17.5yrs he's not so active anyway but was losing weight. Hoping for improvement.
    Wish we'd had him yrs ago but financially weren't looking for a pet then. We've been owned by him for 3.5 yrs Cathy x

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    1. Its good to 'see' you again Cathy. And I'm now intrigued about your strange followers.
      I'm sorry to read about QT and hope you see an improvement soon. Our fur babies can be such a worry. X

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  9. I love the look of that gingerbread and all the colours of autumn and yet I always choose colours of the sea for fabric and yarn. Good memories for Lily in sight, sound and smell-still like a bit of leaf crunching myself!

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    1. I love the colours of Autumn, although like you, I never usually use them in anything I make. But for once I have used a lovely rich spice colour to make myself a neck warmer. The weather is too mild to wear it at the moment, however. X

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  10. I love home made sticky ginger cake! I have to say we've not made one for a while though. Dad always comes for tea on Friday night and we always have a sponge pudding of some sort to go with custard for afters. I should take photos. We've not had much in the way of leaves here at all; what there's been have just turned to mush in the rain :/ Best, Jane :)

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    1. I've always loved ginger cake, especially at this time of year, the stickier the better. It's a shame you've not enjoyed much in the way of Autumn colour. Sadly, I don't think it will be long before the tress here are bare. X

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  11. Wow, idyllic days of Autumn. We watched the village bonfire and fireworks from the window as our dog was a little stressed. Your words paint a beautiful picture of your walk through the woods.

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    1. I do feel bad for our furry friends who don't like the fireworks. I used to have a dog who was terrified of them and it was horrible seeing him so distressed. Mog, on the other hand, doesn't seem in the least bit bothered. X

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  12. What a delightful peak, into your life!!!! Such beautiful, beautiful surroundings. -happy sigh-

    This is my first visit here, but it surely will not be my last.

    ✨🍁✨🍎✨🍁✨

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    1. Thank you so much. That's very kind of you to say. X

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  13. I agree with everyone. That ginger cake looks so moist and delicious. :)

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    1. Thank you Nil. It's all disappeared now :) I must make another. X

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  14. Lovely photos, Jules! All that leaf kicking sounds like fun! A Saturday spent at home sounds good to me, especially if it results in some soup and cake! :D

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    1. Thanks Bless. Leaf kicking is always fun. X

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  15. Great times had over your weekend and bonfire night, the cake looks very tasty.

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    1. The cake was so tasty that it has now all disappeared :) X

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  16. Love the tree trunk stepping stones, and the colour of the tree behind your house is stunning :)

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    1. They are fun Eunice, until they get damp, then you have to tread sooo carefully. The tree is/was such a gorgeous colour. Sadly about half the leaves have been lost since I took the photograph. X

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  17. A bit late for bonfire night but ginger cake is next on my list. I have been busy with paperwork so have been a bit absent in the kitchen this week - your picture of the cake has tempted me to get baking again!
    The trees are looking wonderful here too. Love those tree stump stepping stones.

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    1. I'll be making another cake myself this week, Vivien. That one did not last long :) X

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  18. Very evocative of autumn, this post. So pleased you got out for your run x

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    1. Thanks CT. The run felt OK at the time but my muscles have been paying for it since. X

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  19. Sticky gingerbread is the law you know....lol.
    We haven't heard many fireworks at all around here this year and I didn't see any notices for the organised one up at the steam engine club either....not that we could have gone anyway but I thought it was strange.
    I should have taken a photo of the band of trees across our back field the other day...it would have been a gorgeous one. The sky was nearly navy blue but the sun was shining on the trees making them look like they were on fire. It was glorious as is the tree in your photo.
    Hugs-x-

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    1. I don't think we hear as many fireworks as we used to, Sheila. Once over, they would have dragged on for weeks.
      I can just picture the trees you describe. They are gorgeous at the moment and seem so vibrant this year. Sadly, the tree in the photograph has lost half of it's leaves since I took the photograph. It won't be long before the branches are bare.
      Congratulations again on your Brave the Shave. I have huge admiration for both you and your daughter. X

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  20. Nov. 8th

    Thank you so much, for your Congratulations today, on our 60th Wedding Anniversary.

    Yes, I'm sure I will feel better soon, due to finding out what was causing my issues... And do to reducing the amount of the medication. Of course I contacted my doctor, and he agreed. :-) We can't change meds, on our own. I have 2 pharmacists in the family, and so, know that, very well.

    Just noticed the sweet swing, which your daughter is riding on. Delightful!!!! She is a lucky little girl, to live where you do, in this lovely countryside. And to have parents, who take her, out into it...

    Hugs...

    ✨🍁✨🍎✨🍁✨

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    1. 60 years is something to be celebrated. I hope you're soon feeling well enough to put on your glad rags and enjoy your meal out. X

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  21. Loved seeing all of your photographs, the tree trunk stepping stones look good fun, and the swing Lily is on too :)

    I was out earlier today and enjoyed kicking a few leaves :)

    Enjoy the rest of your week

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan. I've quite enjoyed capturing some of the Autumn colour. I'm not sure it's possible to walk through the leaves and not kick them :) X

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  22. From two to 92, everyone loves to kick autumn leaves.

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  23. Oh, I shouldn't have read this post before dinner because now I want a piece of that cake!! It just looks so dark and delicious and I imagine it takes heavenly. Yum! Meg:)

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  24. my mouth is watering...how yummy!...I love traditions and as a little girl bonfire night was such a magical event~ we headed to Cornwall this year down by the tamar river where the local farmer puts on quite a show of fire works. My daughter is 12 yrs (eekkk!) but your blog reminds me of the days i'd write about our adventures when she was much younger~ such precious time. such beautiful autumnal photographs on your blog x

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    1. The Ginger cake is delicious! Your firework display sounds perfect, it must have lit up the river. I'm really enjoying this time of year, especially making memories with Lily. They grow up much too quickly. X

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  25. Hoping to do a good bit of leaf kicking myself this week xx

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    1. Enjoy it Jackie. Following some damp weather, they've all begun to turn mushy here. X

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