Sunday 25 October 2020

Quiet October Days

 

The clocks went back last night and the end of the year looms ever closer. The days are getting shorter and recently have been rushing by much faster than I am comfortable with. Leaves fill the porch, there is a small heap of conkers on the coffee table and pumpkins and gourds of various shapes and sizes adorn the mantel. 
My days have become reassuringly repetitive. During the week, once work and school are over, there is time for little else. Unless the weather is really bad, Lily will then play outside until darkness descends, only coming indoors under duress. I don't know why this should surprise me, she is her mother's daughter after all :)


One or two mornings each week I go out for a run. I relish this time when the lanes are quiet, often not passing  another person  for the most of my route, only sheep in the fields, and the occasional fell pony or squirrel.  At the moment I have to be really careful to avoid slipping, as the ground is covered with damp leaves and acorns. Any conkers I spy are quickly gathered and brought back home with me to add to our ever increasing collection.




As is always the case in October, the weather is so very changeable. Wet and windy days can become bright and sunny in a moment, but so far this month most of our walking has been done in wellies. Last weekend we enjoyed a long awaited trip into town for a new pair for Lily. I hadn't been shopping, other than for food, since March, so it felt good to be back doing something 'normal' again, albeit with additional precautions in place. And suffice to say the wellies have enjoyed plenty of use already. 



As the days become darker, I find I spend more and more of my time in the kitchen.  When it's pouring with rain outside, there's nothing nicer than hunkering down indoors, whiling away an afternoon baking a delicious cake or some biscuits. A few weeks ago I couldn't resist treating myself to an oak leaf shaped biscuit cutter I found online. I knew it would be perfect for gingerbread, especially at this time of year.







My favourite part of autumn, however, is just getting outdoors and enjoying the changing colours of the season. This deer park is one of my favourite places to walk, especially as the weather turns colder. The deer are often hidden amongst the trees, so it was a lovely surprise to see some run across the path just in front of us. 
This week sees the start of our half-term break. I hope to get out and enjoy some more walks when the weather permits, but mainly I intend to relax and enjoy my time at home. This afternoon, however, we are going to the farm to choose our pumpkins. 🎃🎃🎃

J. X

42 comments:

  1. It's good to make use of any fine days at this time of year, we just don't know how long the good weather will last. We've managed a good walk every day this week but with rain looming in the forecast I'm not sure we'll be out every day during the coming week. Enjoy your afternoon pumpkin choosing.

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    1. Get out while you can, that's what I say. The weather is so changeable at this time of year, so it's good you've managed to get out every day.
      We enjoyed our afternoon, thank you Jo. X

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  2. Ha. Pumpkin time. Thanks for reminding me. A post for Halloween comes to mind. I love (an overused word but what else can I say?) the autumn colours and have never tired of them since my days when my age was in single figures and we went to Delamare Forest. I can't remember when I was last at Leven Hall (assuming that's where the deer park is) but it was a long time ago.

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    1. It's a beautiful time of year and one which I never fully appreciated until quite recently. I had always been far too preoccupied mourning the loss of summer.
      I'll look forward to your Halloween post. X

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  3. we havn't set our clocks back yet, it is coming. What is a conker? Is it a pinecone? Your runs must be most enjoyable, with the scenery you have to look at.

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    1. A conker is a nut from the Horse Chestnut tree. They are so smooth and shiny when they come out of their shell. They are not edible but for some reason I always gather them at this time of year. X

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  4. You put me to shame, going out for runs when I have to push myself to go out for walks! do be careful that you don't slip it's so easily done. Beautiful photos and how lovely to see some deer. I love your oak leaf biscuits I bet they taste good too. Have a lovely Sunday.xx

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    1. On rainy days it's all I can do to drag myself out, but I always feel better for making the effort, and I enjoy the quiet. The narrow lanes are covered in acorns and leaves just now, so I'm having to be extra careful where I put my feet. This isn't too difficult for me, as I don't run very fast :) X

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  5. Thank you for sharing your walk and beautiful photos. I love Autumn too.

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    1. Thank you, Jean. It's a beautiful time of year isn't it. X

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  6. I absolutely love the oak leaf biscuits, they are great Jules. I know what you means about being slippy, I went over the other day and landed in a ditch, thankfully there was a great deal of water in the bottom. Bertie just looked at me as if to say 'what are you doing, stupid woman'. Autumn is a lovely season.

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    1. I thought the biscuits looked cute, Tania :) They tasted pretty good as well, I really should bake some more.
      Poor you slipping like that. I'm relieved you weren't hurt. I nearly went over this afternoon, it was so muddy in the fields. X

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  7. Love the oak leaf shaped biscuit cutters. Such a nice idea. Love this time of year too. X

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    1. Thanks Shazza, I thought they were cute. X

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  8. I absolutely love your oak leaved shaped biscuits, what could be more Autumnal?
    Lovely photos as always but I do worry about you running in muddy condition, take care! xxx

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    1. Have no fear, Vix. Running in mud is not something I have any intention of doing. It's the leaves and acorns strewn across the narrow lanes that are the problem, but as I am not in any way a fast runner I can usually manage to avoid them :)

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  9. I am always happy to see you have a new entry, Jules, as I love your photos! Fall is also one of my favourite seasons because of the brilliant colours - so eye-catching!

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    1. That's such a lovely thing to say. Thank you, Chris. We are being treated to some beautiful autumn colour this year. X

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  10. I hope you got some great pumpkins at the farm :)

    I do like your new oak leaf shaped biscuit cutter, those biscuits look lovely.

    Enjoy half term week. We are hoping to see the grandchildren and enjoy a walk with them kicking the Autumn leaves, although with our present weather we may be splashing in puddles! LOL!

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you, Jan. We have our pumpkins :)
      I hope you enjoy your time with your grandchildren. It's forecast to rain all week here, so we'll just have to try and get out while we can. X

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  11. Beautiful photos and those oak leaf biscuits are exactly right for this time of year! Someone had a bumper crop of apples, too, it looks like! Hope you helped yourself to a few of the free apples! Be careful when running on slippery roads!

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    1. Thank you, Bless. I couldn't resist the biscuit cutter, in fact I think I'll bake some more today. X

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  12. Ooh those biscuits look so delicious.

    Hope you and Lily have a wonderful break! :)

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    1. Thank you, Nil. It's forecast to rain every day but I'm sure we'll find something to keep us occupied. X

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  13. Lovely photos and that biscuit cutter is great, such fun.
    xx

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    1. Thank you, Joy. I couldn't resist the biscuit cutter. Gingerbread is a firm favourite here and it makes the most delicious oak leaves. X

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  14. Beautiful photos and my mouth is watering with the thought of those biscuits. The kitchen is the best place to be at this dark time of year :) Have a good week. B x

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    1. I love to keep myself busy in the kitchen when it's dark and rainy outdoors. X

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  15. I like the leaf shaped biscuits and love the last shot with the hint of autumn colour in among the green leaves on the tree :)

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    1. Thank you, Eunice. The trees are changing by the day just now. X

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  16. I love the colours of Autumn and the cosiness of nights drawing in. There's not been many crisp Autumn days where we are, it's just been very wet. I really like the oak shaped biscuit cutter. I'd usually be buying pumpkins and fireworks now but this is the first year we won't be doing either as Amy isn't here and Thomas has said he's not bothered. Half of me is sad another era of childhood has ended, the other half thinks 20 years of carving pumpkins and standing in the garden freezing watching fireworks has been more than enough lol. Hope you're all keeping well. xx

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    1. The bright autumn days, which I love so much, have been few and far between this week, although a certain someone has been enjoying the puddles :)
      It's a strange year for our usual celebrations but we're doing what we can. Lily loves Halloween, so we'll be dressing up and decorating the house, and there's still a chance of receiving trick or treaters in this area (done safely, of course). X

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    2. I love the oak leaf biscuit cutter! I love to find interesting and inexpensive little baking treats. I have just bought a rolling pin which embosses a Christmas pattern onto biscuits. Can't wait to try it out. Autumn is my favourite season. From my desk I can look out across the car park and see the changing colour of the trees. I tried to photograph one in particular but it didn't do justice to its wonderful bonfire shades which are really very uplifting. We need that just now.

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    3. It's a bit cute isn't it. I love the shape of oak leaves.
      Autumn is such a beautiful season. The changing colour of the leaves helps brighten the darkest of days. X

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  17. I love your Oak Leaf biscuit cutter, your biscuits look delicious. I too love to be out enjoying the colours of this time of year, sadly the winds over the last couple of days have taken most of the leaves from the trees round here so it is all looking rather bare here now. It is definitely a quiet day time of year isn't it.

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    1. When I saw the cutter online I just couldn't resist buying it, and I think it's perfect for gingerbread.
      The weather has been a wild here this week as well, so the trees are definitely looking rather sparse now. X

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  18. I love your descriptions and photos. You sound very healthy and content.

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    1. Thank you, Stephenie. My family are safe and well, so I am feeling very grateful. X

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  19. That's quite a herd of deer. Do they do great damage where you are?

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    1. This herd is in an enclosed deer park but in Lakeland villages gates are sometimes made higher in order to keep any deer out. X

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  20. The hearth certainly becomes the centre of the home at this time of year Jules. x

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    1. It's a lovely feeling returning to the warmth of the home after a autumn walk. X

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