Autumn beauty along the canals ...

Our county is blessed with the Shropshire Union Canal that gently crosses it at various points. It is one of my favourite pastimes to wander along these often hidden spaces that wind through some deep cuttings before passing houses, fields with animals or towns on their watery way. 

With the most beautiful Autumn colours deepening this year, I suggested a walk along a strip I have visited many times.

Tyrley Locks is a pretty walk along the canals where 5 locks drop or raise boats on their journey. 

What makes this walk special is the deep cutting with interesting rocks & soil that is exposed by digging out the canal. It was muddy underfoot because of some recent rain but our sturdy walking boots did well. 

The autumn colours did not disappoint with a thick carpet of leaves underfoot & more falling gently all the time on our walk. There is a sense of calm, of peace, of clearing your mind when out in nature. This is important time for me, to just be ...  

A very elegant grey heron appeared several times along the canals, staying on the side furthest from us while being cautious & curious. 

A passing canalboat was glad of the offer of help with the final lock so hubby helped with the lock gates to lower the boat on its way to Nantwich. 

We enjoyed a chat with the boating couple & their gorgeous dog. 

We had spent a week on a canal boat a few years ago with Ms M & her family so had an idea how to work the gates etc. 

On returning to the canal bridge at the basin by the top lock, I noticed a cottage for sale. However, the voice of reason did not join in my enthusiasm. 

I wonder what it would be like living right next to a canal & having a prime seat on canal life? 

Would it be cold in winter & busy in summer when boat hire is at its peak or would the fascination be the key to enjoying it? 

I won't know but it is nice to think about it. 

Thank you for stopping by, it is always appreciated.

Dee ⛴️🪾🌳🍁🍂

Signs of Autumn at home & in the woods ...

 Somehow, the year is galloping by & the misty mornings remind us that Autumn is here. 

The nights are drawing in & the morning light takes its time to arrive now. 

Early morning mists drew us out to some local woods to enjoy the changing seasons & have a walk in the woods. 

I love misty mornings when things seem mysterious, when the woods are more silent & half hidden, when you hear voices long before figures appear in the misty light. 

The dampness highlighted the many cobwebs on the trees - somehow they really like the prickly holly bushes. 

The woodland floor is spongy with decades of fallen leaves & more drifted down all the time, along with the sound of little branches falling. 

I picked up some spindly branches with little pinecones & carefully places their curving branches in my bag where they flapped around with each step. 

I picked up some conkers & one of the pricky outer shells/ They are freshly fallen & very prickly still so had to be content with just 1. 

The cool, moist woods are the perfect growing conditions for a multitude of fungi, nestled in the fallen leaves & twigs. 

I do not know one from another & do not actually like mushrooms so am content to just photograph them. 

I added 2 little branches with red berries & my woodland collection looks rather good. I prefer it to a fake, commercial one & it reminds me of time in nature.

Once home, I carefully put the foraged twigs, leaves & berries in this vintage vase (bought from a charity shop some years back).

The spindly pine bracts I picked up survived their journey around the forest in a shopping bag I grabbed from the car as we stopped. 

The H.J. Woods Indian Tree vase is generous & sturdy enough to hold an assortment of twigs & leaves. It also has similar colours to the Spode plates that I had in mind. 

The conservatory sideboard is long overdue a change. The woodland vase nudged me to fetch the few Spode Woodland plates I have - 6 - from their retail shop in Stoke on Trent a few years ago. 

The 2 yellow deer plates were from Next a few years ago. They sometimes appear at Christmas with their pretty flower adorned antlers but fit in well with the Spode plates so they are out too. They are a good match to the vase too - I must bring them out more often. 

The beautiful ruby glass decanter was a gift from Ms M a few years ago, along with the vintage custard cups with their little handles. They are the perfect size for sherry on dark days ... 

A little jig around & I think it is looking perfect for Autumn. What do you think? 

Do you also come back from a walk with a pocket (or bag) of things you foraged or picked up? 

The Autumn sideboard has things I have had for a long time but they are greatly enjoyed & make a welcome appearance from time to time. 

Thank you for stopping by & visiting. It is always appreciated. 

Dee 🪾🪵🌳🍁🍂

Colourful Autumn entertaining

 Somehow November is fast slipping away & my thoughts are turning to the festive season. 

Our rectory table seats 12 when the two leaves are pulled out on each end & we enjoy the freedom it brings to have larger gatherings in our conservatory. Chairs are brought in from the dining room & spares from the garage - never formal, just social times. It is usually  just the smaller compact size. 

On the weekend, we had friends old & new for supper & with 7 expected, the conservatory was the obvious place. 

My friend recently gifted me a stunning long length of colourful Autumn fabric in greens, blues, cerise, orange, yellow & a darker outline. When the table is extended, it is often difficult to find table cloths that  are long enough or interesting enough. The colours also tie in with my Frida Kahlo cushions. 

I cut a length of the cloth off & hemmed it for the console table that is also in the conservatory. I might shorten it a little more for the other table but that is a job for after the festive season. 

We fortunately have enough cutlery, crockery & glasses to have friends over so it was a pleasure to set the table with our large charger plates we use often, & some glass candle holders. These have the bobeche candle wax ring that saves the cloth when the wax drips down. So many candles are drippers. However, I mixed up the candle colours to match the cloth - I love flickering candles while we relax ... 

The sideboard has the lovely pink crockery of the Merrie Olde England Ironstone design & the Chelsea Wicker Spode creamware plates so it has been an in between setting. I love mixing up plates & sets, the large charger plates help to protect the table cloth from spills.  I have started to bring the vintage red glasses through from the tall glass cupboard in the kitchen. They are the perfect festive red & will be used often over the festive season. 

What a fab evening when the candles burn low because we are all enjoying each others company so much. That is the sign of a gesellige tyd (a social time) 

Have your thoughts turned to the festive season? The first Sunday of Advent is this weekend so I have had to find my Advent ring with the 4 holders & decide on what candles to put in ... 

Thank you for your company, it is always appreciated

Dee 🍽️ 💖

Giving way to Autumn ...

 Somehow it seems as if this year has flown & Autumn has crept in while I was otherwise engaged. 

It has been weeks since I changed my sideboard in the conservatory - it has been summer greens & pinks since .... summer. 

However, Autumn always reminds me of the cosy times & our wildlife. I bought some of these sweet Spode Woodland plates some years ago on a visit to the potteries. I only got a few side plates that could go with what we already have because we have loads of china. 

The pretty deer plates with their yellow borders are a perfect match with the woodland plates. 

The iconic pheasant plate is a vintage one I bought a long time ago. 

The red glasses and Morris & co Pimpernel place & drinks mats will probably stay out in to the festive season as they are a good size. 

The long conservatory table has a bolt of red cotton fabric with cream paisley prints - I hemmed it to make the cloth, that looks autumnal without being festive.  I gathered mossy twigs & oak leaves on a recent walk & they are once again in my yellow vase with the tree of life colours which go well with the woodland plates. Nothing new at all, just found in our various cupboards. 

So this is really a bridging sideboard to lead us in to the festive season. 

Are you enjoying the autumn time?  Thanks for stopping by, please follow & share, 

Dee 🍂🍁🥮

A girlies evening & table setting

Hi all

Do you have a favourite meal? My friend makes a fabulous ox tail stew - it is not something everyone eats but it is an amazing meal when cooked long & slow so that it falls off the bone. Being our half term (we both work in education) we decided on a girlies night to catch up.

 One of my favourite things to do is to set a lovely table & even though our clocks went back last weekend, I am not ready to give up my bright colours. I love pinks so a favourite hand painted South African table cloth set the tone.

I have these lovely Wedgwood charger plates in various tones; these pink ones are my favourite (I always have to mix them up when there are many of us as they vary in tones)

I love these traditional plates but don’t have a full set of the Merrie Olde England Ironstone with its traditional patterns or the cream Chelsea Wicker plates by Spode but because they have the same wavy edges, they go very well together.  I think mixing up the sets of plates makes the setting less formal & my regular readers will recognise these from previous settings

The traditional scenes on the Old Merrie England Ironstone plates  ... 

The darker nights need lots of warming candles & lights - battery lights are warm & safe too.

I love the very girlie setting  - perfect for catching up with a friend ...

I love my sideboard / dresser; the little battery lights always looks pretty as it backlights the pocket watch plates.

I love pretty tables & I think this one was .... 

My friend made the most fabulous ox tail in red wine, with samp, a South African speciality. I made spicy butternut & honey glazed red heritage carrots - perfectly lovely meal.

Beautiful candles ...

The fabulous ox tail stew - a traditional meal which was perfect for our weather which has turned rather cool ...

Oven baked baked vegetables - a great favourite of mine

Plain vanilla cheesecake with winter berries which were cooked with Latvian Riga Balsam - used widely in Riga for its health properties ...

A warm & comforting traditional meal, a perfect catch up time. What is your favourite meal which is not too much fuss?  

Thank you for stopping by, taking the time to read & comment - it is much appreciated. 

Dee ~💕~

All wrapped up ...

Our first frosts are expected now - the temperatures have plunged & the Autumn nip  has given way to a Winter chill tonight.

This photo was taken at Attingham park about 3 weeks ago & it shows what I love most about this time of the year - the colours & the strong lines of the tree branches once the leaves fall ...

Our squirrels have been really busy at the birds nut feeders - stocking up for Winter & burying the nuts all over my lawn ...

The last of the colour in the garden is now - the few Hydrangea heads have mellowed to a faded colour & the fushias are flowering still.

However, no time to just enjoy the garden as there is lots to be done.

 

I have been getting the garden ready for this by putting the unelegant but very neccessary fleece jackets on my tender plants, moving their pots against the house for protection & making sure that leaves are raked before they can become slippery on the paths ....

Is your garden ready for the colder weather? What are your Autumn tasks?

I love this 101 bits of Autumn fun from 101-bits-autumn-fun from Laura Winslow's blog.

Mine would certainly have baking, reading, wrapping up in a cosy fleece blanket in front of the fire, write overseas cards for the early posting, burn scented candles in our lounge lanterns, get out for walks in the fresh air, take unused coats & jumpers to charity shops so others can enjoy them too, plant some Spring bulbs (done), put out regular food for the birds (done) ...
take a small flask of hot chocolate on a walk with friends ...



What would be on your Autumn list? 

Thanks for stopping by, share your Autumn lists for inspiration please ♥
Dee ~♥~