Monday 25 October 2010

Sunshine makes all the difference.


We do get some awful weather here in the UK. The worst for me is the cold damp, dark days we often get just before Christmas, when you need the light on in the house throughout the day. But, when you think about it, maybe we need those awful, dismal days in order to appreciate the brilliant ones.

Yesterday was a brilliant one. Cold, crisp,a light Northerly breeze cutting through the air, wall-to-wall sunshine - and wonderful Autumn colours. We were going out to afternoon tea and the short journey meant driving across the top of the Moor. Down in the valleys the Autumn colours were at their very best and the low sun was showing up amazing contours on the fields. Many of the fields round here still have vestiges of lynchets and rig-and-furrow farming methods and a low sun shows them up to perfection. I wish I could have taken a photograph - but taking it into the sun would have made it impossible.

When we arrived at our friends' house and walked towards the front door the view was spectacular. So I did take a photograph of that - for today's blog. The horse chestnut tree on the green chose yesterday to put on its Sunday best too and the castle in the back ground flew a celebratory flag. All that AND delicious cake - lovely conversation - what more could anyone ask for on an Autumn Sunday?

Tomorrow I am hoping to go with a friend to Windermere for lunch - quite a long journey but a lovely one in this weather. Unfortunately the weather is set to turn warm, windy and wet tonight - we shall see.

30 comments:

Jinksy said...

What could be more English, than a castle on a hill to look at through your window - or camera leans!

MorningAJ said...

I should know where that castle is! It's a gorgeous view and really does light up in the sunshine.

steven said...

weaver - the sun - well it's been hiding away for a little while 'round here but that's what autumn is about - refilling the aquifers! i'd go to windermere rain or shine! steven

Dave King said...

I do hope it stays fine for the trip.

Eryl said...

Oh wonderful Windermere I do love it there, especially at this time of year when there is a chance of a parking space! It's bright and crisp here today, very cold too, so hopefully it's the same there as its only and hour or so south.

Heather said...

It's another lovely day down here again so I hope you are having the same. That village looks so appealing. Don't you just love the peppery smell that fallen leaves have after a frosty night when the sun shines on them in the morning?

Leilani Schuck Weatherington said...

The green tomato chutney recipe I have calls for 3 lbs green tomatoes, 2.5 pounds of green apples, 2 pounds of onions... too much stuff to buy... (I suppose a much smaller batch could be made but....). Fall days here can be purely miserable, but we have had lovely weather as well.

Arija said...

What a delightful afternoon, so glad you are gading about and enjoying yourself.
Perfect autumn weather and lvely photo too.

You are so right, we need contrasts to appreciate the good times.

Gerry Snape said...

Weaver I'm over here in the north of Ireland and we are also having the most wonderful October weather. I agree with you about the days before Christmas, so maybe we need them to appreciate late sunshine.

Pondside said...

I think everything is better in sunshine! Over here it's been pouring rain since yesterday evening - the ponds will be high!

jeanette from everton terrace said...

A perfect day indeed and even more special is the ability to appreciate it - good on ya. I know nothing about Windemere but I'm qutie intrigued.

Caroline Gill said...

I'll hazard a guess that the castle is Richmond. Look forward to hearing if I'm right here.

So glad, Weaver, that you had such a lovely sunny day.

angryparsnip said...

Lets see...
Autumn
Sunshine
The Moors
Friends
Afternoon Tea
CAKE
Fall Leaves
and a
Castle

Perfect !

Cheers, parsnip

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

What glorious skies!
And lunch in Windermere. Pure bliss.
I wish Edward and I could join you!!

Leenie said...

Beautiful photo of a sunny autumn day. It's good that we get those colors to help us survive the bleakness of deep winter. And I agree that we probably wouldn't appreciate the glory of sunny days if we didn't have the short, dark ones. (But do there have to be so many?)

Reader Wil said...

When the sun shines in autumn the scenery is magnificent and even better than in the other seasons. Autumn is a beautiful season.
Thanks for the walk!!

Crafty Green Poet said...

we've had a wonderful crisp sunny day here today!

Glad you enjoyed conversation and cake, always nice together!

Hildred said...

Sounds like a lovely Sunday afternoon Weaver..... We have fallen into a little trough of gentle mists and rain to soften the earth, and it's a welcome change to be able to catch up a little in the house, and read, and knit, and nap a bit!!! Hope you have a wonderful time in Windermere. We have a Windermere in B.C. and I went there once to weave.

Hildred said...

Sounds like a lovely Sunday afternoon Weaver..... We have fallen into a little trough of gentle mists and rain to soften the earth, and it's a welcome change to be able to catch up a little in the house, and read, and knit, and nap a bit!!! Hope you have a wonderful time in Windermere. We have a Windermere in B.C. and I went there once to weave.

Hildred said...

Sounds like a lovely Sunday afternoon Weaver..... We have fallen into a little trough of gentle mists and rain to soften the earth, and it's a welcome change to be able to catch up a little in the house, and read, and knit, and nap a bit!!! Hope you have a wonderful time in Windermere. We have a Windermere in B.C. and I went there once to weave.

Hildred said...

Blogger kept telling me I wasn't spelling the word verification properly, and I kept trying - only to discover it was all a hoax and that's why you have so many comments from me. So sorry.

Kim Ayres said...

Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to visit my blog and leave birthday wishes.

We spend a week in a small holiday house in Leyburn last year in October and really enjoyed our stay. Beautiful part of the country.

We were going to return this year, but all the places available did Friday to Friday rather than Saturday to Saturday, so we ended up in Skipton instead.

Golden West said...

October can be the most glorious month. It's getting time for long sleeves and socks here, fires in the afternoons and bulbs pushing up out of the ground. And then once October is over, winter seems to come so soon. Your beautiful blue sky framed your photograph just perfectly!

Linda Sue said...

Weather here is exactly like yours- having lived in both countries at about the same latitude I much prefer English weather- just because it is ENGLISH! Your header is GORGEOUS!

MarmaladeRose said...

OO! I recognise that view! I know who you've been lucky enough to visit, lol.
I hope your trip to Windermere wasn't spoilt by our rubbish weather today.

Jeannette StG said...

Hope you had a good lunch!

I have some good news -I googled the magazine of the Gwynedd hat that I posted, and it's still available, so if you still like to have it, don't wait too long with ordering!
I added the link in my post, so just click on the http://knitscene
and it will come right up!

I'll give the same comment in your post below, so you can't miss it:)

Nutty Gnome said...

I don't know why I've never spotted your blog before - I've just had a lovely time reading all your back posts about places I know so well. Some gorgeous photos too - a joy to look at. Thank you :)

PS. It's a glorious day in Derbyshire today!

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Gorgeous photos. I love these bright gold days!

John Going Gently said...

friends, cake and tea.... a great combination

Totalfeckineejit said...

More wise words from Weaver!