Thursday 22 September 2011

Autumn



Officially today is the first day of Autumn and already Autumn is creeping imperceptibly into the house. At about half past three in the afternoon, a chill begins to permeate everywhere (that is unless you are one of those people who have their central heating on all day), however much sunlight has been streaming through the windows. The smell of apples and onions hangs around as both are being stored for winter and more and more casseroles appear on our lunch table, served with thick slices of bread to mop up the gravy. The log basket in the utility room empties quite quickly and needs refilling so there is always bark debris to sweep up around the basket and the smell of logs is there too - different smells depending on which wood is being put out - sometimes hawthorn, sometimes holly and sometimes crab apple at the moment.

We have taken to eating our afternoon tea from a tray in the room where the wood burner is. We eat our sandwiches and cake while watching 'Antiques Road Trip' (how sad is that?) and by the time the News has finished it is time to draw the curtains because the nights have suddenly drawn in. That getting darker always happens suddenly doesn't it - and it always catches us unawares.

In the garden the last few roses are putting on a fine show and will continue to do so until one morning we shall come down stairs to find the cobwebs covered in sparkling white frost and then the roses will die. That, for me, is always the last sign of Autumn.

I suppose the most famous line which sums up Autumn has got to be 'Season of mists and yellow fruitfulness' - because it certainly says a lot in such a few words. Poor John Keats never had a chance to reach the autumn of his life, dying as he did in Rome at the age of only twenty-five from that scourge of the age - tuberculosis.
I wonder what a wealth of poetry he would have written had he lived longer.

15 comments:

Penny said...

Oh I love autumn Pat, here we are having gale force winds and no rain to wet the ground. I hope its not another disastrous summer.

John Going Gently said...

there is a chill to their air...an old and dependable phrase but one that is OH so true

Jenn Jilks said...

I love the changing seasons.
We have a balmy June-like day today. Today I post of trees. Trees - our four sisters .
Cheers from Perth, ON!

Unknown said...

Woodfire, onions and apples drying and beautiful roses - it sounds so wonderful. Enjoy the Autumn :)

Pondside said...

You paint a sweet picture of cosy evenings by the fire. I can't wait! The rains have started here, so we will be allowed to light the fire and I think I'll do just that on the weekend.

Heather said...

I am always loathe to part with summer but autumn compensates marvellously with tea by the fire, casseroles and the scent of wood smoke and stored fruit - so comforting.
Your roses are still beautiful - ours have all finished but that is because this has been their first year of flowering. I shall nurture them this winter and hope for a wonderful display next year.

Gerry Snape said...

wonderful word picture there. I'm already living inside it and feeling good. Thankyou!

Cynthia Monica said...

At first I was drawn in by that fabulous bright orange rose, then as always, your wonderful descriptive words just captured my attention....

Acornmoon said...

wood fire envy!

Tom Stephenson said...

Congratulations for being the first blogger of the season to quote 'season of mists and mellow fruitfulness', Weaver. If I had an award to give out, I'd give it to you. You have made my season.

ChrisJ said...

Eating sandwiches and cakes while watching the Antiques Road Show sounds wonderful to me. My husband doesn't like the show so I don't often get to see it and anyway I'd much rather watch the British version than the US one.

Eryl said...

You actually make autumn sound nice!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for the comments. I accept Tom's award with good grace. I wonder- is there another poem which might encapsulate autumn as well as that does? Anybody know?

Maggi said...

I am so glad that we have the seasons that we do. You paint such an evocative picture.

Mary said...

Being an October baby I believe Autumn to be my special season........I just always feel so well and full of energy following the draining hot and humid days of Summer. So, welcome beautiful Autumnal days and cooler nights - even the rain we're having now is fine with me.

Mary