Today was the day for my lunch out in the village of Carperby with friends T and S. Chicken casserole with cauli, carrots and new potatoes; delicious (Aldi) sweet - a sort of roll with hazelnuts and cream and served with soft fruit. Lots of villagers there and lots of chat - difficult for me to hear with hearing aids which amplify everyone's conversation.
It was a blue sky Autumn day cool but pleasant and the Dale was looking well as it rolls into Autumn. The fields were full of contented sheep doing what sheep do - either eating or dozing; still cows out after milking - it won't be too long now before they are tucked up indoors eating silage and chewing the cud. The field behind the village hall had about twenty sheep in it - ordinary common-or -garden sheep of no specific breed I could think of (mules?) and two very black sheep with just a white stripe down their noses. I was pleased there were two - would a black sheep feel 'left out' in a field of white(ish) sheep? The two weren't grazing together so the answer is 'probably not' I suppose.
There is definitely a bite of Autumn in the air. The cottage gardens all seem to be in that stage where their gardeners are 'cutting back', 'chopping down', 'composting' ,' building piles for the bonfire'- or 'let's leave it all over winter and attack things in the Spring'.
The trees are in making =up =the= mind mode - some - the early harbingers of Autumn - the acers, the hawthorns (many already stripped of their red berries)- have pretty coloured leaves shouting out the season. Others - the oaks, the ashes, the sycamores are still busy making up their minds, the horse-chestnuts are well on the way and silver birches and hazels are seriously on the way with leaves floating to the ground as we pass.
Wensleydale always does us proud this time of the year.
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13 comments:
What a wonderful word picture you paint of autumn in Wensleydale and its surrounds!
Wouldn't it be nice if there was a 'quiet' section in restaurants (like where the old non-smoking area used to be) where you and others could enjoy your meal and conversation without the chatter of others crowding in?
Do you have any autumn decorations to enjoy in your home? I put autumn covers on a couple of couch cushions and toss a heavy cotton blanket over the arm of a chair. Also, I hang my autumn wall quilts to welcome autumn.
Hugs!
After a long spell of very dry weather that has been creating near drought conditions, we finally had some rain overnight. It was almost strange to see the nature reserve I warden, looking wet and muddy this morning but what immediately caught my attention were the Marsh Frogs. After not hearing anything from them all summer, this morning it seemed like everyone of them on the reserve was loudly croaking at the same time. Perhaps they were enjoying the wet conditions after such a long time.
It must look beautiful up in Yorkshire at the moment. Hints of autumn down here too with some trees beginning to show yellow tints and flower borders looking a bit sad now. Definitely cooler too, but that is as it should be.
So pleased you enjoyed your trip out for a delicious lunch and a friendly get-together.
Your black sheep with a white stripe down their noses might be Zwartbles sheep - a Dutch breed that's becoming more popular over here. Only the slightest signs of autumn here, apart from the acers that folk grow in their gardens.
Your route to the luncheon sounds very picturesque with sheep grazing and beautiful trees moving toward Fall. My White Pine trees in the forest are dropping their needles and creating a golden carpet. The maples behind the house have nearly dropped all their leaves and the trees look rather barren. The oaks, magnolias, dogwoods and Japanese maples are still in full leaf with no color change. Fall is lovely and cool.
We have very few sheep here but we do have bright autumn days with lots of leaf color.
Our trees are beginning full color, but are keeping their leaves, so far.
Sounds like a full day...and I am not just talking about your stomach! You have good friends.
Leaves beginning to drop here, but generally still very green everywhere.
Horse chestnuts were the first here to turn this year; somehow, they don't look very healthy in spite of yielding an unusally amount of chestnuts. Maybe they suffer the lack of water more than other trees.
It's been the warmest October here on record so far, but that's about to change this weekend, with a drop from 28C today to just 12C on Sunday.
How I would enjoy walking in the Dales this time of year!
An abundance of hips and haws this year gives hedgerow signs of Autumn. We have had overnight rains throughout so Autumn drilling in perfect conditions on farms here in Norfolk.
Forgot to add in my comment above, yesterday also, I started up my first new lot of Sloe Gin for a few years. I managed to find just one bush with plenty on and so took advantage.
Barbara Anne I have a lovely little book which Heather, who I have blogged with for many years made for me some years ago. It is so pretty and I put it out every Autumn.
Rachel - when my friends took me out for a drive one afternoon the hawthorne was heavy with red berries and the hedgerow was thick with rose hips. They all seem to have gone now - I can only think they ripened early they certainly looked ripe_ The birds must have taken them.
Derek - I would love to have heard those frogs = haven't heard any for years.
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