Winter cometh

Sparkling frostiness first thing. A beautiful clear sunrise. Feeling energised, time for brisk walks again.

I should know that, when my maples are at their glorious autumn best, it's the signal for heavy rain and gales that strip the leaves. And it seems to be happening today.

rain, rain and more of the wretched stuff - only 5 degrees at 10 am so wouldn't be surprised to see snow on the Ochils and Pentlands very soon

Got back from the UK last night, and was glad to see the agapanthus had survived well - shhhucks, they froze last night (:

When I went out for my morning walk today I put my winter walking jacket on for the first time this autumn/winter. However I am still picking blackberries. Some are still only just ripening.

Saw some bats on my way to a meeting last night, though there's been no evidence of our porch bats for nearly a fortnight now. I went to my year book to record the bat sighting, and saw that last year the it snowed on the same hills two days later than this year, and on 2008 it was six days later. Bang on time then! Mind you, in 2006, DD had a birthday party partly outside and it wasn't terribly cold. Typical British weather then

I haven't seen my bats all year

Jeni I almost made a very facetious reply, on the lines of a classic seaside postcard, but I restrained myself.

Wood smoke hanging in the valleys.

Driving through the Lakes a couple of days ago, and quite a few chimneys had wisps of smoke coming out of them. As I rounded one bend early in the morning, the water was so still, and wetland birds were gathering to fly off for the winter. Such beautiful autumn colours, I had to stop and just let it bathe my eyes

when To stop and just gaze at beauty gives wealth beyond measure (sunshine)

My yellow-berried rowan has the most spectacular copper-coloured autumn foliage whereas the other two rowans have lost both leaves and berries already. The combination of he fiery foliage and the yellow berries is stunning.

We had a pink berried rowan in our East Leics garden, which was superb at this time of the year. Bird books say that birds do not like the yellow rowan berries, which is probably why they are still on!

Yesterday we had two magnificent male bullfinches eating the last of our rasberries, what a sight. And loads of nuthatches eating the sunflower seeds- with 3 different species of tits, finches and both kinds of sparrows.

A real Indian summer here at the moment, 21C in the afternoon for the past few days- so been able to cut down all the perrenials- left some of the phloxed still in flower for the bees, and plant the many bulbs bought in the UK, plus some saffran crocus bulbs - can't wait for our first crop!

As said before, I hate all this 'what is your favourite' questions- but perhaps autumn is my favourite (as soon as we get fluffy snow and blue skies - I might change my mind though ... cold and crisp, lovely).

Usually the blackbirds don't touch the yellow berries until December when all other sources are exhausted, but this year I have seen them taking them already.

Maybe the blackbirds raised large broods in your area this year, anno. Rowan berries around here are staying on the trees so I guess there's plenty else for the birds to eat so far.

B*** Blackbirds. They have eaten every single grape on the vine. A mean think to do as husband spent hours in the spring coaxing the pair into the garden by hand feeding them worms from the compost bin. Total ingratitude.

Sorry but I'm laughing, elf (not nastily)! Perhaps the worm-feeding made them think he was growing the grapes specially for them, since he clearly loved them so much

I'm sure you're right, Bags. Husband has been warned, so has the blackbird, and the cats have had their strategic garden protection plan communicated to them in no uncertain terms.

That's possible, Bags. One good thing around here is the lack of cats, although there are plenty of nest-robbers - magpies, jays, squirrels, jackdaws.

Golden glow on the hills, but clouds rollingnin from the north. It's cold enough for snow....

Hills have disappeared now. And that is very snowy-looking rain!

The sky is a beautiful mix of soft greys and pink/gold. Truly beautiful.

:-) ,loverly (because I'm now in zummerzet)

Moon ... and home soon.

Beautiful day here today, near cloudless sky but VERY cold. Suddenly, at 17.30, as I was peeling potatoes, there was a flurry of snow, big white flakes. Within 10 minutes it was gone and the sun was back in time for a pink sunset.