Thursday was the day of the teacher's strike, so we took the opportunity to go to Slimbridge in the sun. It was utterly beautiful - warm, wonderfully lit and a kind of bonus day with the little people.
Today we had the usual morning of football. The biggest boy was captain this week. The team fought really hard, but lost by a goal in the final minute. A good game though, so he's happy.
This afternoon we went to the country park. As we wandered round I had a sudden urge to start a new knitting or crochet project.
Oh how I love wool. Such a miraculous product of nature. Warm, cool, fire retardant, water repellent, absorbent, elastic. Clever, clever, clever. Nothing matches natural products. I just have to decide what to make. I shall spend a happy hour or two on Ravelry I think.
Being as it's mid-October, we headed for The Conker Place after admiring the sheep and alpacas. We go there every year. For some reason the boys have an obsessive need to collect their own body weight in conkers. Last year there weren't any. This year, plenty. Three carrier bags full are now in my kitchen. We played conkers all evening. Simple pleasures.
It's a lovely spot, overlooking the river, with beautiful views of the South Gloucestershire countryside.
As well as conkers, there were a few fungi. Some really enormous ones. I put some little feet in the shot, to give an idea of scale. The biggest ones had been knocked off of the dead tree stump they'd grown on. I don't know what type they are, unfortunately. It would be nice to know what they all are and which ones are edible.
Despite a morning of football, there's always energy for more. The biggest boy would play all day every day if he could. It's in his genes I think, his dad was apparently the same.
I spotted this growing on an apple tree on the way out. Mistletoe anyone?
We're not quite ready for that yet. Still enjoying autumn. Some of us haven't even stopped wearing shorts yet.
Have a good week all. I'll be back before you know it with more photos...
Please don't stop. I'm enjoying your photos very much. I really love the sheep photos, they're very interesting animals. I look forward to seeing what you decide to make!
ReplyDeleteSheep are lovely aren't they. And it was a treat to be able to feel their wool. I'm sure they thought I was sizing them up for jumpers.
DeleteUnfortunately I can't wear wool next to my skin as it causes me to itch - good jod that I'm not a sheep.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, I can't wear wool either, even the softest feeling baby alpaca makes me itch unbearably. If I make something for me it's usually cotton, linen or maybe even a little silk. I do like the idea and the science of wool though!
DeleteI love that first photo of the ducks in flight. It sounds as though you've had better weather than we have, shorts were put away weeks ago, and most days are drab without a hint of sunshine. I'm about to embark on a new crochet project, Eleanor wants a ripple blanket now that she's seen Daniel's so that should keep me busy over winter.
ReplyDeleteIt's not hugely warm here, I just have children who don't feel the cold I think. Ripple blankets are lovely. I did try a little rippling, but I frogged it in the end. A blanket is such a vast undertaking, I need to feel committed to it!
DeleteLove the geese, and the alpaca! The sheep look so friendly. And pygmy goat?? Great post.
ReplyDeleteI think they were pygmy goatlings, they were very small. Very sweet too, although full-sized goats are not quite so cute.
DeleteYou keep snapping and posting photos like these for us to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI especially like the first picture. Thanks, you have a good week too. Flighty xx
Oh, thank you Flighty.
DeleteLOL - go for it, the photos are fabulous and we love looking at them :o) I too wish that I knew more about mushrooms - but at the moment, they are just a foraging step too far for me.
ReplyDeleteMe too, but it would be lovely to be able to take advantage of them.
DeleteI'm so glad everything is working again, because I love your photos! These are all so beautiful and show days well spent:) Keep them coming and can't wait to hear about your new project!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kari. I'm still trying to decide what to do with the wool. In the meantime I am working on a quilt for the biggest boy.
DeleteGorgeous photos, CJ! Aww, love the little goat - and I keep seeing alpacas popping up on blogs and telly, love them, so sweet! I had to chuckle at your sheep/wool association! I always think like that when I see the tufts of sheep's wool left behind on fences, makes me want to own a spinning wheel! I have an ongoing crochet granny blanket that I'm looking forward to picking up again now that evenings are getting darker - I just love looking through my basket of stash wool and my crochet books!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, I like looking at my wool and patterns too. And Ravelry, well, Ravelry is just wonderful. So very useful, to be able to see what other people's attempts at things look like.
DeleteI'm so glad you posted all of these photos. They leave me with such a peaceful feeling. It sounds like you had such a pleasant day off with the boys.
ReplyDeleteThank you Devon. It was a good day, hurray for striking teachers.
DeleteSo much autumn in all these photos. I'm glad you shared them. Your local area is incredibly beautiful. It's still very mild here, too - when the rain stops that is! x
ReplyDeleteThanks Gillian. Lots of rain here too at the moment. Well, it is half term!
Deletewe virtually ran out of the door as soon as the sun came out today... does it make a difference or what!!
ReplyDeleteIt really does. I've been pegging out at much washing as I can when the sun shines, and putting the piggies on (what remains of) the grass. It does lift all our moods so much.
DeleteThanks for sharing your lovely day out with us :) There's nothing like autumn when the sun's put is there? I haven't been to Slimbridge since my children were small, I'd like to go again one day.
ReplyDeleteJess x x
I can definitely recommend a visit to Slimbridge, there's always so much to see there.
DeleteHave found your lovely blog by rambling around and hope you don't mind if I drop in and comment. That wee squash looks to be either a 'Carnival' or 'Sweet Dumpling'. Hard to tell from the one photo, but it looks large enough to be a Carnival. Either way, both can be delicious if cut in half - left unpeeled but emptied of seeds - and then baked, cut side up, with butter and brown sugar put into the hollow. Yum.
DeleteYou have beautiful photos and sweet stories to tell, so with your permission, will start to visit often.
Best;
Camille
Another CJ :-)